Tom was in my watch, and received some tutelage from me; but I am positive that Bill, in the other watch, got nothing from the mate but kicks, cuffs, and abuse. Yet he seemed to absorb something from his own brother; for, side by side, yet without speaking, they acquired proficiency; until, when each knew the ropes, could box the compass, steer, and go aloft to a skysail the captain called them aft, complimented them, and placed them on the articles under pay. Then they steered a regular trick, and drew clothing from the slop chest—also sheath knives, which every skipper will deny to a bad crew and accord to a good; for, worn outside all clothing, they are the handiest tools aboard ship. Tom and Bill wore theirs as proudly as the ablest seaman we had. But, with clothing alike, it was harder than ever to tell them apart.
We were now down off the Cape and had begun the long eastering on the fortieth parallel. Captain Merwin, as was usual with him when his officers and crew had settled into place, had retired to his world of books and study, leaving, except the working out of morning sights, the navigation, and the handling of the ship, to the mate. Also, it seemed, he had left to him the welfare of his daughter; for Mr. Butterell devoted to her all the time he could spare from his work, and would even remain up in his watch below to talk with her.
As for her, she seemed to enjoy his society, would talk with him by the hour, watch him with interest as he would stand at the break of the poop bellowing orders to the men, and respond to his inevitable smirk with the sweetest of smiles. She gave me never a look, and, as the captain seldom spoke to me now, and the mate not at all except in the way of work, my sense of isolation had so grown upon me that I resolved this passage would be my last with Captain Merwin.
In this rebellious mood I lay smoking in my berth one second dog-watch, waiting for eight bells and listening to the mate's sallies and Mabel's laughter through the open window of my room, and to an occasional sharp word of command to Bill, who, at the wheel, was making hard work of steering. Though it was southern summer and warm, a half-gale blew from the starboard quarter, and this, with the following sea, would have taxed the powers of a better helmsman than Bill. But, instead of sending such a better man to relieve Bill, Mr. Butterell chose to heckle the poor greenhorn until, as I could see by ranging the clouds through my window, the ship was yawing frightfully, two points each side of her course, and in danger of broaching to or going by the lee. Some skippers and mates never learn that bad steering is not improved by criticism, and when eight bells struck I went on deck, angry and disgusted with the purblind bully.
I found the ship staggering along under an unnecessary and unwise press of after canvas, the mate still berating Bill, who was desperately heaving on the wheel, and Mabel seated in a deck chair on the weather, or starboard, quarter. Following me along the lee alley came the twin brother Tom to relieve Bill at the wheel; but before allowing him to take the spokes I steadied the ship myself. Then I relinquished the spokes to Tom and turned officially to relieve the mate.
But he had other matters on his mind. Collaring Bill before he could give the course to his brother, he hurled him violently against the lee quarter rail, then followed and drove him, with kicks and punches, forward along the alley.
"Now, then, you long-jawed farmer," he shouted to the cowering man, "up aloft wi' you! Up the lee rigging you go, and over the lee futtock rigging, to the upper topsail yard, and out the lee yardarm! Hear me? The lee upper topsail yardarm, where you keep a lookout till four bells."
"Yes, sir," answered Bill in a curious throaty voice as he scrambled into the rigging.
"And when the bells strike, you answer them, d'you hear? You sing out, 'One bell—all's well! Two bells—all's well!' and so on. Hear?"
"I hear," snarled Bill, "and by Gawd I'll have your life for this!"