In crossing the Gulf Stream we found unsettled weather, as is apt to be the case in the region of this wonderful current, and were busied in taking in or setting sail, as occasion required. The captain had given orders in the afternoon to set the cro' jack; and having just had a dispute with the mate, he went into the cabin in a cross mood, to get out of the way while the sail was being set. When the work was about finished, he was just stepping out of the cabin, as I sung out to old Jenkings, who was on top of the house: "Let go that buntline; what are you hauling it taut for?" "Aye, aye, sir," was the response, uttered in rather a testy voice. Capt. Streeter was just shutting the cabin door at this time, and did it with a force that expressed his temper, and this prevented the "sir" from reaching his ears. He sprang to windward, and seeing me standing by the mizzen-rigging, called to me: "Get up on the house and knock that old nigger's head off!" I stared at him in amazement, wondering if he had gone crazy. "Get up there," he repeated, "and give him a rope's-end over his back. Don't take an insult from anybody." Instead of obeying his direction, I walked towards the captain and passed him without saying a word. Capt. Streeter saw the work must come upon him if he wanted it done; and with a few bounds was on top of the house, and snatching a rope away from old Jenkings, that he was coiling up, gave him some vigorous blows over the back with the end of it. "Will you ever speak to one of my officers again without saying 'Sir?'" said the captain, as he paused a moment for breath. "I always do, sir," answered Jenkings, who was wholly at a loss to understand what all this meant. "You're a liar," said the captain, with a few more expressions peculiarly Capt. Streeter's, and gave him another flogging. When he had finished, he turned and walked to the edge of the house and said: "Mr. A----, if you ever let a man say aye, aye, to you again, I'll serve you in the same way." "No one ever said it to me since I've been aboard of this ship, sir," I replied. "Yes, there has," said the captain. "This man just said it." "You're mistaken, sir; he didn't," said I. "You call me a liar, do you?" said Capt. Streeter, in a furious passion. "I'll teach you to know your place. I've treated you so well, you think you can take charge of the ship; but I'll let you know I'm captain of her yet." He continued with such a string of words that there was no chance to reply, and I walked forward to set the flying-jib, leaving him to talk to the mizzen-mast, which he did for some time after, to the edification of the man at the wheel, raving and cursing about white-livered officers, religion, sailors, and ending at last with an anathema on his own eyes.