“Derned if ’tain’t old Father Neptune hisself!” cried Cap’n Pem who stood near. “Reckon he’s come aboard ter ’nitiate ev’ry one what’s never crossed the line afore.”
Following close at Neptune’s heels came two other figures, one, a huge black man bearing an immense wooden razor, the other dressed as a woman wearing a crown and carrying a trident. Surrounded by the crew Neptune approached the after deck, where Captain Edwards had now joined the boys and the mates, and addressing the skipper, declared that he had come aboard to initiate those who never before had crossed the equator, and asked the captain’s permission to proceed with the ceremony. While he was speaking, a number of men had appeared, all dressed in grotesque costumes, and had placed a huge tub of water, a chair and a pail on the deck. Immediately the fun began. Seizing one of those who stood nearest, two of Neptune’s retinue dragged him to the chair and held him firmly in place despite his struggles, while a third liberally plastered his face with the thick flour paste from the pail. Then the negro with the razor stepped forward and with slashing strokes, “shaved” the protesting initiate, whereupon his chair was abruptly tipped up and he was tumbled headlong into the tub of water.
Every one roared with laughter, in which the spluttering victim joined, and Neptune’s assistants started for the next man. But the crew were now prepared and ran and dodged about the decks and up the rigging until one slipped and fell, to be immediately pounced upon and carried to the “barber.” With all their attention centered on the comical sight and almost choking with laughter, the boys had failed to notice two men who had stealthily approached, until they were suddenly grabbed, and with loud shouts of glee from their captors, were carried to the deck.
They had already noticed that those who protested and struggled the most received the greatest attention from the barber and so, wisely deciding to make the best of it and take their turns good naturedly, they submitted without resistance. Partly owing to this, and partly to the fact that they were mere boys and belonged aft, they were treated to a mere dab of the paste brush and a single stroke of the razor and were carefully ducked only to their ears in the tub.
As nearly all members of the crew were “greenies” who had never been to sea before, it took several hours to capture and initiate all, but at last it was over and Neptune’s “daughter” handed each one a card bearing the name of the bark and the date, and certifying that the holder had been duly initiated and enrolled by Father Neptune.
Captain Edwards then ordered refreshments served all around, the decks were cleared, and throughout the day, the men frolicked and skylarked to their hearts’ content while those on the after deck roared with laughter at their antics or applauded vigorously as some one started a chantey or a whaleman’s song to the music of a violin and a concertina with all hands joining in the chorus. The boys vowed it was as good as any vaudeville show they had ever seen. Even Captain Edwards dropped his accustomed dignity and gravity to join in the hilarity, and calling to the mate, cried out, “Give ’em a real good whaleman’s song, Pem. Fun’s over at eight bells and it’s pretty near that now.”
“Blowed ef I will,” replied Cap’n Pem. “Ain’t sang a derned word fer years. Give ’em one yerself Hen.”
“All right, Pem,” laughed the skipper, “I’ll give ’em one if you’ll give ’em another. That’s fair. Go ahead, Pem, yours first.”
“Wall,” muttered the old whaleman, “reckon ef the Cap’n tells me to, I’ve gotter do it.” Walking to the break of the deck, he raised his hand, cleared his throat and commenced to roar out the words of a famous old whaling song. Instantly the men were hushed and motionless, listening to his deep, bass voice as he sang:
Come, all ye bold seamen who are cruising for sparm.
Come, all ye jolly, bold seamen that have rounded Cape Horn,
For our cap’n has told us, an’ we hope he says true,
That there’s plenty o’ sparm whales on the coast o’ Peru.