to consider matters
which required careful thought.

Dinshaw was standing at the port bulwark abreast of the mainmast,
gazing out over the sea in a reflective way, and looking quite
forlorn and chastened. The crew, in skylarking style, were drawing
water over the side with buckets and throwing it down the deck from
forward, so that Dinshaw frequently had to pull himself up on the
bulwark to avoid having his feet wet.

This gaiety forward was in striking contrast to the sense of gloom
which had come over the after part of the schooner. Not that any
one was suffering any discomforts from the fact that Jarrow had
clashed with the mate, unless it were Jarrow himself, but Peth's
irascibility had checked the holiday air with which the schooner's
company had put to sea. But the crew had suddenly become gleeful,
as if the quarrel between master and mate had provided a great
joke.

Peth was walking about forward, in bare feet, growling out a word
now and then, and obviously going to great pains not to look aft.
When his back was turned from them the sailors indulged in grins
and back-slappings and other rough demonstrations of their
knowledge that the "afterguard" were not on agreeable terms.

This prankish mood of the crew was shown in their efforts to make
Dinshaw uncomfortable. It was plain to Trask that they wanted to
arouse the old man's ire, or pick on him in a sneaking way, to let
him know that he had lost his previous standing with them. It was
all undoubtedly meant to have petty revenge on him for the way he
had been lording it about before Peth had quarrelled with Jarrow.
They seemed to have an idea that because Peth had come forward,
they could show the old captain disrespect.

In a way it was all harmless enough, yet Trask felt that neither
Peth nor Jarrow should allow such lax discipline. Dinshaw belonged
aft, and for that reason to treat him with contumely was a
reflection on everybody aft. But Trask thought that it was no time
to call the captain's attention to what was going on, partly
because Dinshaw should have remained aft while such work was being
done, and partly because a criticism from Jarrow would undoubtedly
cause a renewal of the row that should be allowed to blow over.

The crew's jeering attitude was soon brought out in another manner
while Trask remained near the captain. Doc Bird went to the lee
side to throw over some refuse from the galley, and before he could
make his escape back to the