The Cruise of the Cachalot | Page 6

ACTION
The hideous noise always considered necessary in those ships when
calling the watch, roused me effectively at midnight, "eight bells." I
hurried on deck, fully aware that no leisurely ten minutes would be
allowed here. "Lay aft the watch," saluted me as I emerged into the
keen strong air, quickening my pace according to where the mate stood
waiting to muster his men. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Can you
steer?" in a mocking tone; but when I quietly answered, "Yes, sir," his
look of astonishment was delightful to see. He choked it down,
however, and merely telling me to take the wheel, turned forrard
roaring frantically for his watch. I had no time to chuckle over what I
knew was in store for him, getting those poor greenies collected from
their several holes and corners, for on taking the wheel I found a
machine under my hands such as I never even heard of before.
The wheel was fixed upon the tiller in such a manner that the whole
concern travelled backwards and forwards across the deck in the
maddest kind of way. For the first quarter of an hour, in spite of the
September chill, the sweat poured off me in streams. And the
course--well, if was not steering, it was sculling; the old bumboat was
wobbling all around like a drunken tailor with two left legs. I fairly
shook with apprehension lest the mate should come and look in the
compass. I had been accustomed to hard words if I did not steer within
half a point each way; but here was a "gadget" that worked me to death,
the result being a wake like a letter S. Gradually I got the hang of the
thing, becoming easier in my mind on my own account. Even that was

not an unmixed blessing, for I had now some leisure to listen to the
goings-on around the deck.
Such brutality I never witnessed before. On board of English ships
(except men-of-war) there is practically no discipline, which is bad, but
this sort of thing was maddening. I knew how desperately ill all those
poor wretches were, how helpless and awkward they would be if quite
hale and hearty; but there was absolutely no pity for them, the officers
seemed to be incapable of any feelings of compassion whatever. My
heart sank within me as I thought of what lay before me, although I did
not fear that their treatment would also be mine, since I was at least
able to do my duty, and willing to work hard to keep out of trouble.
Then I began to wonder what sort of voyage I was in for, how long it
would last, and what my earnings were likely to be, none of which
things I had the faintest idea of.
Fortunately, I was alone in the world. No one, as far as I knew, cared a
straw what became of me; so that I was spared any worry on that head.
And I had also a very definite and well- established trust in God, which
I can now look back and see was as fully justified as I then believed it
to be. So, as I could not shut my ears to the cruelties being carried on,
nor banish thought by hard work, I looked up to the stately stars,
thinking of things not to be talked about without being suspected of
cant. So swiftly passed the time that when four bells struck: (two
o'clock) I could hardly believe my ears.
I was relieved by one of the Portuguese, and went forward to witness a
curious scene. Seven stalwart men were being compelled to march up
and down on that tumbling deck, men who had never before trodden
anything less solid than the earth.
The third mate, a waspish, spiteful little Yankee with a face like an
angry cat, strolled about among them, a strand of rope- yarns in his
hand, which he wielded constantly, regardless where he struck a man.
They fell about, sometimes four or five at once, and his blows flew
thick and fast, yet he never seemed to weary of his ill-doing. It made
me quite sick, and I longed to be aft at the wheel again. Catching sight
of me standing irresolute as to what I had better do, he ordered me on

the "look-out," a tiny platform between the "knight heads," just where
the bowsprit joins the ship. Gladly I obeyed him, and perched up there
looking over the wide sea, the time passed quickly away until eight
bells (four o'clock) terminated my watch. I must pass rapidly over the
condition of things in the fo'lk'sle, where all the greenies that were
allowed below, were groaning in misery from the stifling atmosphere