Some of the huskies even tried dancing up and down on the windward side of the deck. The wind also seemed to be backing round to the westward, and the motion of the waves was not quite so lively.
Mr. Wentworth was Officer of the Day; and, after the band concert and dance were over, the Chairman and Mr. Miller went below. Mr. Wilson, the mate, was at the wheel giving some of the older boys a spell from time to time, and the Captain had already gone below to write some letters.
After Turner, French, and Perkins each had been at the wheel for about twenty minutes, the lookout shouted, “Light-ho!”
The mate immediately responded in a loud singing voice, “Wh-e-r-e—away?”
“Three points off the port bow!” came the answer from the lookout.
“Can you make her out?” called the mate.
And the lookout sang back, “I think it’s Whale’s Back Light, sir.”
Just then the cry, “Messenger!” was heard coming up through the cabin companionway, and Sidney Malloy, who was the messenger on duty, came running aft to answer the summons.
“Messenger, sir,” said he, as he saluted, standing beside the Chairman’s bunk.
“Oh! Sidney, is that you?” said the Chairman, “are there any more sick boys on deck?”