The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-08
CHAPTER III.

The frequent changing Of the ship S
course, together with the incessant In
reference Of these men, one with an.
other, considerably delayed our passage,
and there were times when I would think
that we should never double the Cape OF
Good Hope at all, but that, on the con-
trary, the three captains would quarrel
themselves out of all perception Of the
ships true reckoning and end either in
putting the vessel ashore or in sending
q boat to land on the first bit Of coast
they might sight to learn from the na-
tives Of theplace where we were. Often,
as could observe, they differed merely
to spite one another. For instance,
Capt. Parfitt. on quitting the deck,
would leave the ship under all plain sail,
royals set and tacks boarded, but Will
son, who kept watch and watch with the
ships carpenter (acting in this respect
as chief mate, though the moment he
arrived on deck he asserted him
self as csptain), took command
and carried out his own ideas OF
steering and of carrying sail and the
like, without the least regard to the
views and instructions Of Punch and
Parftt Wilson, say, on relieving the
deck after Parfitt had gone below, would
look up at the sails, and then round up
on the sea, as though studying the
weather, then coolly sing out orders to
clew up this and haul down that, taking
not the least notice Of Parftt, who, on
hearing the men crying out at the ropes,
would rush on deck and ask Wilson what
he meant by shortening sail in the face
of high barometer, while through the
skylight you might hear the voice OF
Capt. Punch roaring out to know what
sail the ship was carrying and what
that fellow, Wilson, meant by altering
the course by three-quarters Of point.
Even about such q matter as side
lights the quarrels were frequent, for
Parftt insisted upon exhibiting lights,
saying that he was married man,
with a family of children dependent upon
him, and that he was not going to be
run down and drowned out Of hand be-
cause Punch was a rapacious old hunks
and did not do his duty as shipmaster;
while Punch, on the other hand, swore
that there should be no side-lights ex-
hibited on board his ship; that he had
managed to pass thirty-eight years at
sea without ever having been in col
lision and without ever having more to
show in u moment of extremity than the
pinnacle lamp; that oil was dear; that
he was captain; and that the boatswain
would not know what to do if the side
lights were shown.
= 1t will be supposed that no ship was
ever more miserably uncomfortable to
O passenger than the Biddy McDougal
was to me. Fortunately, the sailors
were body Of respectable men. They
took their orders as tney received them,
grinning, indeed, when those words
were contradictory, and sometimes
6 umbling pretty loudly when they
were put to unnecessary work through
one captain countermanding the in
structions which another had given be-
fore leaving the deck. Indeed. hal the
crew been mutinously disposed they
might have found plenty OF excuses for
conduct that need rot have stopped
short Of actual PIRACY" which, to be
plain, is another word for running away
with vessel.
We were to call at Capetown, and /
had made up my mind, if heaven ever
permitted US to cast anchor in Table Bay,
to 60 ashore and represent the state OF
the ship to those who ght be empowered
to deal with the three captains, though
would sometimes think that it was
doubtful whether there was any remedy
within the reach OF the authorities to
apply, for it was certain that Punch was
still in command of the ship, and next,
that, being in command, he had a right
to intrust the charge Of the vessel to
the chief mate while he was confined
below by illness, SO that despite the
Rangoon authorities, Parfitt had no
official representation on board, had no
claim upon the obedience Of Mr.. Wilson,
and could achieve no end by logging
him or by threatening. Indeed, Parfltt
seemed to have guessed as much, for,
often as he talked Of breaking" the
mate, as he called Wilson, and sending
him forward, I do not think that he
ever attempted to do so, though repeat
edly and sarcastically invited to the at
tempt by Capt. Punch and Wilson him.
self.
1t came at last to pass that on Ger.
tain day we were supposed to be off the
Cape Of Good Hope. We were then eX-
dCIly pNO LuOuUuS IllSC NOCho out
from Rangoon-that is to say, we had
occupied eleven weeks in measuring
the Indian and the Southern Oceans
down to that part Of the sea where we
were supposed to be. l say supposed,
not as YOU may conclude because tho
three captains, as call them, had lost
all reckoning and knew no longer where
the ship was, but because the weather
had been 30 thick for no less period
than ten days that never once was the
sun, the moon or star to be seen, and
the position. therefore, Of the Biddy Nc
Dougal was wholly calculated by what
is termed dead reckoning.
Dead reckoning means briefly the
finding out Of the speed OF ship
through the water per hour by means OF
contrjvance called the reel log. When
the speed is ascertained it is entered In
the log book. Allowance Is then made
for what is called leeway, If any leeway
exists, and the sum OF the speed, to-
gether with the courses which may