This day we got under weigh, with the agent
and several Spaniards of note, as passengers, bound up to Monterey.
We went ashore in the gig to bring them off with their baggage,
and found them waiting on the beach, and a little afraid about
going off, as the surf was running very high. This was nuts to
us; for we liked to have a Spaniard wet with salt water; and then
the agent was very much disliked by the crew, one and all; and we
hoped, as there was no officer in the boat, to have a chance to
duck them; for we knew that they were such "marines" that they
would not know whether it was our fault or not. Accordingly,
we kept the boat so far from shore as to oblige them to wet their
feet in getting into her; and then waited for a good high comber,
and letting the head slue a little round, sent the whole force of
the sea into the stern-sheets, drenching them from head to feet.
The Spaniards sprang out of the boat, swore, and shook themselves
and protested against trying it again; and it was with the greatest
difficulty that the agent could prevail upon them to make another
attempt. The next time we took care, and went off easily enough,
and pulled aboard. The crew came to the side to hoist in their
baggage, and we gave them the wink, and they heartily enjoyed the
half-drowned looks of the company.
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