And trouble we had
already begun to anticipate. The captain had several times found fault
with the mate, in presence of the crew; and hints had been dropped
that all was not right between them. When this is the case, and the
captain suspects that his chief officer is too easy and familiar
with the crew, then he begins to interfere in all the duties, and to
draw the reins taughter, and the crew has to suffer.
CHAPTER X
A SOUTH-EASTER--PASSAGE UP THE COAST
This night, after sundown, it looked black at the southward and
eastward, and we were told to keep a bright look-out. Expecting to
be called up, we turned in early. Waking up about midnight, I found
a man who had just come down from his watch striking a light. He
said that it was beginning to puff up from the south-east, and that
the sea was rolling in, and he had called the captain; and as he threw
himself down on his chest with all his clothes on, I knew that he
expected to be called. I felt the vessel pitching at her anchor, and
the chain surging and snapping, and lay awake, expecting an instant
summons. In a few minutes it came- three knocks on the scuttle, and
"All hands ahoy! bear-a-hand up and make sail.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113