After this Crump took us to another room, where were sailors’ slops of all kinds, and gave us each a blue shirt and trousers, cap, and jacket.
We put them on, and asked for the shirts and trousers we took off to be sent back to the workhouse, as it would not be honest to keep them.
Mr. Crump gave a grin, and said our wishes should be attended, which made us very happy, for the idea of stealing even the shirts and trousers had been weighing heavy on our mind; but I am now afraid that the workhouse authorities never saw those trousers or shirts again.
Captain Haxell, when we returned, said, “Ah! that’s the style, my young sailors.—Now, Mr. Crump, how about the men?”
“All right, captain; I’ve them handy, and a wagon to take them and their chests down, and the lads too.”
Mr. Crump went out, and soon a certain amount of noise was heard in the passage outside the little den where we were, as if heavy things were being carried along, and then when it was quiet again Mr. Crump came in and said, “All ready, captain. Now, pay me.”
“Oh, I’ll pay you on board; come along of me.”
“No, I’m too old a bird for that; I’m not going to be paid with the fore-topsail. Pay down here, or not a soul leaves.”
Captain Haxell tried persuasion, and said he had left all his money aboard, and to go to the ship and come back would cause him to lose a tide.
“Can’t help that,” said Crump. “Pay or leave; them’s my words.”