62 THE CRATER; speedy and excellent sale was made of her cargo. So very lucrative did Mark make this transaction, that, finding himself with assets after filling up with teas, he thought himself justified in changing his course of proceeding. A small American brig, which was not deemed fit to double the capes, and to come on a stormy coast, was on sale. She could run several years in a sea as mild as the Pacific, and Mark purchased her for a song. He put as many useful things on board her as he could find, including seve ral cows, &.c. Dry English cows were not difficult to find, the ships from Europe often bringing out the animals, and turning them off when useless. Mark was enabled to purchase six, which, rightly enough, he thought would prove a great acquisition to the colony. A plentiful sup ply of iron was also provided, as was ammunition, arms, and guns. The whole outlay, including the cost of the vessel, was less than seven thousand dollars; which sum Mark knew he should receive in Philadelphia, on account of the personal property of Bridget, and with which he had made up his mind to replace the proceeds of the san dal-wood, thus used, did those interested exact it. As for the vessel, she sailed like a witch, was coppered and cop per-fastened, but was both old and weak. She had quar ters, having been used once as a privateer, and mounted ten sixes. Her burthen was two hundred tons, and her name the Mermaid. The papers were all American, and in perfect rule. The governor might not have made this purchase, had it not been for the circumstance that he met an old acquaint ance in Canton, who had got married in Calcutta to a pretty and very well-mannered English girl a step that lost him his berth, however, on board a Philadelphia ship. Saunders was two or three years Mark s senior, and of an excellent disposition and character. When he heard the history of the colony, he professed a desire to join it, en gaging to pick up a crew of Americans, who were in his own situation, or had no work on their hands, arid to take the brig to the Reef. This arrangement was made and carried out; the Mermaid sailing for the crater, the day before the Rancocus left for Philadelphia, having Bigelow on board as pilot and first officer; while Woolston shipped an officer
