Jack in the Forecastle | Page 3

her bottom!" he replied, in his gruff manner; "why,
we should go to the bottom, of course"
The brig was now ready for sea. The sailors were shipped, and I
watched them closely as they came on board, expecting to find the
noble-looking, generous spirited tars I had become so familiar with in
books. It happened, however, that three out of the five seamen who
composed the crew were "old English men-of-war's-men," and had
long since lost any refinement of character or rectitude of principle they
originally possessed. They were brought on board drunk by the
landlord with whom they boarded; for the "old tars" of those days fifty
years ago had no homes; when on shore all they cared for was a roof to
shelter them, and plenty of grog, in which they would indulge until

their money was gone, when they would go to sea and get more.
Now ensued the bustle incident to such occasions. Captain William
Boyd, who had volunteered to pilot the brig down the harbor, came on
board; the sails were hoisted; the deck was crowded with persons to
take leave of their friends, or gratify a morbid curiosity; and what with
the numerous questions asked, the running to and fro, the peremptory
commands of the mate, the unmusical singing and shouting of the crew
as they executed the various orders, together with the bawling of the
handcartmen and truckmen as they brought down the last of the trunks,
chests, stores, and provisions, my brain was in a whirl of excitement; I
hardly knew whether I stood on my head or my heels.
At last the captain came down the wharf, accompanied by Joshua
Haven, one of the owners, and some friends, who had made
arrangements to proceed in the brig so far as the mouth of the harbor.
The single rope which connected the Dolphin with the shore was cast
loose; the pilot gave some orders; that were Greek to me, in a loud and
energetic tone; the men on the wharf gave three cheers, which were
heartily responded to by the temporary passengers and crew; and with a
pleasant breeze from the westward, we sailed merrily down the river.
Some few persons lingered on the wharf, and continued for a time to
wave their handkerchiefs in token of an affectionate farewell to their
friends. I seemed to stand alone while these interesting scenes were
enacted. I took no part in the warm greetings or the tender adieus. I had
bidden farewell to my friends and relatives in another town some days
before; and no one took sufficient interest in my welfare to travel a few
miles, look after my comforts, and wish me a pleasant voyage as I left
my native land.
Although from the reception I had met with I had little reason to expect
present indulgences or future favors from my kinsman who
commanded the brig, I did not regret the step I had taken. On the
contrary, my bosom bounded with joy when the last rope was severed,
and the vessel on whose decks I proudly stood was actually leaving the
harbor of Portsmouth, under full sail, bound to a foreign port. This was
no longer "the baseless fabric of a vision." The dream of my early years
had come to pass; and I looked forward with all the confidence of youth
to a bold and manly career, checkered it might be with toil and
suffering, but replete with stirring adventure, whose wild and romantic

charms would be cheaply won by wading through a sea of troubles. I
now realized the feeling which has since been so well described by the
poet:
"A life on the ocean wave, A home on the rolling deep, Where the
scattered waters rave, And the winds their revels keep.
"Like an eagle caged, I pine On this dull, unchanging shore; O, give me
the flashing brine, The spray, and the tempest's roar."
Chapter II
INCIDENTS AT SEA
The Dolphin was what is termed, in nautical parlance, an
"hermaphrodite brig," of about one hundred and fifty tons burden; and
had been engaged, for some twelve or fifteen years, in the West India
trade. This vessel could not with propriety be regarded as a model of
grace and beauty, but gloried in bluff bows, a flat bottom, and a high
quarter-deck; carried a large cargo for her tonnage, and moved heavily
and reluctantly through the water.
On this particular voyage, the hold of the brig, as I have already stated,
was filled with lumber; and thirty-five thousand feet of the same article
were carried on deck, together with an indefinite quantity of staves,
shooks, hoop poles, and other articles of commerce too numerous to
mention. On this enormous deck-load were constructed, on each side, a
row of