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I do not remember much about the voyage to Boston； for after the first
few hours at sea I was dreadfully unwell。
The name of our ship was the 〃A No。 1； fast…sailing packet Typhoon。〃 I
learned afterwards that she sailed fast only in the newspaper
advertisements。 My father owned one quarter of the Typhoon； and that is
why we happened to go in her。 I tried to guess which quarter of the ship he
owned； and finally concluded it must be the hind quarter…the cabin； in
which we had the cosiest of state…rooms； with one round window in the
roof； and two shelves or boxes nailed up against the wall to sleep in。
There was a good deal of confusion on deck while we were getting
under way。 The captain shouted orders （to which nobody seemed to pay
any attention） through a battered tin trumpet； and grew so red in the face
that he reminded me of a scooped…out pumpkin with a lighted candle
inside。 He swore right and left at the sailors without the slightest regard for
their feelings。 They didn't mind it a bit； however； but went on singing…
〃Heave ho！
With the rum below；
And hurrah for the Spanish Main O！〃
I will not be positive about 〃the Spanish Main；〃 but it was hurrah for
something O。 I considered them very jolly fellows； and so indeed they
were。 One weather…beaten tar in particular struck my fancy…a thick…set；
jovial man； about fifty years of age； with twinkling blue eyes and a fringe
of gray hair circling his head like a crown。 As he took off his tarpaulin I
observed that the top of his head was quite smooth and flat； as if
somebody had sat down on him when he was very young。
There was something noticeably hearty in this man's bronzed face； a
heartiness that seemed to extend to his loosely knotted neckerchief。 But
what completely won my good…will was a picture of enviable loveliness
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The Story of a Bad Boy
painted on his left arm。 It was the head of a woman with the body of a fish。
Her flowing hair was of livid green； and she held a pink comb in one hand。
I never saw anything so beautiful。 I determined to know that man。 I think I
would have given my brass pistol to have had such a picture painted on
my arm。
While I stood admiring this work of art； a fat wheezy steamtug； with
the word AJAX in staring black letters on the paddlebox； came puffing up
alongside the Typhoon。 It was ridiculously small and conceited； compared
with our stately ship。 I speculated as to what it was going to do。 In a few
minutes we were lashed to the little monster； which gave a snort and a
shriek； and commenced backing us out from the levee （wharf） with the
greatest ease。
I once saw an ant running away with a piece of cheese eight or ten
times larger than itself。 I could not help thinking of it； when I found the
chubby； smoky…nosed tug…boat towing the Typhoon out into the
Mississippi River。
In the middle of the stream we swung round； the current caught us； and
away we flew like a great winged bird。 Only it didn't seem as if we were
moving。 The shore； with the countless steamboats； the tangled rigging of
the ships； and the long lines of warehouses； appeared to be gliding away
from us。
It was grand sport to stand on the quarter…deck and watch all this。
Before long there was nothing to be seen on other side but stretches of low
swampy land； covered with stunted cypress trees； from which drooped
delicate streamers of Spanish moss…a fine place for alligators and Congo
snakes。 Here and there we passed a yellow sand…bar； and here and there a
snag lifted its nose out of the water like a shark。
〃This is your last chance to see the city； To see the city； Tom；〃 said my
father； as we swept round a bend of the river。
I turned and looked。 New Orleans was just a colorless mass of
something in the distance； and the dome of the St。 Charles Hotel； upon
which the sun shimmered for a moment； was no bigger than the top of old
Aunt Chloe's thimble。
What do I remember next？ The gray sky and the fretful blue waters of
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The Story of a Bad Boy
the Gulf。 The steam…tug had long since let slip her hawsers and gone
panting away with a derisive scream； as much as to say； 〃I've done my
duty； now look out for yourself； old Typhoon！〃
The ship seemed quite proud of being left to take care of itself； and；
with its huge white sails bulged out； strutted off like a vain turkey。 I had
been standing by my father near the wheel…house all this while； observing
things with that nicety of perception which belongs only to children； but
now the dew began falling； and we went below to have supper。
The fresh fruit and milk； and the slices of cold chicken； looked very
nice； yet somehow I had no appetite There was a general smell of tar about
everything。 Then the ship gave sudden lurches that made it a matter of
uncertainty whether one was going to put his fork to his mouth or into his
eye。 The tumblers and wineglasses； stuck in a rack over the table； kept
clinking and clinking； and the cabin lamp； suspended by four gilt chains
from the ceiling； swayed to and fro crazily。 Now the floor seemed to rise；
and now it seemed to sink under one's feet like a feather…bed。
There were not more than a dozen passengers on board； including
ourselves； and all of these； excepting a bald…headed old gentleman…a
retired sea…captain…disappeared into their staterooms at an early hour of the
evening。
After supper was cleared away； my father and the elderly gentleman；
whose name was Captain Truck； played at checkers； and I amused myself
for a while by watching the trouble they had in keeping the men in the
proper places。 just at the most exciting point of the game； the ship would
careen； and down would go the white checkers pell…mell among the black。
Then my father laughed； but Captain Truck would grow very angry； and
vow that he would have won the game in a move or two more； if the
confounded old chicken…coop…that's what he called the ship…hadn't lurched。
〃I…I think I will go to bed now； please；〃 I said； laying my band on my
father's knee； and feeling exceedingly queer。
I