He Had Had Several Difficulties With The Captain,
And Asked Leave To Go Home In The Lagoda; But This Was Refused Him.
One Night He Was Insolent To An Officer On The Beach, And Refused
To Come Aboard In The Boat.
He was reported to the captain; and
as he came aboard, - it being past the proper hour, - he was called
aft, and told that he was to have a flogging.
Immediately, he fell
down on the deck, calling out - "Don't flog me, Captain T - - -;
don't flog me!" and the captain, angry with him, and disgusted
with his cowardice, gave him a few blows over the back with a
rope's end and sent him forward. He was not much hurt, but a
good deal frightened, and made up his mind to run away that
very night. This was managed better than anything he ever did
in his life, and seemed really to show some spirit and forethought.
He gave his bedding and mattress to one of the Lagoda's crew,
who took it aboard his vessel as something which he had bought,
and promised to keep it for him. He then unpacked his chest,
putting all his valuable clothes into a large canvas bag, and told
one of us, who had the watch, to call him at midnight. Coming on
deck, at midnight, and finding no officer on deck, and all still
aft, he lowered his bag into a boat, got softly down into it,
cast off the painter, and let it drop silently with the tide
until he was out of hearing, when he sculled ashore.
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