again in any way whatever, but went at his
work in the same systematic and seaman-like manner that had, from the
first, marked him as a thorough sailor. He was always considerate to the
men under him, and many times when I expected an outburst of fierce
anger, such as nine out of ten deep-water mates would indulge in at a
stupid blunder of a lazy sailor, he simply gave the fellow a quiet
talking to and impressed him with the absolute necessity of care in his
work. We had plenty of men aboard, and the crew of the _Sovereign_ were
turned to each watch and made to do their share.

After a few days, Trunnell came to me and told me I might choose a third
mate for him out of the men who had been in the _Sovereign's_ crew. None
of the men of the _Pirate_ he said were up to a mate's berth, except
Johnson, and he, poor fellow, couldn't read or write. Jenks was too
slippery for me after his hand in the fracas, so I asked the steward to
pick me out a man from forward, thinking he would be able to note the
proper qualities better than myself, as he was thrown in closer contact
with the men. The steward, Gunning, was a mulatto, as I have said, and he
was of a sympathetic disposition. Among the men who had first come aboard
from the wreck was an old fellow of nondescript appearance who had very
thoughtfully seized several bottles of Captain Sackett's rum to have in
the small boat in case of sickness. This was made possible by the
flooding of the ship, which made it necessary for the men to live aft.

The old fellow had apparently enjoyed good health, and had saved a
couple of bottles which he offered to the steward as a bribe for a
recommendation. This kindness on the old man's part had appealed
directly to Gunning, and he had sent him aft to me as the very man I
wanted. He was very talkative and full of anecdotes, proving a most
interesting specimen.

"I ain't been out o' sight o' land before in my life," said he, in a fit
of confidence the first evening we divided watches, "but old Chris Kingle
believed everything I told him, and here I am, third mate of this hooker,
as sober as a judge, waitin' to get killed the first time I go aloft.
Bleed me, but I'm in a fix; but it's no worse than I expected, for
everything goes wrong nowadays."

"Well, what do you mean by coming aft here as mate when you know you
can't fill the bill?" I roared, made furious at his confession.

"Cap," said he, as calmly as if I hadn't spoken, "some men is