They Swore They Would Not Go Aboard,
And Went Back To The Town, Were Stripped And Beaten, And Lodged In
The calabozo, until the next day, when the captain bought them out.
Our forecastle, as usual after a liberty-day,
Was a scene of tumult
all night long, from the drunken ones. They had just got to sleep
toward morning, when they were turned up with the rest, and kept at
work all day in the water, carrying hides, their heads aching so that
they could hardly stand. This is sailor's pleasure.
Nothing worthy of remark happened while we were here, except a little
boxing-match on board our own ship, which gave us something to talk
about. A broad-backed, big-headed Cape Cod boy, about sixteen
years old, had been playing the bully, for the whole voyage,
over a slender, delicate-looking boy, from one of the Boston
schools, and over whom he had much the advantage, in strength,
age, and experience in the ship's duty, for this was the first
time the Boston boy had been on salt water. The latter, however,
had "picked up his crumbs," was learning his duty, and getting
strength and confidence daily; and began to assert his rights
against his oppressor. Still, the other was his master, and,
by his superior strength, always tackled with him and threw him
down. One afternoon, before we were turned-to, these boys got
into a violent squabble in the between-decks, when George (the
Boston boy) said he would fight Nat, if he could have fair play.
The chief mate heard the noise, dove down the hatchway, hauled them
both up on deck, and told them to shake hands and have no more
trouble for the voyage, or else they should fight till one gave
in for beaten.
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