There was much eagerness to learn whether we wanted to "ship"; and by the unpleasant accounts they gave of the vessel, they seemed desirous to prevent such a thing if possible.
We asked where the rest of the ship's company were; a gruff old fellow made answer, "One boat's crew of 'em is gone to Davy Jones's locker:--went off after a whale, last cruise, and never come back agin.

All the starboard watch ran away last night, and the skipper's ashore kitching 'em." "And it's shipping yer after, my jewels, is it ?" cried a curly-pated little Belfast sailor, coming up to us, "thin arrah! my livelies, jist be after sailing ashore in a jiffy:--the divil of a skipper will carry yees both to sea, whether or no.

Be off wid ye thin, darlints, and steer clear of the likes of this ballyhoo of blazes as long as ye live.

They murther us here every day, and starve us into the bargain.
Here, Dick, lad, har! the poor divil's canow alongside; and paddle away wid yees for dear life." But we loitered awhile, listening to more inducements to ship; and at last concluded to stay to supper.

My sheath-knife never cut into better sea-beef than that which we found lying in the kid in the forecastle.