Two Years Before the Mast | Page 6

looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was,
no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board as soon as I
hove in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of
wearing them which a green hand can never get. The trousers, tight
round the hips, and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a
superabundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well-varnished black
hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon
hanging over the left eye, and a slip-tie to the black silk neckerchief,
with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betrays the
beginner at once. Besides the points in my dress which were out of the
way, doubtless my complexion and hands were quite enough to
distinguish me from the regular salt who, with a sunburnt cheek, wide
step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands
athwart-ships, half opened, as though just ready to grasp a rope.

``With all my imperfections on my head,'' I joined the crew, and we
hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next
day we were employed in preparation for sea, reeving studding-sail
gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board
our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I remained
awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I might not
hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great were my
ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly fore and aft
the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows and taffrail at
each turn, and was not a little surprised at the coolness of the old
seaman whom I called to take my place, in stowing himself snugly
away under the long-boat for a nap. That was a sufficient lookout, he
thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor.
The next morning was Saturday, and, a breeze having sprung up from
the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began
beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to
see me off, and had barely opportunity for a last look at the city and
well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment.
As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in
the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained
there through the day and a part of the night. My watch began at eleven
o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if the wind
came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became fair,
and, having summoned the captain, I was ordered to call all hands.
How I accomplished this, I do not know, but I am quite sure that I did
not give the true hoarse boatswain call of ``A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds ! up
anchor, a-ho-oy!'' In a short time every one was in motion, the sails
loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which
was our last hold upon Yankee land. I could take but small part in these
preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault.
Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given, and so immediately
executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling
of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered.
There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a
landsman beginning a sailor's life. At length those peculiar, long-drawn
sounds which denote that the crew are heaving at the windlass began,

and in a few minutes we were under way. The noise of the water
thrown from the bows was heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp
night-breeze, and rolled with the heavy groundswell, and we had
actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding good
night to my native land.
[1] [In the year 1834.]


CHAPTER II
The first day we passed at sea was Sunday. As we were just from port,
and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at work
all day, and at night the watches were set, and everything was put into
sea order. When we were called aft to be divided into watches, I had a
good specimen of the manner of a sea-captain. After the division had
been made, he gave a short characteristic speech, walking the
quarter-deck with a cigar in his mouth, and dropping the words out
between the puffs.
``Now, my men, we have begun a long voyage.