"
"Rather a hard penance; but let us first see what this movement will
amount to."
At this moment Captain Drawler descended from the wheel-house, and was
immediately besieged by a dozen angry passengers, who had resolved to
lynch him, or leave the boat,--which he dreaded more,--if satisfaction
was not given.
The stoical captain, with perfect coolness, heard their complaints and
their threats. He waited with commendable patience till they had vented
their indignation, and then informed them that he only intended to
receive a little freight at the lower city, which would not detain him
"ten minutes."
The captain's assertion, with the exception of the ten minutes, was soon
verified by the boat touching at a sort of depot for naval and military
stores. The "_freight_" which the Chalmetta was to take consisted of
several long boxes, which lay near the landing. These boxes contained
coffins, in which were the remains of some sixteen officers, who had
paid the debt of nature in the discharge of their duties in Mexico.
Henry Carroll, with a melancholy heart, witnessed the process of
conveying these boxes to the deck of the steamer.
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