“Yes,” he replied.  “We’ll be shortenin’ ’er down ’fore long.”

“May be an all-hands job,” I remarked.

“Yes,” he answered again. “‘Twon’t be no use their turnin’ in, if it is.”

The man who was carrying the lantern, went into the fo’cas’le, and we followed.

“Where’s ther one, belongin’ to our side?” Plummer asked.

“Got smashed hupstairs,” answered Stubbins.

“’ow were that?” Plummer inquired.

Stubbins hesitated.

“The Second Mate dropped it,” I replied.  “The sail hit it, or something.”

The men in the other watch seemed to have no immediate intention of turning-in; but sat in their bunks, and around on the chests.  There was a general lighting of pipes, in the midst of which there came a sudden moan from one of the bunks in the forepart of the fo’cas’le—­a part that was always a bit gloomy, and was more so now, on account of our having only one lamp.

“Wot’s that?” asked one of the men belonging to the other side.

“S—­sh!” said Stubbins.  “It’s him.”

“’oo?” inquired Plummer.  “Jacobs?”

“Yes,” I replied.  “Poor devil!”

“Wot were ‘appenin’ w’en yer got hup ther’?” asked the man on the other side, indicating with a jerk of his head, the fore royal.

Before I could reply, Stubbins jumped up from his sea-chest.

“Ther Second Mate’s whistlin’!” he said.  “Come hon,” and he ran out on deck.

Plummer, Jaskett and I followed quickly.  Outside, it had started to rain pretty heavily.  As we went, the Second Mate’s voice came to us through the darkness.

“Stand by the main royal clewlines and buntlines,” I heard him shout, and the next instant came the hollow thutter of the sail as he started to lower away.

In a few minutes we had it hauled up.

“Up and furl it, a couple of you,” he sung out.

I went towards the starboard rigging; then I hesitated.  No one else had moved.

The Second Mate came among us.

“Come on now, lads,” he said.  “Make a move.  It’s got to be done.”

“I’ll go,” I said.  “If someone else will come.”

Still, no one stirred, and no one answered.

Tammy came across to me.

“I’ll come,” he volunteered, in a nervous voice.

“No, by God, no!” said the Second Mate, abruptly.

He jumped into the main rigging himself.  “Come along, Jessop!” he shouted.

I followed him; but I was astonished.  I had fully expected him to get on to the other fellows’ tracks like a ton of bricks.  It had not occurred to me that he was making allowances.  I was simply puzzled then; but afterwards it dawned upon me.

No sooner had I followed the Second Mate, than, straightway, Stubbins,
Plummer, and Jaskett came up after us at a run.

About half-way to the maintop, the Second Mate stopped, and looked down.