f the crew vigorously plied the
holystone and scrubber under his directions, and my first quick glance
round the decks sufficed to show that the holystoning process was
confined to the poop only, the cleansing of the main-deck seemed to be
accomplished sufficiently by the application of the scrubber only. The
exuberant buoyancy of my spirits suffered a sudden and distinct check as
I glanced at the faces of those about me, which, without exception,
seemed to belong to the lowest and most depraved class of seamen--
sullen, brutal, reckless, resembling, more than anything else, in air
and expression, an assemblage of wild beasts, whose natural ferocity has
not been eradicated but is held in check, subdued, and daunted by the
constant exercise of a ferocity even greater than their own. The aspect
of the young man whom I conceived to be the officer of the watch was
even more repellent than that of his subordinates; and it was in
distinctly subdued tones that I bade him good-morning and preferred my
request to be allowed to take a bath under the head pump.

He did not respond to my salutation, but, carefully placing upon the
deck the bucket which he had just emptied, stood intently regarding me,
with his feet wide apart and both hands upon his hips. He remained
silent for so long a time that the men about him suspended their
operations, regarding him with dull curiosity, while I felt my patience
rapidly oozing away and my temper rising at the gratuitous insolence of
his demeanour, and I was on the point of making some rather pungent
remarks when he suddenly seemed to bethink himself, and said, in accents
that were apparently intended to convey some suggestion of an attempt at
civility:

"So you are the British naval officer that Monsieur Leroy told me about
when I relieved him, are you? And you want a bath, do you? Very well;
go and take one, by all means. And, hark ye, Monsieur Englishman, a
word in your ear. Take my advice, and after you have had your bath get
back to your cabin, and stay there until the captain has been informed
of your presence in the ship; for if he were to come on deck, and
unexpectedly see you, the chances are that he would blow your brains out
without thinking twice about it. He is not quite an angel in the matter
of temper, and I may tell you that he is not too well disposed toward
Englishmen in general, and English naval officers in particular. Now be
off, get your bath, and scuttle back t