My First Cruise, and Other stories

  STORY ONE, CHAPTER 8.

  CONCLUSION.

  We had a fast run across the Atlantic. The news of my supposed loss hadreached the frigate, and the kind way in which my uncle and the gun-roomofficers, as well as my messmates, received me, showed me that I hadbeen regretted--of course a midshipman cannot expect to create any verygreat sorrow when he loses the number of his mess, as an admiral or apost-captain would. I did not meet with any other very extraordinaryadventures during the remainder of the four years the frigate was incommission. I found the South American station a very pleasant one. Imight have found Rio dull, but that I was constantly sent away in theLiberia, which did good service by capturing several slavers. We usedto make her look like what she formerly was, and in that way she actedas a decoy, and entrapped several slavers who approached her withoutsuspicion. We had one long trip round Cape Horn, and visited the coastof Chili and Peru. That was the most interesting we took. I feel thatI have a right to be considered something of a sailor after havingdoubled Cape Horn, and crossed and re-crossed the Line. At length thefrigate was ordered home; the schooner remained at Rio to do duty asbefore as a tender. On our way we touched at Sierra Leone. My unclegave me leave to go on shore. I hurried off to the college, for I wasanxious to hear something of my old friend and the preserver of my life.Three years had passed since I had seen him. He was then little morethan fourteen. I was shown into a room where several pupil teacherswere engaged in giving instruction to a number of young lads and boys.One teacher was evidently taking the lead of the rest. In very eloquentlanguage he was explaining the truths of Christianity to a class of mostattentive listeners. Though the skin of the speaker was black, thevoice was that of an educated Englishman. I waited till he had ceasedspeaking. There is Mr Pongo, said the person who had conducted me tothe room. His eye brightened as he saw me, and in an instant springingfrom his desk his hands were warmly pressed in mine. What immenseprogress he has made! how little I have advanced since we parted! Ithought as I looked at him and heard him describe his work. I felthumbled and ashamed of myself. I thought over the matter, and resolvedin future to employ my time, as far as I had the power, to the advantageof myself as well as that of others. Pongo came on board the frigate,and was received most kindly by my uncle and all the officers. He was,I found, training to become a missionary of the Gospel among hiscountrymen, and hoped ultimately to be ordained. I have sincefrequently heard from him. We spent only three days at Sierra Leone,and arrived at last safely in old England, and thus ended my firstcruise.