, my voyage in her, to which this story only refers--what
relates to myself further on is of no concern to any one!

However, not to leave you in suspense, I'll tell you how I got back home
again to old England, although it was by a terribly roundabout route.

When we arrived at the _Iolanthe's_ port, Captain Billings took passage
home in the mail-steamer for Mr Macdougall and himself, as well as for
three of the hands who wished to return to their native country; but the
rest preferred to run the risk of picking up a ship and working their
way back in that way, so as to have some little money on the landing,
the wages due to them from the _Esmeralda_ ceasing from the day of her
loss.

The men of the mercantile marine have to put up with some hardship in
this respect, for, when a vessel in which they may have shipped comes to
an untimely end, like our unfortunate barque, they not only lose all
their traps and personal belongings, but their wages as well--that is,
beyond the period at which they actually assisted in working the ship,
although they may have signed articles for a three years' voyage.

The skipper offered to take me home, too, but I was of the same opinion
as the majority of my late shipmates. I did not desire to go back on
Sam Pengelly's hands, like a bad penny, especially as I liked what I had
seen of the sea in spite of its perils; so, when I mentioned this to
Captain Billings, he said that although he would prefer my coming back
to England with him and waiting till he got a fresh ship, he would not
interfere with my wishes as to finding another berth at once. Indeed,
he added, he already knew of one, as an old friend of his who commanded
a ship just leaving Valparaiso for Australia had told him that he wanted
a third mate.

"And if you like," said the skipper, "I'll recommend you to Captain
Giles for the post."

"I shall be only too glad," I replied. The skipper did so; and the
whole thing was settled off-hand, I signing articles with my new captain
the same day, shortly before my late one left in the mail-steamer, which
was just on the point of starting.

I took a cordial farewell of Captain Billings, promising that as soon as
I got back to England, from the voyage I was just starting on, I would
look him up. He promised, likewise, to give me a berth on board any
ship he commanded--should the Board of Trade not withhold his
certificate after the inquiry that would be held on the loss of the