To Have This Told Him, And To Be Opposed In Such A Manner, Was More
Than My Lord Paramount Had Been Used To.
He turned fiercely upon me, and tried to look me down, and face me
out of my statement; but finding that that wouldn't do, and that I
was entering upon my defence in such a way as would show to the other
two that he was in the wrong, - he changed his ground, and pointed
to the shipping papers of the Pilgrim, from which my name had never
been erased, and said that there was my name, - that I belonged to
her, - that he had an absolute discretionary power, - and, in short,
that I must be on board the Pilgrim by the next morning with my chest
and hammock, or have some one ready to go in my place, and that he
would not hear another word from me. No court or star chamber could
proceed more summarily with a poor devil, than this trio was about
to do with me; condemning me to a punishment worse than a Botany
Bay exile, and to a fate which would alter the whole current of
my future life; for two years more in California would have made
me a sailor for the rest of my days. I felt all this, and saw
the necessity of being determined. I repeated what I had said,
and insisted upon my right to return in the ship.
I "raised my arm, and tauld my crack,
Before them a'."
But it would have all availed me nothing, had I been "some poor
body," before this absolute, domineering tribunal. But they saw
that I would not go, unless "vi et armis," and they knew that I
had friends and interest enough at home to make them suffer for
any injustice they might do me. It was probably this that turned
the matter; for the captain changed his tone entirely, and asked
me if, in case any one went in my place, I would give him the same
sum that S - - - gave Harris to exchange with him. I told him that
if any one was sent on board the brig, I should pity him, and be
willing to help him to that, or almost any amount; but would not
speak of it as an exchange.
"Very well," said he. "Go forward about your business, and send
English Ben here to me!"
I went forward with a light heart, but feeling as angry, and as
much contempt as I could well contain between my teeth. English Ben
was sent aft, and in a few moments came forward, looking as though
he had received his sentence to be hung. The captain had told him
to get his things ready to go on board the brig the next morning;
and that I would give him thirty dollars and a suit of clothes.
The hands had "knocked off" for dinner, and were standing about the
forecastle, when Ben came forward and told his story. I could see
plainly that it made a great excitement, and that, unless I explained
the matter to them, the feeling would be turned against me. Ben was a
poor English boy, a stranger in Boston, and without friends or money;
and being an active, willing lad, and a good sailor for his years,
was a general favorite. "Oh, yes!" said the crew, "the captain
has let you off, because you are a gentleman's son, and have got
friends, and know the owners; and taken Ben, because he is poor,
and has got nobody to say a word for him!" I knew that this was too
true to be answered, but I excused myself from any blame, and told
them that I had a right to go home, at all events. This pacified
them a little, but Jack had got a notion that a poor lad was to be
imposed upon, and did not distinguish very clearly; and though I
knew that I was in no fault, and, in fact, had barely escaped the
grossest injustice, yet I felt that my berth was getting to be a
disagreeable one. The notion that I was not "one of them," which,
by a participation in all their labor and hardships, and having no
favor shown me, had been laid asleep, was beginning to revive.
But far stronger than any feeling for myself, was the pity I felt
for the poor lad. He had depended upon going home in the ship;
and from Boston, was going immediately to Liverpool, to see his
friends. Beside this, having begun the voyage with very few clothes,
he had taken up the greater part of his wages in the slop-chest,
and it was every day a losing concern to him; and, like all the
rest of the crew, he had a hearty hatred of California, and the
prospect of eighteen months or two years more of hide-droghing
seemed completely to break down his spirit. I had determined
not to go myself, happen what would, and I knew that the captain
would not dare to attempt to force me. I knew, too, that the two
captains had agreed together to get some one, and that unless I
could prevail upon somebody to go voluntarily, there would be no
help for Ben. From this consideration, though I had said that I
would have nothing to do with an exchange, I did my best to get
some one to go voluntarily. I offered to give an order upon the
owners in Boston for six months' wages, and also all the clothes,
books, and other matters, which I should not want upon the voyage
home. When this offer was published in the ship, and the case of
poor Ben was set forth in strong colors, several, who would not
have dreamed of going themselves, were busy in talking it up to
others, who, they thought, might be tempted to accept it; and,
at length, one fellow, a harum-scarum lad, whom we called Harry
Bluff, and who did not care what country or ship he was in, if he
had clothes enough and money enough - partly from pity for Ben,
and partly from the thought he should have "cruising money" for
the rest of his stay, - came forward, and offered to go and "sling
his hammock in the bloody hooker." Lest his purpose should cool,
I signed an order for the sum upon the owners in Boston, gave him
all the clothes I could spare, and sent him aft to the captain,
to let him know what had been done.
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