320 WHALING AND FISHING. 



" What's her name?" 



"The Pauline Houghton." 



" That's one of Blythe's yellow abominations,* 

 aid Fred, who prided himself on his plainness. 



" She belongs to the Messrs. Ely the, my man, 

 and is a good ship," was the captain's answer; foi 

 the individual who had stopped us was her captain. 



"And what may your name be, Sir?" asked 

 Fred, more respectfully. 



" Captain Joseph Smith." 



"Why," exclaimed my shipmate, with an oath 

 which I shall not set down here, " You're the fel- 

 low that so misused your crew on your outward 

 passage, that they preferred thirty days in jail 

 and the loss of their hard-earned wages, to going 

 home with you. And now you ask good men to 

 go with you?" 



" My crew were a set of skulks and worthless 

 fellows. Good men need not fear ill treatment 

 from me. The wages are two pounds ten, and a 

 month's advance. Won't you go? " 



" We'll think about it," said Fred, as he took 

 my arm, and walked off. 



" Now Charley," continued he, "I'm not afraid 

 to go with that fellow, although doubtless he is au 

 outrageous rascal. I know one of the crew thai 

 i* now in jail. He told me that the mate used to 

 beat some of the men over the head and shoulders 

 with handspikes, when they did not steer to suit 

 him. And they say, too, that * infernal scoundrel 

 is the best word which issues from him," 



