I had taken my own tools on board the ship, and would not allow any one to use them as they were kept in good order, and always ready for use. The ship had a toolchest under the stern of the long-boat on deck. My workbench was between decks, near the fore-hatch. G d came down one day, and says: — " Carpenter, I want a chisel to take up a mast-coat" " Well, you'll find one in the tool-chest on deck." He took up one of my sharp chisels, saying: " Til take this." 11 No you don't take that chisel to rip up a mast-coat. Just lay it down." He gave me a savage look, saying: " Who are you talking to?" " I am talking to you." and at the same moment I caught up an axe, and told him "to lay the chisel down instantly, or I would split him down." Mr.
Leach hearing the quarrel, came down to know what the trouble was. I told him. He then turned to G d, saying: " You have nothing to do with the carpenter or his tools, there is the ship's tool-chest on deck." G d went off, rather " down in the mouth," evidently mortified. I have mentioned this, apparently trifling circumstance, to show the necessity of maintaining our position, whatever it may be. It is a natural propensity in men, and more particularly in sea-faring men, to assume authority that does not belong to them, and also to abuse the little brief authority, with which their position invests them. I am aware, that on board a merchant-ship, a carpenter is hardly a remove above a sailor, and is often at the beck and call of a green mate, that hardly knows the stem from the stern; but in most cases, it is his own fault.
If he is an intemperate man, he cannot look for respect. If, on the other hand, he undervalues his profession at- first, by mingling with the crew, and by showing an obsequiousness to the officers, which a proper and becoming respect for them does not call for, he cannot look for anvthino- more than common seaman's treatment. I suppose that my coming so suddenly from a man-of-war to a merchant-man, caused me to feel the contrast more sensibly; for while in the navy, I had always received from my superiors the highest respect due me, and when I went on board the Saco, was determined to conduct myself in such a manner as to command respect. I drank no ardent spirits, used no tobacco, nor profane language.
On the passage home, G d would frequently boast of his pedigree, and of his brilliant prospects. This would generally take place at dinner. While in Bombay, I built a house on the quarterdeck in which the third mate, myself, boatswain and sailmaker lived. Our table was directly over the cabin skylight. One day while at dinner, G d commenced his usual bombastic nonsense, at which I made a remark that he did not at all relish. He sat opposite me, and we were dining on beansoup — he called me by a name too disgusting to mention here, so I took my plate of bean-soup and threw it in his face. We both rose and went at it in good fashion, and although he was all of thirty pounds heavier than myself, 1 knocked him down behind the door, and took him again as he arose, and was " pegging it into him/' when the captain, who was below, hearing the difficulty overhead, came up, and seeing the fight, drew off and hit G d a blow in the eye, sayino* at the same moment, " vou scoundrel, you have been quarrelling all the voyage — that is a peaceable man, and quarrels with no one," alluding to myself.
G d did not feel satisfied at the termination of the fight, and wanted to have it finished in fair play. " Very well," says I, " my good fellow come on," but the mate (Mr. L.) interfered, and here the matter ended. We made up the difficulty, and were good friends the remainder of the voyage. On the 4th of September, we took a Boston pilot, having been for the three previous days enveloped in fog. We saw a Vineyard fishing boat early one morning very near in. The captain hailed him and inquired how Cape Cod bore. " I)o you want a pilot?" " No, please tell me Jtoie Cape Cod bears." " If you want a pilot, we will give you on." Finding the fellow was determined to make.something out of our necessity, the captain asked him how much he would take the ship to Boston for.