"Debrin!" called a voice. "Pass the word for Debrin."
A squint-eyed bowlegged boatswain's mate was bawling about the deck.
For an instant I was so confused that I almost forgot the name I had assumed.
"Here!" I called at last, with my heart giving a wild leap into my throat. I gave over the roller handspike to my friend of the night before, and the boatswain's mate looked at me out of his crooked eyes.
"The old man wishes to speak to you," he said, in a low voice.
I stepped aft and pulled off my cap, as I had seen the other sailors do.
"Take hold of those gawk-legs and lick them into shape," said Captain Temple, apparently counting up my ribs as he looked me through and through. "You say you know the drill. There's a rack of muskets forward on the berth-deck, and a chest of cutlasses at the after-ladder. If any one gives you a sneer or a back word make him sweat his blood."
I hope that the quiver that went over me was not apparent, but I felt a cold sensation from my chest to the end of my spine. Now, as it happened, I had watched closely, as a boy, the drilling of the train-band at Baltimore, where I learned much from my friend the Major, and had once formed a company of my schoolmates at Mr. Thompson's, electing myself their leader. I tried to recall the orders of command and the positions as I marched the men below and armed them at the rack. But when I came back to the deck I was again seized with a fit of trembling that made me keep in movement to conceal it, for I perceived that those under me were watching with some curiosity to see what I should do. Besides this, it appeared to my imagination that all the crew were standing about with popping eyes, ready to laugh at me if I should open my mouth. So I took a long swallow, threw back my head and shoulders (ah! there is nothing like it to keep up one's courage!) and adopting a terse mode of speech, I began to sift the men into military shape, according to their height.
My uncle had impressed one thing upon my mind as the surest way to obtain authority; it was not to make men hear, but to make them listen; so I did not shout, but endeavored to speak in low firm tones, explaining to the men as I gathered them into line how they should stand and hold themselves. Some were inclined to smile at first, and indeed I cannot blame them; for despite my size, my youth was evident, no matter my air of authority.
To those who appeared amused I kept repeating my instructions until the grin had faded from their faces, and at last I felt that feeling which expands the spirit of the holder of it—the sense of authority over others. So stepping out before them, I picked up a musket and began to drill them according to my recollection of the manual of arms.