As soon as we were beyond the point, and all sail out, the order was
given, "Go below the watch!" and the crew said that, ever since they
had been on the coast, they had had "watch and watch," while going
from port to port; and, in fact, everything showed that, though strict
discipline was kept, and the utmost was required of every man, in
the way of his duty, yet, on the whole, there was very good usage on
board. Each one knew that he must be a man, and show himself smart
when at his duty, yet every one was satisfied with the usage; and a
contented crew, agreeing with one another, and finding no fault, was a
contrast indeed with the small, hard-used, dissatisfied, grumbling,
desponding crew of the Pilgrim.
It being the turn of our watch to go below, the men went to work,
mending their clothes, and doing other little things for themselves;
and I, having got my wardrobe in complete order at San Diego, had
nothing to do but to read. I accordingly overhauled the chests of
the crew, but found nothing that suited me exactly, until one of the
men said he had a book which "told all about a great highwayman," at
the bottom of his chest, and producing it, I found, to my surprise and
joy, that it was nothing else than Bulwer's Paul Clifford.
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