hat any man assuming another
name would forfeit all wages. We had given bogus papers. When I went to
sign the articles I was rather embarrassed, as I had forgotten my new
name, so they had to tell me what it was. We were taken to our new ship,
which was anchored out in the bay.

I was not greatly pleased when I found what was in store for me. The
wages were twenty-five dollars a month. The landlord had received fifty
dollars--two months' pay--in advance. He was to deduct my board bill and
give me the balance of the money, but I never got a cent of it. I had
been "shanghaied," as the sailors call it. Instead of going up the
coast, as I was told we were to do, I found we were bound for Cork,
Ireland, a voyage of eighty-five hundred and twenty miles. The vessel
itself was a "holy terror," very heavily rigged, while everything on
board was old and played out, the rusty blocks, with heavy running gear,
making it very hard work for us, especially as we had a crew of only six
men, where twelve seamen, at least, should have been a crew for that old
tub. The cargo was guano in bulk, as a scow would be loaded with dirt.
Our sleeping quarters were in the forecastle, situated in the bow of the
vessel. Everything was covered with guano. As we had to live below, it
was our first object to clean up the place. Buckets of water were passed
down the scuttle, and the place was cleaned up as well as we could do
it; but it was of no use; the smell of ammonia made us sick. Some would
vomit, others bled at the nose, and a thick black phlegm would form in
our throats. The weather being warm, we slept on the deck, as we could
not endure it in the forecastle below.

Guano is the droppings from sea-birds, which have been accumulating for
thousands of years. The Chincha Islands, belonging to Peru, have an
inexhaustible supply. No rain ever falls in that country, consequently
nothing is washed away. The depth of the guano is from four to eight
feet. When a ship is to be loaded with guano, it has to go to Callao
first for a permit, then to the Chincha Islands. The cargo is put in by
Chinese coolies, and then the vessel returns to Callao for a clearance,
also to pay a certain amount per ton.

CHAPTER V

ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS

The brig Grenfalls, of Sunderland, was our packet. Just before getting
up anchor we asked the captain if he intended to get more men for the
voyage. He curtly said "No." Then we came very near having a mutiny.
Fina