re the wind, we hove the bodies overboard. There
was no funeral service now; we had become savages.

"'Well,' said the mate, as the last body floated astern, 'that's done.
Take your wheel. I'm going to sleep.'

"'Look out,' I said, grimly, 'that it's not your last.'

"'What do you mean?' he asked, eying me in an ugly way. 'Do you strike
sleeping men?'

"'No; but rats bite sleeping men,' I answered. 'And understand, Mr.
Barnes, I'd rather you'd live than die, so that I may live myself. With
both alive and one awake a passing ship could be seen and signaled.
With one dead and the other asleep, a ship might pass by. I shall keep
a lookout.'

"'Oh, that's all, is it? Well, if that's all, keep your lookout.' His
ugly disposition still held him. He went down, and I steered, keeping a
sharp lookout around; for I knew that up in the bay there were sure
chances of something coming along. But nothing appeared, and before an
hour had passed, Mr. Barnes was up, sucking his wrist, and looking
wildly at me.

"'My God, Draper,' he said, 'I've got it! I killed the rat, but he's
killed me.'

"'Well, Mr. Barnes,' I said, as he strode up to me, 'I'm sorry for you;
but what do you want?--what I would want in your place?--a bullet
through the head?'

"'No, no.' He sucked madly at his wrist, where showed the four little
red spots.

"'Well, I'll tell you, Barnes. You've shown antagonism to me, and
you're likely to carry it into your delirium when it comes. I'll not
shoot you until you menace me; then, unless I am too far gone myself,
I'll shoot you dead, not only in self-defense, but as an act of mercy.'

"'And you?' he rejoined. 'You--you--you are to live and get command of
the ship?'

"'No,' I answered, hotly. 'I can't get command. I'm not certificated. I
want my life, that's all.'

"He left me without another word, and stamped forward. Rats ran up his
clothing, reaching for his throat, but he brushed them off and went on,
around the forward house, and then aft to me.

"'Draper,' he said, in a choked voice, 'I've got to die. I know it. I
know it as none of the men knew it. And it means more to me.'

"'No, it doesn't. Life was as sweet to them as to you or the skipper.'

"'But I've a Master's license. All I wanted was my chance, and I
thought my chance had come. Draper, if I'd taken this ship into port
I'd have been a hero and obtained my command.'

"'So, that's your cheap way of looking at it, is it?' I answered, as I