Part 17 (1/2)

Then he blew his whistle, and one of the men ran aft, out of the fo'cas'le, to see what it was he wanted.

”Whose next look-out is it?” I heard him ask.

”Jaskett's, Sir.”

”Then tell Jaskett to relieve Jessop at once. Do you hear?”

”Yes, Sir,” said the man, and came forrard.

In a minute, Jaskett stumbled up onto the fo'cas'le head.

”What's up, mate?” he asked sleepily.

”It's that fool of a Second Mate!” I said, savagely. ”I've reported a light to him three times, and, because the blind fool can't see it, he's sent you up to relieve me!”

”Where is it, mate?” he inquired.

He looked round at the dark sea.

”I don't see no light,” he remarked, after a few moments.

”No,” I said. ”It's gone.”

”Eh?” he inquired.

”It's gone!” I repeated, irritably.

He turned and regarded me silently, through the dark.

”I'd go an' 'ave a sleep, mate,” he said, at length. ”I've been that way meself. Ther's nothin' like a snooze w'en yer gets like that.”

”What!” I said. ”Like what?”

”It's all right, mate. Yer'll be all right in ther mornin'. Don't yer worry 'bout me.” His tone was sympathetic.

”h.e.l.l!” was all I said, and walked down off the fo'cas'le head. I wondered whether the old fellow thought I was going silly.

”Have a sleep, by Jove!” I muttered to myself. ”I wonder who'd feel like having a sleep after what I've seen and stood today!”

I felt rotten, with no one understanding what was really the matter. I seemed to be all alone, through the things I had learnt. Then the thought came to me to go aft and talk the matter over with Tammy. I knew he would be able to understand, of course; and it would be such a relief.

On the impulse, I turned and went aft, along the deck to the 'prentices'

berth. As I neared the break of the p.o.o.p, I looked up and saw the dark shape of the Second Mate, leaning over the rail above me.

”Who's that?” he asked.

”It's Jessop, Sir,” I said.

”What do you want in this part of the s.h.i.+p?” he inquired.

”I'd come aft to speak to Tammy, Sir,” I replied.