Tom knew that “turn to” meant go to work; and he also remembered that his first task was to black the captain’s boots. At first he determined to flatly refuse to perform such work; but, on second thought, he concluded to go into the cabin and tell the skipper how badly he was treated, and again demand his protection. So, without stopping to answer the mate, he sullenly walked aft, when the officer, as if guessing his intention, said:
“I’ll give you five minutes in which to black the captain’s boots; and, if you are not on deck again at the end of that time, I shall be after you.”
Tom made no reply, but went down into the cabin, where he found the captain seated at the table examining his chart.
“Well!” exclaimed the latter, as Tom entered, “how do you like a sailor’s life?”
“O, I don’t like it at all!” was the answer. “I can’t imagine why my father sent me to sea, to be kicked about and abused as I have been on board this vessel. I am not treated right, captain. I didn’t ship to saw wood or to black your boots, and I’m not going to do it. I am here to learn to be a sailor.”
The captain drummed with his fingers on the table, but made no reply.
“And just see here, how wet I am!” continued Tom. “I’ve been out in all this rain ever since midnight.”
“O, that’s nothing,” said the captain, who could not refrain from laughing. “We can’t always have pleasant weather, you know.”
“I don’t mind the rain so much,” replied Tom. “I could stand that if I was only treated half-way decent. I didn’t suppose that you would make me work so hard.”
“I think your duties are very light,” said the captain. “If you intend to be a sailor, you must learn how to do all kinds of work. When I was a boy, and made my first voyage, I had to do just the work you are now called upon to do.”