This touched my pride.
“Why, I am only fifteen.”
“Only fifteen? Well, I suppose you didn’t have a very good home, so you were glad to go to sea.”
“Yes, I had a good home.”
I felt uncomfortable. The cook continued pleasantly, “The sailor’s life is a hard one, but there are bright spots. Let me tell you to do as you are told to do and do your best. Feel a little squeamish, eh?”
“Not very much now, but I did, yesterday.”
“And you will again, if you go down this mornin’ into that old forecastle, so I’ll give you a little breakfast here, if you can hold on with one hand while you use the other. Eat little to begin with.”
He gave me some coffee and a couple of pieces of bread soaked in something. I held the cup containing the coffee in one hand and the hard bread in the other, and, although more than once I thought they would slip from my hands, I managed to make my repast without accident. It wasn’t long before all hands were ordered aft. I was now feeling pretty good, but I pitied the greenies who had passed the night in the forecastle—they looked so forlorn. They had evidently been sick and gave little appearance of being able to work.
We all huddled together and Captain Gamans, who was to be our master for nearly three years, proceeded to address us. The captain was a young man, not over thirty years old, of good size but not of very attractive appearance. He seemed inclined to be somewhat savage. The following remarks he delivered in a sharp, nasal tone:
“See here, you fellows, I’m boss on this ship. I want you to understand you’ll have to work and work hard. There’s no hanging round on a whaler, as some folks think. Whalemen work a great deal harder than merchantmen. Now don’t let me see any wasting of grub. I’ll put the man who does it in irons for a week. The sooner you greenies learn the ropes and to box the compass, the better. If you don’t, no watch below until you do. Competition between the boats is all right, but there must be fair play. Now for the boats’ crews and the watches; and look out for yourselves.”