Morgan Robertson

“ They disappeared in the port forecastle, and I heard no more of them that night, or later, though I saw one stagger out and pass forward of the house. They died that night. At daylight I found Kellar sprawled out on the forward deck beside the hatch, and the other three cold and quiet in their bunks.
Gall had steered all night, and huskily asked me to give him a “spell,” but I refused.
“I need you alive,” I said. “When I get this ship into the harbor, I'll take the wheel while you drop the anchor. Then you can do as you like—live, or die like the rest.” ”

“ My ship, a gun-deck sloop, did not. We depended altogether upon the wind, hence our passage out to Sydney was long and tiresome, bringing the inevitable consequence, desertions among the crew. When ready to sail for Shanghai, finding difficulties in the way of filling our complement, the captain negotiated with the local authorities, to the result that about twenty-four men, sailors all, in prison for various offenses, signed in the American Navy as an alternative to their serving out their sentences, and were delivered on board. ”

“ He was not knocked out, though he lay quiet against the mate for a moment, blinking his eyes; then, with a long, deep breath, he stepped toward the wheel and took the spokes from Taylor. My blow seemed not only to have subdued, but sobered him; and I had a passing thought that the remedy, with the help of the mate, might work upon the rest. But in a moment the hope left me. The mate spoke, thickly and angrily, while his breath belched alcohol fumes into my face.
“Whatcha hit 'im fur?” he asked, steadying himself against the house. “That's no way to treat men. ”

“ The ship carried a patent windlass—an innovation in those days—and on each topgallant rail a grooved casting, which I knew was intended to catch and hold the fluke of the anchor as it rested without the rail, ready for dropping.
With this contrivance one man could let go anchor. So, without allowing the dazed men more than their after-breakfast smoke, I had them up, mate, cook, and all, to haul, and heave, and pry those anchors over to the rails until they hung outside ”

“ So Gall produced the paint pots, and broached a new ten-gallon can of varnish in the paint locker, from which he filled the pots, and after breakfast the four on deck went to work scowlingly.
When the varnishing was done, I had Gall get out holystones, and kept the watch up in the afternoon at this most unpleasant of seamanly work. Their scowls increased, but there was no complaining; and, until a sailor complains, there is no danger of revolt. “Growl you may, but work you must,” is the motto of the forecastle ”

“ Where shall I take her, sir?”
“Back to Sydney. Discharge the men at the consul's office, and follow us to Shanghai. You may get there before we do.”
So the twelve culprits, sober now, were mustered on deck and lined up. All were willing to go; all promised to work and obey orders as faithfully as though regularly signed; and all were glad to get out of the navy. So their bags were given them, and a list of their names given me. I tallied them off as they went down the gangway—Kenyon, Kellar, Macintosh, Wilson, O'Hara, Thompson, Devlin, Taylor, Mulligan, Brown, Miller, and Gall. ”

“ We were under upper and lower topsails, two headsails, and reefed spanker; but any farther shortening down would be past the powers of the few men left; while furling sail—except for the spanker and jibs—was out of the question. ”

“ But another job requiring men and muscle was the getting ready the anchors. I went forward and examined them. The best anchor was to port, the lighter one to starboard; and both were swung inboard on the topgallant forecastle, and lashed together. ”