"In distress and short of provisions, when we were only six hours from port."
The quartermaster with difficulty repressed a smile.
"Who burned the lights?" he inquired.
"The third officer, and it's my opinion that none of the men on board this boat know their business," quoth the captain.
With this severe shot he went on deck again, and sent the boatswain to find out Tommy.
"When you've got him," he added, "give him the taste of a rope's-end, to make him smarter in future."
Luckily for Tommy, the boatswain was unable to find him, as he had, on seeing that something was wrong, gone below and got into his berth.
But again he had made a mistake, for in the darkness he had entered the purser's cabin, and got into his bed.
The purser had been playing a game of whist in the smoking room and drinking some hot whisky, which, with the fatigue of the day, consequent on leaving port, made him feel unusually sleepy.
Kicking off his boots, he turned into his bunk without looking inside, and was greatly surprised to find it occupied.