ul-case' to shreds! And
there--just across the wharf--were the lights of Market Street, that
seemed to beckon us to come ashore! There were angry mutterings, and
only a wholesome fear of the Mate's big hands kept us at the task.

With the men forward it was even worse. The word had gone out that no
money would be advanced until the cargo was discharged and the ship put
to rights. No money--not even the price of a 'schooner'! And the
ghost of nigh six months, salt beef waiting to be 'laid!'

Their state of mind was soon observed by the boarding-masters. Whalers
were in the Bay, fitted out and ready for sea, and only a lack of
sailormen kept them within the Golden Gate. To get these men--the
blood-money for their shipment, rather--was the business of the
'crimps,' who showed a wealth of imagination in describing the various
topping shore jobs that they held at their disposal. Now it was a
'mine manager' they were looking for in our forecastle; to-morrow it
would be a fruit salesman they wanted! They secured smiling Dutch John
as a decoy, and set him up behind the bar of a Water Front saloon.
There, when work was over for the day, his former shipmates
foregathered, and John (fairly sober, considering) put up free drinks
and expanded on the goodness of a long-shore life.

"Vat jou boysh stop _mit der_ ship on? Jou tinks dere vas no yobs on
shore? De boardin'-master damn lie, eh? ... Ah vas get me four
dollars a day; _und der_ boss, ven 'e see me de glasses break, say me
nodings! Ah goes from _der haus, und_ comes to _der haus in--und_ 'e
say nod like _der_ Mate, 'Vat jou do dere, _verdamt shwine_? Was _fuer_
jou no go on mit jour vark?' ... _'ttverdam_! It vas _der_ life,
_mein_ boysh! It vas _der_ life!"

Against such a pronouncement from their whilom shipmate, and with the
plain evidence of his prosperity before their eyes, it was useless to
argue. Here was John able to stand free drinks all round, and the
saloon boss 'standin' by' and smiling pleasantly. Didn't John say,
"Here, boss, jou gif me a light for _mein_ cigar!" and the owner of the
place handed out his silver box instanter? John! A 'Dutchman,'
too,--not even the best sailorman of the 'crowd'! ... ("Here, boss,
what was that job ye was talkin' about? I _guess_ there ain't nuthin'
I can't do w'en I sets my 'ead to it!") Soon the 'crimps,' ever ready
at hand, were off to the ship, hot-foot, for bags and baggage!

Those who still held by