- It suits me! That's what I do it for!"
The man writhed under the pain, until he could endure it no
longer, when he called out, with an exclamation more common
among foreigners than with us - "Oh, Jesus Christ! Oh, Jesus
Christ!"
"Don't call on Jesus Christ," shouted the captain; "he can't help
you. Call on Captain T - - -, he's the man! He can help you!
Jesus Christ can't help you now!"
At these words, which I never shall forget, my blood ran cold.
I could look on no longer. Disgusted, sick, and horror-struck,
I turned away and leaned over the rail, and looked down into the
water. A few rapid thoughts of my own situation, and of the
prospect of future revenge, crossed my mind; but the falling of the
blows and the cries of the man called me back at once. At length
they ceased, and turning round, I found that the mate, at a signal
from the captain had cut him down. Almost doubled up with pain,
the man walked slowly forward, and went down into the forecastle.
Every one else stood still at his post, while the captain, swelling
with rage and with the importance of his achievement, walked the
quarter-deck, and at each turn, as he came forward, calling out to
us, - "You see your condition! You see where I've got you all, and
you know what to expect!" - "You've been mistaken in me - you didn't
know what I was!
