From off thy shore a weed is cast--
Swiftly, in thy resistless sway,
In eddying currents, sweeping past,
'Tis borne, unheeded, far away.

Like thine, the sweeping tide of Time,
Rolls onward ever to the shore
Of that uncertain, unknown clime,
From which it may return no more;

And on its flow, my brittle life
Drops down, uncared for, to _that_ sea,
Where, 'midst the dark waves' stormy strife,
It soon shall sink, and cease to be.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Commodore arrives at last--Preparations for a Start--Delay
--Washington's Birthday--The Clipper Challenge--Prisoners
from her--Homeward Bound!--Reflections on Leaving--Case of
Small-Pox--Second visit to Anger.

The flag-ship being now daily expected, we unmoored, and came down to
Macao, awaiting her arrival in the outer Roads. Lay there, rolling, with
occasional trips on shore, until the fourth of February, when the
Commodore's broad pendant hove in sight. He anchored in the roads: and
after we had reported, ordered us, by signal, to accompany him to
Hong-Kong. Here we anchored, and remained until the squadron were all
assembled, when we were ordered back to Macao, to take in provisions for
the voyage home, and remove the invalids from the hospital. This
accomplished, we returned again to the rendezvous, to receive our final
orders, which were to relieve us from duty on the station, and send us
home!

Were delayed by the investigation of a mutiny on board the American
clipper ship Challenge, the ringleaders being then in custody in the
Hong-Kong jail, and the case before the United States Consul.

Washington's birthday came round again whilst we remained in the harbor
of Hong-Kong, and was celebrated by our squadron, the guns of which
made quite a noise in the ears of the descendants of those who had once
denounced him as a rebel.

Took an opportunity to look at the "Challenge." She is an immense
vessel, 243 feet long, with 43 feet beam, and over 2,000 tons burthen,
but so beautifully proportioned as not to appear above 1,200. Her spars
are immense, and she spreads a _cloud_ of canvas. Depend upon it, she
will not belie her name, but with any kind of a chance, is destined to
make a voyage, which she may confidently _challenge_ the navies of the
world to beat!

On the twenty-fifth of February, the prisoners from the Challenge were
sent on board, six in number; and at 6 bells P. M. got up anc