k, which was
often, and as often they found a warm welcome.

The watch was never called to make sail. As for myself, I had never to
be called, having thoughts of the voyage and its safe completion on my
mind to keep me always on the alert. I can truly say that I never, on
the voyage, slept so sound as to forget where I was, but whenever I fell
into a doze at all it would be to dream of the boat and the voyage.

Press on! press on! was the watchword while at sea, but in port we
enjoyed ourselves and gave up care for rest and pleasure, carrying a
supply, as it were, to sea with us, where sail was again carried on.

Though a mast should break, it would be no matter of serious concern,
for we would be at no loss to mend and rig up spars for this craft at
short notice, most anywhere.

The third day out from Bahia was set fine weather. A few flying-fish
made fruitless attempts to rise from the surface of the sea, attracting
but little attention from the sea-gulls which sat looking wistfully
across the unbroken deep with folded wings.

And the _Liberdade_, doing her utmost to get along through the common
quiet, made but little progress on her way. A dainty fish played in her
light wake, till tempted by an evil appetite for flies, it landed in the
cockpit upon a hook, thence into the pan, where many a one had brought
up before. Breakfast was cleared away at an early hour; then day of
good things happened--"the meeting of the ships."

When o'er the silent sea alone
For days and nights we've cheerless gone,
Oh they who've felt it know how sweet,
Some sunny morn a sail to meet.

Sparkling at once is every eye,
"Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!" our joyful cry
While answering back the sound we hear,
"Ship ahoy! ship ahoy! what cheer, what cheer."

Then sails are backed, we nearer come,
Kind words are said of friends and home,
And soon, too soon, we part with pain,
To sail o'er silent seas again.

On the clear horizon could be seen a ship, which proved to be our
staunch old friend, the _Finance_, on her way out to Brazil, heading
nearly for us. Our course was at once changed, so as to cross her bows.
She rose rapidly, hull up, showing her lines of unmistakable beauty, the
Stars and Stripes waving over all. They on board the great ship soon
descried our little boat, and gave sign by a deep whistle that came
rumbling over the sea, telling us that we were rec