Here they are packed up as close as herrings, with scarcely room to move about, with nothing to do, and with food which a dog would turn up his nose to eat.

Naturally they get talking together, and grumbling over their wrongs till they work themselves up.
"I wish the voyage was over.

It wouldn't matter if we had a good steady old crew, but more than half of them have been pressed; many of them are landsmen who have been carried off just as you were.

No doubt they would all fight toughly enough if a Frenchman hove in view, but the captain couldn't rely on them in a row on board.

As long as the fleet keeps together it's all right enough.