He Had, Of Course, Been In All Parts Of The World,
And Was Remarkable For Drawing A Long Bow.
His yarns frequently
stretched through a watch, and kept all hands awake.
They were
always amusing from their improbability, and, indeed, he never
expected to be believed, but spun them merely for amusement;
and as he had some humor and a good supply of man-of-war slang
and sailor's salt phrases, he always made fun. Next to him in
age and experience, and, of course, in standing in the watch,
was an Englishman, named Harris, of whom I shall have more to
say hereafter. Then, came two or three Americans, who had been
the common run of European and South American voyages, and one who
had been in a "spouter," and, of course, had all the whaling stories
to himself. Last of all, was a broad-backed, thick-headed boy from
Cape Cod, who had been in mackerel schooners, and was making his
first voyage in a square-rigged vessel. He was born in Hingham,
and of course was called "Bucketmaker." The other watch was composed of
about the same number. A tall, fine-looking Frenchman, with coal-black
whiskers and curly hair, a first-rate seaman, and named John, (one name
is enough for a sailor,) was the head man of the watch. Then came two
Americans (one of whom had been a dissipated young man of property
and family, and was reduced to duck trowsers and monthly wages,)
a German, an English lad, named Ben, who belonged on the mizen
topsail yard with me, and was a good sailor for his years, and two
Boston boys just from the public schools.
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