THE WATCH-BILL.
Shuffles struggled with the irons and with the stout men who held him
until he had exhausted himself; and then, because his frame, rather than
his spirit, was worn down, he was quiet. It was the first case of severe
discipline that had occurred on board, and it created a tremendous
sensation among the students.
Mr. Lowington stood with folded arms, watching the vain struggles of the
culprit, until he was reduced to a state of comparative calmness. He
looked sad, rather than angry, and his dignity was not impaired by the
assault upon his authority.
"Shuffles, I am sorry to see one who has been an officer of the ship
reduced to your condition; but discipline must and shall be maintained,"
said the principal. "We are on the high seas now, and disobedience is
dangerous. You led me to believe that you had reformed your life and
conduct."
"It isn't my fault," replied Shuffles, angrily.
"You had better not reply to me in that tone," added Mr. Lowington,
mildly.
"Yes, I will!"
"Mr. Topliffe," continued the principal.
"Here, sir," replied the head steward.
"You will have the brig cleared out for use."
"Yes, sir;" and the head steward went below to obey the order.
There was not a boy on board who knew what the "brig" was, though the
establishment had existed in the steerage from the time when the boys
first went on board the ship. It had never before been required for use,
and Mr. Lowington had carefully veiled every disagreeable feature of
discipline, until it was necessary to exhibit it. The brig was the
prison of the ship--the lock-up. It was located under and abaft the main
ladder, in the steerage, being an apartment five feet in length by three
feet in width. The partitions which enclosed it were composed of upright
planks, eight inches in width, with spaces between them for the
admission of light and air.
The brig had been used as a store room for bedding by the stewards, and
the students never suspected, till Shuffles' case came up, that it was
not built for a closet. Mr. Topliffe and his assistants removed the
blankets and comforters from this lock-up, and prepared it for the
reception of the refractory pupil. When the room was ready he went on
deck, and reported the fact to the principal.
"Shuffles, our discipline has always been of the mildest character,"
said Mr. Lowington, breaking the impressive silence which reigned on
deck. "I regret to be compelled to resort to force in any form; even now
I would avoid it."
"You needn't, on my account," replied Shuffles, shaking his head. "You
have done your worst already."
"Mr. Peaks, take him below, lock him up in the brig, and bring the key
to me."
The manacled rebel made another effort to resist, but the stout sailors
easily handled him, and bore him down into the steerage. He was thrust
into the brig, ironed as he was, and the door locked upon him. Shuffles
glanced at the interior of the prison, and broke out into a contemptuous
laugh. He then commenced kicking the pales of the partition? but he
might as well have attempted to break through the deck beneath.
"Shuffles," said Peaks, in a low tone, when he had locked the door, "be
a man. You act like a spoiled child now."
"I have been insulted, and abused," replied Shuffles, fiercely.
"No, you haven't. Aboard almost any ship, you would have got a knock on
the head with a handspike before this time. Don't make a fool of
yourself. You are only making yourself ridiculous now--'pon my word as
an old sailor, you are."
"I'll have satisfaction."
"No, you won't, unless you break your own head. I want to advise you, as
a friend, not to make a fool of yourself. I'm sorry for you, my lad."
"Don't talk to me."
"I can forgive you for disobeying orders, but I can't forgive you for
being a fool. Now, keep quiet, and be a man."
The well-meant effort of the boatswain to pacify the culprit was a
failure, and Peaks, going on deck, delivered the key of the brig to Mr.
Lowington. Shuffles kicked against the partition till he was tired of
the exercise.
"Young gentlemen, to-day we enter upon a new experience on shipboard,"
said the principal, without making any further allusion to Shuffles.
"Our short trips last season were so timed that we kept no regular night
watches, and, with two or three exceptions, the ship was at anchor when
you slept. Of course that is not practicable on a long voyage, and you
must all do duty by night as well as by day.
"This has been a difficult matter to arrange, for you are all too young
to be deprived of your regular sleep, though in heavy weather I am
afraid you will lose your rest to some extent. At eight o'clock this
evening the starboard watch will be on duty. We have four times as many
hands on board the Young America as are usually employed in merchant
ships, so that a quarter watch will be able to handle the ship on all
ordinary occasions. We shall, therefore, keep a quarter watch on ship's
duty at all times through the twenty-four hours.
"During the night, including the time from eight in the evening until
eight in the morning, each quarter watch will be on duty two hours, and
then off six hours; and each hand will obtain six consecutive hours'
sleep every night. At eight this evening, the first part of the
starboard watch will have the ship in charge, and all others may turn in
and sleep. At ten, the second part of the starboard watch will be
called, without disturbing any others. At twelve, the first part of the
port watch will be summoned; at two, the second part; and so on till
eight in the morning.
"The first part of the starboard watch, which turned in at ten, will
sleep till four, giving them six hours of rest all together, and they
may turn in again at six o'clock, when relieved by the second part, and
sleep till half past seven, which is breakfast time for those off duty.
"During the daytime, from eight in the morning till eight in the
evening, the same routine will be observed To-morrow, at eight in the
morning, the first part of the port watch will take charge of the ship
till ten; the second part will be off duty, and the time will be their
own, to use as they think proper. At ten, the second part will be in
charge, and the first will have their own time till twelve. All the
starboard watch, during these four hours, will study and recite. In the
afternoon the same course will be pursued with the other watch. Do you
understand it?"
"Yes, sir," replied the boys.
"By this arrangement you will average three hours of duty every night.
To-night the port watch will be on deck two hours, and the starboard
watch, whose turn will come twice, four hours; but to-morrow night the
operation will be reversed, and the port will have the deck four hours,
and the starboard but two. Two copies of the watch bill will be posted
in the steerage, and one in the after cabin. Young gentlemen, I
recommend you to study it, until you are perfectly familiar with its
requirements."
"How is it with the officers, Mr. Lowington?" asked Paul Kendall, who
was generally the spokesman for his companions.
"The officers are divided into watches in precisely the same manner as
the crew. To the starboard watch belong the first and third lieutenant,
the second and fourth master, and the first and third midshipman, which
makes one officer of each grade for each quarter watch," replied Mr.
Lowington. "Their off-time and study-time correspond with those of the
crew."
It is quite possible that the officers and crew of the Young America
understood the complicated arrangement of the principal. If they did
not, they could refer to the posted document; and, as we cannot deprive
our readers of this privilege, we insert in full, the
WATCH BILL. FIRST DAY.
_First Watch, from 8 till 12 P.M._
From 8 till 10. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the
Starboard Watch.
From 10 till 12. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the
Starboard Watch.
_Mid Watch, from 12 till 4 A.M._
From 12 till 2. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the
Port Watch.
From 2 till 4. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of the
Port Watch.
_Morning Watch, from 4 till 8 A.M._
From 4 till 6. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the
Starboard Watch.
From 6 till 8. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the
Starboard Watch.
_Forenoon Watch, from 8 till 12 A.M._
From 8 till 10. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the
Port Watch. Second Part of Port Watch off Duty. All the Starboard
Watch study and recite till 12.
From 10 till 12. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of
Port Watch. First Part of Port Watch off Duty.
_Afternoon Watch, from 12 till 4 P.M._
From 12 till 2. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of
Starboard Watch. Second Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. All
the Port Watch study and recite till 4.
From 2 till 4. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the
Starboard Watch. First Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty.
_First Dog Watch, from 4 till 6 P.M._
From 4 till 5. 2d Lieut., 1st Master, 2d Mid. First Part of the
Port Watch. Second Part of the Port Watch off Duty. All the
Starboard Watch study and recite till 6.
From 5 till 6. 4th Lieut., 3d Master, 4th Mid. Second Part of the
Port Watch. First Part of the Port Watch off Duty.
_Second Dog Watch, from 6 till 8 P.M._
From 6 till 7. 1st Lieut., 2d Master, 1st Mid. First Part of the
Starboard Watch. Second Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty. All
the Port Watch study and recite till 8.
From 7 till 8. 3d Lieut., 4th Master, 3d Mid. Second Part of the
Starboard Watch. First Part of the Starboard Watch off Duty.
_Breakfast._
Port Watch, 7-1/2 o'clock. Starboard Watch, 8 o'clock.
_Dinner._
Starboard Watch, 11-1/2 o'clock. Port Watch, 12 o'clock.
_Supper._
Starboard Watch, 5-1/2 o'clock. Port Watch, 6 o'clock.
The watch bill for the second day was the same, with the exception of
the names of the watches and quarter watches. The entire programme was
reversed by the operation of the dog watches, which substituted "port"
for "starboard," and "starboard" for "port," in the next day's routine.
When the boys were permitted to go below, they rushed to the watch
bills, and studied them faithfully, till they fully understood the
programme. Each student ascertained his duty for the night, and his
off-time and study-hours for the next day, which were included in the
first day's bill.
"I go on at twelve o'clock," said Paul Kendall, in the after cabin, when
he had examined the bill.
"And I go on deck at eight o'clock," added Joseph Haven, the first
lieutenant. "I shall have a chance to sleep from ten till four in the
morning, and an hour and a half, from six till half past seven."
"I shall have my watch below from two till breakfast time. I don't think
we need wear ourselves out under this arrangement."
"No; I thought we should be obliged to take four hours of duty at a time
on deck."
"How will it be when we have rough weather?" asked Paul.
"I don't know; I suppose we must take our chances then."
"What do you think of Shuffles' case?" added Paul.
"He will get the worst of it."
"I'm sorry for him. He behaved first rate last year, though they say he
used to be a hard fellow."
"What's the use of a fellow doing as he has done?" said Haven, with
palpable disgust. "He can't make anything by it."
"Of course he can't."
"I would rather have him in the cabin than in the steerage, for he will
not obey orders; and when he is ugly, he is a perfect tiger. I wonder
what Mr. Lowington is going to do with him. There is no such thing as
expelling a fellow in this institution now. If he means to be
cross-grained, he can keep us in hot water all the time."
The officers were too much excited by the fact that the ship was outward
bound to remain long in the cabin, and they returned to the deck to
watch the progress of the vessel. At eight o'clock the Young America was
out of sight of land, though it would have been too dark to see it ten
miles distant. The quartermaster, at the helm, struck eight bells, which
were repeated on the forecastle.
"All the first part of the starboard watch, ahoy!" shouted the
boatswain, for it was now time to commence the programme of regular sea
duty.
The first lieutenant took his place, as officer of the deck, near the
helm; the second master on the forecastle and the third midshipman in
the waist. The first part of the starboard watch were stationed in
various parts of the deck. Of the four quartermasters, one was attached
to each quarter watch. The wheel was given to two hands for the first
hour, and two were placed on the top-gallant forecastle, to act as the
lookout men, to be relieved after one hour's service. The rest of the
boys were required to keep awake, but no special duty was assigned to
them. There were hands enough on deck to "tack ship," or to take in the
sails, one or two at a time.
Though the ship was nominally in the hands and under the direction of
her juvenile officers, who performed all the duties required in working
her, yet they were closely watched by the principal, who, if there was
anything wrong, informed the captain of the fact. The commander kept no
watch, but he was responsible for every manoeuvre, and for the regular
routine of duty. Mr. Lowington seldom spoke to any other officer in
regard to ship's duty or the navigation.
When the watch was set, at eight bells, most of the boys who were off
duty went into the steerage. Some of them turned in; but the novelty of
the occasion was too great to permit them to sleep. They collected in
groups, to talk over the prospects of the voyage, and the duties
required of them, as indicated by the watch bill.
Shuffles sat on a stool in the brig, still nursing his wrath. When his
supper was carried to him by the steward, his irons had been taken off.
He refused to eat, and the food was removed. As he was now quiet, the
irons were not replaced. The prisoner was far from penitent for his
offence.
Mr. Agneau, the chaplain, was very much concerned about the prisoner. He
was shocked by his disobedience, and pained to find that one who had
done so well could do so ill. The case had been fully considered in the
professors' cabin; and Mr. Lowington declared that Shuffles should stay
in the brig till he had repented of his folly, and promised obedience
for the future. The chaplain was a tender-hearted man, and he thought
that some gentle words might touch the feelings of the prisoner, and
bring him to a sense of duty. With the principal's permission,
therefore, he paid a visit to Shuffles in the evening.
"I am very sorry to find you here, Shuffles," said Mr. Agneau, when he
had locked the door behind him.
"Has Lowington sent you to torment me?" demanded the prisoner.
"Mr. Lowington, you mean," added the chaplain, gently.
"No, I mean Lowington. When a man has abused and insulted me, I can't
stop to put a handle to his name."
"I regret to find you in such an unhappy frame of mind, my young friend.
I came here of my own accord, to do what I might to help you."
"Did you, indeed!" sneered Shuffles.
"That was my only object."
"Was it? Well, if you want to help me, you will induce Lowington to let
me out of this crib, apologize for what he has done, and give me my
place in the after cabin."
"That is plainly impossible," replied the astonished chaplain.
"Then you can't do anything for me; and I think I can take care of
myself."
"I entreat you, my young friend, to consider the error of your ways."
"There is no error in my ways, Mr. Agneau."
"You are unreasonable."
"No, I'm not. I only want what is fair and right."
"Was it right for you, Shuffles, to refuse obedience to the principal,
when he told you to go aft?"
"I have always obeyed all proper orders; and under the circumstances, I
think it was right for me to refuse."
"You fill me with amazement!" exclaimed the chaplain.
"You know it was not fair to give out the offices by last year's marks,"
protested Shuffles.
"On the contrary, I think it was entirely fair."
"I haven't anything more to say if it was," replied Shuffles, in surly
tones.
The chaplain, finding the prisoner was not in a proper frame of mind for
edifying conversation, left him, and returned to the professors' cabin.
The boys had been forbidden to go near the brig, or to speak to the
prisoner; and thus far no one had exhibited any disposition to disregard
the order. Many of them, as they passed near the brig, glanced curiously
at him. After the departure of the chaplain, Wilton sat down on a stool
near the lock-up.
"How are you. Shuffles?" said he, in a low tone.
"Come here, Wilton--will you?" replied the prisoner.
"I can't; we are not allowed to speak to you."
"What do you care for that? No one can see you."
"What do you want?"
"I want to talk with you."
"I shall be punished if I'm caught."
"You won't be caught. How are our fellows now?"
"First rate," replied Wilton, walking up and down the berth deck, rising
and looking as though nothing was going on.
"You know what we were talking about just before the row," added
Shuffles, drawing his stool up to the palings.
"You said you wouldn't trust me," answered Wilton, still pacing the deck
in front of the brig.
"You told Lowington about something he had no business to know; but I
forgive you, Wilton."
"You are very willing to forgive me, now you are in a tight place."
"It was mean of you to do it, Wilton; you can't deny that. Lowington was
on the best of terms with me when I was in the after cabin, and I might
have told him a hundred things about you."
"Didn't you tell him anything?"
"Not a word."
"Well, you are a good fellow, and I always thought you were. I couldn't
see why you turned traitor to us when we intended to spend the Fourth of
July on shore."
"I was obliged to do what I did. If I hadn't, I should have been turned
out of my office."
"Perhaps you were right, Shuffles, and we won't say anything more about
the past," replied Wilton, who was too willing to be on good terms with
the powerful malcontent, even while he was a prisoner and in disgrace.
"Wilton, I am going to be captain of this ship within ten days," said
Shuffles, in a whisper. "Now you may go and tell Lowington of that."
"Of course I shall not tell him," added Wilton, indignantly.
"I told you merely to show you that I had full confidence in you--that's
all. You can betray me if you wish to do so."
"I don't wish to do anything of the kind. Of course we shall always go
together, as we did before you were an officer."
"I shall be an officer again soon."
"What's the use of talking about such a thing?"
"I shall."
"Do you mean to get up the mutiny?"
"I do. I feel more like it now than I ever did before," replied
Shuffles; and his low tones came from between his closed teeth.
"It's no use to think of such a thing. It's too wild."
"No matter if it is; it shall be carried out."
"The fellows won't go in for it; they won't dare to do it."
"Yes, they will. I know them better than you do, Wilton. It isn't quite
time yet; but in three or four days they will be ready for anything."
"You can't bring them up to what you mean."
"Yes, I can."
"What do you expect to do, locked up in that place?" demanded Wilton,
incredulously.
"When I get ready to go out of this place, I shall go. I needn't stay
here any longer than I please."
"Do you really mean to get up a mutiny?"
"Hush! Don't call it by that name."
"What shall I call it?"
"Call it making a chain."
"I don't understand you," answered Wilton, puzzled by the expression.
"I know what I'm about, and I have got more friends in the ship than
Lowington has. And I know exactly how to manage the whole thing," added
Shuffles, confidently.
"But the fellows are all perfectly satisfied with their condition. They
wish to go to Europe, and are pleased with the prospect before them."
"Perhaps they are; and they shall all go to Europe, and travel about
without being tied to Lowington's coat-tails. I shall come out of this
place to-morrow, and we will work the thing up."
"I'm in for a time with any good fellow; but I don't think we can make
this thing go," said Wilton. "Hush! Don't say another word. There comes
an officer."
One bell, indicating half past eight in the evening, struck on deck. It
was the duty of the master and midshipman on deck, alternately, to pass
through the steerage every half hour during the watch, to see that there
was no disorder, and that the lights were all secure, so as to avoid any
danger from fire. Henry Martyn, the second master, performed this office
on the present occasion. He descended the main ladder, and Wilton, who
expected the visit when he heard the stroke of the bell, retreated to
his mess room, and threw himself into his berth. Harry walked around the
steerage, and glanced into the gangways, from which the rooms opened.
"Harry," said Shuffles, in a low tone, as the master was about to return
to the deck.
"Did you speak to me?" asked Harry, stepping up to the bars of the cage.
"I did. Will you oblige me by telling the chaplain that I would like to
see him?" added the prisoner.
"I will;" and Harry knocked at the door of the professors' cabin.