{"id":"01KG8AMFEY4D075VMS77TBGZ2D","cid":"bafkreigkioegog7tukfoihfgvoegajr6k4m3kkubznbuu73t3wlbwr3quq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8692,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.274Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":8630,"text":"CHAPTER LIV.\r\n“THE PEOPLE” ARE GIVEN “LIBERTY.”\r\n\r\n\r\nWhenever, in intervals of mild benevolence, or yielding to mere politic\r\ndictates, Kings and Commodores relax the yoke of servitude, they should\r\nsee to it well that the concession seem not too sudden or unqualified;\r\nfor, in the commoner’s estimation, that might argue feebleness or fear.\r\n\r\nHence it was, perhaps, that, though noble Jack had carried the day\r\ncaptive in his audience at the mast, yet more than thirty-six hours\r\nelapsed ere anything official was heard of the “liberty” his shipmates\r\nso earnestly coveted. Some of the people began to growl and grumble.\r\n\r\n“It’s turned out all gammon, Jack,” said one.\r\n\r\n“Blast the Commodore!” cried another, “he bamboozled you, Jack.”\r\n\r\n“Lay on your oars a while,” answered Jack, “and we shall see; we’ve\r\nstruck for liberty, and liberty we’ll have! I’m your tribune, boys; I’m\r\nyour Rienzi. The Commodore must keep his word.”\r\n\r\nNext day, about breakfast-time, a mighty whistling and piping was heard\r\nat the main-hatchway, and presently the boatswain’s voice was heard:\r\n“D’ye hear there, fore and aft! all you starboard-quarter watch! get\r\nready to go ashore on liberty!”\r\n\r\nIn a paroxysm of delight, a young mizzen-top-man, standing by at the\r\ntime, whipped the tarpaulin from his head, and smashed it like a\r\npancake on the deck. “Liberty!” he shouted, leaping down into the\r\nberth-deck after his bag.\r\n\r\nAt the appointed hour, the quarter-watch mustered round the capstan, at\r\nwhich stood our old First Lord of the Treasury and Pay-Master-General,\r\nthe Purser, with several goodly buck-skin bags of dollars, piled up on\r\nthe capstan. He helped us all round to half a handful or so, and then\r\nthe boats were manned, and, like so many Esterhazys, we were pulled\r\nashore by our shipmates. All their lives lords may live in listless\r\nstate; but give the commoners a holiday, and they outlord the Commodore\r\nhimself.\r\n\r\nThe ship’s company were divided into four sections or quarter-watches,\r\nonly one of which were on shore at a time, the rest remaining to\r\ngarrison the frigate—the term of liberty for each being twenty-four\r\nhours.\r\n\r\nWith Jack Chase and a few other discreet and gentlemanly top-men, I\r\nwent ashore on the first day, with the first quarter-watch. Our own\r\nlittle party had a charming time; we saw many fine sights; fell in—as\r\nall sailors must—with dashing adventures. But, though not a few good\r\nchapters might be written on this head, I must again forbear; for in\r\nthis book I have nothing to do with the shore further than to glance at\r\nit, now and then, from the water; my man-of-war world alone must supply\r\nme with the staple of my matter; I have taken an oath to keep afloat to\r\nthe last letter of my narrative.\r\n\r\nHad they all been as punctual as Jack Chase’s party, the whole\r\nquarter-watch of liberty-men had been safe on board the frigate at the\r\nexpiration of the twenty-four hours. But this was not the case; and\r\nduring the entire day succeeding, the midshipmen and others were\r\nengaged in ferreting them out of their hiding-places on shore, and\r\nbringing them off in scattered detachments to the ship.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJSTQZ16SAPC8V3NCS8M8","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMFZ62E23TX8Z4A9413EB","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:38.366Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:50.032Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}