y as well take. Unship the side lights and
stow them somewhere handy but where their gleam will not show. They're
quite useless, since we're becalmed, unless a steamer should happen
along, and if she does ye'll see her lights and hear her propeller in
plenty of time to show her where ye are. And mask the skylights, too.
Then, maybe, if annybody comes lookin' for us wid evil intentions,
they'll not find us. Good night--and keep a bright look-out."

With this final caution the first mate took himself off, much to my
relief; for, truth to tell, his undisguised anxiety and uneasiness were
beginning to get a bit upon my nerves. As soon as he was out of the way
I went forward and, in obedience to what I took to be his order, caused
the red and green side lights to be unshipped and placed inboard, just
inside the topgallant forecastle door, at the same time cautioning the
look-outs to keep their eyes skinned, as we were in somewhat dangerous
waters. Then I went aft, masked the skylights, and slipped into the
saloon for a moment to extinguish all the lights save one, and draw the
blinds across the open ports.

This task took me less than a couple of minutes, and then I returned to
the poop and took a good look round. But I could see nothing except
four dim glimmers of light spaced at irregular intervals, which I took
to be the lights of the becalmed craft which we had seen inshore of us
earlier in the evening. And as for sound, there was nothing to be heard
save an occasional faint gurgle of water under the counter when the ship
lifted to the almost invisible swell, accompanied by a low flap of
canvas aloft, a gentle patter of reef points, or the slight creak of a
parral or block sheave; but so breathlessly still was the night that
these sounds, faint as they really were, sounded almost appallingly
loud. There was not the smallest murmur of subdued talk for'ard, for
the watch had curled themselves up in the most comfortable places they
could find in order to steal a "caulk", and I did not attempt to disturb
them, knowing that at my first call they would be upon their feet in a
moment.

To keep myself awake I proceeded to pace the poop to and fro in my
rubber-soled shoes, taking care to avoid passing over that portion of
the deck which formed the roof of our lady skipper's stateroom; and
while I was thus engaged I nearly collided with a ghostly figure which
proved, upon investigation, to be that of Monroe, the tutor p