But beside the numbers, what is there for sailors
to do? If they resist, it is mutiny; and if they succeed, and take the
vessel, it is piracy. If they ever yield again, their punishment
must come; and if they do not yield, they are pirates for life. If a
sailor resist his commander, he resists the law, and piracy or
submission are his only alternatives. Bad as it was, it must be borne.
It is what a sailor ships for. Swinging the rope over his head, and
bending his body so as to give it full force, the captain brought it
down upon the poor fellow's back. Once, twice;- six times. "Will you
ever give me any more of your jaw?" The man writhed with pain, but
said not a word. Three times more. This was too much, and he
muttered something which I could not hear; this brought as many more
as the man could stand; when the captain ordered him to be cut down,
and to go forward.
"Now for you," said the captain, making up to John and taking his
irons off. As soon as he was loose, he ran forward to the
forecastle. "Bring that man aft," shouted the captain. The second
mate, who had been a shipmate of John's, stood still in the waist, and
the mate walked slowly forward; but our third officer, anxious to show
his zeal, sprang forward over the windlass, and laid hold of John; but
he soon threw him from him.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181