“But as my principal object is to make you acquainted with Frederic Hamilton, and not with my adventures, I will say no more about Captain Simmons, and his ship, than is necessary in the course of my tale.

“I was just getting over the unpleasant sensations of sea-sickness, when, one morning as I was dressing in my berth, a noise of scuffling on the quarter-deck, over my head, interrupted my operations.  I laid my brush on the table, and listened.  At first I could distinguish nothing, and, thinking it was the captain and a sailor disputing, I continued my toilet; when, suddenly, a piercing cry reached me, and I knew the voice to be Frederic’s.  At the same time the sound of heavy blows fell on my ear, and again I recognized his voice:  he called out so loudly, that I heard him distinctly say, ’Oh, sir! have mercy.  Pray, pray do not kill me!  Oh, sir! think of my mother, and have pity upon me.  I will try to please you, sir; indeed, indeed, I will.  Oh, mercy! mercy!’ His cries became fainter and fainter, while the blows continued, accompanied occasionally by the gruff voice of the captain, until, my soul shrinking with horror, I could endure it no longer.  I rushed out of my cabin, and there on the poop beheld a sight I can never forget.  Poor Frederic was lashed to the shrouds with his hands above his head, which was then drooping on his shoulder; his back bare and bleeding.  The brutal captain was standing by with a thick rope in his grasp, which, by the crimson stains upon it, sufficiently proved the vile purpose for which its services had just been required.

“I called out hastily and angrily to the captain to cease beating the boy, and declared I would fetch out the gentlemen to interfere if he did not stop his unmanly behavior.  He glared on me with the fiercest expression imaginable (for he was in a towering rage,) and told me I had better not meddle with him in the performance of his duty, for he would do as he liked; he was master of the ship and nobody else, and he would like to see anybody else try to be.  Then he made use of such fearful language, that I dreaded to approach him; but my fear lest he should again attack the boy, overcame my fear for him in his anger; and I ascended the ladder.  He desired, nay commanded, me to retire to my cabin; but I said, ’No, captain, I will not stir hence until you release Frederic, and if you strike him again I will be a witness of your cowardly behavior towards a poor boy whose only fault is want of strength to do the work assigned him.  I am quite sure, whatever you may say on board-ship, you will not be able to justify your conduct on shore.’

“He did not again address me; but, muttering curses loud and deep, he untied the fainting boy, and, giving him a savage push, laid him prostrate on the deck:  he then walked forward, and began to shout aloud his orders to the men on the main-deck.

“The man at the helm, pitying the poor boy, called to the boatswain, who was standing on the forecastle, and begged him to send some water to throw over the lad, and some dressing for his wounded back.  I stayed by him for a short time, and when he was somewhat recovered, I went below.