Chapter 66

FUN IN A MAN-OF-WAR.

After the race (our man-of-war Derby) we had many days fine
weather, during which we continued running before the Trades
toward the north. Exhilarated by the thought of being homeward-
bound, many of the seamen became joyous, and the discipline of
the ship, if anything, became a little relaxed. Many pastimes
served to while away the _Dog-Watches_ in particular. These
_Dog-Watches_ (embracing two hours in the early part of the
evening) form the only authorised play-time for the crews of most
ships at sea.

Among other diversions at present licensed by authority in the
Neversink, were those of single-stick, sparring, hammer-and-
anvil, and head-bumping. All these were under the direct
patronage of the Captain, otherwise--seeing the consequences they
sometimes led to--they would undoubtedly have been strictly
prohibited. It is a curious coincidence, that when a navy captain
does not happen to be an admirer of the _Fistiana_ his crew
seldom amuse themselves in that way.

_Single-stick_, as every one knows, is a delightful pastime,
which consists in two men standing a few feet apart, and rapping
each other over the head with long poles. There is a good deal of
fun in it, so long as you are not hit; but a hit--in the judgment
of discreet persons--spoils the sport completely. When this
pastime is practiced by connoisseurs ashore, they wear heavy,
wired helmets, to break the force of the blows. But the only
helmets of our tars were those with which nature had furnished
them. They played with great gun-rammers.

_Sparring_ consists in playing single-stick with bone poles
instead of wooden ones. Two men stand apart, and pommel each
other with their fists (a hard bunch of knuckles permanently
attached to the arms, and made globular, or extended into a palm,
at the pleasure of the proprietor), till one of them, finding
himself sufficiently thrashed, cries _enough_.

_Hammer-and-anvil_ is thus practised by amateurs: Patient No. 1
gets on all-fours, and stays so; while patient No. 2 is taken up
by his arms and legs, and his base is swung against the base of
patient No. 1, till patient No. 1, with the force of the final
blow, is sent flying along the deck.

_Head-bumping_, as patronised by Captain Claret, consists in two
negroes (whites will not answer) butting at each other like rams.
This pastime was an especial favourite with the Captain. In the
dog-watches, Rose-water and May-day were repeatedly summoned
into the lee waist to tilt at each other, for the benefit of
the Captain's health.

May-day was a full-blooded "_bull-negro_," so the sailors called
him, with a skull like an iron tea-kettle, wherefore May-day much
fancied the