The captain had been tried by the Admiralty Court at Vancouver, and its verdict had acquitted him of blame.

But that was insufficient comfort.

A sterner court would examine the case in Sydney--the Court of Directors, the lords of a company in whose ships the captain had served as mate a number of years.

This was his first voyage as captain.
The officers of our ship were hearty and companionable young men, and they entered into the general amusements and helped the passengers pass the time.

Voyages in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are but pleasure excursions for all hands.