The authors being blessed with ordinary human perception, it is not strange that they fully realize their own superiority to their companions in point of virtue, manliness, good-seamanship, personal appearance, adaptability, etc., etc. They have thought it simply honorable, therefore, to separate individual traits and experiences, each by themselves, and redistribute them without prejudice or partiality among the entire quartette. As the effect of this generosity has been to cause some doubt on the part of each member of the expedition as to his own personal identity, it is certain that no one of them can be successfully reconstructed by any outsider. How unalloyed a blessing the public thus enjoys, is not for the self-renouncing authors to point out in detail. * * * * * P. S. BY THE COOK. It has been found impracticable to prevent the Commodore from causing to be inserted in the following pages certain efforts of his own which he is pleased to denominate "Sketches." He is apparently actuated by the hope that they will pass for professional work. The real Artist of the expedition, however, being solicitous regarding his own reputation, wishes it distinctly understood that he is responsible only for those illustrations which are signed by him in full, and has deputed the Cook to warn the public to this effect. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 15 I. GETTING UNDER WAY 21 II. COOKS AND COFFEE POTS AND SEAMANSHIP 38 III. THE COOK STUDIES NAVIGATION 49 IV. THE WRECK OF THE ROCHEFORT 68 V. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW 80 VI. MY NATIVE LAND FAREWELL 88 VII. GARRISON LIFE 111 VIII. THE BEGINNING OF ACADIA 129 IX. AREAS OF RAIN 145 X. ACADIA 166 XI. SEVERAL OTHER DAYS 181 XII. A CHANGE OF SCENE 206 XIII. SWIFT WATER 212 XIV. MORE RAPIDS 223 XV. THE BEGINNING OF THE END 229 APPENDIX 249 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE