I was walking about the fo’cas’le head, feeling like this, when I saw the light for the third time.  It was very bright and big, and I could see it move, as I watched.  This again showed me that it must be very close.

“Surely,” I thought, “the Second Mate must see it now, for himself.”

I did not sing out this time, right away.  I thought I would let the Second see for himself that I had not been mistaken.  Besides, I was not going to risk its vanishing again, the instant I had spoken.  For quite half a minute, I watched it, and there was no sign of its disappearing.  Every moment, I expected to hear the Second Mate’s hail, showing that he had spotted it at last; but none came.

I could stand it no longer, and I ran to the rail, on the after part of the fo’cas’le head.

“Green light a little abaft the beam, Sir!” I sung out, at the top of my voice.

But I had waited too long.  Even as I shouted, the light blurred and vanished.

I stamped my foot and swore.  The thing was making a fool of me.  Yet, I had a faint hope that those aft had seen it just before it disappeared; but this I knew was vain, directly I heard the Second’s voice.

“Light be damned!” he shouted.

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.

“Hell!” 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.