I DETERMINE TO RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS--A DRUNKEN CAPTAIN--SAM SNAG, THE
MULATTO MATE--A HURRICANE AND WRECK--A NIGHT OF HORRORS.
I had seen enough of life in the outskirts of Texas to satisfy me for
the present, and as I had gone there, not from choice, but because it
was the country I could most easily reach when it was necessary to run
away from New Orleans, I felt that I could beat a retreat without loss
of self-respect. Therefore, accompanied by Peter and Ready, I returned
by the way I had come, without any adventure worthy of note, to
Galveston.
I found a vessel, the _Weathercock_, Captain Parsons, sailing
immediately for New Orleans, and, in an unfortunate moment, as it
proved, took my passage in her. I supposed that after the lapse of so
many months I should no longer be recognised in New Orleans, and having
purposed to push up the Mississippi to its sources, I did not like to be
baulked, and so determined to chance it. Ready was evidently pleased at
finding himself again on salt water, but poor Peter was very
uncomfortable.
"I hope we shan't fall in with them black fellows as cut all our throats
afore," he remarked, as he gazed on the fast-receding land. "I do wish,
sir, you'd tramp it back overland to Old England."
Peter's knowledge of geography was very limited, and I thought it
scarcely worth while to explain to him that he proposed an
impossibility.
"It would be a long tramp, even if there were a bridge; but as there is
no bridge just now, nor likely to be for some time, we must e'en go back
as we came," said I. "But as we've a good many more places to see
first, I cannot promise you a sight of the white cliffs of Old England
for some long time to come, Peter. However, if you are afraid to go on,
I will either find you employment in America, or put you on board the
first homeward-bound ship we fall in with."