Strange to say, I received somewhat better treatment after this
occurrence, though it was not from any remorse at what had happened, or
that either mate or captain had grown more humane or friendly. The
reason was very different. It was because both perceived that what they
had done had produced an unfavourable impression upon the crew. Many of
the men were friends and admirers of Brace, and, along with him,
disapproved altogether of the conduct of the officers, so that in the
forecastle and around the windlass there was a good deal of disaffected
talk after this event, often spoken loudly enough. Brace, by his
behaviour in leaping overboard to the rescue, had gained favour--for
true courage always finds admirers whether they be rude or refined--and
the number of Brace's friends was increased by it. I heard that he had
really interfered when I was being forced aloft, and had shouted out
contradictory orders to those of the mate. This accounted for the
confusion I had noticed on deck, and which was the result of several of
his friends endeavouring to restrain him, while others were joining him
in his appeal.
Both Captain and mate on the quarter-deck had heard all this, but
pretended not to notice it. Had it been any other man than Brace they
would have instantly put him in irons, or punished him still more
severely,--especially if he had chanced to be one of the weaker and less
popular of the crew. As it was, they took no steps in the matter, and
no one was punished for the expressions of remonstrance that had been
used. But both captain and mate had noted the disaffection; and that
was the reason why I was afterwards treated with more humanity, or
rather with less cruelty--for insults and indignity were still
occasionally offered me by one or the other.
I was from this time permitted to practise with the sailors, and had
less of the dirty work to do. A sort of simple fellow, the Dutchman
already mentioned--who was also much played upon,--shared with me the
meaner drudgery, and had more than half of the spleen which the captain
and mate must needs spend upon somebody. Indeed, the poor Dutchman,
who, although a harmless creature, was a wretched specimen of humanity,
came well-nigh being killed by their cruelty; and I have no doubt but
that the injuries inflicted upon him, while on board the _Pandora_,
would have brought him to an earlier grave than Nature designed for him,
had it not been his sad fate to meet death at a still earlier period,--
as I shall have occasion to relate.
The cruelties committed upon this man by the captain and mate of the
_Pandora_ would be incredible if told,--incredible, because it would
scarce be believed that the human heart is capable of such want of
feeling. But it seems to be a law of wicked natures, that where cruelty
has once commenced its career and meets with no resistance on the part
of its victim, the vile passion, instead of being satisfied, only grows
stronger and fiercer, just like it is with savage beasts after they have
tasted blood. So seemed it with the officers of the _Pandora_, for if
they even had cause for revenge against this poor sailor, they certainly
took ample satisfaction; but it was just because they had no reason for
revenge,--just because there was no resistance on the part of their
victim that they delighted to torture him.
I remember many of their modes of torture. One was to tie him up by the
thumbs, so that his toes just touched the deck, and there keep him for
hours together. This position may appear easy enough to one who has
never experienced it. It is far otherwise,--it is a torture worthy of
the Inquisition. It soon elicits groans from its victim. Another mode
of punishment--or rather of amusing themselves--practised by the
worthies of the _Pandora's_ quarter-deck on this poor sailor, was to
sling him in his own belt half-way up to the yard-arm, and there leave
him dangling about. This they jocularly called "slinging the monkey,"
adopting the name of a favourite sport often practised by the sailors.
Once they shut him up in an empty cask, and kept him for several days
without food. A little biscuit and water was at length passed through
the bung-hole, which the poor wretch greedily devoured barely in time to
save himself from perishing of hunger and thirst. But there are other
modes of chastisement too horrible and too abominable to be told, all of
which were practised upon this unfortunate man--unfortunate in having no
friend, for strange to say he received but little sympathy or
commiseration from the rest of that wicked crew. Though a harmless
creature enough, he was one of those unfortunates whose habits prevent
them from making either friends or associates.
It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and
shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have
experienced. He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of
breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its
strength!
I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of
my pity or sympathy. I had need of both for myself, for although I have
said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as
I could well be.
And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of
the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I
had so ardently desired to belong to? It is quite true I was
progressing, and rapidly. Under the tutorship of Brace I was fast
becoming a sailor. In less than a week after I had made my plunge from
the royal rigging, I could climb to the royal-yard without the slightest
fear--ay, I had even in a fit of bravado gone higher, and put my hand
upon the main-truck! In a week's time I knew how to twist a gasket, or
splice a rope, as neatly as some of the sailors themselves; and more
than once I had gone aloft with the rest to reef topsails in a stiffish
breeze. This last is accounted a feat, and I had creditably performed
it to the satisfaction of my patron. Yes, it is quite true I was
speedily being transformed into a sailor; and yet I was far from being
satisfied with my situation--or rather I should say--I was miserably
ill-satisfied--perfectly wretched.
You are surprised and demand the reason. I shall give it in a few
words.
I had not been many days on board the _Pandora_ when I observed
something which I fancied odd about the ship. I first noticed the
manner and discipline, or rather want of discipline, of the crew, far
different from what I had read of in books, which told of the exact
obedience and punctilious respect between those who served and those who
commanded. It might be, however, that those of which I had read were
ships of war, and that in others the discipline was very different. As
I had no previous knowledge of seamen, or their mode of life, I
concluded that the rude behaviour of the _Pandora's_ crew might be a
fair specimen of it, and I was both pained and humiliated by the
conclusion. It was a sad realisation--or contradiction rather--of all
my young dreams about the free happy life of the sailor, and I was
disgusted both with him and his life at the very outset.
Another circumstance attracted my attention at the same time--that was
the number of hands on board the _Pandora_. She was not a very large
ship--not over 500 tons by registry. In fact she was not a "ship,"
speaking technically, but a "barque;" in other words, a ship with her
mizen-mast rigged unlike the other two, or without a "square" topsail.
In this, and a few other points, lies the difference between a barque
and a ship--though the former is also usually smaller.
The _Pandora_ was large enough for a barque,--carried a full suit of
sail, even to flying-jibs, topgallant studding-sails, and royals; and
was one of the fastest sailors I have ever known. For her size,
however, and the amount of merchandise she carried, I could not help
fancying that she had too large a crew. Not over half of them seemed to
be employed, even while wearing ship--and I was convinced that half of
them could have done the work. I had been told often--for I used to
make inquiry about such matters--that a crew of from ten or twenty hands
was sufficient for a vessel of her size; what then could the _Pandora_
want with twice that number? I counted them over and over. There were
forty of them all told, including the worthies of the quarter-deck and
Snowball in the caboose!
The circumstance made an impression upon me--somewhat undefined it is
true--but day by day, as I observed the reckless and disgusting
behaviour of both officers and men, and overheard some strange
conversations, suspicions of a most painful character formed themselves
in my mind and I began to dread that I had got into the company of real
ruffians indeed.
These suspicions were at length confirmed, and to the fullest extent.
For several days after setting sail the hatches had been down and
covered with tarpaulings. The weather had continued breezy, and as
there was little occasion to go below they had been kept thus, though
now and again a half-hatch had been lifted as something was required
from the lower deck or the hold. I myself had not been sent below on
any errand, and had never seen the cargo, though I had been told that it
consisted chiefly of brandy, and we were going with it to the Cape of
Good Hope.
After a while, however, when the weather became fine, or rather when we
had sailed into a southern latitude where it is nearly always fine, the
tarpaulings were taken off, the hatches--both main and fore--were thrown
open, and all who wished passed down to the "'tween decks" at their
pleasure.
Curiosity, as much as aught else, took me below; and I there saw what
not only confirmed my suspicions but filled me with disgust and horror.
The cargo, which was all down in the hold, and none of it on the lower
deck, certainly appeared--what it had been represented--a cargo of
brandy; for there were the great puncheons, scores of them, in the hold.
Besides these there were some boxes of merchandise, a quantity of bar
iron, and a large pile of bags which appeared to contain salt.
All this I saw without any uneasiness. It was not these that produced
within me the feeling of disgust and horror. It was a pile of
manufactured iron that lay upon the lower deck; iron wrought into
villainous shapes and hideous forms, that, notwithstanding my
inexperience, I at once recognised as shackles, manacles and fetters!
What wanted the _Pandora_ with these?
But the secret was now out. I needed to employ conjectures no longer.
The carpenter was at work upon some strong pieces of oak timber, which
he was shaping into the fashion of a grating, I perceived that it was
intended for the hatchway.
I needed no more light. I had read of the horror of the "middle
passage." I recognised the intention of the carpenter's job. I no
longer doubted that the _Pandora_ was a slaver!