At The Close Of The Week We Were Ready To Sail, But Were Delayed A Day Or Two By The Running Away Of F - - -, The Man Who Had Been Our Second Mate, And Was Turned Forward.

From the time that he was "broken," he had had a dog's berth on board the vessel, and determined

To run away at the first opportunity. Having shipped for an officer when he was not half a seaman, he found little pity with the crew, and was not man enough to hold his ground among them. The captain called him a "soger,"(1)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. Soger (soldier) is the worst term of reproach that can be applied to a sailor. It signifies a skulk, a sherk, - one who is always trying to get clear of work, and is out of the way, or hanging back, when duty is to be done. "Marine" is the term applied more particularly to a man who is ignorant and clumsy about seaman's work - a green-horn - a land-lubber. To make a sailor shoulder a handspike, and walk fore and aft the deck, like a sentry, is the most ignominious punishment that could be put upon him. Such a punishment inflicted upon an able seaman in a vessel of war, would break his spirit down more than a flogging. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

and promised to "ride him down as he would the main tack;" and when officers are once determined to "ride a man down," it is a gone case with him.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 186 of 618
Words from 50866 to 51115 of 170236