On Board the "Rocket"Adams, Robert C. (Robert Chamblet)
History
On Board the "Rocket"
Adams, Robert C. (Robert Chamblet)
Seafaring life
One calm morning we drifted out of Padang Roads and slowly worked our
way southward in search of the Trades; but when obtained, pleasant
breezes and fine weather favored us. After passing Mauritius we took "a
streak" of strong S.E. and E. winds which put a new face upon matters.
Our dull start had made us feel hopeless about the race, but now we
seemed to be gaining time and the thought of the "F----" ahead kept
sail from coming in many a time when prudence suggested it. Every thing
was cracked on and two topmast studding-sail booms were carried away
within twenty-four hours. But they were immediately replaced, and on we
sped ten knots an hour, feeling we were going very fast, except when
now and then an English tea clipper came up astern and passed out of
sight ahead.
I learned at sea that there had been one disagreement on board during
my absence on shore at Padang. A sailor, called Harry, being reproved
for something by the mate, gave a back answer. Then being threatened,
he said: "I'm not afraid; you ain't bigger than a pint of cider,
anyway." This was an insult that seemed warrant enough for a fight, and
few officers could have resisted it. I was pleased to learn, that in
spite of this great provocation, the mate had restrained his impulses,
in obedience to my orders, and had succeeded eventually in controlling
the man.
When the cooler weather again drove us to the cabin in the evening, the
passenger lent his patient ear to the story of "Another voyage in the
'Dublin.'"
CHAPTER VIII.
ANOTHER VOYAGE IN THE "DUBLIN."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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