sturdy tune.  Yet it was but human labor, so heavy and so knowing, that it had called in music to help.  It was the third mate and his gang completing his floor to receive the coming tea chests.  Yesterday he had stowed his dunnage, many hundred bundles of light flexible canes from Sumatra and Malacca; on these he had laid tons of rough saltpetre, in 200 lb. gunny-bags:  and was now mashing it to music, bags and all.  His gang of fifteen, naked to the waist, stood in line, with huge wooden beetles, called commanders, and lifted them high and brought them down on the nitre in cadence with true nautical power and unison, singing as follows, with ponderous bump on the last note in each bar:—­

[Illustration:  Song sung by labor gang.]

And so up to fifteen, when the stave was concluded with a shrill “Spell, oh!” and the gang relieved streaming with perspiration.  When the saltpetre was well mashed, they rolled ton waterbutts on it, till the floor was like a billiard table.  A fleet of chop boats then began to arrive, so many per day, with the tea chests.  Mr. Grey proceeded to lay the first tier on his saltpetre floor, and then built the chests, tier upon tier, beginning at the sides, and leaving in the middle a lane somewhat narrower than a tea chest.  Then he applied a screw jack to the chests on both sides, and so enlarged his central aperture, and forced the remaining tea chests in; and behold the enormous cargo packed as tight as ever shopkeeper packed a box—­19,806 chests, 60 half chests, 50 quarter chests.

While Mr. Grey was contemplating his work with singular satisfaction, a small boat from Canton came alongside, and Mr. Tickell, midshipman, ran up the side, skipped on the quarter-deck, saluted it first, and then the first mate; and gave him a line from the captain, desiring him to take the ship down to Second Bar—­for her water—­at the turn of the tide.

Two hours after receipt of this order the ship swung to the ebb.  Instantly Mr. Sharpe unmoored, and the Agra began her famous voyage, with her head at right angles to her course; for the wind being foul, all Sharpe could do was to set his topsails, driver, and jib, and keep her in the tide way, and clear of the numerous craft, by backing or filling as the case required; which he did with considerable dexterity, making the sails steer the helm for the nonce:  he crossed the Bar at sunset, and brought to with the best bower anchor in five fathoms and a half.  Here they began to take in their water, and on the fifth day the six-oared gig was ordered up to Canton for the captain.  The next afternoon he passed the ship in her, going down the river, to Lin Tin, to board the Chinese admiral for his chop, or permission to leave China.  All night the Agra showed three lights at her mizzen peak for him, and kept a sharp lookout.  But he did not come:  he was having a very serious talk with the Chinese admiral; at daybreak, however, the gig was reported