Voyage of the Liberdade

Salvage of a cargo of wine--Sailors happy--Cholera in the Argentine--Death in the land--Dutch Harry--Pete the Greek--Noted crimps--Boat lost--Sail for Ilha Grande--Expelled from the port--Serious hardships.

CHAPTER IV: PAGE 20

Ilha Grande decree--Return to Rosario--Waiting opening of the Brazilian ports--Scarcity of sailors--Buccaneers turned pilots--Sail down the river--Arrive at Ilha Grande the second time--Quarantined and fumigated--Admitted to pratique--Sail for Rio--Again challenged--Rio at last.

CHAPTER V: PAGE 27

At Rio--Sail for Antonina with mixed cargo--A pampeiro--Ship on beam-ends--Cargo still more mixed--Topgallant-masts carried away--Arrive safely at Antonina.

CHAPTER VI: PAGE 30

Mutiny--Attempt at robbery and murder--Four against one--Two go down before a rifle--Order restored.

CHAPTER VII: PAGE 37

Join the bark at Montevideo--A good crew--Small-pox breaks out--Bear up for Maldonado and Floras--No aid--Death of sailors--To Montevideo in distress--Quarantine.

CHAPTER VIII: PAGE 46

A new crew--Sail for Antonina--Load timber--Native canoes--Loss of the Aquidneck.

CHAPTER IX: PAGE 51

The building of the Liberdade.

CHAPTER X: PAGE 63

Across the bar--The run to Santos--Tow to Rio by the steamship--At Rio.

CHAPTER XI: PAGE 70

Sail from Rio--Anchor at Cape Frio--Encounter with a whale--Sunken treasure--The schoolmaster--The merchant--The good people at the village--A pleasant visit.

CHAPTER XII: PAGE 76

Sail from Frio--Round Cape St. Thorne--High seas and swift currents--In the "trades"--Dangerous reefs--Run into harbour unawares, on a dark and stormy night--At Garavellas--Fine weather--A gale--Port St. Paulo--Treacherous natives--Sail for Bahia.

CHAPTER XIII: PAGE 81

At Bahia--Meditations on the discoverers--The Caribbees.

CHAPTER XIV: PAGE 84

Bahia to Pernambuco--The meeting of the Finance at sea--At Pernambuco--Round Cape St. Roque--A gale--Breakers--The stretch to Barbadoes--Flying-fish alighting on deck--Dismasted--Arrive at Carlysle Bay.

CHAPTER XV: PAGE 95

At Barbadoes--Mayaguez--Crossing the Bahama Banks--The Gulf Stream--Arrival on the coast of South Carolina.

CHAPTER XVI: PAGE 107

Ocean Currents--Visit to South Santee--At the Typee River--Quarantined--South Port and Wilmington, N.C.--Inland sailing to Beaufort, Norfolk and Washington, D.C.--Voyage ended.

DISPOSAL OF THE LIBERDADE: PAGE 117

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Diagram of the Liberdade 52

The Liberdade 62

MAP

Course of the Liberdade from Paranagua to Barbadoes 69

GREETING

This literary craft of mine, in its native model and rig, goes out laden with the facts of the strange happenings on a home afloat. Her constructor, a sailor for many years, could have put a whole cargo of salt, so to speak, in the little packet; but would not so wantonly intrude on this domain of longshore navigators. Could the author and constructor but box-haul, club-haul, tops'l-haul, and catharpin like the briny sailors of the strand, ah me!--and hope to be forgiven!

Be the current against us, what matters it? Be it in our favour, we are carried hence, to what place or for what purpose? Our plan of the whole voyage is so insignificant that it matters little, maybe, whither we go, for the "grace of a day" is the same! Is it not a recognition of this which makes the old sailor happy, though in the storm; and hopeful even on a plank in mid-ocean? Surely it is this! for the spiritual beauty of the sea, absorbing man's soul, permits of no infidels on its boundless expanse.

THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER I