in the land," and the heart of man
dissolved away in tenderness.

No sooner did the first rays of cheerful Phoebus dart into the
windows of Communipaw than the little settlement was all in motion.
Forth issued from his castle the sage Van Kortlandt, and, seizing a
conch-shell, blew a far-resounding blast, that soon summoned all his
lusty followers. Then did they trudge resolutely down to the waterside,
escorted by a multitude of relatives and friends, who all went down, as
the common phrase expresses it, "to see them off."

The good Oloffe bestowed his forces in a squadron of three canoes, and
hoisted his flag on board a little round Dutch boat, shaped not unlike a
tub, which had formerly been the jolly-boat of the Goede Vrouw. And now,
all being embarked, they bade farewell to the gazing throng upon the
beach, who continued shouting after them even when out of hearing,
wishing them a happy voyage, advising them to take good care of
themselves, not to get drowned, with an abundance other of those sage
and invaluable cautions generally given by landsmen to such as go down
to the sea in ships and adventure upon the deep waters. In the
meanwhile, the voyagers cheerily urged their course across the crystal
bosom of the bay and soon left behind them the green shores of ancient
Pavonia.

They coasted by Governor's Island, since terrible from its frowning
fortress and grinning batteries. They would by no means, however, land
upon this island, since they doubted much it might be the abode of
demons and spirits, which in those days did greatly abound throughout
this savage and pagan country.

Just at this time a shoal of jolly porpoises came rolling and tumbling
by, turning up their sleek sides to the sun and spouting up the briny
element in sparkling showers. No sooner did the sage Oloffe mark this
than he was greatly rejoiced. "This," exclaimed he, "if I mistake not,
augurs well; the porpoise is a fat, well-conditioned fish, a burgomaster
among fishes; his looks betoken ease, plenty, and prosperity; I greatly
admire this round fat fish, and doubt not but this is a happy omen of
the success of our undertaking." So saying, he directed his squadron to
steer in the track of these alderman fishes.

Turning, therefore, directly to the left, they swept up the strait
vulgarly called the East River. And here the rapid tide which courses
through this strait, seizing on the gallant tub in which Commodore Van
Kortlandt had embarked,