Cringle and cross-tree

by Oliver Optic

"And Baxter shall look out for Martino at the helm. Walker shall lie down upon Gorro, and Bilger shall see that only our own men come out of the forecastle."

"Good, Phil!" exclaimed Baxter. "But what shall we do with York?"

"He must not commit himself till we have made a sure thing of the job. Don't say a word to him; but he will not interfere," answered Sanderson.

We stationed every man according to his ability for the great enterprise, and I felt almost sure that it would be a success, if the man-of-war did not overhaul us before we had time to put it in operation. While we were thus engaged, the mate and the passengers were busy watching the movements of the steamer with a glass. They did not look forward to see what the crew were doing. The Spanish and Portuguese sailors did not come near us. They had already committed themselves on the side of the officers, and knew that their shipmates had no good will towards them on this account. They were in the waist, and seemed to be as busy as we were in discussing the exciting affair which had occurred. I afterwards learned that they had been engaged before in the slave trade, and had been shipped by the Spanish passengers as willing agents in the inhuman business.

I do not know what the mate had discovered in regard to the steamer; but he ordered the studding-sails, alow and aloft, to be set forward. The wind was fresh, and under this additional canvas the bark flew through the water. The log was thrown; and Baxter, who had charge of the operation, informed us that the Michigan was making thirteen knots. I admired the vessel, and thought it a shame and a pity that such a noble craft should be used in such a horrid trade. She had been built to run up the Mediterranean as a fruiter, and it was desirable that she should make quick passages. Some of her carrying capacity had been sacrificed on this account; but she could still carry negroes enough to make her voyage a very profitable investment.

After we had set the studding-sails forward, our party again discussed the details of our plan for the evening. The part of each man, and each gang of men, was carefully considered. To each party a leader was appointed, who was to be held responsible for the share of the work assigned to him, and whom the others were to obey without a question. I had the honor to be selected as the leader of the largest gang, who were to do the job in the cabin. The fact that I had been engaged in an Indian campaign seemed to give me a great deal of credit for the service which we were to perform, and my name was suggested for the important place by Jack Sanderson, who was to be one of my party.

I found myself very popular with the crew; first, I suppose, because I had been persecuted by the mate,—which was his fault, and not my merit,—and second, because I had always tried to be kind and obliging to my shipmates. I had read to them from the Bible every Sunday, and always found them glad to hear the blessed word. I had watched with those who were sick, and helped them whenever I had an opportunity to do so. I told them all about the wilds of the Upper Missouri, and related the story of the campaign with the Indians. I had given them the history of Waterford in Chicago, so far as I knew it. I had no intention of making myself popular with the men; probably, if I had, I should have failed. I only wished to act the part of a Christian towards them; and, for carrying out this simple and sincere desire, I obtained a great deal more credit than I deserved.

Rude and rough as these men were, depraved even as a few of them had become by the agency of that fiend which is the sailor's direst curse, Rum, they were still men, and some of them had received a fair education. Some of them were blessed with inquiring minds, and many an hour of the silent watches of the night, as the bark ploughed her way over the ocean, our discussions were upon moral, religious, and scientific subjects. Though I was but eighteen, my studies gave me a great advantage over my companions, and I found myself consulted upon questions in which the men were interested. I can only say, that whatever measure of regard and respect I won from my shipmates was merited only by an earnest and sincere desire to serve and benefit them.

Everything went along quietly on deck. The captain had disappeared. Doubtless the excitement of the day had caused him to drink deeper than usual, and I suppose he was asleep in his state-room. Waterford was the real captain of the bark, though Farraday sometimes acted as such. The mate must have been sadly disturbed by the incipient mutiny which had appeared; but he took no further steps to strengthen his position. He kept his eye on the streak of black smoke over the lee quarter. Perhaps he felt that, as there was no actual demonstration of mutiny on the part of the crew, he could better afford to wait for the indications of the future than the crew could. Certainly everything on board went along as usual, except that the Spanish and Portuguese sailors separated themselves from their shipmates, unless required, in the discharge of their duty, to mingle with them.

Feeling that a great event was likely to occur within the next twenty-four hours, I could not help considering the safety of my money, for I hoped, by some means or other, that I should be able to reach Europe, and find my mother. I looked all about the deck for a better hiding-place for my treasure. While I was thinking of the matter, I was ordered, with others, to get up a barrel of beef from the hold. I was sure that I could find a safe place below for my gold; and, passing into the forecastle, I put the bag into my pocket. After we had hoisted up the barrel, I went aft to the temporary steerage which had been built for this voyage. I noticed the position of the door, and satisfied myself that it was not fastened; but I found no good place for my money.