"When that man comes aboard," was Brock's defiant answer.
Mr. Smith hastened back to report that they still refused duty, and the captain hailed a passing boat and procured some Russians from the "Captain of the 'Branvault,'" as the harbor-master is called. With their assistance the ship was hauled to the Mole-head, and gave her hawser to the towboat that was waiting outside. Then the Russians stepped ashore, I took the wheel, the mates cast off the lines, and we proceeded in tow of the steamer.
When fairly off, the captain told the mate to call all hands aft. Standing by the cabin door he made an address to them, offering to divide among them the wages that would have come to the dead sailor, had he lived to complete the voyage.
Some of the men were inclined to give in, but Brock muttered, "We don't want a dead man's wages."
"Well," said the captain, "I'll give you what I should have paid another man if I had shipped one."
"Oh, we've been humbugged that way before, Cap'n," said Brock, who turned and went forward, followed by the rest of the crew, leaving the captain in the midst of another conciliatory harangue.
The ship was soon abreast of Tollbaken, ten miles from Cronstadt. The wind was dead ahead; and having nominally sailed, the captain decided to come to anchor and wait for the wind and crew to favor him.
The mate asked the men if they would turn to and let go the anchor; and thinking they would thus gain their point, and also their dinner, they consented. The steamer was cast off and the ship brought to anchor.
The crew were then allowed to get their dinner, but when called on to work, they again refused. The captain was greatly troubled, and so much at a loss what to do, that he appealed to me for advice. I felt rather flattered by his consideration, and suggested that he should put the men in irons. He was afraid to try that, so I proposed that he should give them nothing to eat till they resumed duty. When supper-time came they went to the galley, and being refused, Brock marched aft with his tin pot in hand, and with the coolest impudence, asked the captain if they were not to be allowed any supper.
"Not till you turn to," was the reply.