THE HOME PORT. 285

It can well be fancied how hard and continuously the
little crew must have laboured, before the pleasing knowl-
edge was theirs that they were within a few hours’ sail of
the home port, and this nerved each man, weary and
exhausted though he was, to renewed exertions.

Bart, yet unable to move around save with difficulty
and at the expense of considerable pain, obeyed orders as
if he had never received any injury, and worked with his
two comrades in the mutiny so energetically that the
absence of the four men was hardly felt.

Heavy weather continued until at eight o’clock on the
morning of Tuesday, February 19th, when a pilot-boat
was sighted standing down for the brig, and the voyage
was virtually at an end.

Thirty-two hours later the anchor was let go at the
quarantine ground in New York Bay, and the voyage
of the bark Progressive Age had come to an end in one
hundred and nine days from the time of her leaving port.

Ben’s first voyage was a success, and against most
adverse circumstances.

“JT have gained my reputation as a sea-captain, and also
the dearest little wife in the world,” he said, triumphantly,
as, when the brig was swinging at her anchors, and the
crew engaged in “snugging down,” he came into the
cabin where Miss Dunham was sitting.

“T congratulate you on the first portion of your suc-
cess, captain, and can only say that I hope others may
have reason to do the same on the second part.”

«So far as that is concerned, it is not necessary I should