{"id":"01KG6YHAXAE09CXHKRERXA5CAQ","cid":"bafkreidy6suauz3vlmtatlkgekou5tcf6wtkgmpkcvebwo22m7npgcksdm","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2779,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.409Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 12","source_file":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","start_line":2712,"text":"small embarrassment to himself, yet he would spare three of his best\r\nseamen for temporary deck officers; so that without delay the ship\r\nmight proceed to Conception, there fully to refit for Lima, her\r\ndestined port.\r\n\r\nSuch generosity was not without its effect, even upon the invalid. His\r\nface lighted up; eager and hectic, he met the honest glance of his\r\nvisitor. With gratitude he seemed overcome.\r\n\r\n“This excitement is bad for master,” whispered the servant, taking his\r\narm, and with soothing words gently drawing him aside.\r\n\r\nWhen Don Benito returned, the American was pained to observe that his\r\nhopefulness, like the sudden kindling in his cheek, was but febrile and\r\ntransient.\r\n\r\nEre long, with a joyless mien, looking up towards the poop, the host\r\ninvited his guest to accompany him there, for the benefit of what\r\nlittle breath of wind might be stirring.\r\n\r\nAs, during the telling of the story, Captain Delano had once or twice\r\nstarted at the occasional cymballing of the hatchet-polishers,\r\nwondering why such an interruption should be allowed, especially in\r\nthat part of the ship, and in the ears of an invalid; and moreover, as\r\nthe hatchets had anything but an attractive look, and the handlers of\r\nthem still less so, it was, therefore, to tell the truth, not without\r\nsome lurking reluctance, or even shrinking, it may be, that Captain\r\nDelano, with apparent complaisance, acquiesced in his host’s\r\ninvitation. The more so, since, with an untimely caprice of punctilio,\r\nrendered distressing by his cadaverous aspect, Don Benito, with\r\nCastilian bows, solemnly insisted upon his guest’s preceding him up the\r\nladder leading to the elevation; where, one on each side of the last\r\nstep, sat for armorial supporters and sentries two of the ominous file.\r\nGingerly enough stepped good Captain Delano between them, and in the\r\ninstant of leaving them behind, like one running the gauntlet, he felt\r\nan apprehensive twitch in the calves of his legs.\r\n\r\nBut when, facing about, he saw the whole file, like so many\r\norgan-grinders, still stupidly intent on their work, unmindful of\r\neverything beside, he could not but smile at his late fidgety panic.\r\n\r\nPresently, while standing with his host, looking forward upon the decks\r\nbelow, he was struck by one of those instances of insubordination\r\npreviously alluded to. Three black boys, with two Spanish boys, were\r\nsitting together on the hatches, scraping a rude wooden platter, in\r\nwhich some scanty mess had recently been cooked. Suddenly, one of the\r\nblack boys, enraged at a word dropped by one of his white companions,\r\nseized a knife, and, though called to forbear by one of the\r\noakum-pickers, struck the lad over the head, inflicting a gash from\r\nwhich blood flowed.\r\n\r\nIn amazement, Captain Delano inquired what this meant. To which the\r\npale Don Benito dully muttered, that it was merely the sport of the\r\nlad.\r\n\r\n“Pretty serious sport, truly,” rejoined Captain Delano. “Had such a\r\nthing happened on board the Bachelor’s Delight, instant punishment\r\nwould have followed.”\r\n\r\nAt these words the Spaniard turned upon the American one of his sudden,\r\nstaring, half-lunatic looks; then, relapsing into his torpor, answered,\r\n“Doubtless, doubtless, Señor.”\r\n\r\nIs it, thought Captain Delano, that this hapless man is one of those\r\npaper captains I’ve known, who by policy wink at what by power they\r\ncannot put down? I know no sadder sight than a commander who has little\r\nof command but the name.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 12"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGB7Z3K8B6BYJGR83VQN5","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YHAXAGX115QEZD5EKZ51E","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YHAXC7QTY0R4XJEHC647B","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:58.058Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:58:03.986Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}