e jumped for him. What a good thrashing
he got for his trouble! When we got through pounding him, he was dragged
to the opening in the bulkhead. Our intention was to throw him down the
hole into the water and the guano. We pushed too hard, so that he went
a-flying over the right place, very luckily, as he would have been
smothered in the guano-water. Reddy stayed in bed for two days. He told
the captain that the whole crew had tried to kill him. When he got out
of bed his face was blue, green, and yellow; this, with the eyes nicely
blacked and his red hair, made a fine combination of colours. Neither
one of us had been struck once, and there was no more trouble about
water.

One night, just after being relieved from watch, all hands were called
to shorten sail. On deck I had to go again. There we were kept for
thirty-two hours, tending to the sails and bailing out water and guano.
A few nights afterward I was at the wheel. The mate sneaked into the
cabin; Jimmy was in the galley. There I was, tired out, my clothes
dripping wet with sea water and the wheel nearly jerking my arms off.
Suddenly the brig yawed off and was struck by a heavy sea. I could feel
the vessel quivering under my feet; with one hand I could not move the
wheel either way. I thought we were sinking and that my day had come.
The water on deck was above my knees. Suddenly the wheel began its old
tricks again, very much to my relief. The port bulwarks from the main to
the fore-rigging had been carried away even to the deck. Spare spars
had to be fastened there by ropes until we got into port. The second
mate said it was my fault on account of bad steering.

One day all hands were busy bailing water and guano out of the hold. I
was at the wheel again, trying my best to steer straight. It was of no
use; the old tub yawed around and was struck by a heavy sea. A large
quantity of water went down the scuttle and made more mud, all of which
had to be bailed out. How everybody did swear and growl! But I derived
some consolation on account of the second mate being nearly killed. The
water had knocked him off his feet and dashed him against the bulwarks.
When he came aft, rubbing his arms and legs, I had to grin. That was the
only time I ever felt really happy on that packet. Shortly afterwards he
took the wheel and sent me to help the bucket brigade. Very soon the
brig yawed again. I knew what would happen when I saw a heavy wave
coming, so got down the scuttle