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The sun was out bright , the sea of a deep blue , fringed with the white foam of the waves which ran high before a strong southwester ; our solitary ship tore on through the water , as though glad to be out of her confinement ; and the ice islands lay scattered upon the ocean here and there , of various sizes and shapes , reflecting the bright rays of the sun , and drifting slowly northward before the gale . English Ben was sent aft , and in a few moments came forward , looking as though he had received his sentence to be hung . There he lay , upon a mat , on the ground , which was the only floor of the oven , with no medicine , no comforts , and no one to care for , or help him , but a few Kanakas , who were willing enough , but could do nothing . A regulation of the port forbids any ballast to be thrown overboard ; accordingly , our long-boat was lined inside with rough boards and brought alongside the gangway , but where one tub-full went into the boat , twenty went overboard . I told him that if any one was sent on board the brig , I should pity him , and be willing to help him to that , or almost any amount ; but would not speak of it as an exchange . The otter are very numerous among these islands , and being of great value , the government require a heavy sum for a license to hunt them , and lay a high duty upon every one shot or carried out of the country . The head sails were backed , the windlass came round " slip - slap " to the cry of the sailors ; - " Hove short , sir , " said the mate ; - " Up with him ! At morning and night we had a quart of tea to each man ; and an allowance of about a pound of hard bread a day ; but our chief article of food was the beef . The tea for the cabin is , of course , made in the usual way , in a tea-pot , and drank with sugar . What firing of guns , and ringing of bells , and rejoicings of all sorts , in every part of our country ! Finding the rain running down upon us , and our jackets getting wet through , and the rough , knotty-logs , rather indifferent couches , we turned out ; and taking an iron pan which we brought with us , we wiped it out dry , put some stones around it , cut the wet bark from some sticks , and striking a light , made a small fire in the pan . I went forward with a light heart , but feeling as angry , and as much contempt as I could well contain between my teeth . The Diana went out of the bay in company with us , but parted from us off Point Pinos , being bound to the Sandwich Islands . My companion on the yard was a lad , who came out in the ship a weak , puny boy , from one of the Boston schools ; - " no larger than a spritsail sheet knot , " nor " heavier than a paper of lampblack , " and " not strong enough to haul a shad off a gridiron , " but who was now " as long as a spare topmast , strong enough to knock down an ox , and hearty enough to eat him . We were going along at a great rate , dead before the wind , with studding-sails out on both sides , alow and aloft , on a dark night , just after midnight , and everything was as still as the grave , except the washing of the water by the vessel 's side ; for , being before the wind , with a smooth sea , the little brig , covered with canvas , was doing great business , with very little noise . I got my oil-cloth clothes , south-wester , and thick boots all ready , and turned into my hammock early , determined to get some sleep in advance , as the boat was to be alongside before daybreak . Thus much was certain , and was soon known , fore and aft ; and when we went in the gig to take him off , he shook hands with the people on the beach , and said that he never expected to see Santa Barbara again .