Upon occasions, Stormy Jack permitted the storm in his soul to rage a little too wildly. One of these occasions occurred about two weeks, before we reached New Orleans. He had got into a dispute with the second mate about the setting of a sail, and both becoming intemperate in the use of the Queen's English, words were used which had to be resented with violence. The first assault was made by the mate, who soon found that he was but a child in the hands of Stormy Jack. The first mate happened to be on deck smoking his pipe, as also the carpenter, and, as in duty bound, both ran to the relief of their brother officer. Poor Stormy was knocked down with the carpenter's mallet, his hands were tied behind him, and he was dragged below. The next day I was allowed to take him his dinner, and found him well pleased with his situation. I was expecting to see him in great grief over his misfortune--which to me appeared very serious--and was agreeably surprised to find him in better spirits than I had ever seen him before. "It's all right, Rowley, my boy," said he. "If they can afford to keep me in idleness, and pay me wages for doing nothing, I'm not the one to complain. I'm glad this has happened, for I never liked the first breezer, nor yet Chips, and now I've got an opportunity for letting them know it. I'm going to leave the ship, and when I've done so, I'll teach them manners." I expressed the opinion, that it could not be very pleasant to be kept so long in a dark place and alone. "That's no punishment," said Stormy. "Can't I sleep? I've been served worse than this. On a voyage to India I refused duty on the second week out. I was put in a pen along with some turkeys and geese, and was told whenever I would go to my duty, I should be taken out. I never gave in, and finished the voyage in the turkey coop. That was far worse than this, for the noise on deck, with the conversation between my companions, the turkeys and geese, often used to keep me from sleep. That was a queer plan for teaching a fellow manners, but I did not let it succeed. "I was going to say one place was as good as another, but it a'nt. This ship is no place for me. After we reach New Orleans I shall leave it, and if ever I come across eyther the first breezer, or carpenter, ashore, they'll both larn what they never knew afore, and that's manners. When two men are fighting, another has no right to interrupt either of 'em with a blow of a mallet, and the man who does so has no manners, and wants teachin'." I was pleased to hear Stormy say that he intended to leave the ship, for the idea of doing so myself had often entered my thoughts, and had been favourably entertained. I had no great hopes of finding a better home than I had on board the ship, but I had been placed there by Leary, and that was sufficient reason for my wishing to leave her. He had driven me from my own home, and I would not live in one of his choosing.