incere
regard for the midshipman, who was placed in his watch.

He was one night, soon after leaving New Zealand, walking the deck, on
which the full moon shone down with even more than its usual brilliancy,
when he missed Billy. Leaving the poop he walked forward, when he found
that he had slipped down with his back leaning against the bulwarks,
just behind a gun, and was fast asleep with his eyes open.

"Well, Billy, what sort of a night is it?" he asked.

Billy, starting up, rubbed his eyes. "Very dark, sir; I've been looking
out for some time, but can see nothing."

Tom was somewhat astonished at this answer.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked. "I don't like to suppose that
you were asleep, but it did look like it."

"Oh, no, sir," answered Billy. "I never go to sleep if I can help it,
at all events on duty. It is a dark night, although some time ago I
know the moon was shining very brightly."

"You must be joking," said Tom; "why the moon is shining as brightly as
ever I saw it in my life."

"On my word, I cannot see that or any thing else," answered Billy. "It
seems to me that I have not been ten minutes on deck."

Just then it struck seven bells of the first watch. Again poor Billy
rubbed his eyes.

"I'm very sorry, but if I've been asleep I didn't know it," he said,
putting out his hands instinctively before him. "Do you know, I'm
afraid I'm blind."

"I very much fear that you are," said Tom. "I'll send you below and
you'd better turn in and have the doctor to see you in the morning;
maybe that your eyes are only a little dazzled just now, and you will be
all to rights by that time."

Tom called another midshipman and directed him to help Billy into his
hammock and let him know how he was.

From the way poor Billy walked, it was very evident that he could not
see an inch before his nose, although, when he had once got his feet on
the after hatchway ladder, he easily made his way to his hammock. He
felt about, however, where to place his clothes, and required some
assistance in turning in. When there, he heaved a deep sigh. His
messmates heard him murmur, "Oh, dear me! am I going to be blind all my
life?"

"I hope not Billy, but Mr Rogers says that he thinks you have been
struck by moon-blindness, from sleeping with your eyes open, gazing too
long at Dame Luna. You would have got in a precious scrape if that had
not happened. I suppose Mr Rogers won't report you now."

Again