Then the contrast between the luxurious fare of his home and the vile rations, as he called them, of his mariner's life was, so disgusting to him that for a long time he could scarcely bring himself to eat at all. There his richly-cooked food was served in elegant china, cut glass, and splendid service of plate, while here his ration of salt beef, bean porridge and ship-bread, cooked for him at the galley, must be eaten from a small wooden tub called a kid, his tea or coffee from a tin pot. There were no tables, knives or forks in the forecastle, unless the latter were furnished by the sailor himself; and, as Alfred knew nothing of this necessity, he was obliged to get along as best he could.
The strict discipline on board ship he found almost intolerable. At sea, the time is marked by bells. At noon, eight strokes are made upon the bell, and from that time it is struck every half-hour, beginning at half-past twelve, which is one bell. One o'clock is two bells, half-past one three bells, and so on until four o'clock, which will be eight bells, when what is called the watch is out, a term used for dividing the time, and also for a division of a crew.
As soon as eight bells are struck, the officer of the watch on duty gives orders to call the watch below, who, if it is the night, are probably asleep. There is no opportunity for the boy to turn himself in bed and get a comfortable nap. As soon as he hears the sound, "Eight bells!" or the hour, "Do you hear, sleepers?" or something of that kind, he must turn out at once, in order that the other watch may go below.
While at school, Alfred had always been notorious for disorderly conduct during study hours. With entire disregard of the rules, he would whisper, whistle, pinch his companions, or do anything to draw their attention from their books.
On board ship no conversation was allowed while the men were performing their work,—certainly not in the presence of an officer. Occasionally, when two men were by themselves on deck, he had observed that a little low talk had not been noticed, unless it took their attention from their business.
On one occasion, when he and one of his messmates, that is, one who ate with him, were aloft, he began, to joke and laugh, for which he was immediately reprimanded; and, as he had never learned to be silent when reproved, he replied, in an insolent tone, "The other men talk, and why can't I?" For this disrespect of authority, he was condemned to forfeit half his next ration.
In working ship, when the men were at their stations, the same silence and decorum were enforced. But when the sailors were together on the forecastle, at night, and no work was going forward, considerable noise was allowed.
Smoking, singing, laughing, telling yarns, which means repeating long stories, made that part of the vessel quite lively. It was during these hours that Alfred had rapidly advanced in sin. He always put himself in the way of those who were noted for their profane and lewd conversation. Here he became skilled in every kind of impurity; so that his obscene talk was a wonder even to his wicked companions. But every week he grew more unhappy. There was not an hour in the day that he did not curse the captain, the crew, his own hard lot, and sometimes even his Maker. His hands were frightfully torn and blistered by the rigging; but whenever he complained, he only brought upon himself a hearty laugh, and the ever-recurring joke of the gloves. This had no other effect upon him than to curse himself for a fool, in not being able to invent a more plausible story. No thought of the sin of lying entered his mind. No sorrow at having violated the commands of God; nothing but regret that he had not told a more cunningly-devised tale.
The Dolphin, in which he sailed, was bound for Calcutta, and was to touch at some small islands for fresh provisions and water. Long before they reached this port, he had resolved to run away. He learned from the sailors that banannas and bread-fruit grew wild upon the islands, and that the natives passed their lives in idleness and ease. He pleased himself with the fancy that this was exactly the place for him.
Though the youngest on board ship, Alfred prided himself in being able to swear as roundly, or talk in as vulgar a strain, as the most degraded of his companions. They delighted to lead him on in sin, but secretly despised him for his easy adaptation to their vile habits. Whether he expressed too much interest in the fact that the vessel was to touch at the island, or whether the captain had seen enough of the lad to convince him that no confidence could be placed in his fidelity, certain it is, that both the first and second mates had orders to watch him closely while in port; and if he showed a design to leave the ship, to lock him up in the hold of the vessel.