On Board the "Rocket"Adams, Robert C. (Robert Chamblet)
History
On Board the "Rocket"
Adams, Robert C. (Robert Chamblet)
Seafaring life
But it swung as fast as ever; and the captain now showed more courage
than Mr. Morrison had given him credit for, by rushing at him just as
he swung his weapon to one side, and seizing it before he could return
a blow. With Mr. Howard's help he wrested it from him, and telling that
officer to hold on to him, he seized the end of the crossjack-brace
(a two and a half inch rope), and beat him over the back, until he
cried most piteously for mercy, and made many promises of future good
behavior. This did not satisfy Mr. Howard, who, as soon as the captain
had let him go, put his brass knuckles on his right hand, and striking
Jake a heavy blow, threw him to the deck. He then kneeled upon him,
clutched his throat with the left hand, and with the knuckles beat him
in the face. The man gasped out cries and entreaties, saying: "Take
him off, cap'n; take him off. Don't let him kill me." And at last the
captain had to catch Howard's arm and say to him: "I guess that'll do,
Mr. Howard. He's got enough for this time."
Jake's face was a sorry-looking object the next day, and for some days
after; and he told the mate he thought one of his ribs was broken. But
he kept at his work as well as he could, and always was particular
about answering Mr. Howard with a "Sir!"
Things went on again quietly, and in three or four days more we were
off the Gulf of Lyons. The prospect of soon reaching port cheered all
on board, and all but Jake seemed lively and even happy.
We signalized the ship "Martha Dutton," Capt. Cheever, when a day's
sail from Genoa; and it immediately after came on to blow a heavy gale
from the south-west. Capt. Cheever was an old sea-captain, and adhered
to the prudent rule of not approaching a lee shore in a gale of wind,
within less than the distance of a day's drift (say sixty miles), and
after awhile he hove his ship to, and waited for a better chance to
make the land.
Capt. Streeter kept the "Dublin" running before the wind into the Gulf
of Genoa; and as the next morning brought a head wind when he was in
sight of his port, he was very much the gainer for his attempt. When
Capt. Cheever arrived three days after him, he shook his head and told
Capt. Streeter he had done the most hair-brained act he ever knew the
master of a ship to commit.
The "Dublin" had yet one day more to wait before dropping her anchor.
The head wind lasted until she had beat up within two miles of the mole
of Genoa, and then it died away calm and continued so, with occasional
light airs from the shore. There was no anchorage, and as the ship
slowly drifted from one side of the bay to the other, we had a fine
chance to take a sea-view of the renowned city of Genoa.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account