Presently two of the lay brothers produced their fiddles, and as I was
determined not to be outdone, I volunteered a song, and, as a key--stone
to my politeness, sent to Don Hombrecillo's for the residue of my
brandy, which, coming after the bad wine, acted most cordially, opening
the hearts of all hands like an oyster knife, the Superior's especially,
who in turn drew on his private treasure also, when out came a large
green vitrified earthen pipkin, one of those round nbottomed jars that
won't stand on end, but must perforce lie on their sides, as if it had
been a type of the predicament in which some of us were to be placed ere
long through its agency. The large cork, buried an inch deep in green
wax, was withdrawn from the long neck, and out gurgled most capital old
Xeres. So we worked away until we were all pretty well fou, and anon we
began to dance; and there were half--a--dozen friars, and old Justo and
myself, in great glee, jumping and gamboling about, and making fools of
ourselves after a very fantastic fashion--the witches in Macbeth as an
illustration.
At length, after being two months in Panama, and still no appearance of
the Bandera, I received a letter from the Admiral, desiring me to rejoin
the Wave immediately, as it was then known that the line of battle ship
had returned to the River Plate. Like most young men, who have hearts
of flesh in their bosoms, I had in this short space begun to have my
likings--may I not call them friendships?--in this, at the time I write
of, most primitive community; and the idea of bidding farewell to it,
most likely for ever, sank deep.
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