We had several days of pleasant weather and each day we took to the boats, and the greenies began to show great improvement in handling the oars. The thirteenth day from home was a memorable one. I supposed that the vessel was well on her way south, but a great surprise was in store for me. It was a beautiful morning, and it was not far advanced before a hazy outline appeared in the distance. As we approached, it grew more distinct, and I was so surprised and bewildered that I didn’t even think of seeking information. Soon the object developed into a huge mountain, rising right out of the sea—in fact from six to seven thousand feet in height. It was evidently at one end of an island. Before long the vessel was put in stays. Then came the order to lower the larboard boat. The greenie who belonged in the boat was told to remain on the ship, and then Jake appeared in the custody of the mates, and was told to take the greenie’s place in the boat. Jake’s face was covered with scabs and scars, and he didn’t appear so bold and defiant as he did before his encounter with the captain. Lakeum steered for the shore, which wasn’t over five hundred yards away, and I wondered what it was all about and particularly where we were going. My curiosity increased when on our arrival Lakeum shouted, “Twenty minutes shore leave.” The men scrambled out of the boat—Jake, despite his beating, the most agile of all. In a minute Lakeum and I were alone. “Aren’t you going with the boys?” he asked. “No,” I said, “I’d rather stay here. Will you tell me where we are?” “Where do you think?” “I haven’t any idea.” “Well, young man, this is one of the Azores. They call it Pico, and that mountain rising right out of the sea is one of the most wonderful things in the world.” I wanted to ask why we were there, but I knew that that was none of my business. Lakeum helped me out. “There are two reasons why we are here. You’ve noticed that we’ve had no second mate. We are going to have one in a few minutes. It is no uncommon thing now for a Portuguese to ship in New Bedford sometime ahead, and then go over to the Azores in the packet to see the folks and wait for the ship. This is our case. Mr. Silva’s his name and he must live pretty near here, for our captain had his instructions just where to put the ship in stays. Now then, don’t you see how Mr. Silva’s helped us out?” Lakeum, usually rather serious, laughed heartily. “Puzzled again? Well, just hear me. Don’t you see this is the way to get rid of Jake?” “He’ll come back, won’t he?” “Come back? We’ll never see him again, and we never want to. As a rule we don’t want a man who’s in debt to the ship to desert, but this man is dangerous, and nobody’s safe when he’s around. We are only too glad to get rid of him. We’ve given him a chance, and he’s taken it already.” “Why didn’t the captain put back to New Bedford when the fracas was over and have Jake arrested?” Again Lakeum laughed.