THE NIGHT KING 73 



the bustle and confusion of setting sails, just af- 

 ter the tug had cut loose from us outside Golden 

 Gate heads, I saw Mendez, like an ebony statue, 

 standing in the waist of the ship, an arm rest- 

 ing easily on the bulwarks, singing out orders 

 in a clear, incisive voice that had in it the ring 

 of steel. 



When I shipped, it had not entered my mind 

 that any but white men would be of the ship's 

 company. It was with a shock like a blow in the 

 face that I saw this little colored man singing 

 out orders. I wondered in a dazed sort of way 

 if he was to be in authority over me. I was not 

 long in doubt. When calm had succeeded the 

 first confusion and the crew had been divided 

 into watches. Captain Winchester announced 

 from the break of the poop that " Mr." Mendez 

 would head the port watch. That was my 

 watch. While the captain was speaking, Mr." 

 Mendez stood like a black Napoleon and sur- 

 veyed us long and silently. Then suddenly he 

 snapped out a decisive order and the white men 

 jumped to obey. The Night King had assumed 

 his throne. 



