Jack in the Forecastle | Page 5

be the "main
sheet," was wanted, and I was unceremoniously ejected from my
quarters, and roughly admonished to "go below and keep out of the
way!" I crawled into the cabin, and, stretched on some boxes,
endeavored to get a little sleep; but the conglomeration of smells of a
most inodorous character, which, as it seemed to my distempered fancy,
pervaded every part of the vessel, prevented my losing a sense of
suffering in sleep.
As I lay musing on the changes which a few days had wrought in my
condition, and, borne down by the pangs of seasickness, was almost
ready to admit that there was prose as well as poetry in a sailor's life, I
was startled by a terrific noise, the announcement, I supposed, of some
appalling danger. I heard distinctly three loud knocks on the deck at the
entrance of the steerage, and then a sailor put his head down the
companion-way, and in a voice loud, cracked, and discordant, screamed
in a tone which I thought must have split his jaws asunder,
"LA-AR-BO-A-RD W-A-T-CH A-H-O-O-Y."
In spite of my sickness I started from my uncomfortable resting place,
scrambled into the steerage, and by a roll of the brig was tumbled under

the steps, and suffered additional pains and apprehensions before I
ascertained that the unearthly sounds which had so alarmed me were
nothing more than the usual mode of "calling the watch," or in other
words, the man with the unmusical voice had gently hinted to the
sleepers below that "turn-about was fair play," and they were wanted
on deck.
To add to my troubles, the wind in the morning shifted to the south-east,
and thus became a head wind, and the old brig became more restless
than ever, and pitched and rolled to leeward occasionally with a lurch,
performing clumsy antics in the water which my imagination never
pictured, and which I could neither admire nor applaud.
For several days we were beating about Massachusetts Bay and St.
George's Bank, making slow progress on our voyage. During that time
I was really seasick, and took little note of passing events, being
stretched on the deck, a coil of rope, or a chest, musing on the past or
indulging in gloomy reflections in regard to the future. Seasickness
never paints ideal objects of a roseate hue. Although I was not called
upon for much actual work, I received no sympathy for my miserable
condition; for seasickness, like the toothache, is seldom fatal,
notwithstanding it is as distressing a malady as is found in the
catalogue of diseases, and one for which no preventive or cure,
excepting time, has yet been discovered. Time is a panacea for every ill;
and after the lapse of ten or twelve days, as the brig was drawing
towards the latitude of Bermuda, my sickness disappeared as suddenly
as it commenced; and one pleasant morning I threw aside my shore
dress, and with it my landsman's habits and feelings. I donned my short
jacket and trousers, and felt every inch a sailor!
The Bermudas are a cluster of small islands and rocks lying in the track
of vessels bound from New England to the West Indies. The climate is
mild, and the atmosphere remarkably salubrious, while the trace of
ocean in the vicinity has long been noted for severe squalls at every
season of the year. A squall at sea no unusual occurrence is often the
cause of anxiety, being attended with danger. Sometimes the rush of
wind is so violent that nothing will resist its fury, and before the alarm
is given and the canvas reduced, the masts are blown over the side or
the vessel capsized. Therefore, on the approach of a squall, a vigilant
officer will be prepared for the worst, by shortening sail and making

other arrangements for averting the threatened danger.
I hardly knew how it happened, but one afternoon when we were a little
to the northward of Bermuda, and should have kept a lookout for
squalls, we were favored with a visit from one of a most energetic
character. Its sudden approach from under the lee was either unnoticed
or unheeded until the captain accidentally came on deck. He was
instantly aware of the perilous condition of the brig, for the "white
caps" of the waves could be distinctly seen, and even the roar of the
wind could be heard as it rushed towards us over the water. Before any
orders could be executed before the sails could be taken in, the yards
braced round, or even the helm shifted, the tempest broke over us. The
rain fell in torrents, the wind blew with tremendous violence, and a
scene of indescribable confusion ensued.
The captain stood near the companion-way, much excited, giving
directions with energy and