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It was also a sample of the mixed character of the crews of American vessels during the height of her neutral trade. The captain, chief-mate, cook, and four of those forward, were American born; while the second-mate was a Portuguese. The boys were, one Scotch, and one a Canadian; and there were a Spaniard, a Prussian, a Dane, and an Englishman, in the forecastle.
No one was on deck, at least on the poop, when he came up, save the helmsman, and Mr Capstan, the latter walking up and down briskly on the windward side and exchanging a word now and again with the pilot on the bridge; so Teddy felt a little forlorn. Presently, the second-mate, taking a longer turn in his quarterdeck walk, came up and spoke to him.
A scene of confusion followed, in the midst of which the captain, second-mate, and the watch below, appeared on deck. Captain Robbins took command, of course, and was in time to haul the after-yards, the ship coming round slowly in so light a wind. Come round she did, however, and, when her head was fairly to the southward and eastward, the captain demanded an explanation. Mr.
Marble, who, now that he had fallen to the humbler condition of a second-mate, was more than usually disposed to be communicative with me, gave me to understand that our old superior had at first sounded Captain Digges on the subject of proceeding to the wreck, in order to ascertain what could be saved; but the latter had soon convinced him that a first-rate Philadelphia Indiaman had something else to do besides turning wrecker.
For, it must be explained, the late chief-mate of the Bride of Abydos had been promoted to the post of master of that ship or captain, as the masters of merchant ships like to be called and the second-mate had met with an accident, and was lying disabled in an hospital.
"Not visible," said the second-mate, "but I daresay they may have two or three down below ready for mounting as soon as they get to sea." "Very large guns?" "No; small brass pieces which they call lelahs, and which send a ball weighing perhaps a pound." "But pirates would not dare to attack a great ship like this," said Mark.
Mark found himself upon a lower deck, with a hole in it of similar dimensions to that through which he had passed. Mr Gregory was lowering himself down upon the cargo, the second-mate followed, and then gave orders for silence. This stopped the buzzing conversation of the men, who all seemed to be scared, and now the moaning sound came from somewhere a faint, dismal, despairing "Oh! Oh!
With a slow step, therefore, and a heavy heart, Mark went into the cabin to make his report, and to give the second-mate the customary call. It was not an easy matter to awaken either of those, who slept under the influence of potations as deep as the night-caps taken by Captain Crutchely and Mr. Hillson.
As for paying the price of an athletic "nigger," it was even more impossible for me, than it would seem it is for the great State of Pennsylvania to pay the interest on its debt; and, disliking a lawsuit, I carried my dunnage on board another vessel that same afternoon, and agreed to work my passage to New York, as her second-mate.
In two minutes the captain and second-mate were out on deck, and Mark caught a glimpse of a pistol in his father's breast, and saw him slip two into the officers' hands. "Gregory, Morgan," he said, "you stop with the men. You, Gregory, with the watch; you, Morgan, keep guard over the forecastle hatch." "Ay, ay, sir."
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