when no observation has lately been
taken. We had to keep a bright look-out not to miss the islands. I
felt especially anxious about the matter. Should we run past them, we
might, after all, be compelled to put into an American port to repair
the ship, and my return home might be still further postponed.

The morning came; the day wore on. No land was in sight. My heart sank
within me. Over and over again I went to the main-topmast-head to look
out for the group of rocks I so anxiously desired to see.

At length, just on the starboard bow, I caught sight of a blue mound
rising out of the water. I hurried below to tell the captain. In a
couple of hours we were safely at anchor within Saint George's harbour.

I was in hopes that the brig would be quickly repaired, and that we
should be allowed to proceed on our voyage. However, as it turned out,
an agent of the owner's resided there. He ordered the brig to be
surveyed. The surveyor was connected with the chief shipbuilder of the
place. He pronounced her unfit to proceed on her voyage without a
thorough repair. The cargo was consequently discharged, and the crew
were paid off. Captain Tooke regretted this exceedingly, but could not
help it. He said that he should have been perfectly ready to take the
brig home, with a new mast and a little caulking in her upper works,
which could be got at simply by heeling her over. However, he had to
submit.

He not only paid us our wages, but the wages which were due to the poor
fellows who were lost, and also the value of the spars which had been
given to him by the Bremen captain. Thus I found myself possessed of
more money than I had had in my pocket since I had been pressed. The
question was now, how I could most speedily reach England. I took
counsel with La Motte. He observed, that the longest way round is often
the shortest way there; and that, perhaps, by going to some port in the
United States, we might more quickly get to Europe, as there was no
vessel in harbour bound there at that time.

Just as we had arrived at this determination, a homeward-bound West
Indiaman, which had parted from her convoy, put into the harbour. She
had lost several men by yellow fever, and her captain, who came on
shore, was very glad to ship us the moment we offered. He took all the
men who had been paid off from the _Fair Rosamond_.

Once more we were under weigh for Old England. The _Jane_ was a fine
ship, belonging t