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- 1585
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:14.838Z
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- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1529
- text
- CHAPTER VIII.
HE IS PUT INTO THE LARBOARD WATCH; GETS SEA-SICK; AND RELATES SOME
OTHER OF HIS EXPERIENCES
It was now getting dark, when all at once the sailors were ordered on
the quarter-deck, and of course I went along with them.
What is to come now, thought I; but I soon found out. It seemed we were
going to be divided into watches. The chief mate began by selecting a
stout good-looking sailor for his watch; and then the second mate’s
turn came to choose, and he also chose a stout good-looking sailor. But
it was not me;— no; and _I_ noticed, as they went on choosing, one
after the other in regular rotation, that both of the mates never so
much as looked at me, but kept going round among the rest, peering into
their faces, for it was dusk, and telling them not to hide themselves
away so in their jackets. But the sailors, especially the stout
good-looking ones, seemed to make a point of lounging as much out of
the way as possible, and slouching their hats over their eyes; and
although it may only be a fancy of mine, _I_ certainly thought that
they affected a sort of lordly indifference as to whose watch they were
going to be in; and did not think it worth while to look any way
anxious about the matter. And the very men who, a few minutes before,
had showed the most alacrity and promptitude in jumping into the
rigging and running aloft at the word of command, now lounged against
the bulwarks and most lazily; as if they were quite sure, that by this
time the officers must know who the best men were, and they valued
themselves well enough to be willing to put the officers to the trouble
of searching them out; for if they were worth having, they were worth
seeking.
At last they were all chosen but me; and it was the chief mate’s next
turn to choose; though there could be little choosing in my case, since
_I_ was a thirteener, and must, whether or no, go over to the next
column, like the odd figure you carry along when you do a sum in
addition.
“Well, Buttons,” said the chief mate, “I thought I’d got rid of you.
And as it is, Mr. Rigs,” he added, speaking to the second mate, “I
guess you had better take him into your watch;—there, I’ll let you have
him, and then you’ll be one stronger than me.”
“No, I thank you,” said Mr. Rigs.
“You had better,” said the chief mate—“see, he’s not a bad looking
chap—he’s a little green, to be sure, but you were so once yourself,
you know, Rigs.”
“No, I thank you,” said the second mate again. “Take him yourself—he’s
yours by good rights—I don’t want him.” And so they put me in the chief
mate’s division, that is the larboard watch.
While this scene was going on, I felt shabby enough; there I stood,
just like a silly sheep, over whom two butchers are bargaining. Nothing
that had yet happened so forcibly reminded me of where I was, and what
I had come to. I was very glad when they sent us forward again.
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