andersonville-第94章

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whom　they　overpowered　before　he　could　give　the　alarm。　　They　cautiously
felt　their　way　around；　with　the　aid　of　a　dark　lantern；　secured　the　ship's
chronometer；　her　papers　and　some　other　desired　objects。　　They　then
saturated　with　the　turpentine　piles　of　combustible　material；　placed　about
the　vessel　to　the　best　advantage；　and　finished　by　depositing　the　shells
where　their　explosion　would　ruin　the　machinery。　　All　this　was　done　so
near　to　the　fort　that　the　sentinels　on　the　parapets　could　be　heard　with
the　greatest　distinctness　as　they　repeated　their　half…hourly　cry　of
〃All's　well。〃　　Their　preparations　completed；　the　daring　fellows　touched
matches　to　the　doomed　vessel　in　a　dozen　places　at　once；　and　sprang　into
their　boats。　　The　flames　instantly　enveloped　the　ship；　and　showed　the
gunners　the　incendiaries　rowing　rapidly　away。　　A　hail　of　shot　beat　the
water　into　a　foam　around　the　boats；　but　their　good　fortune　still　attended
them；　and　they　got　back　without　losing　a　man。

The　wind　at　length　calmed　sufficiently　to　encourage　our　Captain　to
venture　out；　and　we　were　soon　battling　with　the　rolling　waves；　far　out　of
sight　of　land。　　For　awhile　the　novelty　of　the　scene　fascinated　me。　　I　was
at　last　on　the　ocean；　of　which　I　had　heard；　read　and　imagined　so　much。
The　creaking　cordage；　the　straining　engine；　the　plunging　ship；　the　wild
waste　of　tumbling　billows；　everyone　apparently　racing　to　where　our
tossing　bark　was　struggling　to　maintain　herself；　all　had　an　entrancing
interest　for　me；　and　I　tried　to　recall　Byron's　sublime　apostrophe　to　the
ocean：

　　　　　　　　　　Thou　glorious　mirror；　where　the　Almighty's　form
　　　　　　　　　　Classes　itself　in　tempest：　in　all　time；
　　　　　　　　　　Calm　or　convulsed…in　breeze；　or　gale；　or　storm；
　　　　　　　　　　Icing　the　pole；　or　in　the　torrid　clime
　　　　　　　　　　Dark…heavingboundless；　endless；　and　sublime
　　　　　　　　　　The　image　of　eternitythe　throne
　　　　　　　　　　Of　the　invisible；　even　from　out　thy　slime
　　　　　　　　　　The　monsters　of　the　deep　are　made；　each　zone
　　　　　　　　　　Obey　thee：　thou　goest　forth；　dread；　fathomless；　alone；

Just　then；　my　reverie　was　broken　by　the　strong　hand　of　the　gruff　Captain
of；　the　vessel　descending　upon　my　shoulder；　and　he　said：

〃See；　here；　youngster！　　Ain't　you　the　fellow　that　was　put　in　command　of
these　men？〃

I　acknowledged　such　to　be　the　case。

〃Well；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃I　want　you　to　'tend　to　your　business　and
straighten　them　around；　so　that　we　can　clean　off　the　decks。〃

I　turned　from　the　bulwark　over　which　I　had　been　contemplating　the　vasty
deep；　and　saw　the　sorriest；　most　woe…begone　lot　that　the　imagination　can
conceive。　　Every　mother's　son　was　wretchedly　sea…sick。　　They　were　paying
the　penalty　of　their　overfeeding　in　Wilmington；　and　every　face　looked　as
if　its　owner　was　discovering　for　the　first　time　what　the　real　lower
depths　of　human　misery　was。　　They　all　seemed　afraid　they　would　not　die；
as　if　they　were　praying　for　death；　but　feeling　certain　that　he　was　going
back　on　them　in　a　most　shameful　way。

We　straightened　them　around　a　little；　washed　them　and　the　decks　off　with
a　hose；　and　then　I　started　down　in　the　hold　to　see　how　matters　were　with
the　six　hundred　down　there。　　The　boys　there　were　much　sicker　than　those
on　deck。　　As　I　lifted　the　hatch　there　rose　an　odor　which　appeared　strong
enough　to　raise　the　plank　itself。　　Every　onion　that　had　been　issued　to　us
in　Wilmington　seemed　to　lie　down　there　in　the　last　stages　of
decomposition。　　All　of　the　seventy　distinct　smells　which　Coleridge
counted　at　Cologne　might　have　been　counted　in　any　given　cubic　foot　of
atmosphere；　while　the　next　foot　would　have　an　entirely　different　and
equally　demonstrative　〃bouquet。〃

I　recoiled；　and　leaned　against　the　bulwark；　but　soon　summoned　up　courage
enough　to　go　half…way　down　the　ladder；　and　shout　out　in　as　stern　a　tone
as　I　could　command：

〃here；　now！　　I　want　you　fellows　to　straighten　around　there；　right　off；
and　help　clean　up！〃

They　were　as　angry　and　cross　as　they　were　sick。　　They　wanted　nothing　in
the　world　so　much　as　the　opportunity　I　had　given　them　to　swear　at　and
abuse　somebody。　　Every　one　of　them　raised　on　his　elbow；　and　shaking　his
fist　at　me　yelled　out：

〃O；　you　go　to　；　you　　　。　　Just　come　down　another　step；
and　I'll　knock　the　whole　head　off　'en　you。〃

I　did　not　go　down　any　farther。

Coming　back　on　the　deck　my　stomach　began　to　feel　qualmish。　　Some　wretched
idiot；　whose　grandfather's　grave　I　hope　the　jackasses　have　defiled；　as
the　Turks　would　say；　told　me　that　the　best　preventive　of　sea…sickness　was
to　drink　as　much　of　the　milk　punch　as　I　could　swallow。

Like　another　idiot；　I　did　so。

I　went　again　to　the　side　of　the　vessel；　but　now　the　fascination　of　the
scene　had　all　faded　out。　　The　restless　billows　were　dreary；　savage；
hungry　and　dizzying；　they　seemed　to　claw　at；　and　tear；　and　wrench　the
struggling　ship　as　a　group　of　huge　lions　would　tease　and　worry　a　captive
dog。　　They　distressed　her　and　all　on　board　by　dealing　a　blow　which　would
send　her　reeling　in　one　direction；　but　before　she　had　swung　the　full
length　that　impulse　would　have　sent　her；　catching　her　on　the　opposite
side　with　a　stunning　shock　that　sent　her　another　way；　only　to　meet
another　rude　buffet　from　still　another　side。

I　thought　we　could　all　have　stood　it　if　the　motion　had　been　like　that　of
a　swing…backward　and　forwardor　even　if　the　to　and　fro　motion　had　been
complicated　with　a　side…wise　swing；　but　to　be　put　through　every　possible
bewildering　motion　in　the　briefest　space　of　time　was　more　than　heads　of
iron　and　stomachs　of　brass　could　stand。

Mine　were　not　made　of　such　perdurable　stuff。

They　commenced　mutinous　demonstrations　in　regard　to　the　milk　punch。

I　began　wondering　whether　the　milk　was　not　the　horrible　beer　swill；
stump…tail　kind　of　which　I　had　heard　so　much。

And　the　whisky　in　it；　to　use　a　vigorous　Westernism；　descriptive　of　mean
whisky；　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　could　smell　the　boy's　feet　who　plowed　the
corn　from　which　it　was　distilled。

Then　the　onions　I　had　eaten　in　Wilmington　began　to　rebel；　and　incite　the
bread；　meat　and　coffee　to　gastric　insurrection；　and　I　became　so　utterly
wretched　that　life　had　no　farther　attractions。

While　I　was　leaning　over　the　bulwark；　musing　on　the　complete　hollowness
of　all　earthly　things；　the　Captain　of　the　vessel　caught　hold　of　me
roughly；　and　said：

〃Look　here；　you're　just　playin'　the　very　devil　a…commandin'　these　here
men。　　Why　in　　don't　you　stiffen　up；　and　hump　yourself　around；　and
make　these　men　mind；　or　else　belt　them　over　the　head　with　a　capstan　bar！
Now　I　want　you　to　'tend　to　your　business。　　D'you　understand　me？〃

I　turned　a　pair　of　weary　and　hopeless　eyes　upon　him；　and　started　to　say
that　a　man　who　would　talk　to　one　in　my　forlorn　condition　of　〃stiffening
up；〃　and　〃belting　other　fellows　over　the　head　with　a　capstan　bar；〃　would
insult　a　woman　dying　with　consumption；　but　I　suddenly　became　too　full　for
utterance。

The　milk　punch；　the　onions；　the　bread；　and　meat　and　coffee　tired　of
fighting　it　out　in　the　narrow　quarters　where　I　had　stowed　them；　had
started　upwards　tumultuously。

I　turned　my　head　again　to　the　sea；　and　looking　down　into　its　smaragdine
depths；　let　go　of　the　victualistic　store　which　I　had　been　industriously
accumulating　ever　since　I　had　come　through　the　lines。

I　vomited　until　I　felt　as　empty　and　hollow　as　a　stove　pipe。　　There　was　a
vacuum　that　extended　clear　to　my　toe…nails。　　I　feared　that　every　retching
struggle　would　dent　me　in；　all　over；　as　one　sees　tin　preserving　cans
crushed　in　by　outside　pressure；　and　I　apprehended　that　if　I　kept　on　much
longer　my　shoe…soles　would　come　up　after　the　rest。

I　will　mention；　parenthetically；　that；　to　this　day　I　abhor　milk　punch；
and　also　onions。

Unutterably　miserable　as　I　was　I　could　not　refrain　from　a　ghost　of　a
smile；　when　a　poor　country　boy　near　me　sang　out　in　an　interval　between
vomiting　spells：

〃O；　Captain；　for　God's　sake；　stop　the　boat　and　lem'me　go　ashore；　and　I
swear　I'll　walk　every　step　of　the　way　home。〃

He　was　like　old　Gonzalo　in　the　'Tempest：'

　　　　　Now　world　I　give　a　thousand　furlongs　of　sea　for　an　acre　of　barren
　　　　　ground；　long　heath；　brown　furze；　anything。　　The　wills　above　be　done！
　　　　　but　I　would　fain　die　a　dry　death。

After　this　misery　had　lasted　about　two　days　we　got　past　Cape　Hatteras；
and　out　of　reach　of　its　malign　influence；　and　recovered　as　rapidly　as　we
had　been　prostrated。

We　regained　spirits　and　appetites　with　amazing　swiftness；　the　sun　came
out　warm　and　cheerful；　we　cleaned　up　our　quarters　and　ourselves　as　best
we　could；　and　during　the　remainder　of　the　voyage　were　as　blithe　and
cheerful　as　so　many　crickets。

The　fun　in　the　cabin　was　rollicking。　　The　officers　had　been　as　sick　as
the　men；　but　were　wonderfully　vivacious　when　the　'mal　du　mer'　passed　off。
In　the　party　was　a　fine　glee　club；　which　had　been　organized　at　〃Camp
Sorgum；〃　the　officers'　prison　at　Columbia。　　Its　leader　was　a　Major　of　the
Fifth　Iowa　Cavalry；　who　possessed　a　marvelously　sweet　tenor　voice；　and
well　developed　musical　powers。　　While　we　were　at　Wilmington　he　sang　〃When
Sherman　Marched　Down　to　the　Sea；〃　to　an　audience　of　soldiers　that　packed
the　Opera　House　densely。

The　enthusiasm　he　aroused　was　simply　indescribable；　men　shouted；　and　the
tears　ran　down　their　faces。　　He　was　recalled　time　and　again；　each　time
with　an　increase　in　the　furore。　　The　audience　would　have　staid　there　all
night　to　listen　to　him　sing　that　one　song。　　Poor　fellow；　he　only　went
home　to　die。　　An　attack　of　pneumonia　carried　him　off　within　a　fortnight
after　we　separated　at　Annapolis。

The　Glee　Club　had　several　songs　which　they　rendered　in　regular　negro
minstrel　style；　and　in　a　way　that　was　irresistibly　ludicrous。　　One　of
their　favorites　was　〃Billy　Patterson。〃　　All　standing　up　in　a　ring；　the
tenors　would　lead　off：

　　　　　　　　　　〃I　saw　an　old　man　go　riding　by；〃

and　the　baritones；　flinging　themselves　around　with　the　looseness　of
Christy's　Minstrels；　in　a　〃　break　down；〃　would　reply：

　　　　　　　　　　Don't　tell　me！　　Don't　tell　me！〃

Then　the　tenors　would　resume：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Says　I；　Ole　man；　your　horse'll　die。'

Then　the　baritones；　with　an　air　of　exaggerated　interest；

　　　　　　　　　　〃A…ha…a…a；　Billy　Patterson！〃

Tenors：

　　　　　　　　　　〃For。　　It　he　dies；　I'll　tan　his　skin；
　　　　　　　　　　An'　if　he　lives　I'll　ride　him　agin；〃

All…together；　with　a　furious　〃break　down〃　at　the　close：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Then　I'll　lay　five　dollars　down；
　　　　　　　　　　And　count　them　one　by　one；
　　　　　　　　　　Then　I'll　lay　five　dollars　down；
　　　　　　　　　　If　anybody　will　show　me　the　man
　　　　　　　　　　That　struck　Billy　Patterson。〃


And　so　on。　　It　used　to　upset　my　gravity　entirely　to　see　a　crowd　of　grave
and　dignified　Captains；　Majors　and　Colonels　going　through　this
nonsensical　drollery　with　all　the　abandon　of　professional　burnt…cork
artists。

As　we　were　nearing　the　entrance　to　Chesapeake　Bay　we　passed　a　great
monitor；　who　was　exercising　her　crew　at　the　guns。　　She　fired　directly
across　our　course；　the　huge　four　hundred　pound　balls　shipping　along　the
water；　about　a　mile　ahead　of　us；　as　we　boys　used　to　make　the　flat　stones
skip　in　the　play　of　〃Ducks　and　Drakes。〃　　One　or　two　of　the　shots　came　so。
close　that　I　feared　she　might　be　mistaking　us　for　a　Rebel　ship　intent　on
some　raid　up　the　Bay；　a