p was at sea, and
there was nothing for him to do, especially when he was in the watch off
duty, was the foretop, whither he would climb up, blow high or blow low,
and ensconce himself, sometimes for hours, until his services were
required on deck, or else the rattling of pannikins and mess-kits warned
him that something was "going on in the grub line below," when he would
descend the rattlins, swiftly or leisurely as the case might be, and
take his turn at either grub or duty "like a man!"

On this day the captain had not long taken the sun, and "made it eight
bells"--twelve o'clock--so the men had all had their dinner, and Tom
gone up to his accustomed post of observation or reflection, for he
couldn't read, and never slept when he was in the top, although he could
have done so comfortably enough if he had wanted to.

He was standing erect, looking out ahead, for he was a careful seaman,
as both the captain and mate could vouch for, and possessed the keenest
eyesight of any man in the ship--a natural gift for which he was very
thankful in his way, and of which it must be said he was also very
proud.

"Sail-ho!" he shouted, catching sight of something not long after he had
taken up his position in the foretop and began to look out mechanically
in front of the ship's course, as was his natural wont.

"Not another ocean waif, like the boy, eh?" asked the skipper in a
chaffing sort of way, while he waited for the seaman to give some
further information, as to what he had seen, as he thought would be the
case presently without his putting the question to him.

"Nary a one," was Tom's answer, as he looked down on the face of Sailor
Bill, which was upturned to his without a vestige of animation in it,
although the boy's attention had been attracted by the sound of his
voice; "couldn't find another like you, I guess."

"What sort o' sail?" hailed the captain again, as he did not hear the
response to his question, the seaman having spoken in a low tone as to
himself.

"A water-logged hull of some vessel or other, I reckon, boss!"

This time Tom's answer was heard plainly enough below.

"Where away?" rejoined the skipper aloud, adding under his voice to the
mate, "Guess I woke him!"

"Right ahead--about three miles off, more or less."

"See anybody on board?"

"Nary a soul! The hull's low down in the water and the decks awash."

"Well, we'll soon come up to her at our rate of going," shouted out the
captain in