washday and have started in on the
week's wash; just like women; how'll they dry clothes this weather?

Course E. B. S. Ham at the wheel, Shem on the lookout.

_Tues., 8 days out. 4 bells._ Women are growling because the sun don't
shine so the wash can dry; told them such murmuring as they indulged in
was flying straight in the face of Providence; told me to mind my own
business; remarked that I was captain here and wouldn't take back talk
from anyone; hove a bucket of water over me, durn them. _6 bells_. Got
my log line strung up along 'tween decks and the whole blamed wash
triced up in everybody's way. If I want to heave the log at 8 bells,
overboard goes the wash, and don't care who likes it; I'm boss here. _8
bells_. Didn't heave the log--Guess we're making four knots; wind
fresh.

Course E. S. E. Shem at the wheel, Japheth on the lookout.

_Wed., 9 days out._ Ironing day; blowing a gale of wind; women are
making hard work of it and getting seasick--Hove to at 8 bells this
morning; lays easy; kicked Ham away from the wheel and steered his
trick; afraid I can't make a sailor of him; wish I'd saved a few
sinners to work ship; could have drowned them afterwards.

Heading N. E. by N. Japheth at the wheel.

_Thurs., 10 days out._ Wish I knew who drinks my whiskey--Made sail at
daylight; difficult work, this handling sail below decks; can't see
aloft, must feel when sheets are home; don't like these new fangled
rolling topsails that furl themselves; they're not shipshape, but we're
too short-handed for the old style--Wind going down.

Course due E. Shem at the wheel, Ham on the lookout.

_Fri., 11 days out._ Foggy; can't see two lengths; two of us on the
lookout--Ham is under the scuttlebutt, drunk; whiskey lower; slight
connection here, maybe--Women are quarreling among themselves; they're
a heap of trouble; never quiet till they're seasick; found out they get
seasick in a head sea; will remember this--The lion got out last night
and made a lunch out of my wife's pet dog Beauty; chased him back to
his cage with a handspike; sorry I had to hurt him; seven pugs left
now; we started with a pair to each woman.

No wind and nobody at the wheel.

_Sat., 12 days out._ Wish it would clear up; sinners must be all dead
by this time--Have had a hard day of it; that boy Ham let go the port
anchor, and the whole range of chain, 45 fathoms, went out the
hawse-pipe and fetched up with a jerk that carried away the windlass