the skylight. It had the arms of the
city of Liverpool on it; I don't know why unless because the _Ferndale_
was registered in Liverpool. It was very thick plate-glass. Anyhow,
the upper part got smashed, and directly we had attended to things aloft
Mr Franklin had set the carpenter to patch up the damage with some
pieces of plain glass. I don't know where they got them; I think the
people who fitted up new bookcases in the captain's room had left some
spare panes. Chips was there the whole afternoon on his knees, messing
with putty and red-lead. It wasn't a neat job when it was done, not by
any means, but it would serve to keep the weather out and let the light
in. Clear glass. And of course I was not thinking of it. I just
stooped to pick up that rope and found my head within three inches of
that clear glass, and--dash it all! I found myself out. Not half an
hour before I was saying to myself that it was impossible to tell what
was in people's heads or at the back of their talk, or what they were
likely to be up to. And here I found myself up to as low a trick as you
can well think of. For, after I had stooped, there I remained prying,
spying, anyway looking, where I had no business to look. Not
consciously at first, may be. He who has eyes, you know, nothing can
stop him from seeing things as long as there are things to see in front
of him. What I saw at first was the end of the table and the tray
clamped on to it, a patent tray for sea use, fitted with holders for a
couple of decanters, water-jug and glasses. The glitter of these things
caught my eye first; but what I saw next was the captain down there,
alone as far as I could see; and I could see pretty well the whole of
that part up to the cottage piano, dark against the satin-wood panelling
of the bulkhead. And I remained looking. I did. And I don't know that
I was ashamed of myself either, then. It was the fault of that
Franklin, always talking of the man, making free with him to that extent
that really he seemed to have become our property, his and mine, in a
way. It's funny, but one had that feeling about Captain Anthony. To
watch him was not so much worse than listening to Franklin talking him
over. Well, it's no use making excuses for what's inexcusable. I
watched; but I dare say you know that there could have been nothing
inimical in this low behaviour of mine. On the contrary. I'll tell you
now what he was doing. He was helping h