Before prayers, the names on the Anchor Watch were posted by Mr. Miller, with particular instructions for the scout on duty, and the first watch was from eight to nine. This hour was always assigned to one of the youngest boys, and Chippie happened to be the one selected the first night on board. As soon as prayers were over, Mr. Miller hastened to join him to make sure that he understood just what his duties were, and to repeat to him the instructions already posted on the berth deck.
It was Chippie’s business to know the name of the Sea Scout who succeeded him at nine o’clock, and also the exact position of his bunk. He was to keep a sharp lookout on all sides of the vessel and to notice if anybody hailed the ship from shore. He was to watch the riding lights fore and aft and to see that they were brightly burning. He was to give notice of any boats or other vessels approaching or hailing the ship. On noticing anything that called for attention he was immediately to report to the scout master. In case of change of weather, he was to call Mr. Wilson, the mate.
He was provided with a card called the “Rough Log” ruled off into several different headings on which, before the end of his watch, he was to note down the state of the weather, the state of the sea, the cloud formations, the direction of the wind, and the direction of the ship’s head, stating the time of his observations. This card was then passed on to his successor, so that the complete record for the night contained observations for every hour.
At five minutes of nine he was to go below and wake up his successor. Then he was to return on deck and ring the ship’s bell (two bells) at nine o’clock. After that he was to remain on duty until relieved; but, if his relief failed to put in an appearance at five minutes past nine, he was to go below and turn him out of his bunk. He was then to return on deck until relieved, and under no circumstances to leave his post before the arrival of the new watch.
“Remember,” said Mr. Miller, in conclusion, “you are responsible for the safety of the ship during your watch, and you are on your honor.”
The boys had all turned in, and taps had sounded by the time Mr. Miller had finished. Left to himself, Chippie began pacing the deck, stopping every few minutes to peer out into the darkness and to listen to every sound.
The binnacle lamp was always kept burning so that the compass could be read; and, in the light of this lamp, Chippie filled out the spaces provided on the Rough Log. [He wet his thumb and held it up in the air to judge which way the wind was blowing], and was surprised to find how difficult it was to make up his mind. Finally concluding that there was no wind (a fact which in his great earnestness he had failed to notice), he put down a good big zero under the heading “Direction of the Wind.”
He wet his thumb and held it up in the air to judge which way the wind was blowing. [Page 52.]
“Good joke,” thought Chippie; “I guess it won’t take me so long to find that out next time,” and then turned his attention to the “direction of the ship’s head”, “the state of the sea”, “the state of the sky”, etc.