{"id":"01KG6YHAXAFZD4BBZRZ32AWM55","cid":"bafkreicuysor6de57gethezou4q5r2vbax5icsdwar2q2vxy5kfy3s2h7u","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2548,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.409Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 8","source_file":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","start_line":2494,"text":"degree, have proceeded from design. If so, then here was evinced the\r\nunhealthy climax of that icy though conscientious policy, more or less\r\nadopted by all commanders of large ships, which, except in signal\r\nemergencies, obliterates alike the manifestation of sway with every\r\ntrace of sociality; transforming the man into a block, or rather into a\r\nloaded cannon, which, until there is call for thunder, has nothing to\r\nsay.\r\n\r\nViewing him in this light, it seemed but a natural token of the\r\nperverse habit induced by a long course of such hard self-restraint,\r\nthat, notwithstanding the present condition of his ship, the Spaniard\r\nshould still persist in a demeanor, which, however harmless, or, it may\r\nbe, appropriate, in a well-appointed vessel, such as the San Dominick\r\nmight have been at the outset of the voyage, was anything but judicious\r\nnow. But the Spaniard, perhaps, thought that it was with captains as\r\nwith gods: reserve, under all events, must still be their cue. But\r\nprobably this appearance of slumbering dominion might have been but an\r\nattempted disguise to conscious imbecility—not deep policy, but shallow\r\ndevice. But be all this as it might, whether Don Benito’s manner was\r\ndesigned or not, the more Captain Delano noted its pervading reserve,\r\nthe less he felt uneasiness at any particular manifestation of that\r\nreserve towards himself.\r\n\r\nNeither were his thoughts taken up by the captain alone. Wonted to the\r\nquiet orderliness of the sealer’s comfortable family of a crew, the\r\nnoisy confusion of the San Dominick’s suffering host repeatedly\r\nchallenged his eye. Some prominent breaches, not only of discipline but\r\nof decency, were observed. These Captain Delano could not but ascribe,\r\nin the main, to the absence of those subordinate deck-officers to whom,\r\nalong with higher duties, is intrusted what may be styled the police\r\ndepartment of a populous ship. True, the old oakum-pickers appeared at\r\ntimes to act the part of monitorial constables to their countrymen, the\r\nblacks; but though occasionally succeeding in allaying trifling\r\noutbreaks now and then between man and man, they could do little or\r\nnothing toward establishing general quiet. The San Dominick was in the\r\ncondition of a transatlantic emigrant ship, among whose multitude of\r\nliving freight are some individuals, doubtless, as little troublesome\r\nas crates and bales; but the friendly remonstrances of such with their\r\nruder companions are of not so much avail as the unfriendly arm of the\r\nmate. What the San Dominick wanted was, what the emigrant ship has,\r\nstern superior officers. But on these decks not so much as a\r\nfourth-mate was to be seen.\r\n\r\nThe visitor’s curiosity was roused to learn the particulars of those\r\nmishaps which had brought about such absenteeism, with its\r\nconsequences; because, though deriving some inkling of the voyage from\r\nthe wails which at the first moment had greeted him, yet of the details\r\nno clear understanding had been had. The best account would, doubtless,\r\nbe given by the captain. Yet at first the visitor was loth to ask it,\r\nunwilling to provoke some distant rebuff. But plucking up courage, he\r\nat last accosted Don Benito, renewing the expression of his benevolent\r\ninterest, adding, that did he (Captain Delano) but know the particulars\r\nof the ship’s misfortunes, he would, perhaps, be better able in the end\r\nto relieve them. Would Don Benito favor him with the whole story.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 8"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGB7Z3K8B6BYJGR83VQN5","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YHAXA6CNP4HXDK8K5VPNN","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YHAXABDWM909V7TH73HJG","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:58.058Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:58:03.717Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}