In entering
the shipyard, my orders from Mr. Gardner were, to do whatever the
carpenters commanded me to do. This was placing me at the beck and call
of about seventy-five men. I was to regard all these as masters. Their
word was to be my law. My situation was a most trying one. At times I
needed a dozen pair of hands. I was called a dozen ways in the space of
a single minute. Three or four voices would strike my ear at the same
moment. It was--"Fred., come help me to cant this timber here."--"Fred.,
come carry this timber yonder."--"Fred., bring that roller
here."--"Fred., go get a fresh can of water."--"Fred., come help saw
off the end of this timber."--"Fred., go quick, and get the
crowbar."--"Fred., hold on the end of this fall."--"Fred., go to the
blacksmith's shop, and get a new punch."--"Hurra, Fred! run and bring
me a cold chisel."--"I say, Fred., bear a hand, and get up a fire as
quick as lightning under that steam-box."--"Halloo, nigger! come,
turn this grindstone."--"Come, come! move, move! and BOWSE this timber
forward."--"I say, darky, blast your eyes, why don't you heat up some
pitch?"--"Halloo! halloo! halloo!" (Three voices at the same time.)
"Come here!--Go there!--Hold on where you are! Damn you, if you move,
I'll knock your brains out!"
This was my school for eight months; and I might have remained there
longer, but for a most horrid fight I had with four of the white
apprentices, in which my left eye was nearly knocked out, and I was
horribly mangled in other respects.
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