CHAPTER XVII.
IN WHICH PHIL BECOMES BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH THE CABIN STEWARD.
I was alone again. I felt that we had lost our case. The men had given up the battle, drank their grog, and, under the influence of liquor, would be as willing to trade in human beings as to perform their ordinary duty. I could do nothing single-handed, and I might as well give up before I had suffered the tortures of the mate's wrath as afterwards. I would yield no principle, I would take no part in handling the vessel, but I would tell the mate where my gold was. I actually shuddered when I thought of having the money which I had earned by my labor applied to the purchase of human beings; but I did not see how I could help myself, for after I had been beaten and abused, my money was still likely to be found when the between-decks was prepared for the reception of the miserable wretches whose flesh and blood were to enrich Waterford and his infamous companions.
I looked around the steerage. It was fitted up with eight berths, but at present it was occupied only by the cabin steward, whose sympathies were with our party, though he had not yet committed himself. I afterwards learned the use to which this steerage was to be applied. As only a few of the crew could safely be informed of the nature of the unlawful voyage before they were shipped, of course not all of them could be expected to engage in the dangerous business without compulsion, and they were liable, as in the present instance, to ship a majority who would rather fight than incur the peril of being hanged or imprisoned for being concerned in it. But the officers were sure of five men,—the Spanish and Portuguese sailors,—for they had signed the shipping articles with their eyes wide open. Indeed, they had been employed to put down a mutiny, as well as to work the bark. It was not desirable to separate the crew; but, when it became necessary, those in the interests of the officers, or a sufficient number of them to enable the captain and mate to enforce their authority, were to be berthed in the steerage, where they could at all times be within hail of their superiors.
This plan is often, if not always, adopted in whalemen, where boat-steerers are regarded as officers, and are berthed in the steerage, in order to be used in subduing the crew in the event of any insubordination. I glanced about the place, and I found that it was also used as the armory. When I first came on board, I had seen no arms; but now there were four muskets, several pistols, and half a dozen cutlasses hung upon the bulkhead. Probably they had been brought out from their hiding-places since the disturbance with the crew. I wondered that the Spanish and Portuguese sailors were not already installed in their quarters; but I supposed the mate wished to have them mingle with the other hands forward as long as possible, so as to take note of any disaffection, and report it to him.
While I was looking about me, the cabin steward came into the steerage with my supper. His name was Palmer, and he was an American. He had a very light and fair complexion; and, though I had not seen much of him on board, I judged that he was a little inclined to be a dandy. He was about twenty-five years of age, and was certainly a very good-looking fellow—which he evidently believed himself.
"I am sorry for you, Phil," said he, as he placed his dishes in one of the berths.
"Are you really so?" I asked.
"I am, indeed; and if I dared to do so, I would let you go at once."