{"id":"01KG8AKWFZQVW5H4E9XT6X5GTH","cid":"bafkreic2vde23vdqin7b2zxoc2oeffmqf5iisl7bvdrt6zomqxlvf3wrca","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8658,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:14.842Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF","start_line":8598,"text":"the obligation to continue the wages of their seamen, when they have\r\nlittle or no work to employ them, and from the necessity of boarding\r\nthem ashore, like lords, at their leisure, captains interested in the\r\nownership of their vessels, are not at all indisposed to let their\r\nsailors abscond, if they please, and thus forfeit their money; for they\r\nwell know that, when wanted, a new crew is easily to be procured,\r\nthrough the crimps of the port.\r\n\r\nThough he spake English with fluency, and from his long service in the\r\nvessels of New York, was almost an American to behold, yet Captain Riga\r\nwas in fact a Russian by birth, though this was a fact that he strove\r\nto conceal. And though extravagant in his personal expenses, and even\r\nindulging in luxurious habits, costly as Oriental dissipation, yet\r\nCaptain Riga was a niggard to others; as, indeed, was evinced in the\r\nmagnificent stipend of three dollars, with which he requited my own\r\nvaluable services. Therefore, as it was agreed between Harry and me,\r\nthat he should offer to ship as a _“boy,”_ at the same rate of\r\ncompensation with myself, I made no doubt that, incited by the\r\ncheapness of the bargain, Captain Riga would gladly close with him; and\r\nthus, instead of paying sixteen dollars a month to a thorough-going\r\ntar, who would consume all his rations, buy up my young blade of Bury,\r\nat the rate of half a dollar a week; with the cheering prospect, that\r\nby the end of the voyage, his fastidious palate would be the means of\r\nleaving a handsome balance of salt beef and pork in the _harness-cask._\r\n\r\nWith part of the money obtained by the sale of a few of his velvet\r\nvests, Harry, by my advice, now rigged himself in a Guernsey frock and\r\nman-of-war browsers; and thus equipped, he made his appearance, one\r\nfine morning, on the quarterdeck of the Highlander, gallantly doffing\r\nhis virgin tarpaulin before the redoubtable Riga.\r\n\r\nNo sooner were his wishes made known, than I perceived in the captain’s\r\nface that same bland, benevolent, and bewitchingly merry expression,\r\nthat had so charmed, but deceived me, when, with Mr. Jones, I had first\r\naccosted him in the cabin.\r\n\r\nAlas, Harry! thought I,—as I stood upon the forecastle looking astern\r\nwhere they stood,—that _“gallant, gay deceiver”_ shall not altogether\r\ncajole you, if Wellingborough can help it. Rather than that should be\r\nthe case, indeed, I would forfeit the pleasure of your society across\r\nthe Atlantic.\r\n\r\nAt this interesting interview the captain expressed a sympathetic\r\nconcern touching the sad necessities, which he took upon himself to\r\npresume must have driven Harry to sea; he confessed to a warm interest\r\nin his future welfare; and did not hesitate to declare that, in going\r\nto America, under such circumstances, to seek his fortune, he was\r\nacting a manly and spirited part; and that the voyage thither, as a\r\nsailor, would be an invigorating preparative to the landing upon a\r\nshore, where he must battle out his fortune with Fate.\r\n\r\nHe engaged him at once; but was sorry to say, that he could not provide\r\nhim a home on board till the day previous to the sailing of the ship;\r\nand during the interval, he could not honor any drafts upon the\r\nstrength of his wages.\r\n\r\nHowever, glad enough to conclude the agreement upon any terms at all,\r\nmy young blade of Bury expressed his satisfaction; and full of\r\nadmiration at so urbane and gentlemanly a sea-captain, he came forward\r\nto receive my congratulations.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJS9Y3P2G15TJFFMCY4EB","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWFZZNW0X3KQHCMBE587","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWFZNQJ86TK7FD8A60P3","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.943Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:32.259Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}