I was worn out with the exertion from handling canvas and my fracas forward, so after bawling out some of the details of the occurrence into Trunnell’s ear, I took my watch below to get a rest.  The men who preferred to stay aft clear of the water were allowed to lie down near the mizzen.  Some took advantage of this permission, but for the most part they stood huddled in a group along the spanker boom, ready for a call.

I had made it a rule long ago, when I had first gone to sea, that I would never miss a watch below when my turn came if I could be spared with convenience.  It is a question always with a sailor when he will be called to shorten sail for a blow, and the best thing he can do is to keep regular hours when he can, and stand by for a crisis when all hands are necessary.  With a captain it might be different, for the entire responsibility rests upon him.  He also does not have to stand watch, and consequently has no reason to be tired after several hours on deck.  But with a sailor or mate who stands his four hours off and on, he must take care he is not pushed beyond his time, for the occasion will certainly come sooner or later when he will have to stand through several watches without a rest.  Then, if he is already tired out, he will be useless.

I turned in with a strange feeling about the matter forward and the third officer’s conduct.  Although I knew Trunnell would take care that the ruffian would not get loose again that night during his watch, I took out a heavy revolver from my locker and stuck it under the pillow of my bunk.  Then I saw that the door and port were fast before I jammed myself in for a rest.

I lay a long time thinking over the strange outfit on board, and the more I thought over the matter, the more I became convinced that the third officer had taken a hand in letting Andrews loose to try his hand on me again.  There was something uncanny about this officer with a woman’s voice, and I actually began to have a secret loathing not entirely unmixed with fear for him.

When I turned out for the morning watch, Trunnell met me in the alleyway.  He looked wild and bushy from his exposure to the elements, his hair being in snarls and tangles from having a sou’wester jammed over his ears, and his great flat nose was red from the irritation of the water that struck and streamed over his bearded face.  His whiskers gleamed with salt in the light of the lamp, and he spat with great satisfaction as he breathed the quiet air of the cabin.

“It’s letting up, Rolling,” he said; “there’s a little light to the easterd now.  Sink me, but we’ve a job bending gear.  Everything gone out of her but her spars, and Lord knows how they stand it.  How’d you come to get caught with all that canvas on her?”

“Look here, Trunnell,” I answered, “you know I’m a sailor even if I’m not much else, and you know how that canvas came to be on her.  I’m almost glad it’s gone.  I would be if it wasn’t for the fact that we’ll be longer than usual on this run, and I’ve about made up my mind that the quicker a decent man gets out of this ship, the better.”