Hilary recalled the fact that he had ordered the helm hard down, and saved the vessel himself, but he did not say so.
“I’ll be bound to say,” continued the lieutenant, “that you were sailing slowly along without a light.”
“Yes, sir, we had no light hoisted,” said Hilary, who, in spite of his annoyance, could not help feeling amused.
“Exactly. Just what I expected,” continued the lieutenant. “Then pray, sir, why, upon a dark night like this, was there no light?”
“My superior officer gave me orders, sir, that we were to keep a sharp lookout for French boats cruising the channel, and burn no light.”
“Hah! Yes, I think I did give some such orders, sir, but how was I to know that it would turn out so dark, eh, sir? How was I to know it would turn out so dark?”
“It was very dark, sir, certainly,” said Hilary.
“Yes, atrociously dark. And I distinctly told you to keep a sharp lookout.”
“Yes, sir, and we did.”
“It looks like it, Mr Leigh,” said the lieutenant, pointing forward. “Bowsprit gone, and all the forward bulwarks, leaving us helpless on the water, and you say you kept a good lookout. Mr Leigh, sir, you will be turned out of the service.”