Jack, as he walked off to the Janson,
preparatory to taking lodgings ashore.

That afternoon about five o'clock, a loud noise was heard on board a
little schooner, of about sixty tons' register, that lay in a bend of
the wharf a few lengths ahead of the Janson. Captain Thompson and his
second mate were seated on a locker in the cabin, conversing upon the
prospects ahead, when the noise became so loud that they ran upon deck
to witness the scene.

George stood upon the capsill of the wharf, with mortification pictured
in his countenance. "Well, captain, you needn't make so much noise about
it; your conduct is decidedly ungentlemanly. If you don't wish to sail
in father's employ, leave like a gentleman," said George, pulling up the
corners of his shirt-collar.

It was the great craft that George had distended upon, and the veritable
captain of the right stripe, who promised to toe the mark according to
secession principles, but made no stipulations for the nigger feed that
was the cause of the excitement. The captain, a Baltimore coaster, and
accustomed to good feed in his vessels at home, had been induced by a
large representations to take charge of the craft and run her in the
Pedee trade, bringing rice to Charleston. On being told the craft was
all ready for sea, he repaired on board, and, to his chagrin, found
two black men for a crew, and a most ungainly old wench, seven shades
blacker than Egyptian darkness, for a cook. This was imposition enough
to arouse his feelings, for but one of the men knew any thing about
a vessel; but on examining the stores, the reader may judge of his
feelings, if he have any idea of supplying a vessel in a Northern
port, when we tell him that all and singular the stores consisted of
a shoulder of rusty Western bacon, a half-bushel of rice, and a jug of
molasses; and this was to proceed the distance of a hundred miles, But
to add to the ridiculous farce of that South Carolina notion, when he
remonstrated with them, he was very indifferently told that it was what
they always provided for their work-people.

"Take your' little jebacca-boat and go to thunder with her," said the
captain, commencing to pick up his duds.

"Why, captain, I lent you my gun, and we always expect our captains to
make fresh provision of game as you run up the river," said George.

"Fresh provisions, the devil!" said the captain. "I've enough to do to
mind my duty, without hunting my living as I pursue my voyag