“What are you going to flog that man for, sir?” said John the Swede to the captain.

Upon hearing this, the captain turned upon him, but knowing him to be quick and resolute, he ordered the steward to bring the irons, and calling upon Russell to help him, went up to John.

“Let me alone!” said John.  “You need not use any force!” And putting out his hands, the captain slipped the irons on, and sent him aft to the quarter-deck.

Sam by this time was placed against the shrouds, his jacket off, and his back exposed.  The captain stood at the break of the deck, a few feet from him, and a little raised, so as to have a swing at him, and held in his hand the bight of a thick, strong rope.  The officers stood round, the crew grouped together in the waist.  Swinging the rope over his head, and bending his body so as to give it full force, the captain brought it down upon the poor fellow’s back.  Once, twice, six times.

“Will you ever give me any more of your jaw?”

The man writhed with pain, but said not a word.  Three times more.  This was too much, and he muttered something which I could not hear.  This brought as many more as the man could stand, when the captain ordered him to be cut down and to go forward.

Then John the Swede was made fast.  He asked the captain what he was to be flogged for.

“Have I ever refused my duty, sir?  Have you ever known me to hang back, or to be insolent, or not to know my work?”

“No,” said the captain.  “I flog you for your interference—­for asking questions.”

“Can’t a man ask a question here without being flogged?”

“No!” shouted the captain.  “Nobody shall open his mouth aboard this vessel but myself!” And he began laying the blows upon the man’s back.  As he went on his passion increased, and the man writhed under the pain.  My blood ran cold.  When John had been cut down, Mr. Russell was ordered to take the two men and two others in the boat, and pull the captain ashore.

After the day’s work was done we went down into the forecastle and ate our supper, but not a word was spoken.  The two men lay in their berths groaning with pain, and a gloom was over everything.  I vowed that if ever I should have the means I would do something to redress the grievances and relieve the sufferings of that poor class of beings of whom I was then one.

IV.—­I Become a Hide-Curer

The comfort of the voyage was evidently at an end, though I certainly had some pleasant days on shore; and as we were continually engaged in transporting passengers with their goods to and fro, in addition to trading our assorted cargo of spirits, teas, coffee, sugars, spices, raisins, molasses, hardware, crockery-ware, tinware, cutlery, clothing, jewelry, and, in fact, everything that can be imagined from Chinese fireworks to English cartwheels, we gained considerable knowledge of the character, dress, and language of the people of California.