"He is asleep, sir. We cannot wake him."
"Drunk, eh? Never mind, never mind. I will take the observation myself at noon—
"And at two bells, sir," reminded Li Fu cautiously.
"Oh, you are a fool, Quartermaster! These men will not mutiny. There is no reason for it. You are not used to Lascars and must not be a fool. I shall go to rest and make ready my instruments. The course is to be held as it is."
The captain rose and, with a sigh of relief that no more duty presented itself, made his way back to his cabin.
Li Fu studied the outspread chart and lighted a cigarette. After a while, the other quartermaster left the wheel lashed and came into the chart-house, also lighting a cigarette. The two men greeted each other quietly. Like Li Fu, Quartermaster Hi John was a stalwart, efficient seaman, calm and well poised. He addressed Li Fu in the Cantonese dialect.
"You told him, Li?"
"I told him," said Li Fu. "He went to sleep. He was very weary."
"Did you find out why the captain changed the course?"
"No. He thinks more about his hap toi than about what I ask him. I woke up the chief and told him, but he was too drunk to understand. He asked if there was no help for the widow's son, and went to sleep again. His mind is gone."