The Cruise of the Alerte · Chapter
III: The Ship’s Company explained
The narrator describes the process of selecting the crew for the treasure expedition, emphasizing the importance of choosing trustworthy companions over provisioning.
What happens
The narrator describes the process of selecting the crew for the treasure expedition, emphasizing the importance of choosing trustworthy companions over provisioning. He decides to take a small number of paid hands and a larger group of gentleman-adventurers who will share in the venture's costs and potential rewards. The chapter details the agreement signed with volunteers, the challenges of interviewing over 150 applicants, and the eventual selection of a crew that included some unsuitable members. The first mate proves disloyal, attempting to foment mutiny and eventually deserting at Bahia, along with one other. Despite these setbacks, the narrator notes that after removing the troublemakers, the crew became harmonious and capable.
Themes in this chapter
Seamanship and Preparation
The narrator emphasizes the critical importance of selecting the right crew and establishing a clear agreement to ensure the expedition's success, contrasting careful provisioning with the more difficult task of choosing companions.
Perseverance and Disappointment
Despite early setbacks with disloyal crew members and last-minute replacements, the narrator perseveres, and the expedition ultimately benefits from the removal of troublemakers.
Danger and Risk
The narrator discusses the risk of mutiny and murder if paid hands outnumbered volunteers, and the potential for treasure to tempt disloyalty, justifying his crew composition strategy.
Characters to notice
- Mr. E. F. Knight
The narrator and leader of the expedition, responsible for fitting out the vessel, selecting the crew, and drafting the agreement.
- The Alerte
The vessel chosen for the expedition, described by the first mate as 'cranky' and 'too heavily sparred,' but ultimately proven seaworthy.
- The Doctor
One of the few gentleman-adventurers with prior seamanship experience; he advised a nervous volunteer to leave at St. Vincent.
- The Captain
The narrator himself acts as captain of the Alerte, making decisions about crew selection and expedition leadership.
Key passages
“To fit out and store a vessel for a lengthy expedition may be a somewhat arduous task, but it is an interesting and pleasant one, which is more than can be said with regard to that equally important work, the choice of one's companions.”
Preparing a ship for a long voyage is hard but enjoyable, whereas selecting the right crew is far more difficult and crucial.
Opening lines establishing the central theme of crew selection.
“I determined to ship as few paid hands as possible, and to outnumber them with a chosen body of what, in the parlance of the old privateering days, may be termed gentlemen-adventurers, volunteers who would contribute to the cost of the expedition, would work as sailors on board and as navvies on the island, and who would each be entitled to receive a considerable share of the proceeds of the venture, should anything be discovered.”
The narrator planned to hire only a small number of paid sailors and instead rely on a larger group of volunteer adventurers who would pay for the trip, work as both sailors and laborers, and share in any treasure found.
Explanation of the crew structure designed to prevent mutiny and ensure commitment.
“I shall never forget how weary I became of the repetition to each fresh visitor of the conditions and object of the voyage, and with what dread I looked forward to my visits to the little club at which these interviews were held.”
The narrator grew exhausted from repeatedly explaining the expedition's terms to each applicant and dreaded his interview sessions at the club.
Personal reflection on the tedious process of interviewing volunteers.
“The volunteer whom I made first mate turned out very badly. He was afraid himself, and he did his best to scare the other gentlemen and the paid hands.”
The first mate chosen by the narrator proved to be a coward who tried to frighten the rest of the crew.
Introduction of the first mate's disloyal behavior.
“Having rid ourselves of these two people at Bahia, everything went on much better, all work was done more promptly and smoothly, the old friction disappeared, a cloud seemed to have been lifted from the vessel, cheerfulness prevailed, and when we sailed to Trinidad and the real business and difficulties commenced all was got through in a most satisfactory fashion.”
After the first mate and another volunteer left the ship at Bahia, the crew became harmonious and efficient, handling the challenges at Trinidad well.
Positive outcome after removing the troublemakers.
