However, there was no help for it, and I turned into an empty bunk and cried myself to sleep.

What a voyage that was, to be sure! The ship was a Yankee and so was the master and mates.
The crew were of all sorts, Dutch, and Swedes, and English, a Yank or two, and a sprinklin' of niggers.

It was one of those ships they call a hell on earth, and cussing and kicking and driving went on all day.

I hadn't no regular place give me, but helped the black cook, and pulled at ropes, and swabbed the decks, and got kicked and cuffed all round.
The skipper did not often speak to me, but when his eye lighted on me he gave an ugly sort of look, as seemed to say, 'You'd better ha' gone down with the others.

You think you're going to report the loss of the smack, and to get damages against the Potomac, do you?
we shall see.' The crew were a rough lot, but the spirit seemed taken out of 'em by the treatment they met with.