"I must have that hog down," said the captain. "Here--Nick--Tim--Peter--Paul! up to the masthead and lower the hog!" Not a man would stir. The crew loudly swore that they would not go up there for any captain that ever trod a quarter-deck. "You go up," said the captain to the mate. "Nary time," said the mate. "My business is to navigate the ship,--not to fight the devil. You go up." The captain laid hold on a rope, and was about to ascend, when loud squeals were heard, and cries of "Murder! murder! murder!" from the masthead. The captain let go his hold and fell on the deck. "There are more than a dozen devils up there!" shouted the mate. "What's to be done?" said the captain, rising on his feet and looking aghast. "Let them alone until we get into port, and then hire a lot of priests to sprinkle the ship with holy water," said the mate. "I'll have her swabbed with barrels of holy water!" exclaimed the captain. "Thank God, it is daylight," said the mate. It was now morning, and the ship sailed on, and was soon abreast of the castle of Santa Cruz. "American ship ahoy!" was shouted through a trumpet from the ramparts. "Hello!" was the response from the deck. "How many days did you come from?" "Baltimore--forty-two." "All right!" And the vessel glided along, and, passing the Sugar-Loaf, soon anchored in the spacious and beautiful harbor of the Brazilian metropolis, with the hog at her masthead. CHAPTER XXXIX. "Why does your captain carry that hog at his masthead?" This question was asked by a midshipman who came alongside in a boat and was recognized by Toney and the Professor as a former acquaintance. They and Tom Seddon were seated in the boat and about to go ashore. "Every man has his idiosyncrasies," said the Professor. "Van Tromp sailed through the British Channel with a broom at his masthead; and our captain never enters a harbor without a hog hanging on his foretop-gallant yard." "Van Tromp's broom was a symbol of victory," said the young officer. "And our captain's hog is a symbol of good living," said the Professor. "He wishes to have it known that, while other vessels come into port on short rations, he carries an abundance of grub wherever he goes," said Toney. "He must be an eccentric old codger," said the middy. "He is, indeed," said the Professor. "Here we are," said the middy. And he sprang on shore, followed by his three friends, whose sea-legs were of very little use to them; for they staggered about as if they had freely participated in the conviviality of the preceding night and still sensibly felt its effects. They managed at length to waddle along with the earth apparently rocking and rolling under their feet, and finally reached Pharoux's Hotel in Palace Square, where comfortable quarters were secured.