{"id":"01KG8AKY4CHTD1HQF3242AWXNA","cid":"bafkreic6qm5m63rsvak4urv4hg6awmwny3myu227fc7xbiab7jkfyuotka","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":5361,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.149Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":5296,"text":"with rum and dice. Upon the missionary islands, of course, such conduct\r\nwas severely punishable; and at various places, Mother Tot’s\r\nestablishment had been shut up, and its proprietor made to quit in the\r\nfirst vessel that could be hired to land her elsewhere. But, with a\r\nperseverance invincible, wherever she went she always started afresh;\r\nand so became notorious everywhere.\r\n\r\nBy some wicked spell of hers, a patient, one-eyed little cobbler\r\nfollowed her about, mending shoes for white men, doing the old woman’s\r\ncooking, and bearing all her abuse without grumbling. Strange to\r\nrelate, a battered Bible was seldom out of his sight; and whenever he\r\nhad leisure, and his mistress’ back was turned, he was forever poring\r\nover it. This pious propensity used to enrage the old crone past\r\nbelief; and oftentimes she boxed his ears with the book, and tried to\r\nburn it. Mother Tot and her man Josy were, indeed, a curious pair.\r\n\r\nBut to my story.\r\n\r\nA week or so after our arrival in the harbour, the old lady had once\r\nagain been hunted down, and forced for the time to abandon her\r\nnefarious calling. This was brought about chiefly by Wilson, who, for\r\nsome reason unknown, had contracted the most violent hatred for her;\r\nwhich, on her part, was more than reciprocated.\r\n\r\nWell: passing, in the evening, where the consul and his party were\r\nmaking merry, she peeped through the bamboos of the house; and\r\nstraightway resolved to gratify her spite.\r\n\r\nThe night was very dark; and providing herself with a huge ship’s\r\nlantern, which usually swung in her hut, she waited till they came\r\nforth. This happened about midnight; Wilson making his appearance,\r\nsupported by two natives, holding him up by the arms. These three went\r\nfirst; and just as they got under a deep shade, a bright light was\r\nthrust within an inch of Wilson’s nose. The old hag was kneeling before\r\nhim, holding the lantern with uplifted hands.\r\n\r\n“Ha, ha! my fine counsellor,” she shrieked; “ye persecute a lone old\r\nbody like me for selling rum—do ye? And here ye are, carried home\r\ndrunk—Hoot! ye villain, I scorn ye!” And she spat upon him.\r\n\r\nTerrified at the apparition, the poor natives—arrant believers in\r\nghosts—dropped the trembling consul, and fled in all directions. After\r\ngiving full vent to her rage, Mother Tot hobbled away, and left the\r\nthree revellers to stagger home the best way they could.\r\n\r\nThe day following our last interview with Wilson, we learned that\r\nCaptain Guy had gone on board his vessel for the purpose of shipping a\r\nnew crew. There was a round bounty offered; and a heavy bag of Spanish\r\ndollars, with the Julia’s articles ready for signing, were laid on the\r\ncapstan-head.\r\n\r\nNow, there was no lack of idle sailors ashore, mostly “Beachcombers,”\r\nwho had formed themselves into an organized gang, headed by one Mack, a\r\nScotchman, whom they styled the Commodore. By the laws of the\r\nfraternity, no member was allowed to ship on board a vessel unless\r\ngranted permission by the rest. In this way the gang controlled the\r\nport, all discharged seamen being forced to join them.\r\n\r\nTo Mack and his men our story was well known; indeed, they had several\r\ntimes called to see us; and of course, as sailors and congenial\r\nspirits, they were hard against Captain Guy.\r\n\r\nDeeming the matter important, they came in a body to the Calabooza, and\r\nwished to know whether, all things considered, we thought it best for\r\nany of them to join the Julia.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJJG54C6959Y4BR95JNM6","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKY4HDQ5S5KYHPWA32FM0","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKY4HGNJR8RJBHHSPN3JV","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:20.620Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:27.970Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}