6 TEE CRUISE OF TEE "CACEALOT." 



attempt to give a sample of it, but it must be under- 

 stood that it was incessant throughout the voyage. No 

 order could be given without it, under the impression, 

 apparently, that the more curses the more speed. 



Before nightfall we were fairly out to sea, and the 

 ceremony of dividing the crew into watches was gone 

 through. I found myself in the chief mate's or ** port " 

 watch (they called it " larboard," a term I had never 

 heard used before, it having long been obsolete in 

 merchant ships), though the huge negro fourth mate 

 seemed none too well pleased that I was not under his 

 command, his being the starboard watch under the 

 second mate. 



As night fell, the condition of the ** greenies," or non- 

 sailor portion of the crew, was pitiable. Helpless from 

 sea-sickness, not knowing where to go or what to do, 

 bullied relentlessly by the ruthless petty officers — well, 

 I never felt so sorry for a lot of men in my life. Glad 

 enough I was to get below into the fo'lk'sle for supper, 

 and a brief rest and respite from that cruelty on deck. 

 A bit of salt junk and a piece of bread, i.e. biscuit, 

 flinty as a pantile, with a pot of something sweetened 

 with "longlick" (molasses), made an apology for a 

 meal, and I turned in. In a very few minutes oblivion 

 came, making me as happy as any man can be in this 

 world. 



