Getting the battery to rights, and caulking the screw-well, which leaks
badly when she is under way. Made some acting appointments to fill up my
officers. Received on board a fine supply of fresh provisions and
vegetables for the crew. In this beautiful island all the fruits of the
temperate and many of the torrid zone are produced. Pine-apples, pears,
plums, and melons were brought off to us.
We finished coaling, except seven or eight tons, by working until 9
P.M., when the men were fairly fagged out. Hauled the barque off, and
resolved to go out with what coal I had on board, as to finish entirely
would involve a delay of Sunday.
CHAPTER XIV.
_Sunday, 24th August--Fairly afloat--Taking command--The white
ensign--Mission of the Alabama--The Modern Tar--At the pumps--Blowing
hard--A fruitless chase--Short-handed--The Ocmulgee_.
Sunday seemed destined from the very first to be a notable day in the
annals of the new Confederate cruiser.
The morning of Sunday, the 24th August, found her afloat ready for sea;
the delicate operation of transhipping stores in an open roadstead
safely accomplished, a supply of coal on board sufficient for some weeks
of average steaming, and six of her guns mounted and ready to cast loose
for action at a moment's notice. The early hours of the morning were
occupied in washing down the decks which were covered thickly with coal,
and making matters above board as shipshape as under the circumstances
could be managed.
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