the running gear seen to and thoroughly overhauled, a good coat
of paint, and an overcoat, too, in addition was given to the vessel from
bow to taffrail down to the water-line, with a white streak, in regular
Yankee fashion, running along her ports. The stern gallery and rail
were then gilded, as was also the figure-head--a wooden damsel, with
arms akimbo, of the most unprepossessing appearance, representing the
bride of the "pilot" whose name she bore.

This completed the exterior refitting of the ship.

Much remained to be done to her interior, however; and, here it was that
Eric was able to be of considerable service, having learnt all of a
sailor's duty in reference to the stowage of a vessel's hold--a matter
that might seem easy enough to a landsman who only has to do with the
packing of boxes, but which is of serious importance on board a ship,
where the misplacement of the cargo may not only affect her sailing
properties but also the safety of those she carries.

To commence with, the _Pilot's Bride_ being a whaler would have to start
from her home port comparatively "light"--as, having no cargo to speak
of, save the provisions for her own crew for twelve months and the
stores she carried for the use of the sealing schooners amongst the
islands, she was forced to take in a great deal of ballast to ensure her
stability, and this had to be so apportioned in her hold as to make her
of good trim.

This being done, the water and provisions were then shipped and a large
number of empty casks placed on top of all the stores in the hold,
amidships. These latter were carried to be subsequently filled with the
oil and skins that might be collected by the schooners acting as tenders
to the _Pilot's Bride_ amongst the islands; and, besides, the ship had
"trying pots" of her own to melt down the blubber of any whales or odd
fish she might capture "on her own hook."

The brothers' belongings were next taken on board and placed in the
cabin appropriated by Captain Brown to Fritz's use; and then, only the
live stock remained to be shipped and the crew mustered for the vessel
to be ready for sea, as now, with her sails bent she lay along the wharf
at Providence, waiting but to be hauled out into the stream.

She was a barque of some three or four hundred tons, riding rather high
out of the water in consequence of being mostly in ballast. In
appearance she looked somewhat wall-sided, and she had those heavy round
bows th