words saddened my heart, but I knew that what he said was true. Nevertheless, I heard myself say, “Please, sir… this prospect is for me.”
Shaking his head slowly, he looked into the fire. Then, turning back to me, he asked, “What does your father do, lad?”
“He’s a blacksmith, sir.”
“Have you worked with him?”
“Yes, sir. I was his apprentice for two years.”
“Were you good at the trade?”
“Yes, sir, but my family needed the wages that I could earn from Mr. Barrel.”
Getting up from his chair, the Captain moved to the sideboard, where he poured himself a tankard of rum. Returning to the fireplace, he looked down at me. “Joe, I’m still in your debt from the alley fight. You saved me a great deal of money, that night. So here’s what I’m going to offer – but it must be approved by Mr. Barrel. I’ll sign you on as my cabin boy and pay your wages out of my pocket. Then, if you prove yourself during the voyage, I’ll promote you to seaman and you can share in the ship’s profits. Your duties will include taking care of my personal needs and serving as the ship’s blacksmith and clerk. What say you to that, Joe Blackwell?”
Jumping to my feet, I extended my hand eagerly. “I say yes, sir! And I won’t let you down.”
Shaking my hand, the Captain grinned. “Very well, lad. We’ll see what Mr. Barrel has to say about the matter.”
As I was leaving, I stopped at the door and turned back to Captain Gray. “What would my wages be, sir?”
Looking up from his mug, he shrugged and answered, “A bit late in asking, don’t you think?” He grinned, then asked, “What are you paid now?”
“Four dollars a month, sir.”
Thinking a moment, he cocked his head and replied, “I’ll pay you five. It’s the most I’ve ever paid for a cabin boy, but you will have other duties, as well. Good night, Mr. Blackwell.”
Blimey. “Yes, sir.”
That evening, I explained the expedition to Frederic and Father, and told them of Captain Gray’s offer and my acceptance. Father’s only concerns were about the wages, so I assured him that I would make arrangements to have four of my five dollars paid directly to him. This seemed to appease him, as he made no further comment other than, “Where you are going, there are no maps. You should have demanded more pay.”
My brother, on the other hand, was quite excited, for he realized that it was my prospect for freedom. Over a book I owned that described Captain Cook’s chronicles, we spent hours speculating about Captain Gray’s mission. That evening, before falling asleep, I had only two concerns: Mr. Barrel’s reaction and what my duties as a cabin boy might be.
But I did not see or hear from the captain for weeks, and Mr. Barrel never glanced my way. My excitement over the voyage soon turned to apprehension, then sank into disappointment. Had I only dreamt of the offer from Captain Gray? But no, it was real. It had to be!
Finally, in the second week of May, Mr. Crumwell approached my desk and announced that Mr. Barrel wanted to see me in his office. Putting on my coat and straightening my blouse, I slowly crossed the large room. Along the way, I could feel the eyes of my startled coworkers. The only other time I had been in Mr. Barrel’s office was when I was first hired, and the others seemed to assume that being summoned now could only be a bad omen.
I knocked softly on the door and heard from the other side, “Enter.”
As I swung the door open, my heart was pounding like a rainstorm. The inner room looked smaller than I remembered but was still filled with books and nautical whatnots. Mr. Barrel’s hand carved teak desk was enormous. Just behind it, a large window looked out over the wharves.
Mr. Barrel himself was seated behind his desk, chewing on a cigar while he read a piece of paper. And across from him sat Captain Gray.
I stared at him in surprise, realizing that he must have slipped in while I was out running an errand for Mr. Crumwell. Coming to a stop in front of the desk, I stood there for a long moment while Mr. Barrel continued to read. My employer was a big man, dressed in a black coat with a frilled silk blouse. His face was round, and he had a full head of dark brown hair. But it was his long, dark mustache that everyone’s gaze was drawn to. He always reminded me of a drawing of a walrus that I had once seen.
Putting the paper down, Mr. Barrel looked up at me. “Captain Gray tells me that you want to sign on for our expedition.”
“Yes, sir,” was my quick reply.
“Well, there have been a few changes to our venture. Captain Gray will be commanding the sloop Lady Washington and will be second in command on the expedition. Captain John Kendrick will be the Commodore, commanding the ship Columbia. Because of these changes, and other circumstances, I am going to look favorably on his request. Beginning on the first of September, you will be placed in his employ on the sloop. Until that time, you will remain in your current position as my clerk. Is that satisfactory, Mr. Blackwell?”
With gusto, I answered, “Yes, sir!”
Mr. Barrel seemed surprised by my loud answer, and a tight smile crossed his lips.
Captain Gray inserted, “I told you he was earnest.”
Shaking his head, Mr. Barrel continued, “You will not be required to sign the ship’s articles, because you will be working directly for Captain Gray. If he promotes you to a seaman during the voyage, you can sign the articles then.”
Later, I learned that Mr. Barrel had formed a company by selling fourteen shares at $3,500 each. Mr. Barrel had subscribed to four shares, while five other Boston businessmen had purchased two shares apiece. That capital, a total of $49,000, was being used to purchase, refit, and supply the two ships for the expedition. It had been those other partners who convinced Mr. Barrel to hire Captain Kendrick as Commodore, because they felt he was more experienced. At the time, they had no notion of the folly of that decision.
Standing, Mr. Barrel extended his hand to me across the desk. “I wish you fair winds and a following sea. May this venture be profitable for all.”
Shaking his firm grip, I answered, “Aye, aye, sir.” Then, turning to Captain Gray, who had also stood, I offered him the same handclasp.
Just then, I heard the office door open. When I turned that way, I saw Miss Becky gliding through the doorway. She was wearing a pale green dress with a white lace collar and a dark-green feathered bonnet. Her beauty took my breath away and turned my tongue to stone.
In a sweet, soft tone, she said, “Hello, Father. Hello, Captain Gray. So nice seeing you again.”
Then she glanced my way, and I heard Mr. Barrel say, “This is Mr. Joseph Blackwell. After clerking for us for a number of years, he has just signed on with Captain Gray for our expedition. Mr. Blackwell, this is my daughter, Becky.”
She extended her small hand to me. “How nice to finally meet you, Mr. Blackwell. I’ve noticed your red hair many times…and now you’re going to sail away.”
Shaking
