{"id":"01KG8AKWWNDP3C509W0SD156PM","cid":"bafkreicz42pdslmneo3fbsb2jlrcr42szcdbsn74z6bktq6iix3wioafgy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":855,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.534Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":778,"text":"CHAPTER V.\r\nSeats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed\r\n\r\n\r\nBut thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares.\r\n\r\nRight from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men—captain,\r\nmates, and crew—a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing nothing of\r\nthe event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing.\r\n\r\nHark ye:\r\n\r\nAt sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare\r\nones omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved\r\ntimbers called “davits,” vertically fixed to the ship’s sides.\r\n\r\nNow, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, or\r\nmore delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale- boat\r\nby her crew. And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to justify\r\nthe utmost solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat\r\nis most delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch.\r\n\r\nBesides the “davits,” the following supports are provided Two small\r\ncranes are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, preventing\r\nthe settling of the boat’s middle, while hanging suspended by the bow\r\nand stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful\r\npattern, is also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship’s\r\nbulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated above\r\nthe ship’s rail, the boats are in plain sight from all parts of the\r\ndeck.\r\n\r\nNow, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile matter,\r\ntruly. Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off with a\r\nsultana from the Grand Turk’s seraglio. Still, the thing could be done,\r\nfor, by Jove, it had been.\r\n\r\nWhat say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night comes,\r\ncast off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the tackles,\r\neven in the darkest night, without a creaking more fearful than the\r\ndeath rattle? Easily avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel\r\ndeftly through the subtle windings of the blocks.\r\n\r\nBut though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree\r\nof risk in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan\r\nwas hit upon; still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the\r\nright place will be seen.\r\n\r\nIn selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have traversed\r\nthe deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his steed from out\r\na goodly stud. But this was denied me. And the “bow boat” was,\r\nperforce, singled out, as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that\r\nregion of sharp eyes and relentless purposes.\r\n\r\nThen, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of\r\nwater; concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There were\r\nbut two to be taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient store\r\nof both meat and drink for four; at the same time that the supplemental\r\ntwain thus provided for were but imaginary. And if it came to the last\r\ndead pinch, of which we had no fear, however, I was food for no man but\r\nJarl.\r\n\r\nLittle time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef\r\nwere our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the\r\nArcturion’s owners, our ship’s company had a plentiful supply. Casks of\r\nboth, with heads knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags which\r\nwe made for the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily\r\nstored away, and secreted in a corner of easy access. The salt beef was\r\nmore difficult to obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle\r\nout of the cask enough to answer our purpose.\r\n\r\nAs for water, most luckily a day or two previous several “breakers” of\r\nit had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship’s\r\ncompany.\r\n\r\nThese “breakers” are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of\r\nvarious diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces\r\nintervening between the immense butts in a ship’s hold.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJP4H5DDNYZ67QJTCMWXH","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWWNA56GHZSP82WYTWGP","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.349Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.562Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}