CHAPTER II.
Having formally taken the command of the Sulphur, and replaced Lieutenant Kellett in the Starling, Lieutenant Dashwood was invalided, and several of the Sulphur's crew were discharged for passage to England.
The affairs of the late consul's family having been arranged, and the necessary preparations completed for their removal, I recommenced my journey to Gorgona with five pocket chronometers. We formed a complete escort for the ladies; and, arriving shortly before them at Gorgona, made all the necessary arrangements for such comfort as could be procured on their water excursion down to Chagres.
Accompanied by Lieutenant Collinson, who was already previously prepared for my immediate departure, we stepped into a light canoe at eight the same evening, but did not succeed in reaching Chagres before noon the day following. The original agreement for this canoe, down and to return, was six dollars; but our increased number induced
