( 7 ) 



CHAPTER 11. 



PEEPARINQ FOR ACTION. 



The hideous noise always considered necessary in those 

 ships when calHng the watch, roused me effectively at 

 midnight, " eight bells." I hurried on deck, fully aware 

 that no leisurely ten minutes would be allowed here. 

 "Lay aft the watch," saluted me as I emerged into 

 the keen, strong air, quickening my pace accordingly to 

 where the mate stood waiting to muster his men. As 

 soon as he saw me, he said, " Can you steer ? " in a 

 mocking tone ; but when I quietly answered, " Yes, sir," 

 his look of astonishment was delightful to see. He 

 choked it down, however, and merely telling me to take 

 the wheel, turned forrard roaring frantically for his 

 watch. I had no time to chuckle over what I knew was 

 in store for him, getting those poor greenies collected 

 from their several holes and corners, for on taking the 

 wheel I found a machine under my hands such as I 

 never even heard of before. 



The wheel was fixed upon the tiller in such a manner 

 that the whole concern travelled backwards and forwards 

 across the deck in the maddest kind of way. For the 

 first quarter of an hour, in spite of the September chill, 

 the sweat poured off me in streams- And the course — 



