Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/32

 honored by a visit from the President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, and his cabinet. All the vessels had their yards manned, and a national salute  was fired. The next day, the 17th of August, 1838, a gun was fired, and signals were made that the squadron  was under sailing orders. Soon after, the commodore’s gig came alongside, bringing orders for me with my bag  and hammock. It seemed to me that I should sink through the deck. I felt more like jumping overboard than sailing with my worst enemy, and one on whom I  had sworn to be revenged. I begged Captain Ringold to let me remain on board the brig. He said he wanted  me to stay, but that he must obey orders, and told me  to get into the boat. As we neared the ship, another gun was fired, and signals were made for the squadron  to get under way. Shortly after we arrived on board, the capstan was manned, the anchor catted, and we  were soon off, with an ebb tide and a light air from the  sou’west. At five we anchored at the Horseshoe,  in consequence of its falling calm, but at nine  the  wind freshened, and we tripped and stood down the  bay. At four on the 19th we passed Cape Henry  Light, and at nine  we discharged our pilot and  took our departure. This being Sunday, at six bells  all hands were called to muster, and Divine service  was performed by our chaplain, Mr. Elliot. He preached earnestly about the dangers and length of the  voyage, and the probability that all of us might not live  to return to our native land, then sinking from view. He spoke of God and his goodness, and reminded us that his all-seeing eye was ever upon us, whether at sea