The winds were rather light and baffling in the Mediterranean, and the ship made slow progress. But the weather was charming. Sea and sky were of that deep blue which is world-renowned, and which make this sea emphatically "the blue Mediterranean." Some days, so clear was the air as almost to impress one with the idea of the vastness and emptiness of space, and when, commonly speaking, the sky seemed to have disappeared. But at evening little clouds would gather about and lend their bright hues to adorn the sunset.
For a week after leaving Gibraltar things went on quietly on board ship, and I had great hopes that the passage would end peacefully. But it must needs be that offences come at sea, and one more row had to be passed through before the harbor of Genoa was reached.
There was a man on board called Jake, a powerful "six-footer," and one of the best sailors and most cheerful and active of the crew.
One afternoon, the second mate pointed him out to the captain, and said: "That's a good man; he's as smart as a steel trap, and a willing fellow, too."
"Yes," said the captain, "I think he is; but don't you tell him so, for if you do, it won't last much longer."
"No fear, sir," said Mr. Howard, "I don't give compliments to sailors very often."
That night Mr. Howard had the first watch on deck, and at about 11 o'clock the wind hauled aft a little, giving opportunity to set the studding-sails. He gave the necessary orders at once; and Jake was the first one to get into the rigging and mount to the foreyard to cast the heel-lashing of the boom adrift. He was not ready with it when the others came up with the ropes to reeve, and the second mate hurried him up with frequent phrases, such as, "Bear a hand;" "Let's hear from you there;" "What do you say, now?" and then asked: "What's the matter, there?"
"The heel-lashing's jammed, sir," was answered.
"Bear a hand and clear it then," said he.