CHAPTER X.
FROM POCKETS TO PICKPOCKETS.
As the latter part of the preceding chapter may seem strange to thoselandsmen, who have been habituated to indulge in high-raised, romanticnotions of the man-of-war's man's character; it may not be amiss, toset down here certain facts on this head, which may serve to place thething in its true light.
From the wild life they lead, and various other causes (needless tomention), sailors, as a class, entertain the most liberal notionsconcerning morality and the Decalogue; or rather, they take their ownviews of such matters, caring little for the theological or ethicaldefinitions of others concerning what may be criminal, or wrong.
Their ideas are much swayed by circumstances. They will covertlyabstract a thing from one, whom they dislike; and insist upon it, that,in such a case, stealing is not robbing. Or, where the theft involvessomething funny, as in the case of the white jacket, they only stealfor the sake of the joke; but this much is to be observed nevertheless,i. e., that they never spoil the joke by returning the stolen article.
It is a good joke; for instance, and one often perpetrated on boardship, to stand talking to a man in a dark night watch, and all thewhile be cutting the buttons from his coat. But once off, those buttonsnever grow on again. There is no spontaneous vegetation in buttons.
Perhaps it is a thing unavoidable, but the truth is that, among thecrew of a man-of-war, scores of desperadoes are too often found, whostop not at the largest enormities. A species of highway robbery is notunknown to them. A _gang_ will be informed that such a fellow has threeor four gold pieces in the money-bag, so-called, or purse, which manytars wear round their necks, tucked out of sight. Upon this, theydeliberately lay their plans; and in due time, proceed to carry theminto execution. The man they have marked is perhaps strolling along thebenighted berth-deck to his mess-chest; when of a sudden, the foot-padsdash out from their hiding-place, throw him down, and while two orthree gag him, and hold him fast, another cuts the bag from his neck,and makes away with it, followed by his comrades. This was more thanonce done in the Neversink.
At other times, hearing that a sailor has something valuable secretedin his hammock, they will rip it open from underneath while he sleeps,and reduce the conjecture to a certainty.
To enumerate all the minor pilferings on board a man-of-war would beendless. With some highly commendable exceptions, they rob from oneanother, and rob back again, till, in the matter of small things, acommunity of goods seems almost established; and at last, as a whole,they become relatively honest, by nearly every man becoming thereverse. It is in vain that the officers, by threats of condignpunishment, endeavour to instil more virtuous principles into theircrew; so thick is the mob, that not one thief in a thousand is detected.