The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 480 pages of information about The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter.

The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 480 pages of information about The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter.
hour passed, and still no change—­six, seven bells struck, and the fog appeared to grow more dense, and the wind to increase; wore ship, and put her head off shore; went below, and turned in, in supreme disgust.  At 1.30 aroused by the report that there was a topsail schooner close aboard.  She ran down for us, when we backed main topsail, and sent a boat and brought the Master on board.  Being like ourselves bound for Angra, he consented to pilot us in.  Filled away, and made sail.  We were to-day, at noon, by computation, W.S.W. from Pedestal Point (Angra); distance about ten miles.  The fog continued most relentlessly until 4 P.M., when it disappeared, and we wore ship for the land, and were probably on the point of making it just at sunset, when the fog came on again, and enveloped everything in impenetrable darkness.  Wore ship seaward, and stood off and on during the night:  the weather blustering.

Friday, August 28th.—­Morning cloudy, wind blowing half a gale.  At 8.50 took a single reef in the topsail—­the schooner in sight to leeward.  At 9.30 made the land, and soon came in full view of it.  My would-be pilot could not recognise it, until the schooner, having run in ahead of us, ran down, to leeward, by which we knew that she had made out our position.  I followed her, and ran in, and anchored in Sheerwater Bay; my pilot being of no sort of assistance to me, he seeming to have a very imperfect knowledge of the locality.  Soon after anchoring, a boat came out of the lagoon to us, and we recognised some of our prize-crew of the Sea Bride in her.

In effect the Tuscaloosa and the prize had both been three days in the harbour of Angra Pequena.  In the afternoon we got up our anchor again, and ran into the lagoon, and anchored near the Sea Bride in seven fathoms of water.  A number of the officers are off this evening to visit the Tuscaloosa—­no doubt to get a good drink of fresh water.  I have sent my pitcher for some, being nearly parched up with the salt-water we have been drinking for the last three days.  We are lying in smooth water, in a snug harbour, and I hope to get what I have not had for several nights—­a good night’s rest.  A more bleak and comfortless prospect, in the way of landscape, could scarcely present itself to the eye.  Nothing but land and rock—­not a sprig of vegetation of any kind to be seen.  In fact it never rains here, and this is consequently a guano region.  We passed a bank of guano in Halifax island, a shanty, a few labourers, and a large army of penguins spread out with much solemnity on the island.

Saturday, August 29th.—­Getting on board flour, &c., from the Sea Bride, and water from the schooner—­1500 gallons, which will enable us to cruise some twenty days.  Hauled a borrowed sieve in the afternoon, and caught a fine lot of fish.

Sunday, August 30th.—­At 10.30 mustered the crew, and landed James Adams, O.S., discharged by sentence of court-martial, with forfeiture of pay and prize-money.

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The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.