A BRUTAL CAPTAIN
No one on board liked Captain Richmond. He was a surly, disagreeable
man, who liked better to sneer than to smile.
He was a great contrast to Captain Grover, with his pleasant, hearty
manners. Guy tolerated him, and treated him respectfully, but Abner
Titcomb and Luke Clark repaid his rudeness with coldness.
They had the self-respect of independent American citizens, and would
not overlook the uncalled for and studied impoliteness of the captain.
Captain Richmond had one redeeming feature. He was a good seaman. He
seemed well qualified for the command of a merchant vessel.
He was strict in his discipline, but that is always required. Captain
Grover was strict, and his crew liked him. On the other hand, there was
not a sailor who did not dislike Captain Richmond.
Among the seamen was a young fellow of nineteen, from Castine, Maine. He
was known to Abner Titcomb, who, while on a visit to that town, had
become acquainted with James Low and his family.
As Titcomb had not seen Low since he was a boy of fifteen, he did not
immediately recognize him till James called him by name. The boy seemed
very much pleased to find on board one with whom he had had a previous
acquaintance.
Titcomb was speaking to the young sailor one day when Captain Richmond
came up.
“Mr. Titcomb,” he said, “what can you have to say to one of my crew?”
The tone was insolent, and Abner Titcomb resented it.
“It happens, Captain Richmond,” he replied, “that this young fellow and
I are old acquaintances. I know him and his family.”
“That may be, sir,” returned the captain, with an incredulous sneer.
“What do you mean by that, Captain Richmond? Do you mean to doubt my
word?”
“I would have you understand, Mr. Titcomb, that I am the captain of this
ship, and I will not tolerate insolence from you or any other man!”
“There has been no insolence except on your part. I am a passenger on
this vessel, and I claim to be treated with civility.”
He looked the captain straight in the face, and there was a look of
determination in his eyes that made Captain Richmond, who was a bully,
but not brave, think he had gone far enough.
“I prefer that you should not speak to any member of my crew,” he
rejoined, as he turned abruptly away.
“James,” said Titcomb, “as I don’t wish to get you into any trouble, I
will hereafter seek opportunities to speak to you when the captain is
not on deck.”
“I wish Captain Grover were in command,” replied the boy. “_He_ was a
gentleman.”
From this time Captain Richmond seemed to transfer to James Low some of
the dislike he felt for Titcomb. The latter was not in his power, but as
James Low was only a sailor, it was a simple matter to make things
uncomfortable for him.
One morning Low appeared on deck looking pale and ill. He had malaria in
his system, and when he shipped he was not in good physical condition.
“What is the matter, James?” asked Abner Titcomb, who was struck by the
young fellow’s appearance.
“I don’t know. My head aches terribly, and I can hardly stand.”
“Why don’t you report yourself sick to the captain, and ask leave to go
to your bunk?”
“He wouldn’t believe it.”
“He would be a brute if he didn’t grant your request.”
“Hush! Here he comes!”
Captain Richmond strode on deck, and looked about him in his masterful
way.
He noticed James Low’s slow motions.
“Be lively there!” he cried. “You lazy loafer! You’re skulking!”
“Captain Richmond,” said the poor fellow, “I feel very sick. My head is
swimming.”
“Sick, are you? Sick of work, most likely,” sneered the captain.
“Indeed, sir, I am very ill. If you would kindly let me lie down for an
hour or two----”
“Why, you lazy scoundrel!” roared the captain, in a rage, “I never heard
such barefaced insolence! Up to the masthead with you, and stay there
till you are ready to do your duty!”
James Low turned a look of anguish upon the captain.
“Indeed, sir, I am very sick,” he said.
As the poor fellow spoke, his face became of a greenish hue, and he sank
to the deck, where he lay without sense or motion.
By this time Captain Richmond was intensely irritated, and in his fury
he drew back his foot and kicked the prostrate boy brutally.
The poor fellow quivered a little, but he was too far gone in
unconsciousness to make any other demonstration.
“Shame! Shame!” was heard from at least two persons who witnessed the
captain’s cruelty.
He looked sharply around, and roared out: “Who said that?”
“I did, for one,” responded Guy, pale, but his eyes flashing with
indignation.
“Don’t you dare to say it again!” cried the captain, with a volley of
oaths.
“I did, for another,” said Abner Titcomb, coming forward, his face stern
and threatening.
“You did, eh? You’ll find yourself in irons if you are not careful. I’m
not going to have any landlubber interfering with my discipline. D’ye
hear that?”
“Captain Richmond,” said Titcomb, “you are the greatest brute I ever
came across!”
“Don’t you dare to say that again!” cried the captain, almost foaming at
the mouth.
“No one but a brute would kick a sick boy!”
“Sick? He’s shamming!”
“He is not shamming, and you know that as well as I do.”
“I’ll put you in irons, sir! By heavens, you are inciting mutiny!”
“If you put me in irons, you’ll have something to put me in irons for.”
“What d’ye mean by that?”
“I mean that if you are captain of this vessel, I am a man, and I won’t
allow you to treat a poor sick sailor as you have treated James Low.”
“You won’t allow me!” yelled the captain. “You’ll see! I’ll do it again
for your gratification!” And he drew back his foot as if to kick the
prostrate figure once more.
Quick and stern came these words from Abner Titcomb:
“If you kick that boy again, Captain Richmond, by the heavens above me
I’ll fell you to the deck and kick you!”
There was something so resolute in Titcomb’s words and manner that
Captain Richmond, furious as he was, was impressed in spite of himself.
“Mr. Titcomb,” he said, “I can have you arrested and imprisoned for what
you have said.”
“If you don’t desist at once I will report your brutality to the
American consul at the first port at which we stop, and demand your
trial!”
As has already been said, Captain Richmond, though a bully, was a
coward, and he did not dare to follow up his brutal treatment, much as
he desired to do so.
“You may find that someone else will report to the consul,” he said,
sullenly. “You will find, sir, that it is a serious thing to interfere
with discipline on board ship.”
James Low moved slightly, opened his eyes, and seemed coming out of his
stupor.
Captain Richmond bent over, seized him by the shoulder, and raised him
to his feet.
“Now go below,” he said. “You will be kept on bread and water for the
next twenty-four hours.”
James Low was glad enough to creep below, and the threat did not disturb
him in the least.
Anything was better than going about his work when he was scarcely able
to stand erect.
Captain Richmond, with as much dignity as he could command, went to his
own cabin, and left the field to Titcomb and Guy.
“What do you think of such a man as that?” said Titcomb, turning to Guy.
“I never felt so indignant in my life! He is not a man, but a brute! You
saved the poor fellow, Mr. Titcomb.”
“Yes; and I mean to shield him from the captain’s malice hereafter, for
he will undoubtedly try to do him a mischief.”
“What would you have done had the captain kicked him again?”
“What would I have done? Don’t ask me. I would have treated Captain
Richmond worse than he treated James, regardless of consequences.”