I have caused her trouble enough as it is."
"That's, right, my lad," the captain said. "I like your spirit. Have
you money enough to pay for your hotel expenses while you are waiting
for a ship?"
"Yes, thank you, sir. The French captain said I had fairly earned
wages, and gave me ten napoleons when he started."
"He must have been a good sort of fellow," the captain said; "though I
wish we had caught him for all that. Well, good-by, and a pleasant
voyage home."
Ralph put up at a quiet boarding-house, kept by a Mulatto woman. He
and Jacques got a fresh rig-out of clothes at once, and went down to
the port to inquire about ships. Ralph was greatly amused at the
aspect of the streets crowded with chattering negroes and negresses,
in gaudy colors. The outlay of a few pence purchased an almost
unlimited supply of fruit, and Ralph and his companion sat down on a
log of wood by the wharves and enjoyed a feast of pine apples,
bananas, and custard apples. Then they set about their work. In an
hour both were suited. Jacques Clery shipped as a foremast hand on
board an American trading schooner, which was about to return to New
York; while Ralph obtained a berth before the mast in a fine bark that
would sail for England in a few days.
Next morning they said good-by to each other, for Jacques had to go on
board after breakfast.
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