must all die, that's
certain--we must all come to port sooner or later, at sea or on
shore--we must be fast moored one day: death's like the best bower
anchor, as the saying is--it will bring us all up." I could not but
signify my approbation of the justness of Jack's reflections, and
inquired into the occasion of the quarrel between Captain Oakum and my
uncle, which he explained in this manner: "Captain Oakum, to be sure, is
a good man enough--besides, he's my commander; but what's that to me?
I do my duty, and value no man's anger of a rope's end. Now the report
goes, as how he's a lord, or baron knight's brother, whereby (d'ye see
me,) he carries a straight arm, and keeps aloof from his officers, thof
mayhap they may be as good men in the main as he. Now we lying at anchor
in Tuberon Bay, Lieutenant Bowling had the middle watch, and as he
always kept a good look out, he made (d'ye see) three lights in the
offing, whereby he ran down to the great cabin for orders, and found
the captain asleep; whereupon he waked him, which put him in a main high
passion, and he swore woundily at the lieutenant, and called him lousy
Scotch son of a whore (for, I being then sentinel in the steerage, heard
all), and swab, and lubber, whereby the lieutenant returned the salute,
and they jawed together fore and aft a good spell, till at last the
captain turned out, and, laying hold of a rattan, came athwart Mr.
Bowling's quarter: whereby he told the captain that, if he was not
his commander, he would heave him overboard, and demanded satisfaction
ashore; whereby in the morning watch, the captain went ashore in the
pinnace, and afterwards the lieutenant carried the cutter ashore, and so
they, leaving the boats' crews on their oars, went away together; and so
(d'ye see) in less than a quarter of an hour we heard firing, whereby
we made for the place, and found the captain lying wounded on the beach,
and so brought him on board to the doctor, who cured him in less than
six weeks. But the lieutenant clapped on all the sail he could bear, and
had got far enough ahead before we knew anything of the matter; so that
we could never after get sight of him, for which we were not sorry,
because the captain was mainly wrath, and would certainly have done him
a mischief; for he afterwards caused him to be run on the ship's books,
whereby he lost all his pay, and, if he should be taken, would be tried
as a deserter."

This account of the captain's behavi