igging the "crow's-nest" at the main royal-mast head.
It was a simple affair. There were a pair of cross-trees fitted to the
mast, upon which was secured a tiny platform about a foot wide on each
side of the mast, while above this foothold a couple of padded hoops
like a pair of giant spectacles were secured at a little higher than
a man's waist. When all was fast one could creep up on the platform,
through the hoop, and, resting his arms upon the latter, stand
comfortably and gaze around, no matter how vigorously the old
barky plunged and kicked beneath him. From that lofty eyrie I had
a comprehensive view of the vessel. She was about 350 tons and full
ship-rigged, that is to say, she carried square sails on all three
masts. Her deck was flush fore and aft, the only obstructions being the
brick-built "try-works" in the waist, the galley, and cabin skylight
right aft by the taffrail. Her bulwarks were set thickly round with
clumsy looking wooden cranes, from which depended five boats. Two more
boats were secured bottom up upon a gallows aft, so she seemed to be
well supplied in that direction. Mistah Jones, finding I did not presume
upon his condescension, gradually unbent and furnished me with many
interesting facts about the officers. Captain Slocum, he said, was "de
debbil hisself, so jess yew keeps yer lamps trim' fer him, sonny, taint
helthy ter rile him." The first officer, or the mate as he is always
called PAR EXCELLENCE, was an older man than the captain, but a good
seaman, a good whaleman, and a gentleman. Which combination I found to
be a fact, although hard to believe possible at the time. The second
mate was a Portuguese about forty years of age, with a face like one of
Vandyke's cavaliers, but as I now learned, a perfect fiend when angered.
He also was a first-class whaleman, but an indifferent seaman. The third
mate was nothing much but bad temper--not much sailor, nor much whaler,
generally in hot water with the skipper, who hated him because he was an
"owner's man." "An de fourf mate," wound up the narrator, straightening
his huge bulk, "am de bes' man in de ship, and de bigges'. Dey aint
no whalemen in Noo Bedford caynt teach ME nuffin, en ef it comes ter
man-handlin'; w'y I jes' pick 'em two't a time 'n crack 'em togerrer
like so, see!" and he smote the palms of his great paws against each
other, while I nodded complete assent.

The weather being fine, with a steady N.E. wind blowing, so that the
sail