The Loss of the Ship Essex, Sunk by a Whale by Thomas Nickerson & Owen Chase & Nathaniel Philbrick & Thomas Philbrick

Author:Thomas Nickerson & Owen Chase & Nathaniel Philbrick & Thomas Philbrick [Nickerson, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101661659
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2000-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

[CHAPTER 4TH]

I WILL HERE RELATE a laughable little circumstance which took place during this passage which ever after served to amuse us whilst we were togather[.]

On going below one day to dine our men found in their dinner kid or tub so very small an allowance of meat for that number of men, that they held a hasty meeting and resolved that none should touch any of it, that when the captain came upon deck a man should act as spokesman and take the kid aft upon the quarterdeck. The men took up their stations upon the windward side of the forecastle readey to act in concert when the chosen one shoulderd the kid and walked aft towards the cabin gangway.

I had been set to work by the mate before dinner to tar the netting14 of the main staysail, which not being finished gave me an opportunity of being out of the squabble and sufficiently elevated above deck to observe all that might be going on, and had hoped as I had taken no part in the affair that I shouldnot be seen or calld upon, by the time the man had set his beef kid down upon the quarterdeck, all eyes being turned aft.

The captain made his appearance upon deck, and on looking into the kid before him, I could see him change colour from white to red[,] from red to blue and finally to almost black. By this time it was plain to discover that he felt his dignity intruded upon. Then turning forward he called out to the men in a voice of thunder, [“]Who brought this kid aft, come here you d[am]nd scoundrels and tell me.[”] Here all hands walked aft each trying to hide himself behind the other.

The captain observing this cowardly spirit amongst them became himself brave as Caesar and commenced walking fore and aft the quarterdeck in double quick time, turning over his quid of tobacco and spitting freely upon deck, frequently muttering to himself, [“]You’ll throw your kid in my face you dand scoundrels will you,[”] and at length coming to a full stop upon the forward part of the quarter deck threw off his jacket and hat and stamped upon it. Then commenced his harangue[:] [“]You scoundrels[,] havenot I given you all the ship could afford, havenot I treated you like men, havenot you had plenty to eat and drink[?] What in hell do you want more[?] Do you wish me to coax you to eat, or shall I chew your food for you[?”]. To all this the men made no reply[.] They were so terrified they darenot speak nor was one complaint urged by them during the whole time of his violence.

Here upon looking up the captain seeing me, in my perching place called out [“]Come down here, you young rascal I’ll kill the whole bunch of you togather* then, bang up north west and go home.[”] But as I came crawling down to be killed with my shipmates I

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