He Had Depended Upon Going Home In The Ship;
And From Boston, Was Going Immediately To Liverpool, To See His
Friends.
Beside this, having begun the voyage with very few clothes,
he had taken up the greater part of his
Wages in the slop-chest,
and it was every day a losing concern to him; and, like all the
rest of the crew, he had a hearty hatred of California, and the
prospect of eighteen months or two years more of hide-droghing
seemed completely to break down his spirit. I had determined
not to go myself, happen what would, and I knew that the captain
would not dare to attempt to force me. I knew, too, that the two
captains had agreed together to get some one, and that unless I
could prevail upon somebody to go voluntarily, there would be no
help for Ben. From this consideration, though I had said that I
would have nothing to do with an exchange, I did my best to get
some one to go voluntarily. I offered to give an order upon the
owners in Boston for six months' wages, and also all the clothes,
books, and other matters, which I should not want upon the voyage
home. When this offer was published in the ship, and the case of
poor Ben was set forth in strong colors, several, who would not
have dreamed of going themselves, were busy in talking it up to
others, who, they thought, might be tempted to accept it; and,
at length, one fellow, a harum-scarum lad, whom we called Harry
Bluff, and who did not care what country or ship he was in, if he
had clothes enough and money enough - partly from pity for Ben,
and partly from the thought he should have "cruising money" for
the rest of his stay, - came forward, and offered to go and "sling
his hammock in the bloody hooker." Lest his purpose should cool,
I signed an order for the sum upon the owners in Boston, gave him
all the clothes I could spare, and sent him aft to the captain,
to let him know what had been done.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 403 of 618
Words from 110215 to 110576
of 170236
