“Beg pardon, sir,” said the sailor. “The officer of the deck wants to know if you wish to be called now.”
“In another hour,” said Darrin, drowsily, and dozed off again.
Which message was received with high glee by the two conspirators for Dave’s comfort when they received the news on the bridge.
“Only one drawback to it, Curtin,” said Beatty. “When the ‘Old Man’ finally wakes he’ll imagine he can stand watch for twenty-four hours without more sleep.”
“Maybe, by that time, he’ll have to,” retorted Curtin. “So we’ll let him gather in all the rest that he can get now.”
And Darrin slept that added hour. When called the next time he rose straight to his feet.
“It was stupid of me not to wake an hour ago,” Dave reproached himself, after glancing at the clock over the desk. “But just look at dear old Danny-boy! He’s slept nearly twice as long as I have. If things remain dull this evening I won’t have him called, either. He needs the rest, poor old chap!”
Donning cap and short coat the youthful commander went out on deck and then started on a tour of inspection. Presently he neared the stern just in time to see one of the two stern lookouts leap upon the other and bear the latter to the deck. The assailant gripped his victim around the throat, administering a severe choking.
“No, you don’t!” yelled the upper man. “I caught you that time, and I’ll bet you’ve done it before. Marine guard, here——stern watch!”
A midship lookout passed the word, but Dave darted forward out of the shadows.