22. CHAPTER XXII.
During the scenes just described, Doctor Johnson was
engaged in examining the sick; of whom, as it turned out,
all but two were to remain in the ship. He had evidently
received his cue from Wilson.
One of the last called below into the cabin, just as the
quarter-deck gathering dispersed, I came on deck quite incensed.
My lameness, which, to tell the truth, was now much
better, was put down as, in a great measure, affected; and my
name was on the list of those who would be fit for any duty in
a day or two. This was enough. As for Doctor Long Ghost,
the shore physician, instead of extending to him any professional
sympathy, had treated him very cavalierly. To a
certain extent, therefore, we were now both bent on making
common cause with the sailors.
I must explain myself here. All we wanted was to have the
ship snugly anchored in Papeetee Bay; entertaining no doubt
that, could this be done, it would in some way or other peaceably
lead to our emancipation. Without a downright mutiny,
there was but one way to accomplish this: to induce the men
to refuse all further duty, unless it were to work the vessel in.
The only difficulty lay in restraining them within proper
bounds. Nor was it without certain misgivings, that I found
myself so situated, that I must necessarily link myself, however
guardedly, with such a desperate company; and in an
enterprise too, of which it was hard to conjecture what might
be the result. But any thing like neutrality was out of the
question; and unconditional submission was equally so.
On going forward, we found them ten times more tumultuous
than ever. After again restoring some degree of tranquillity,
we once more urged our plan of quietly refusing duty,
and awaiting the result. At first, few would hear of it; but in
the end, a good number were convinced by our representations.
Others held out. Nor were those who thought with
us, in all things to be controlled.
Upon Wilson's coming on deck to enter his boat, he was
beset on all sides; and, for a moment, I thought the ship
would be seized before his very eyes.
“Nothing more to say to you, men; my arrangements are
made. Go forward, where you belong. I'll take no insolence;”
and, in a tremor, Wilson hurried over the side in the
midst of a volley of execrations.
Shortly after his departure, the mate ordered the cook and
steward into his boat; and saying that he was going to see
how the captain did, left us, as before, under the charge of
Bembo.
At this time we were lying becalmed, pretty close in with
the land (having gone about again), our main-top-sail flapping
against the mast with every roll.
The departure of the consul and Jermin was followed by a
scene absolutely indescribable. The sailors ran about deck
like madmen; Bembo, all the while, leaning against the taffrail
by himself, smoking his heathenish stone pipe, and never
interfering.
The cooper, who that morning had got himself into a fluid
of an exceedingly high temperature, now did his best to regain
the favor of the crew. “Without distinction of party,” he
called upon all hands to step up, and partake of the contents
of his bucket.
But it was quite plain that, before offering to intoxicate
others, he had taken the wise precaution of getting well tipsy
himself. He was now once more happy in the affection of his
shipmates, who, one and all, pronounced him sound to the
kelson.
The Pisco soon told; and, with great difficulty, we restrained
a party in the very act of breaking into the after-hold in pursuit
of more.
All manner of pranks were now played.
“Mast-head, there! what d'ye see?” bawled Beauty, hailing
the main-truck through an enormous copper tunnel.
“Stand by for stays,” roared Flash Jack, hauling off with the
cook's axe, at the fastenings of the main-stay. “Looky out for
'qualls!” shrieked the Portuguese, Antone, darting a handspike
through the cabin sky-light. And “Heave round cheerly,
men,” sung out Navy Bob, dancing a hornpipe on the fore
castle.
