``Perhaps, like me, he struggles with
     Each feeling of regret;
     But if he’s loved as I have loved,
     He never can forget!’’

The last line he roared out at the top of his voice, breaking each word into half a dozen syllables.  This was very popular, and Jack was called upon every night to give them his ``sentimental song.’’ No one called for it more loudly than I, for the complete absurdity of the execution, and the sailors’ perfect satisfaction in it, were ludicrous beyond measure.

The next day the California began unloading her cargo; and her boats’ crews, in coming and going, sang their boat-songs, keeping time with their oars.  This they did all day long for several days, until their hides were all discharged, when a gang of them were sent on board the Alert to help us steeve our hides.  This was a windfall for us, for they had a set of new songs for the capstan and fall, and ours had got nearly worn out by six weeks’ constant use.  I have no doubt that this timely re-enforcement of songs hastened our work several days.

Our cargo was now nearly all taken in, and my old friend, the Pilgrim, having completed her discharge, unmoored, to set sail the next morning on another long trip to windward.  I was just thinking of her hard lot, and congratulating myself upon my escape from her, when I received a summons into the cabin.  I went aft, and there found, seated round the cabin table, my own captain, Captain Faucon of the Pilgrim, and Mr. Robinson, the agent.  Captain Thompson turned to me and asked abruptly,—­

``Dana, do you want to go home in the ship?’’

``Certainly, sir,’’ said I; ``I expect to go home in the ship.’’

``Then,’’ said he, ``you must get some one to go in your place on board the Pilgrim.’’

I was so completely ``taken aback’’ by this sudden intimation that for a moment I could make no reply.  I thought it would be hopeless to attempt to prevail upon any of the ship’s crew to take twelve months more upon California in the brig.  I knew, too, that Captain Thompson had received orders to bring me home in the Alert, and he had told me, when I was at the hide-house, that I was to go home in her; and even if this had not been so, it was cruel to give me no notice of the step they were going to take, until a few hours before the brig would sail.  As soon as I had got my wits about me, I put on a bold front, and told him plainly that I had a letter in my chest informing me that he had been written to by the owners in Boston to bring me home in the ship; and, moreover, that he had told me that he had such instructions, and that I was to return in the ship.