Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/35

 kids or little tubs, with brass hoops. We each furnished ourselves with a tin pot, pan, and spoon, likewise our  small stores, such as tea, sugar, pepper, soap, etc., not  forgetting our tobacco, all our clothing, with needle,  thread, and wax. We drew on the purser for these things, and they were charged to our accounts. We were also divided into watches — starboard and larboard  — and stationed in different parts of the ship, — some on  the forecastle, some in the fore, main, and mizzen-tops,  and some in the waist and after-guard. I was one of the forties, that is, the "never-sweats," — a mizzen-top  man. I liked my station, the ship’s officers, and the crew; but the captain! — when I saw him, it made me revengeful, and I felt as if the evil one had taken  possession of me. I only wish I could forget the past, and that it might not so constantly haunt me.

It was now the 22d of August. We were in the Gulf Stream, —



For several days the weather had been lovely. The squadron sailing in line, free communication was had  between the ships. In case of separation, we were to rendezvous at Madeira. On the eve of the 22d we had a most beautiful sunset and moonrise. It was a glorious sight to see the sun dipping beneath the waves of the  ocean in the west, and to see at the same time the moon  rise out of the waters in the east. Try to picture the scene, kind reader, I cannot describe it. The sea is indeed a fit place for contemplating the majesty and