adually hauled round from the southward, and thence from the westward
and north-west, hardening all the time, until at length it blew quite a
fresh gale, which sent us bowling and staggering away to the northward
and eastward under single-reefed topsails with topgallant sails over
them, reeling off our fourteen knots hour after hour, and enabling us to
hold our own for a whole day with one of the West Indian mail-boats,
homeward-bound, much, no doubt, to the chagrin and astonishment of her
officers. The breeze continued to freshen, however, and the sea to
rise, necessitating first the handing of our topgallant sails, and, a
little later on, the further reefing down of our topsails, when the
great steamer gradually drew away from us, and by next morning was out
of sight. This slant lasted us for four days, when the wind gradually
softened into a moderate sailing breeze, veering all the time until it
finally worked round from the southward once more, bringing with it
mild, genial, sunshiny weather, that carried us right up the Channel to
Portland Roads, which we entered on a lovely summer evening, nine
months, almost to a day, from the date upon which we had quitted it, at
the commencement of the voyage.

I was of course careful to have the ship's number and burgee
conspicuously displayed as we entered the roadstead, and I also observed
the precaution of standing far enough over towards the Weymouth side of
the bay to permit of the flags being distinctly made out before bringing
the ship to an anchor; the result of which was that, before the canvas
was well clewed up, a small steam launch emerged from Weymouth Harbour,
and in due time deposited my dear mother and my very good friend Mr
Richards upon the _Esmeralda's_ deck.

Of the joyous meeting that ensued--of my dear mother's smiles and tears
and caresses and ejaculations of gratitude at my safe return--and of Mr
Richards' hearty congratulations at my successful achievement--I will
say nothing; the picture may very well be left to the vivid imagination
of the reader. I need only state that, after the first bustle and
excitement of the meeting had passed over, Mr Richards drew me
carefully aside and remarked--

"It is all right, my dear boy; everything is arranged. I have put the
whole affair into the hands of Tom White--a man whom I would trust with
my very life--and he will come off to you with half a dozen `lerrets'
and a strong gang of thoroughly reliable men a