to run through the surf, and we went
up the beach on a heavy roller. Jimmy stood in the bow of the boat,
ready to jump and hold the rope, or "painter," as it is called, as the
surf receded. He was a little slow in jumping, consequently the boat
went back with the surf in a hurry, Jimmy's feet went from under him,
and he landed head first on the rocks. The next roller brought the boat
in again; this time we succeeded, and got everything on land. The boat
was pushed out in the surf, and was found the next day floating bottom
up. We heard afterward that it was reported we had both been drowned.

About nine o'clock I went to the hospital and told Amos what we had
done. He agreed to introduce us to a friend of his, who would take care
of us for a few days. That afternoon he brought a man with him to our
camping-place. In the evening everything was taken to a house in the
city. It very soon dawned upon us that we had got into the worst
sailors' "robbers' roost" that was in the town. Our clothing and
possessions were all locked up in a room. We were made to understand
that to remain in the house would be the best thing we could do. From
what I afterward saw in that place I had reason to believe they meant
what they said. The Vigilance Committee in San Francisco had driven all
the tough characters out of the city. Quite a number of the worst ones
went to Callao and started sailor boarding-houses and saloons. They
formed a "ring" for mutual benefit. The English consul and a number of
the Peruvian port officers were in with them. A fine crowd of robbers
they were. They kept the sailors' wages high, beyond doubt, but only for
the reason that they would have more for themselves when they cheated
the seamen out of two months' advance pay. It is always customary to
give that much on long voyages, or "deep sea trips," as they call them.
After a few days' sojourn in our quiet boarding-house, we concluded that
any change would be for the better. The landlord informed us that a
small English brig was going up the coast, and that he could ship us
both as ordinary seamen. In the English merchant marine a man cannot be
shipped unless he has a discharge from another vessel; in the American
service no papers are needed. We obtained discharges belonging to other
sailors, who had no use for them. The landlord took us to the English
consul's office. My name was to be Michael Murray. The clerk read the
law, as is customary; one rule especially--t