The first guest we met on board was disappointment. From the promises of Lord Fitzroy, we very strangely supposed that he felt my importance nearly as much as did my mother or father. Judge then how we felt, when we learned that no one knew anything in particular about my veritable self; yet, as his Lordship was absent, they said I might remain on board until his return. This was rather a damper on my spirits, but flattering myself that all would be right on his return, I soon rallied again, and, aided by the presence of my mother, passed a very agreeable day.
Towards night, my mother left me; it scarcely need be said, she wept when we parted. What mother would not? She did weep, she strained me to her heart, and impressed affection’s purest kiss upon my cheek. How like a dream that moment fled! Now, she held me in her arms; a moment after, she was seated in the light boat and gliding16 along the turbid17 Thames, on her homeward way. I leaned over the taffrail and gazed on the departing boat, and when it disappeared, I turned away and wept.
The morning after my arrival, I was put into a “mess.” The crew of a man of war is divided into little communities of about eight, called messes. These eat and drink together, and are, as it were, so many families. The mess to which I was introduced, was composed of your genuine, weather-beaten, old tars18. But for one of its members, it would have suited me very well; this one, a real gruff old “bull-dog,” named Hudson, took into his head to hate me at first sight. He treated me with so much abuse and unkindness, that my messmates soon advised me to change my mess, a privilege which is wisely allowed, and which tends very much to the good fellowship of a ship’s crew; for if there are disagreeable men among them, they can in this way be got rid of; it is no unfrequent case to find a few, who have been spurned19 from all the messes in the ship, obliged to mess by themselves.
This unkindness from the brutal20 Hudson rather chilled my enthusiasm. The crew, too, by some means had an impression that my mother had brought me on board to get rid of me, and therefore bestowed21 their bitterest curses on her in the most profuse22 manner imaginable. Swearing I had heard before, but never such as I heard there. Nor was this all; in performing the work assigned me, which consisted in helping23 the seamen24 take in provisions, powder, shot, etc., I felt the insults and tyranny of the midshipmen. These little minions25 of power ordered and drove me round like a dog, nor did I and the other boys dare interpose a word. They were officers; their word was our law, and woe26 betide the presumptuous27 boy that dared refuse implicit28 obedience29.
These things reminded me of what had been said to me of the hardships of sea life in a man of war. I began to wish myself back in my father’s house at Bladen. This, however, was impossible, and to add to my discouragement they told me I was entered on the ship’s books for life. Dreary30 prospect31! I felt more than half disposed, as I went to my tasks, to use the language of the Irishman, as sung by my shipmates. Tempted32 and beguiled33 while intoxicated34, he had enlisted35 for a soldier, but found the sergeant36 at the recruiting office and the sergeant on the drill-field very different personages. He is hence made to say,
“It was early next morning to drill I was sent,
Cannot you be aisy and let me alone?
Don’t you see I’ve got arms, legs, and feet of my own?”
But although somewhat grieved with my first experience of sailor life, I secretly struggled against my feelings, and with the most philosophic39 desperation resolved to make the best of my condition. We were kept busily at work every day until the ship’s stores were all on board, and our frigate40 was ready for sea. Then two hundred more men, draughted from receiving ships, came on board, to complete the number of our crew, which, after this addition, numbered full three hundred men. The jocularity, pleasantry, humor and good feeling that now prevailed on board our frigate, somewhat softened41 the unpleasantness of my lot, and cultivated a feeling of reconciliation42 to my circumstances. Various little friendships, which sprang up between me and my shipmates, threw a gleam of gladness across my path; a habit of attention, respect and obedience in a short time secured me universal good will. I began to be tolerably satisfied.
Many boys complain of ill usage at sea. I know they are subjected to it in many instances; yet, in most cases, they owe it to their own boldness. A boy on shipboard, who is habitually44 saucy46, will be kicked and cuffed47 by all with whom he has to do; he will be made miserable48. The reason is, I imagine, that sailors, being treated as inferiors themselves, love to find opportunity to act the superior over some one. They do this over the boys, and if they find a saucy, insolent49 one, they show him no mercy. Permit me, then, to advise boys who go to sea, to be civil and obliging to all; they will be amply repaid for the effort it may cost them to make the trial, especially if they gain the reputation, as I did, of being among the best boys in the ship.
A vessel50 of war contains a little community of human beings, isolated51, for the time being, from the rest of mankind. This community is governed by laws peculiar52 to itself; it is arranged and divided in a manner suitable to its circumstances. Hence, when its members first come together, each one is assigned his respective station and duty. For every task, from getting up the anchor to unbending the sails, aloft and below, at the mess-tub or in the hammock, each task has its man, and each man his place. A ship contains a set of human machinery53, in which every man is a wheel, a band, or a crank, all moving with wonderful regularity54 and precision to the will of its machinist—the all-powerful captain.
The men are distributed in all parts of the vessel; those in the tops are called fore-top-men, main-top-men, and mizzen-top-men, with two captains to each top, one for each watch. These top-men have to loose, take in, reef and furl the sails aloft, such as the top-gallant sails, top-sails, top-gallant royal, and top-sail studding-sails. Others are called forecastle men, waisters, and the after-guard; these have to loose, tend, and furl the courses, that is, the fore-sail, the main-sail and lower studding-sails; they also have to set the jib, flying-jib, and spanker; the after-guard have a special charge to coil up all ropes in the after part of the ship. Others are called scavengers; these, as their not very attractive name imports, have to sweep and pick up the dirt that may chance to gather through the day, and throw it overboard. Then come the boys, who are mostly employed as servants to the officers. Our captain had a steward55 and a boy; these acted as his domestic servants in his large and stately cabin, which, to meet the ideas of landsmen, may be called his house. The lieutenants57, purser, surgeon, and sailing-master, had each a boy; they, together with the two lieutenants of marines, who were waited upon by two marines, form what is called the ward-room officers. The ward-room is a large cabin, (I mean large for a ship, of course,) below the captain’s, where they all mess together; aft of this cabin is a smaller one, which serves as a species of store-room. Besides these accommodations, every ward-room officer has his state-room, containing his cot, wash-stand, writing-desk, clothes, etc. The gunner, boatswain, and some others, are also allowed a boy; and a man and boy are appointed to be the servants of a certain number of midshipmen.
Another arrangement is that of forming the ship’s company into watches. The captain, first lieutenant56, surgeon, purser, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, armorer, together with the stewards59 and boys, are excused from belonging to them, but are liable to be called out to take in sail; some of the last mentioned are called idlers. All others are in watches, called the larboard and starboard watches.
Stations are also assigned at the guns, to the whole crew. When at sea, the drummer beats to quarters every night. This beat, by which the men are summoned to quarters, is a regular tune60. I have often heard the words sung which belong to it; this is the chorus:
“Hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, steady, boys, steady,
To fight and to conquer again and again.”
At the roll of this evening drum, all hands hurry to the guns. Eight men and a boy are stationed at each gun, one of whom is captain of the gun, another sponges and loads it, the rest take hold of the side tackle-falls, to run the gun in and out; while the boy is employed in handing the cartridges61, for which he is honored with the singularly euphonious62 cognomen63 of powder-monkey.
Besides these arrangements among the men, there are from thirty to forty marines to be disposed of. These do duty as sentries64 at the captain’s cabin, the ward-room, and at the galley65 during the time of cooking. They are also stationed at the large guns at night, as far as their numbers run. When a ship is in action, and small arms can be brought to bear on the enemy, they are stationed on the spar-deck; they are also expected to assist in boarding, in conjunction with several seamen from each gun, who are armed with pistols and pikes, and called boarders.
The great disparity of numbers between the crew of a merchant ship and that of a man of war, occasions a difference in their internal arrangements and mode of life, scarcely conceivable by those who have not seen both. This is seen throughout, from the act of rousing the hands in the morning to that of taking in sail. In the merchantman, the watch below is called up by a few strokes of the handspike on the forecastle; in the man of war, by the boatswain and his mates. The boatswain is a petty officer, of considerable importance in his way; he and his mates carry a small silver whistle or pipe, suspended from the neck by a small cord. He receives word from the officer of the watch to call the hands up. You immediately hear a sharp, shrill66 whistle; this is succeeded by another and another from his mates. Then follows his hoarse67, rough cry of “All hands ahoy!” which is forthwith repeated by his mates. Scarcely has this sound died upon the ear, before the cry of “Up all hammocks ahoy!” succeeds it, to be repeated in like manner. As the first tones of the whistle penetrate68 between decks, signs of life make their appearance. Rough, uncouth69 forms are seen tumbling out of their hammocks on all sides, and before its last sounds have died upon the air, the whole company of sleepers70 are hurriedly preparing for the duties of the day. No delay is permitted, for as soon as the before-mentioned officers have uttered their imperative71 commands, they run below, each armed with a rope’s end, with which they belabor72 the shoulders of any luckless wight upon whose eyes sleep yet hangs heavily, or whose slow-moving limbs show him to be but half awake.
With a rapidity which would surprise a landsman, the crew dress themselves, lash73 their hammocks and carry them on deck, where they are stowed for the day. There is system even in this arrangement; every hammock has its appropriate place. Below, the beams are all marked, each hammock is marked with a corresponding number, and in the darkest night, a sailor will go unhesitatingly to his own hammock. They are also kept exceeding clean. Every man is provided with two, so that while he is scrubbing and cleaning one, he may have another to use. Nothing but such precautions could enable so many men to live in so small a space.
A similar rapidity attends the performance of every duty. The word of command is given in the same manner, and its prompt obedience enforced by the same unceremonious rope’s-end. To skulk74 is therefore next to impossible; the least tardiness75 is rebuked76 by the cry of “Hurrah my hearty77! bear a hand! heave along! heave along!” This system of driving is far from being agreeable; it perpetually reminds you of your want of liberty; it makes you feel, sometimes, as if the hardest crust, the most ragged78 garments, with the freedom of your own native hills, would be preferable to John Bull’s “beef and duff,” joined as it is with the rope’s-end of the driving boatswain.
We had one poor fellow, an Irishman, named Billy Garvy, who felt very uneasy and unhappy. He was the victim of that mortifying79 system of impressment, prevalent in Great Britain in time of war. He came on board perfectly80 unacquainted with the mysteries of sea life. One of his first inquiries81 was, where he should find his bed, supposing they slept on shipboard on beds the same as on shore. His messmates, with true sailor roguishness, sent him to the boatswain. “And where shall I find a bed, sir?” asked he of this rugged82 son of the ocean.
The boatswain looked at him very contemptuously for a moment, then, rolling his lump of tobacco into another apartment of his ample mouth, replied,
“Have you got a knife?”
“Yes, sir.”
Poor fellow! what was sport for others was pain to him. He had been used to kind treatment at home. After he had received his hammock, when turning out in the morning, with the boatswain’s mates at his heels, he used to exclaim, “When I was at home, I would walk in my father’s garden in the morning, until the maid would come and say, ‘William, will you come to your ta, or your coffee ta, or your chocolarata?’ But, oh! the case is altered now; it’s nothing but bear a hand, lash and carry. Oh, dear!”
I confess that Billy Garvy was not the only one who contrasted the present with the past, or who found the balance to be greatly in favor of the former. I often looked back to the village of Bladen, and thought how preferable would be the bright hearth-side and pleasant voices of that quiet home, to the profane84, rough, uncomfortable life we led on shipboard. As these reflections were anything but pleasurable, I banished85 them as quickly as possible, with a determination to be as happy as I could in my station of servant to the surgeon of His Britannic Majesty’s frigate Macedonian: a resolution which I commend to all lads, who, like me, are foolish enough to quit the quiet scenes of a native village, for the noisy, profane atmosphere of a man of war.
As our fare was novel and so different from shore living, it was some time before I could get fully87 reconciled to it: it was composed of hard sea biscuit, fresh beef while in port, but salt pork and salt beef at sea, pea soup and burgoo. Burgoo, or, as it was sportively called, skillagallee, was oatmeal boiled in water to the consistency88 of hasty pudding. Sometimes we had cocoa instead of burgoo. Once a week we had flour and raisins89 served out, with which we made “duff” or pudding. To prepare these articles, each mess had its cook, who drew the provisions, made the duff, washed the mess kids, etc. He also drew the grog for the mess, which consisted of a gill of rum mixed with two gills of water for each man. This was served out at noon every day: at four o’clock, P. M., each man received half a pint90 of wine. The boys only drew half this quantity, but were allowed pay for the remainder, a regulation which could have been profitably applied91 to the whole supply of grog and wine for both boys and men. But those were not days in which Temperance triumphed as she does now; though, I believe, the British navy has not yet ceased to dispense92 the “drink that’s in the drunkard’s bowl” to her seamen.
Shortly after our captain came on board, his servant died somewhat suddenly, so that I had an early opportunity of seeing how sailors are disposed of in this sad hour. The corpse93 was laid out on the grating, covered with a flag; as we were yet in the river, the body was taken on shore and buried, without the beautiful burial-service of the church of England being read at his grave—a ceremony which is not omitted at the interment of the veriest pauper94 in that country.
I have purposely dwelt on these particulars, that the reader may feel himself initiated95 at once into the secrets of man-of-war usages. He has doubtless seen ships of war with their trim rigging and frowning ports, and his heart has swelled96 with pride as he has gazed upon these floating cities—the representatives of his nation’s character in foreign countries: to their internal arrangements, however, he has been a stranger. I have endeavored to introduce him into the interior: a desire to make him feel at home there, is my apology for dwelling97 so long on these descriptions.
After various delays, we were at last ready for sea and under sailing orders. The tide and wind were both propitious98; then came the long-expected cry of the boatswain, “All hands up anchor ahoy!” The crew manned the capstan in a trice, and running round to the tune of a lively air played by the fifer, the huge anchor rapidly left the mud of the Thames, and hung at the bows of our taut99 frigate. Then came the cry of “All hands make sail ahoy!” As if by magic, she was immediately covered with canvas; the favoring breeze at once filled our sails, and the form that had lain for weeks inert100 and motionless on the waters, now bounded along the waves like a thing of life. Rapidly we ran down the Channel, and before we had well got under weigh came to an anchor again at Spithead, under shelter of the garden of England—the Isle101 of Wight.
Short as was the period between weighing anchor off Gravesend and our arrival at Spithead, it gave opportunity for one of those occurrences which are a disgrace to the naval102 service of any nation, and a degradation103 to our common humanity, which the public opinion of the civilized104 world should frown out of existence: I allude105 to the brutal practice of flogging.
A poor fellow had fallen into the very sailorlike offence of getting drunk. For this the captain sentenced him to the punishment of four dozen lashes106. He was first placed in irons all night: the irons used for this purpose were shackles107 fitting round the ankles, through the ends of which was passed an iron bar some ten or twelve feet in length: it was thus long because it was no unfrequent case for half a dozen men to be ironed at once. A padlock at the end of the bar held the prisoner securely. Thus placed in “duress vile,” he was guarded by a marine58 until the captain bade the first lieutenant prepare the hands to witness the punishment. Upon this the lieutenant transmitted the order to the master at arms. He then ordered the grating or hatch full of square holes to be rigged: it was placed accordingly between the main and spar decks, not far from the mainmast.
While these preparations were going on, the officers were dressing108 themselves in full uniform and arming themselves with their dirks: the prisoner’s messmates carried him his best clothes, to make him appear in as decent a manner as possible. This is always done, in the hope of moving the feelings of the captain favorably towards the prisoner.
This done, the hoarse, dreaded109 cry of “All hands ahoy to witness punishment!” from the lips of the boatswain, peals110 along the ship as mournfully as the notes of a funeral knell111. At this signal the officers muster112 on the spar deck, the men on the main deck. Next came the prisoner; guarded by a marine on one side and the master at arms on the other, he was marched up to the grating. His back was made bare and his shirt laid loosely upon his back; the two quartermasters proceeded to seize him up; that is, they tied his hands and feet with spun-yarns, called the seizings, to the grating. The boatswain’s mates, whose office it is to flog on board a man of war, stood ready with their dreadful weapon of punishment, the cat-o’-nine-tails. This instrument of torture was composed of nine cords, a quarter of an inch round and about two feet long, the ends whipt with fine twine113. To these cords was affixed114 a stock, two feet in length, covered with red baize. The reader may be sure that it is a most formidable instrument in the hands of a strong, skilful115 man. Indeed, any man who should whip his horse with it would commit an outrage116 on humanity, which the moral feeling of any community would not tolerate; he would be prosecuted117 for cruelty; yet it is used to whip men on board ships of war!
The boatswain’s mate is ready, with coat off and whip in hand. The captain gives the word. Carefully spreading the cords with the fingers of his left hand, the executioner throws the cat over his right shoulder; it is brought down upon the now uncovered herculean shoulders of the man. His flesh creeps—it reddens as if blushing at the indignity118; the sufferer groans120; lash follows lash, until the first mate, wearied with the cruel employment, gives place to a second. Now two dozen of these dreadful lashes have been inflicted121: the lacerated back looks inhuman122; it resembles roasted meat burnt nearly black before a scorching123 fire; yet still the lashes fall; the captain continues merciless. Vain are the cries and prayers of the wretched man. “I would not forgive the Saviour,” was the blasphemous125 reply of one of these naval demi-gods, or rather demi-fiends, to a plea for mercy. The executioners keep on. Four dozen strokes have cut up his flesh and robbed him of all self-respect; there he hangs, a pitied, self-despised, groaning126, bleeding wretch124; and now the captain cries, forbear! His shirt is thrown over his shoulders; the seizings are loosed; he is led away, staining his path with red drops of blood, and the hands, “piped down” by the boatswain, sullenly127 return to their duties.
Such was the scene witnessed on board the Macedonian, on the passage from London to Spithead; such, substantially, is every punishment scene at sea; only carried, sometimes, to a greater length of severity. Sad and sorrowful were my feelings on witnessing it; thoughts of the friendly warnings of my old acquaintance filled my mind, and I inwardly wished myself once more under the friendly roof of my father, at Bladen. Vain wish! I should have believed the warning voice when it was given. Believe me, young man, you will often breathe that wish, if ever you wander from a father’s house.
Flogging in the navy is more severe than in the army, though it is too bad to be tolerated there, or indeed anywhere. Other modes of punishment might be successfully substituted, which would deter86 from misconduct, without destroying the self-respect of the man. I hope the day will come, when a captain will no more be allowed to use the “cat” than he is now to use poison. It should be an interdicted128 weapon.
Though I have spoken severely130 of the officers of the navy, let it not be thought that the whole class of naval officers are lost to the finer feelings of humanity. There are many humane131, considerate men among them, who deserve our highest respect. This was the case with the first lieutenant of the Macedonian, Mr. Scott. He abhorred132 flogging. Once, when a poor marine was under sentence, he plead hard and successfully with the captain for his respite133. This was a great victory; for the captain had a profound hatred134 of marines. The poor soldier was extremely grateful for his intercession, and would do anything for him to show his sense of the obligation; indeed, the sailors, in their odd way, showed their preference for him by describing him as a man who had a soul to be saved, and who ought to go to heaven; while of the captain, they whispered that if he did not go to perdition, “the devil would be cheated of his due.” These are, in a manner, proverbial expressions of like and dislike, on board a British man of war.
One of the effects of this exhibition of cruelty was seen during the short time we lay at Spithead. The two boys, who were servants to the first and second lieutenants, conceiving a special dislike to the idea of being flogged, took it into their heads to run away. Being sent on shore, they shaped their course for the country. It was well for them that they were not re-taken.
Our frigate had orders to convey between two and three hundred troops from Portsmouth to Lisbon, to assist the Portuguese135 against the French. The soldiers were stowed on the main decks, with very few conveniences for the voyage; their officers messed and berthed136 in the ward-room. Having taken them on board, we again weighed anchor, and were soon careering before the breeze on our way to Lisbon.
As usual, we who were landsmen had our share of that merciless, nondescript, hateful, stultifying137 disease, yclept sea-sickness; as usual, we wished the foolish wish that we had never come to sea; as usual, we got over it, and laughed at ourselves for our sea-sick follies138. Our good ship paid little attention, however, to our feelings; she kept along on her bounding way, and, after a week at sea, we were greeted with the pleasant cry of “Land ho!” from the mast-head. As it was now near night, we lay off and on until morning; at day-break we fired a gun for a pilot. The wind being nearly dead ahead, we had to beat about nearly all day. Towards night it became fair, and we ascended139 the Tagus. This river is about nine miles wide at its mouth, and is four hundred and fifty miles in length; it has a very rapid current, with steep, fertile banks. Aided by a fine breeze, we ascended it in splendid style, passed a half-moon battery, then shot past Belem Castle into the port of Lisbon, about ten miles from its mouth. Here we found a spacious140 harbor, filled with shipping141. Besides numerous merchantmen, there were two ships of a hundred guns, several seventy-fours, frigates142 and sloops143 of war, with a large number of transports; all designed for the defence of Lisbon against the French.
Lisbon has a fine appearance from the harbor. A stranger, after a long sea-voyage, while standing144 on the deck of his vessel, and gazing on its battlements and towers, might fancy it to be a terrestrial paradise; but, on landing, his admiration145 would certainly sink below zero, as he plodded146 his way, beset147 by saucy beggars at almost every step, through its narrow, filthy148 streets. Such, at least, was my impression, as I perambulated the city. Among other things, I noticed a great variety of churches and convents, which furnished swarms149 of plump, good-natured friars, under whose spiritual domination the good people of Lisbon were content to rest. I also counted thirteen large squares. One of them contained a huge black horse, standing in its centre, with the figure of a man upon his back, both much larger than life. What this monument represented, I did not learn. That square is denominated Black Horse Square.
On the day after our arrival, the Macedonian was the scene of considerable bustle150. The troops, who seemed to forget their proximity151 to a field of carnage, in the delight they felt at escaping from the confinement152 on shipboard, were landed; several boats’ crews were also sent up the river to assist in the defence of the place.
While we lay here, our ship was well supplied with fruits from the shore. Large bunches of delicious grapes, abundance of sweet oranges, water-melons, chestnuts153, and also a bountiful supply of gigantic onions, of peculiar flavor, enabled our crew to gratify their palates in true English style. Poor fellows! they feasted, laughed, and joked, as if the future had nothing to develop but fairy scenes of unmixed delight. Little thought, indeed, does your true tar4 take of the morrow.
Amid these feastings, however, there rose something to trouble Macbeth, in the shape of an order from the admiral to prepare for a cruise. This was peremptory;—for a cruise, therefore, we prepared. Our boats’ crews came on board; the officers stored their larder154 with the means of gustatory gratifications; and we stood out to sea again.
The port of Corunna, in Spain, was the next place at which we anchored. While lying in this spacious and safe harbor, our little world was thrown into temporary confusion by the loss of the ward-room steward, Mr. Sanders. This man could speak in the Spanish tongue; he had accumulated a considerable sum of money by long service, prize money, and an economy little known among sailors. For some cause or other he had become dissatisfied; so, one day, he engaged a Spaniard to run his boat under the stern of our frigate; dropping from one of the stern ports into the boat, unperceived by the officers, the wily Spaniards covered him with their loose garments and sails, and then conveyed him to the shore. This was running a great risk; for had he been detected in the act, or taken afterwards, he would have felt the cruel strokes of the lash. Fortunately for himself, he escaped without detection.
From Corunna, we returned to Lisbon, where, at the cheerful cry of “All hands bring the ship to an anchor, ahoy!” we once more placed our frigate, taut and trim, under the battlements of the city.
As servant to the surgeon, it was one part of my duty to perform the task of carrying his clothes to be washed. As great attention to cleanliness, in frequently changing their linen155, is observed among naval officers, a good washerwoman is considered quite a desideratum. In attending to this matter for my master, I had frequent opportunities to go on shore. This gave me some means of observation. On one of my visits to our pretty laundress, I saw several Portuguese running along, gesticulating and talking with great earnestness. Being ignorant of their language, my washerwoman, who spoke129 good English, told me that a man had been stabbed, in consequence of some ground for jealousy156, afforded by the conduct of the deceased. Hastening to the spot, I saw the wounded man, stretched out on a bed, with two gaping157 wounds in his side, the long knife, the instrument of the deed, lying by his side. The poor sufferer soon died. What was done to the murderer, I could not discover.
Though very passionate158, and addicted159 to the use of the knife, for the purpose of taking summary vengeance160, the Portuguese are nevertheless arrant161 cowards. Indeed, it is a question by no means settled, whether all classes of men, in any country, who fly to cold steel or to fire-arms in every petty quarrel, are not cowards at heart. We had an evidence of Portuguese cowardice162 in an affray which occurred between some of the citizens of Lisbon and a party of our marines. Six of the latter, ignorant of the palace or municipal regulations, wandered into the queen’s gardens. Some twenty of the Portuguese, on witnessing this bold intrusion on the privacy of the queen, rushed upon them with long knives. The marines, though so inferior in number, faced about with their bayonets, and, after much cursing and chattering163, their enemies, considering perhaps that the better part of valor164 is discretion165, took to their heels, leaving the six marines masters of a bloodless field. These recontres were quite common between them and our men; the result, though sometimes more serious, was uniformly the same.
As an illustration of the manners of this people, I cannot forbear the insertion of another fact. I was one day walking leisurely166 along the streets, quite at my ease, when the gathering167 of a noisy multitude arrested my attention. Looking up, I was shocked at seeing a human head, with a pair of hands beneath it, nailed to a pole! They had just been taken from the body of a barber, who, when in the act of shaving a gentleman, was seized with a sudden desire to possess a beautiful watch, which glittered in his pocket; to gain this brilliant bauble168, the wretched man cut his victim’s throat. He was arrested, his hands were cut off, then his head, and both were fastened to the pole as I have described them. Upon inquiry169, I ascertained171 that this was the ordinary method of punishing murder in Portugal; a striking evidence that civilization had not fully completed its great work among them. Civilization humanizes the feelings of society, throwing a veil of refinement172 and mercy over even the sterner acts of justice; at any rate, it never tolerates such barbarism as I saw at Lisbon.
While in port we experienced a change of officers by no means agreeable to the crew. Mr. Scott, our first lieutenant, an amiable173 man, decidedly hostile to the practice of flogging, left us; for what cause, we could not ascertain170. His successor, Mr. Hope, though bearing a very pleasant name, was an entirely174 different person, in manners and conduct, from his predecessor175. He was harsh, severe, and fond of seeing the men flogged. Of course, floggings became more frequent than before; for, although a lieutenant cannot flog upon his own authority, yet, such is the influence he exerts over a captain, that he has the utmost opportunity to gratify a thirst for punishment. It may appear strange to the reader that any gentleman—and all officers of the navy consider themselves gentlemen—should possess such a thirst; yet such was the case with Mr. Hope. Nor was his a solitary176 example; many a man, who, on shore, in presence of ladies of fashion, appeared too gentle to harm an enemy, too kind to injure an insect, was strangely metamorphosed into a genuine unprincipled tyrant177, upon assuming command in a man of war.
We had already witnessed a number of punishments, especially at sea: in port, the officers were more condescending178, lest their men should desert; but at sea, when this was impossible, they flogged without mercy. Cases of offence which occurred while in the harbor, were looked up; sometimes a half dozen were flogged at once; every man trembled lest he should be a victim; the ship’s crew were made wretched; a sword seemed impending179 over every head. Who, in such a case, could be happy? Not even a sailor, with all his habitual45 thoughtlessness. Yet it is said we must flog, to maintain discipline among sailors. Pshaw! Flogging may be needful to awe180 a slave writhing181 under a sense of unmerited wrong, but never should a lash fall on a freeman’s back, especially if he holds the safety and honor of his country in his keeping.
Poor old Bob Hammond! Never was man more reckless than this honest-hearted Irishman; never was sailor more courageous182 under punishment. For being drunk he received four dozen lashes; he bore the infliction183 with profound silence, uttering neither groan119 nor sigh; neither casting one imploring184 look at his tormentors. On being taken down, he applied himself most lustily to his bottle, and before night was drunk again. Rushing to the quarter deck, with a madness peculiar to a phrensied drunkard, he ran up against the captain with such force that he nearly knocked him down. With a boldness that seemed to strike the great man dumb, Bob hiccupped and said,
“Halloo, Billy, my boy, is that you? You are young and foolish; just fit for the launch. You are like a young lion—all your sorrows are to come.”
The captain was excessively proud; even his officers scarcely dared walk the quarter deck on the same side with him. He never allowed himself to be addressed but by his title of “my Lord.” Should a sailor, through design or forgetfulness, reply to a command, “Yes, sir,” the lordly man would look at him with a glance full of dignity, and sternly reply, “What, sir?” This, of course, would put the offender185 in mind to correct himself by saying, “Yes, my Lord.” Judge then of his surprise, indignation, nay186, of his lordly horror, when poor old drunken Bob Hammond called him “Billy, my boy!” Doubtless it stirred up his nobility within him, for, with a voice of thunder, he exclaimed, “Put this man in irons!” It was done. The next morning, his back yet sore, poor Bob received five dozen more strokes of the hated cat-o’-nine-tails. Most heroically was it borne. No sound escaped him; the most profound silence was observed by all, broken only by the dead sound of the whip, as it fell every few moments on the wounded back. The scene was sickening in the extreme. Let me throw a veil over its details, simply remarking that it is questionable187 which of the two appears to the best advantage; poor drunken Bob, suffering degrading torture with heroic firmness, or my Lord Fitzroy, gloating on the scene with the appetite of a vulture! Let the reader decide for himself.
These statements may at first sight appear incredible. It may be asked how a man could endure whippings which would destroy an ox or a horse. This is a very natural question, and but for the consciousness I feel of being supported in my statements by the universal testimony188 of old men-of-war’s-men, I should hesitate to publish them. The worst species of this odious189 torture, however, remains190 to be described—flogging through the fleet.
This punishment is never inflicted without due trial and sentence by a court-martial, for some aggravated191 offence. After the offender is thus sentenced, and the day arrives appointed by his judges for its execution, the unhappy wretch is conducted into the ship’s launch—a large boat—which has been previously192 rigged up with poles and grating, to which he is seized up; he is attended by the ship’s surgeon, whose duty it is to decide when the power of nature’s endurance has been taxed to its utmost. A boat from every ship in the fleet is also present, each carrying one or two officers and two marines fully armed. These boats are connected by tow lines to the launch.
These preparations made, the crew of the victim’s ship are ordered to man the rigging, while the boatswain commences the tragedy. When he has administered one, two or three dozen lashes, according to the number of ships in the fleet, the prisoner’s shirt is thrown over his gory193 back; the boatswain returns on board, the hands are piped down, the drummer beats a mournful melody, called the rogue’s march, and the melancholy194 procession moves on. Arriving at the side of another ship, the brutal scene is repeated, until every crew in the fleet has witnessed it, and from one to three hundred lashes have lacerated the back of the broken-spirited tar to a bleeding pulp195. He is then placed under the surgeon’s care, to be fitted for duty—a ruined man—broken in spirit! all sense of self-respect gone, forever gone! If he survive, it is only to be like his own brave bark, when winds and waves conspire196 to dash her on the pitiless strand197, a wretched, hopeless wreck198; a living, walking shadow of his former self. Shameful199 blot200! most foul201 and disgraceful stain on the humanity of England! How long before this worse than barbarism will disappear before the mild influences of civilization and Christianity?
No plea of necessity can be successfully urged in behalf of whipping men; for, if subordination or faithful adhesion to orders is expected to follow such terrible examples, I know, from my acquaintance with the sufferers themselves, that the expectation is vain. One of two results always follows. The victim either lives on, a lone38, dark-minded, broken-spirited man, despising himself and hating every one, because he thinks every one hates him; or he lives with one fearful, unyielding purpose; a purpose on which he feeds and nourishes his galled202 mind, as food affords life and energy to his physical constitution—that purpose is revenge. I have heard them swear—and the wild flashing eye, the darkly frowning brow, told how firm was that intent—that if ever they should be in battle, they would shoot their officers. I have seen them rejoice over the misfortunes of their persecutors, but more especially at their death. That it has frequently led to mutiny, is well verified. I have known such severity to result in actual murder. While we lay at Lisbon, a sergeant of marines, on board a seventy-four, made himself obnoxious203 by repeated acts of tyranny. Two marines determined204 upon his death. One night, unperceived by any, they seized him, hurried him to the gangway, and pitched him overboard. The tide was running strong; the man was drowned! But for themselves his fate would have remained a secret until the great day of judgment205; it was discovered by an officer, who accidentally overheard them congratulating each other on their achievement. He betrayed them. A court-martial sentenced them. They were placed on deck with halters on their necks. Two guns were fired, and, when the smoke cleared away, two men were seen dangling206 from the foreyard-arm. Only one day previous, a letter had brought a discharge from the service for one of them. Poor fellow! it came too late. He was fated to a summary discharge from all service, in a manner appalling207 and repulsive208 to every finer human feeling.
Such are the actual consequences of severity of discipline on board men of war. Punishment leads to revenge; revenge to punishment. What is intended to cure, only aggravates209 the disease; the evil enlarges under the remedy; voluntary subordination ceases; gloom overspreads the crew; fear fills the breasts of the officers; the ship becomes a miniature of the house of fiends. While, on the other hand, mild regulations, enforced without an appeal to brute210 force, are easily carried into operation. The sailor has a warm heart; show him personal kindness, treat him as a man, he will then be a man; he will do anything for a kind officer. He will peril211 his life for him; nay, he will cheerfully rush between him and danger. This was done at Tripoli, when the brave James offered his own arm to receive the fell stroke of a Turkish scimitar, aimed at the life of the bold Decatur, on board the frigate Philadelphia. Let naval officers, let all ship-masters, once fairly test the effect of kind treatment, and I am sure they will never desire to return to severity; unless, indeed, they are tyrants212 at heart, in which case, the sooner they lose their commands the better for their country; for no tyrant is truly brave or trustworthy. Cowardice and meanness lie curled up in the heart of every tyrant. He is too despicable, too unsafe to be trusted with the responsibilities of a naval command. Such, at least, is the opinion of an old sailor.
One of the greatest enemies to order and happiness in ships of war is drunkenness. To be drunk is considered by almost every sailor as the acme213 of sensual bliss214; while many fancy that swearing and drinking are necessary accomplishments215 in a genuine man-of-war’s-man. Hence it almost universally prevails. In our ship the men would get drunk, in defiance216 of every restriction217. Were it not for the moral and physical ruin which follows its use, one might laugh at the various contrivances adopted to elude218 the vigilance of officers in their efforts to procure219 rum. Some of our men who belonged to the boats’ crews provided themselves with bladders; if left ashore220 by their officers a few moments, they would slip into the first grocery, fill their bladders, and return with the spoil. Once by the ship’s side, the favorable moment was seized to pass the interdicted bladders into the port-holes, to some watchful221 shipmate, by whom it was carefully secreted222, to be drunk at the first opportunity. The liberty to go on shore, which is always granted while in port, was sure to be abused for drunken purposes. The Sabbath was also a day of sensuality. True, we sometimes had the semblance223 of religious services, when the men were summoned aft to hear the captain read the morning service from the church prayer-book; but usually it was observed more as a day of revelry than of worship. But at Christmas our ship presented a scene such as I had never imagined. The men were permitted to have their “full swing.” Drunkenness ruled the ship. Nearly every man, with most of the officers, was in a state of beastly intoxication224 at night. Here, some were fighting, but were so insensibly drunk, they hardly knew whether they struck the guns or their opponents; yonder, a party were singing libidinous225 or bacchanalian226 songs, while all were laughing, cursing, swearing or hallooing; confusion reigned227 in glorious triumph; it was the very chaos228 of humanity. Had we been at sea, a sudden gale229 of wind must have proved our destruction; had we been exposed to a sudden attack from an enemy’s vessel, we should have fallen an easy prey230 to the victor; just as the poor Hessians, at Trenton, fell before the well-timed blow of the sage43 Washington, during the war of the revolution.
Of all places, the labors231 of temperance men are most needed among sailors; and I am glad to know that much has been accomplished232 among them already. From what I know of the sufferings and difficulties growing out of intemperance233 at sea, I most heartily234 desire to see a temperance flag floating at the mast-head of every ship in the world. When this is seen, sailors will be a happier class than ever they have yet been, from the time when the cautious Phenicians crept timidly round the shores of the Mediterranean235, to the present day of bold and fearless navigation.
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1
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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gaudily
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| adv.俗丽地 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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13
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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14
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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minions
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| n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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32
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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33
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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41
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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46
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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47
cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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50
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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51
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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53
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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54
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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58
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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61
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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euphonious
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| adj.好听的，悦耳的，和谐的 | |
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cognomen
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| n.姓；绰号 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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68
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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71
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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belabor
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| vt.痛斥；作过长说明 | |
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73
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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74
skulk
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| v.藏匿；潜行 | |
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75
tardiness
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| n.缓慢；迟延；拖拉 | |
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76
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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78
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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80
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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81
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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82
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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83
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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84
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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85
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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87
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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88
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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89
raisins
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| n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 ) | |
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90
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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91
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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92
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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93
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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94
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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95
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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96
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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97
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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98
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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99
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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100
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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101
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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102
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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103
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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104
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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105
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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106
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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107
shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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108
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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109
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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110
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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111
knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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112
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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113
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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114
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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115
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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116
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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117
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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118
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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119
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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120
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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121
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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122
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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123
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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124
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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125
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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126
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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127
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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128
interdicted
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| v.禁止（行动）( interdict的过去式和过去分词 )；禁用；限制 | |
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129
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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130
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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131
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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132
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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133
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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134
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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135
Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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136
berthed
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| v.停泊( berth的过去式和过去分词 )；占铺位 | |
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137
stultifying
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| v.使成为徒劳，使变得无用( stultify的现在分词 ) | |
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138
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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139
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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140
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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141
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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142
frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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143
sloops
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| n.单桅纵帆船( sloop的名词复数 ) | |
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144
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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145
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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146
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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147
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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148
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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149
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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150
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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151
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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152
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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153
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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154
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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155
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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156
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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157
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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158
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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159
addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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160
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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161
arrant
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| adj.极端的；最大的 | |
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162
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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163
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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164
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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165
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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166
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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167
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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168
bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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169
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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170
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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171
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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172
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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173
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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174
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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175
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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176
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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177
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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178
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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179
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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180
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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181
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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182
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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183
infliction
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| n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚 | |
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184
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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185
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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186
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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187
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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188
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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189
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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190
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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191
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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192
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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193
gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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194
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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195
pulp
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| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
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196
conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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197
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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198
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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199
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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200
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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201
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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202
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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203
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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204
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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205
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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aggravates
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| 使恶化( aggravate的第三人称单数 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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libidinous
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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bacchanalian
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| adj.闹酒狂饮的；n.发酒疯的人 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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