At this moment I would have given worlds
for the power to help the poor fellow; but it was all in vain. The
captain stood on the quarter-deck, bare-headed, his eyes flashing with
rage, and his face as red as blood, swinging the rope, and calling out
to his officers, "Drag him aft!- Lay hold of him! I'll sweeten him!"
etc., etc. The mate now went forward and told John quietly to go
aft; and he, seeing resistance in vain, threw the blackguard third
mate from him; said he would go aft of himself; that they should not
drag him; and went up to the gangway and held out his hands; but as
soon as the captain began to make him fast, the indignity was too
much, and he began to resist; but the mate and Russell holding him, he
was soon seized up. When he was made fast, he turned to the captain,
who stood turning up his sleeves and getting ready for the blow, and
asked him what he was to be flogged for. "Have I ever refused my duty,
sir? Have you ever known me to hang back, or to be insolent, or not to
know my work?"
"No," said the captain, "it is not that I flog you for; I flog you
for your interference- for asking questions.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182