Before the day closed a violent gale set in, and for four succeeding weeks there was but little remission of its force; a lull for a day or so, after it had blown for eight or ten, was the only change in the determined south-west wind; and often was it terrible in its wrath, carrying away sail after sail, and obliging the ship to go under her bare poles, or one close-reefed topsail. All this time they were tacking to and fro through the Atlantic Ocean.
To Lieutenant Dickens this sudden change of weather was scarcely supportable. His temper became as foul as the wind; he grew bilious, squeamish, sick, and irritable; he found fault with every thing, and kicked his dog. A certain degree of coolness took place between him and the other Subalterns, originating in the previous night's conversation, and fostered by the change of weather: the parties scarcely spoke to each other; and in this most unpleasant situation they continued for eight or nine days.
Quarrels are disagreeable things on shore; but on board ship, where of necessity the hostile parties are compelled to be in each others' presence, they are the most irksome of all unpleasant matters: and if they are to be avoided scrupulously in the army, while on shore, there is ten times more reason for keeping clear of them while on ship board: young officers cannot be too mindful of this; let them be affable, obliging, not too reserved, but by no means too familiar. These rules apply to society in general, but to society on board ship peculiarly. It is no very desirable thing to remain several weeks shut up in a vessel with an opponent—to sleep in the same cabin with him; and at every heel of the ship in bad weather, roll about with him on the deck, and fall with your head in his face, or his in yours. This can be easily avoided on shore; but at sea—Oh, Heaven defend us from the trial!
The cabin company remained for eight or nine days in this disjointed state: at last all the fresh provision was exhausted; for, in the hopes of soon going on shore, a considerable waste took place during the fine weather. The master of the transport, who was, in gentlemanly qualities, an exception to the generality of men in his station, now offered his table to the officers at a moderate charge per week—wine as cheap as it was in Portugal; with the understanding that the allowance of rations should not be drawn, but given to the ship. This relieved in a great measure the whole mess from the unpleasantness of their situation, but did not entirely restore good feeling: all parties spoke occasionally to each other, but they were extremely formal and distant. However, an admirable mess, with good wine, and a jolly gentlemanly host, made things as comfortable as could be expected; and had it not been for the cross-grained nature of the _cockaignee_, the remainder of the voyage would have passed happily; for although it was often found necessary to dine _à la Turque_, upon the floor, and lash their limbs every night to the births, to keep them from falling out—although the creaking of the bulk-heads,—the thunder of the waves against the ship's side—the half filling of the cabin frequently by a sea, and the eternal southwest wind, were all excessively tormenting; yet there was a hilarity, which arose from this new order of things, under the guidance of the master, that very soon began to reconcile the officers to their fate. But the spirit of discord hovered round the ship, and through the agency of Mr. Dickens, his disciple, turned all comfort once more awry.