Our sea-boots, our oilskin coats, our well-filled
sea-chests, were to him so many causes for bitter meditation: he had
none of those things, and he felt instinctively that no man, when
the need arose, would offer to share them with him. He was impudently
cringing to us and systematically insolent to the officers. He
anticipated the best results, for himself, from such a line of
conduct--and was mistaken. Such natures forget that under extreme
provocation men will be just--whether they want to be so or not.
Donkin's insolence to long-suffering Mr. Baker became at last
intolerable to us, and we rejoiced when the mate, one dark night,
tamed him for good.
It was done neatly, with great decency and decorum, and with little
noise. We had been called--just before midnight--to trim the yards, and
Donkin--as usual--made insulting remarks. We stood sleepily in a row
with the forebrace in our hands waiting for the next order, and heard in
the darkness a scuffly trampling of feet, an exclamation of surprise,
sounds of cuffs and slaps, suppressed, hissing whispers:--"Ah! Will
you!"... "Don't!... Don't!"... "Then behave."... "Oh! Oh!.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77