UNDER WAY.
Although there was no possibility the _America_ could leave port within
ten days, under the most favourable circumstances, Simon Ropes and I
presented ourselves on board next morning before the sun had risen, as
if fearing the privateer might get under way while we were making ready.
Having counted on surprising Master Josh by announcing that we were
to sign articles as members of the crew whenever the papers were made
ready, we were disappointed.
I believe the old man had been firmly convinced that Simon’s father and
my uncle would allow us to ship, once the desire was made known, for he
treated our coming as a matter of course, and, to our great surprise,
ceased from that moment to be the friendly friend we had ever known him.
Instead of asking if we would kindly do this or that, or explaining
that it would be to our advantage if we learned to make such a splice
or tie a particular knot, he drove us to work like slaves, and one
would have fancied that we met him for the first time on that morning.
Having partaken of a scanty breakfast, owing to our eagerness to be
on board the ship at an early hour, it was by no means pleasant to
run here or there at the old gunner’s call, or, when one was doing
his best, to be sharply reprimanded because he had not succeeded in
accomplishing more.
In fact, the change in his manner was so decided and disagreeable that
I came to believe something had gone wrong over night, and took counsel
with Simon concerning it.
The result of our conference was that we made up our minds to demand an
explanation from Master Josh, and without delay.
We were ready to obey him while he spoke us in friendly fashion, but
when it came to being ordered about as if we were hardly better than
the dirt beneath his feet, we were disposed to raise forcible and
emphatic objections.
Simon insisted that I should be the one to demand an explanation,
promising to stand close behind me meanwhile, thus showing that he was
in full accord with all I said, and without delay we sought out the old
man.
At the time he chanced to be working upon Number One gun, on the
starboard side, and although it is certain he saw us approaching, never
so much as a sign of consciousness did he give.
This seeming indifference nettled me quite as much as had his suddenly
assumed tone of command, and I broke out hotly, asking why it was that
he took unto himself so many high and mighty airs without due cause, so
far as we could understand.
The old man ceased his work very suddenly when I began to speak, and,
before having come to the end of the reproaches, I believed of a verity
he was minded to raise his hand against me.
He evidently thought better of it, however, for when I was come to an
end of words, the old gunner straightened himself up, surveying both
Simon and me from head to foot, after which he asked, in what sounded
very much like a jeering tone:
[Illustration: “THE OLD GUNNER STRAIGHTENED HIMSELF UP, SURVEYING BOTH
SIMON AND ME.”]
“Did I understand you two lads aright this morning, when it was allowed
that you’d the same as shipped aboard the _America_?”
“Of course you did,” I said, quickly, not realising what turn he was
giving to the situation. “There could have been no mistake when we said
that permission had been given us, both by Captain Ropes and my Uncle
George.”
“Then it is allowed that you are the same as members of the crew, eh?”
“How else can it be?”
“That was the way I understood it, and now hark ye, lads. Is it in your
mind that boys aboard ship are to be dandled an’ petted? Have you got
the idee that every man Jack of us must take off his hat ’cause one of
you happens to be son of the captain, an’ the other a nephew of the
owner?”
I looked at Simon, not knowing what reply to make to such a question,
and he gazed at me in mute astonishment.
“You may as well make up your minds as to what you count on bein’
aboard this ship, ’cause the matter’s got to be settled mighty
soon,” the old gunner said, solemnly. “I took it for granted that you
was rated as boys; but if it so be you’re reckonin’ on makin’ the
cruise for pleasure, an’ settin’ yourselves above the others with high
an’ lofty airs ’cause of your relationship, why, then, we’ll have a
plain understandin’ from the start. It ain’t allowed that passengers
may mosey ’round here for’ard,--leastways it never has been on any ship
I was aboard of; so you’ll excuse me for takin’ the liberty of settin’
you about a sailorman’s duties, otherwise I’ll call the crew of the
captain’s gig to escort you into the cabin, where you seem to belong.”
The old man tugged at the lock of hair over his forehead, as he scraped
with one foot, in what he believed to be the proper kind of a bow, and
started aft as if to carry out his threat.
Now, although I had never been to sea, I knew enough of a sailorman’s
life to understand that if the remainder of the crew got the slightest
inkling of what had just happened, our lives would be far from pleasant
during the cruise; therefore, I checked him by clutching at his arm,
imploringly, as I cried:
“We were in the wrong when we complained, Master Josh. Surely you have
known us long enough to believe that we no more intend to shirk our
duties than to play the part of passengers. It was because you had
changed so completely that we came to you with the questions in our
mouths.”
“Accordin’ to your talk, it seems that you understand the matter
without my goin’ into very many explanations,” the old man said, grimly.
“What you have said is the same as an explanation, sir,” Simon meekly
replied. “If you will please set us about some task we’ll agree never
to raise another question, however changed your manner may be.”
“Well, I allow it’s jest as well if we let it drop at that,” the old
gunner said, thoughtfully, “an’ for the sake of your peace of mind in
the future, I’d have you youngsters understand that, once we’re under
way, you will be expected to do such work as is given to boys, without
turnin’ rusty in case one of us don’t happen to handle you with gloves
on. Sailorin’ is a serious business, but nothin’ as compared with
privateerin’. On a cruise like the one we’re countin’ to make, it’s a
matter of jumpin’ to orders from the youngest to the oldest, an’ no
back talk. I had the idee that you was to be took under my wing, so to
speak.”
“Have you seen Simon’s father or my uncle?” I asked, quickly, now
beginning to understand why the old man had turned about so suddenly in
his behaviour.
“It may be I had a bit of a chin with one or the other of ’em last
night.”
“And you were told to jump down on us the first thing, this morning, so
that we might know our stations without being allowed time in which to
make fools of ourselves?”
“I can’t rightly say it was exactly as you put it, lad. I was given to
understand that it depended on me to make sailormen out of you, if it
so be there was stuff enough of the kind inside your young skins, an’
such bein’ the case, from this out there will be no explanations made.
When things don’t go to suit you, I’m allowin’ you’d best swallow ’em,
or take the chances of knowin’ how heavy the rope’s end is when it’s
laid on a lad’s back in proper fashion. Now then, if you’ve had enough
of this cacklin’, get to work, an’ see to it you stick at the job, for
there’ll be no sodgerin’ aboard this ship either by young or old, that
you can depend on.”
It can well be understood that from this moment we held our peace
whether affairs were to our liking or not, and, also, that we never
again presumed upon the friendliness which the old gunner had
previously displayed; but buckled with a will to whatever task we were
set at.
Before this day came to an end both of us realised fully that we were
no more than any other two boys who might have been allowed to ship
aboard the privateer, and that no favours were to be shown because of
relationship either to the captain or owner.
Now, it is not my purpose to set down here anything more than may be
necessary to a thorough understanding of what Simon Ropes and I did and
saw while we were aboard the _America_, and because there was nothing
of interest in the fitting out of the ship I count on passing over all
which occurred from the day we were taught our true station among the
crew of the ship, until she was gotten under way, at half-past eleven
o’clock on the morning of Monday, September 7th, in the year of grace
1812.
I do not reckon on making mention of the parting with my mother.
It was far too sad a scene to be described in written words, and
too sacred, according to my way of thinking, to be held up for the
amusement or derision of youngsters.
It is enough if I say that when I went on board, less than an hour
before the ship was gotten under way, my eyes were red and swollen with
much weeping, and I met Simon Ropes, who looked as if his experience
had been much the same as mine.
There was no need of words between us. Each understood what was in the
other’s heart, and at that moment, if it could have been done without
holding ourselves up to the scorn of our acquaintances, I believe of
a verity both of us would have fled from the ship, even though we had
formally signed the articles, and, therefore, would be looked upon as
deserters if we went on shore without permission.
For my part, I know that never before nor since has my heart been as
heavy as on that September morning when I made my way through the
throng of men, women, and children that lined the shore, to the boat
which was in waiting to carry me on board.
My schoolmates would have gathered around me, envious of what they were
pleased to term my good fortune. At another time their words would have
been like sweetest music in my ears; but on this morning it was as if
they mocked me, so bowed down was I by the grief born of that first
parting, and I refused to hold any converse with them, thereby laying
myself open to the charge of being “stuck up.”
I said to myself that, had I realised what it might cost a lad to leave
his mother,--the best friend he can ever know in this world,--not all
the glory nor the money that could be gained during the most successful
privateering cruise would have tempted me to bring so much of grief
upon her.
However, I had shipped as a boy aboard the _America_. There was never
a lad of my acquaintance in town who had not been made aware of this
fact, and the shame of being called a coward prevented me from doing
that which I most desired.
Simon and I were aboard the same boat, but neither spoke during the
short passage from the shore to the ship.
When we came over the rail the old gunner was standing near by and my
heart warmed toward him as never before, because of the words which he
spoke at that sad time:
“Find something with which to keep yourselves busy, lads,” he said, in
a most friendly tone. “Having been through with this kind of business
myself, I’ve got a pretty good idee of how you’re feelin’, an’ there’s
nothin’ better calculated to make you worse than idleness. Hard work
an’ plenty of it is what will do you a power of good for the next four
an’ twenty hours.”
And hard work we got.
It was as if Master Josh racked his brains to set us task after task in
rapid succession, one coming upon the heels of the other so rapidly
that we absolutely had no time for thought, and afterward I understood
how wholesome was his medicine.
As I have said, the shore was lined with people waiting for the
_America_ to get under way, and when finally the anchor was tripped, a
shout went up from the throng which thrilled our hearts, and caused me
for an instant to forget that in the town was a woman weeping,--a woman
who loved me dearly, as I did her.
Well, we were off at last, and the first and worst wrench caused by the
breaking of home ties was over, so far as I was concerned, save that it
left my heart sore and bruised.
By noon we were off Baker’s Island heading due southeast, and I
realised that the voyage was really begun, when the good ship rose and
fell upon the ocean swell with a motion well calculated to upset the
stomach of a landsman.
Simon Ropes and I considered ourselves fairly good sailormen, and yet,
before night came, we were paying the same penalty, and in quite as
severe a form, as the veriest landsman who ever ventured outside the
harbour.
This sickness was, in a certain degree, a benefit, since it caused
us to forget the loneliness which had come upon us with the parting,
and not until eight and forty hours had passed did we venture to show
ourselves above the gun-deck.
Once in the open air, after our long sojourn below, it was as if we had
suddenly emerged upon a scene of warfare.
The ship was under easy canvas, and needed but little conning. Both
watches were on deck, and the third officer, Mr. Tibbetts, was
instructing the crew in the use of small arms, Captain Ropes and the
remainder of his officers acting as spectators, but taking a hand, now
and then, in the lessons.
I may as well say here that, from this time forth, whenever the weather
permitted, and there were no important tasks to be performed, the men
spent their time working the great guns, or drilling with small arms,
and such practice never came to an end throughout the cruise, however
expert we grew to be.
No one gave any heed to Simon and me, until Master Josh chanced to
espy us, and then, although we were feeling far from well, it became
necessary for us to join in the drill.
We left port at noon on Monday, and had not attempted to get out of our
hammocks until Wednesday was well-nigh spent.
By the time supper was served, however, we were quite ready for the
food, thanks to the labour performed, although it was dished up in
anything rather than a palatable fashion, as compared with what we had
been accustomed to in our homes.
I was not a weak-stomached lad; but sitting around a mess-kid, filled
with greasy-looking stuff, which was given the name of hash, and taking
my share with half a dozen tarry-handed sailors, who were neither
careful of their person nor their language, drinking, if one drank at
all, the odd-looking stuff which was called tea, would have destroyed
the appetite that had come upon me, save for the fact that I had fasted
so long.
Before a week passed, however, Simon and I were equal to the emergency,
and in good condition to get our full share of whatsoever was served,
save when it came to the allotment of rum, of which each man had half
a pint poured into his pannikin, twice a day, and at this our stomachs
rebelled. We never could bring ourselves to drink it, but traded the
stuff for whatsoever our messmates chose to offer in exchange.
Until Thursday night we had such weather as would delight fresh-water
sailors, with, perhaps, a trifle overmuch wind, in the opinion of
landsmen, and then came our first experience of a storm at sea, when
the ship rose and fell, seeming now to throw herself against the great
walls of water, or again rolling until it was as if she lay completely
on her beam ends.
The howling of the wind, the rattle of cordage, the groaning of
timbers, and the shrieking of the waters when they leaped inboard,
as if eager to overwhelm us, was sufficient to terrify all save the
stoutest-hearted, and yet, after a time, even before the gale was at
its height, Simon and I came to take it all quite calmly. By observing
those around us, we could see that there was not even the shadow of a
fear in the hearts of any, because all knew full well the strength and
staunchness of the ship, and to them the gale was a friendly one, since
it carried them more swiftly in the desired direction.
Since Master Josh had taken us under his wing, we were assigned to the
same watch with him, and although, where the crew was so large, there
was absolutely nothing for boys to do, the old man never allowed us to
shirk our duties in this respect.
We were forced to remain on deck, exactly as if the welfare of the ship
depended upon our being there, and no exception was made during this
first storm.
“You may as well take all that comes to a sailorman’s lot, lads,”
Master Josh said, when we were ordered to the spar-deck, on the morning
after the storm had burst upon us, while the ship was tumbling,
plunging, and pitching at such a rate that the most experienced of the
crew were forced to clutch at this thing or that, in order to make
their way forward or aft. “If you get in the habit of stayin’ below,
just ’cause there happens to be a little breeze, your chances of ever
bein’ rated as able seamen will be small.”
We literally clawed our way up on the spar-deck, Simon shouting in my
ear, for the din was so great that only by the severest exertions could
he make himself heard:
“If this is what Master Josh calls a ‘breeze,’ I hope we may never be
afloat in one of his gales.”
Our coming on deck was needless, since no one called upon us for any
service, and we would have been unable to perform the slightest task
even had it been required.
We took up our stations near the foremast, where we might the better
hold ourselves steady, and there remained, knowing full well that we
were not adding to our store of knowledge in the slightest degree.
So far as making sailormen of ourselves was concerned, we might just as
well have remained in the hammocks on the gun-deck, and it would have
been vastly more comfortable, for we were wet to the skin within five
minutes after having come above.
Save for the fact that the men went about their duties unconcernedly,
with no show of alarm, and behaving much as if this sort of weather was
not only to be expected but pleasing, I should have believed the ship
was in the greatest danger, and in truth it was many minutes before I
could look up at the waves, which now and then towered far above us,
without feeling positive that death was very near at hand.
After a time, however, we became in a certain degree accustomed to the
tumult, and found it possible to watch what was going on around us with
some degree of intelligence.
I noticed with mild curiosity that five men were on the maintopmast,
and wondered whether it was their purpose to snug down the canvas, or
if the captain had it in his mind to show more sail to the howling wind.
They were so nearly above me that I could not clearly observe their
movements, and while I stood gazing at them, rather because I had
nothing else with which to occupy my mind than that their movements
particularly interested me, a sharper gust of wind than we had so far
felt came swooping down upon us, causing the ship to lay over until her
yard-arm ploughed off the tops of the white-capped billows.
The little company aloft continued at their task as if there was
nothing in the situation to cause alarm, and slowly, inch by inch as
it were, the gallant craft came up nearly to an even keel, only to be
whirled back once more by what was like unto a cloud of wind, and then
was mingled with the shrieking and howling and hissing the sound as of
splintering wood.
Even as I gazed the spar was carried away, the heavy ropes snapping
like whip-cords under a tremendous strain.
It was as if my heart stood still, and breath failed me when those five
brave fellows, one of whom lived in Salem within a stone’s throw of
my mother’s dwelling, were engulfed in that angry sea, upon which it
seemed as if no craft smaller than our ship could possibly live.
Fortunately, others beside myself had seen the disaster, and then,
although I did not realise it at just that moment, we came to
understand of how much advantage was the constant drill and practice to
which the men had been subjected since the hour of leaving port.
Captain Ropes chanced to be on deck at the fatal instant, and there was
no more of confusion or apparent excitement when the ship was put about
than if we had been executing some ordinary manœuvre in fair weather.
At the first cry betokening danger every man went to his station, and
the orders which came from the quarter-deck were obeyed almost as soon
as spoken, with such effect that it seemed to me as if no more than
three minutes elapsed before our course was completely changed.
I came to understand, however, that much more time had passed than I
supposed, on seeing how far away was the splintered spar to which our
shipmates were clinging, knowing full well that whatsoever of aid was
possible in such an angry tumult of waters would be given them.
But for the fact of having been on board the _America_ at this time, I
could set down a most thrilling description of what might have occurred
from the moment the spar was carried away until the half-drowned men
were brought aboard; but having been there, I am forced to say it was
all as commonplace, and the work performed as methodically, as during
the simplest manœuvre which can be imagined.
In less than half an hour our five messmates were with us once more,
and all hands were engaged in making ready a new spar.
The extra amount of labour required, and the short deviation from
our course, appeared to Simon and me to be the only result of this
accident; but when we were below once more, where we could hear the
men yarning and arguing as sailors will, I came to understand that the
mishap might work serious mischief in the future.
One and all of the crew insisted that we had begun the voyage with a
bad omen; that this breaking of a new spar when we were hardly more
than out of port, was a sign that the cruise would be a disastrous
one, more particularly since it occurred on a Friday, and the foremost
among the croakers was none other than Master Joshua Seabury, he whom
Simon Ropes and I looked up to as the ablest, bravest seaman that ever
jockeyed a yard-arm.