133 SIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



On the night of July 25, in my anchor-watch, Jim and 

 Chipman, both boat-steerers, quietly inquired whether I had 

 changed my mind about remaining in the ship. I told 

 them that I thought the best chance to reach home was to 

 stick by her, and for my life I could see no reason for run- 

 ning away; that we had seen no ship in which there was 

 better treatment, and that our chances of a good voyage 

 were first-rate. I reminded them that the coast was exceed- 

 ingly unhealthy for men exposed as they would be in an open 

 boat, and that, being penniless, they would have no chance 

 in Panama, where they were bound, save to ship on some 

 miserable coaster, hide-drogher, or merchantman. I strove 

 very earnestly to dissuade Chipman from the senseless un- 

 dertaking. He was just the man to stand by the ship — 

 a healthy, brave, noble-hearted fellow ; a first-rate sailor, 

 a good boat-steerer ; a man we could ill afford to spare, 

 whether as fellow-laborer, or as companion on deck or on 

 shore. It was in vain. The foolish fellow had laid his 

 course, and it was not for a boy to argue away the fancied 

 wrongs on board which repelled, and the home visions 

 which attracted him from this safe ship. He grasped my 

 hand, said good-bye, and went below. This was the last I 

 ever saw or heard of Elisha Chipman, a model seaman in all 

 things save the damning weakness of the sailor for strong 

 drink. The runaways consisted of eight men : the two boat- 

 steerers, the steward, the capenter's mate, and four from the 

 forecastle. One of the latter we could well spare, and were 

 joyfully rid of. He had graduated on the Erie Canal, and 

 fairly earned the name of "Wicked Bill." Whether Major 

 Williams had got him by a general jail-delivery I can not 

 say, but this is certain : America's gain was oiir great harm 

 when he came on board the Chelsea. Too lazy to resist 

 sea-sickness, he was prostrated by it for four months, and 

 only recovered for duty when we had reached the calm lati- 



