CHAPTER III 



WHY WE don't desert 



AS soon as we were under sail, the crew was 

 called aft and the watches selected. Ga- 

 briel was to head the starboard watch and 

 Mendez the port. The men were ranged in line 

 and the heads of the watches made their selec- 

 tions, turn and turn about. The deep-water sail- 

 ors were the first to be chosen. The green hands 

 were picked for their appearance of strength 

 and activity. I fell into the port watch. 



Sea watches were now set — four hours for 

 sleep and four for work throughout the twenty- 

 four. My watch was sent below. No one slept 

 during this first watch below, but we made up 

 for lost time during our second turn. Soon we 

 became accustomed to the routine and found it 

 as restful as the usual landsman's method of 

 eight hours' sleep and sixteen of wakefulness. 



33 



