“You’re a coward. You couldn’t hurt a fly.”
Before the captain could move or reply, Jake whipped out a knife and made a lunge for him. I thought the knife was going into the captain’s shoulder, but by a quick movement of the body he escaped. Jake partly lost his balance, and the captain seized him. The vessel was pitching and the outcome was uncertain. The captain seized the wrist of Jake’s right arm, and just then Lakeum grabbed a marlinespike and knocked the knife out of Jake’s hand. The men struggled fiercely for a moment, when Jake slipped a little; this put him at a disadvantage, and down they went, the captain on top. They say you mustn’t strike a man when he’s down, but it may be that it depends on the man and the circumstances. At any rate, the captain gave Jake an awful mauling, and when he let him up and the mates took him away to put him in irons, his face looked like jelly. For several days everything went on smoothly and everybody seemed subdued. The only comment was made to me by Kreelman.
“Boy,” he said, “I’m a common sailor and will never get any higher, but there are always two sides to a case. I’ve seen captains and officers do some awful cruel things, and when I was younger, I’ve suffered myself. But in this matter the captain was right. Jake’s a bad man. I didn’t like him from the first. What they want to do is to get rid of him, and they’ll do it, too. Keep your eyes open.”
“How will they do it?” I asked.
“Never mind, keep your eyes open.”
I had heard of hanging men at the yardarm, and I assumed that, when Kreelman said they would get rid of Jake, he meant they would take his life in some way. I was uneasy and distressed. However, I had little time for reflection, as I was constantly kept at work.
We had several days of pleasant weather and each day we took to the boats, and the greenies began to show great improvement in handling the oars. The thirteenth day from home was a memorable one. I supposed that the vessel was well on her way south, but a great surprise was in store for me. It was a beautiful morning, and it was not far advanced before a hazy outline appeared in the distance. As we approached, it grew more distinct, and I was so surprised and bewildered that I didn’t even think of seeking information. Soon the object developed into a huge mountain, rising right out of the sea—in fact from six to seven thousand feet in height. It was evidently at one end of an island. Before long the vessel was put in stays. Then came the order to lower the larboard boat. The greenie who belonged in the boat was told to remain on the ship, and then Jake appeared in the custody of the mates, and was told to take the greenie’s place in the boat. Jake’s face was covered with scabs and scars, and he didn’t appear so bold and defiant as he did before his encounter with the captain. Lakeum steered for the shore, which wasn’t over five hundred yards away, and I wondered what it was all about and particularly where we were going. My curiosity increased when on our arrival Lakeum shouted, “Twenty minutes shore leave.” The men scrambled out of the boat—Jake, despite his beating, the most agile of all. In a minute Lakeum and I were alone.
“Aren’t you going with the boys?” he asked.
“No,” I said, “I’d rather stay here. Will you tell me where we are?”
“Where do you think?”