ading in the required direction; upon which, like a
good helmsman, he at once selected a star to steer by, a star which was
just a finger's breadth clear of the main-royal yard-arm. By the time
that he had been at the wheel a quarter of an hour he discovered that
the ship was steering herself, and he accordingly relaxed his vigilance,
allowing his thoughts to travel away whithersoever they would.
Gradually his weary eyelids closed, and a short period--perhaps a minute
or so--of forgetfulness followed, from which he would suddenly start
guiltily and glance first aloft at the star, and then at the motionless
figure of Ritson. This glance of inquiry showing that the star still
occupied its proper position, and that the second mate had not observed
his dereliction of duty, the eyelids again closed, and a longer period
of forgetfulness would ensue, which of course ended, as it was sure to
do, in the man falling soundly asleep as he stood.

As for the man on the lookout, he was notorious for his somnolent
powers. He made no pretence of an effort to keep awake. There was no
reason, he argued, why he should. It was a fine night, as light as day;
there was nothing in sight but the brig ahead, and, although the
_Aurora_ was clearly gaining on her, there was no likelihood of her
running over her in _his_ watch; therefore to keep a lookout just then
was quite a useless formality. Besides, there was the officer of the
watch, who would keep all the lookout required on such a brilliantly
fine night. And, arguing thus, he settled himself comfortably into the
position vacated by his predecessor, and, folding his arms across his
breast, tranquilly composed himself to sleep.

The remainder of the watch had settled down to sleep, as a matter of
course; _they_ had not the lookout; and they were within call of the
officer of the watch, should their services be required; that, they
considered, was all that was just then expected of them; and they closed
their eyes, and yielded to their feelings of drowsiness without a shadow
of compunction.

Thus, by half-past ten o'clock that night, the entire ship's company of
the _Aurora_, fore and aft, were fast asleep.

Whilst all hands were thus wrapped in peaceful oblivion a small object
gradually merged into view immediately ahead of the _Aurora_. Had the
lookout man been broad awake--instead of fast asleep, as he was--he
would certainly not have noticed this object until it was within a mi