THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 227 



A general resolution was then arrived at : no unnecessary 

 words, no altercation, no scolding were to be allowed in the 

 men, and no laying on of hands or violence, save in the very 

 last extremity of self-defense. One. of the crew was appoint- 

 ed spokesman, and all communications from the crew were 

 to pass through him. This settled, we turned in to uneasy 

 sleep, until the call of the watch brought all hands on deck. 



Then the crew gathered in the starboard waist. Before us 

 stood Biugham, lashed by the upraised wrists to the main- 

 shrouds, his shirt stripped off, arid his white, unspotted, un- 

 scarred Kentucky back bared to the eyes of his shipmates. 

 His helpless look and pleading eye stirred all the manhood 

 in our natures to stand by our resolution. He gathered 

 something from the aspect of the crew which blew grit into 

 his heart ; his head went up, and a hope lit. his eye. He 

 looked away seaward, and left his case in safe hands. The 

 captain also read the same signs as Bingham, and in a rough, 

 excited tone ordered us " forward of the windlass." A few 

 of the crew, from old habit, walked forward ; but the major- 

 ity stood their ground. This was the first act of disobedi- 

 ence, and greatly enraged the captain. He seized the end 

 of the fore-brace and struck Hans, one of our men, to the 

 deck. Hans was Dutch, of the New York kind, and the 

 flatter you knocked him the higher rose his blood. He 

 sprang up in an instant, and pitched into the captain's hair, 

 tooth and toe-nail. Thus our peaceful programme was 

 spoiled. 



The third mate, with the predisposition of Mexican blood 

 to be in hot water, tackled Hans, and pulled him from the 

 captain, who ran to the cabin, doubtless for arms. The 

 third mate was having a good Spanish time of it, with Hans 

 under his knee. One hand was busy tangling poor Dutchy's 

 hair while the other was laying dark shades about his eyes. 

 This was clearly opposed to our treaty, and an onslaught 



