SKETCHES OF SEA-LIFE. 339 



Well, " old skipper," we are ready for yon now to take your 

 watch. And witli apparent impartiality lie made a division, 

 numerically equal. But it did most unaccountably happen that 

 certain of the smartest, most able-bodied seamen fell into the 

 starboard watch, which chanced to be his own. Lee and Jimmy 

 were apportioned to the mate's or larboard watch, and Harry and 

 myself to the other. Then came the captain's customary address, 

 and I wonder that each word did not perish on the false tongue 

 that uttered it. " My hearties, I like your looks lirst rate. You 

 are a hale set of fellows as I have seen in a crew for a long time, 

 and its my opinion we're going to have a pleasant voyage, and a 

 pleasant season for it. Now if you'll do your duty and be faith- 

 ful, you'll find me a right clever master, and you shall have the 

 best of usage and the best of fare ; but if you don't, you'll find 

 I can make this ship a perfect hell for you. Go below, the star- 

 board watch." And down into the forecastle we bounced in a 

 trice ; when, after hearing many a hearty curse on the skipper 

 for abducting sundry well-filled demijohns and bottles, all were 

 soon rolling about in the hug of Morpheus. 



Now that forecas'le was a queer pen at best ; and ours was 

 probably as good a specimen as any on the waters, being what 

 w^as scientifically called a " Top-gallant forecastle," or " House on 

 deck." It was as large, except in height, as a common sized 

 room ; and around its sides were ranged about twenty-four berths, 

 upper and lower, single and double, from under which twenty- 

 four huge chests stuck out half their lengths. In the middle of 

 the floor was stacked up a promiscuous heap of boots, caps, oil- 

 cloth jackets, and every sort of sea-accoutrement. Such was the 

 bedlam confusion in which ate, slept, and lived, by turns or all 

 together as occasion required, twenty-four persons. Yet in all 

 this and I took my full share of discomfort as well as labor I 

 was contented, ay, and happy ; and who, with any conform- 

 ity of disposition, would not be ? Thrown together, as sailors 

 are,with common interests and common fare, obliged to participate 

 in common toil and dangers, they speedily lose every vestige of 

 selfishness that bane of ordinary society. There is nothing a 

 sailor will not do for his shipmate nothing he will not share to 



