When a couple of days out he discovered that the second
mate was more brutal than either of the worthies on the Pilgrim. He
was always below during the second mate's watch on deck so he had no
chance of witnessing any acts of brutality, but he was posted on the
subject by the men in his own watch, whom he always treated with
kindness and consideration. He informed the captain about the reports he
had heard. The latter agreed that it was wrong to maltreat sailors; but
Paul felt sure that he closed his eye to many strange doings on his ship
and that when a man representing himself to be a sailor came aboard and
proved incompetent, there was no punishment considered severe enough
for him. Three such unfortunates were aboard this ship, one in Paul's
watch and two in the second mate's watch. Paul soon discovered that the
man was unskillful. He could neither steer, reef nor splice so he set
him to scrubbing, and by a few encouraging remarks got him to work
harder than any one on the watch. The unfortunate would-be sailors in
the second mate's watch did not fare so well. He instructed them in the
mysteries of navigation through the agency of his fists. While the
watches were being relieved, Paul noticed their blackened eyes and
swollen cheek that evidenced all too plainly the effect of the second
mate's bad temper.
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