"I guess so, sir."
"Pshaw! You keep your eyes open."
"He will be all right after he gets settled down to it, sir," said Steve apologetically.
"We're likely to be sent to the bottom before that time, if we wait for him to keep us out of trouble."
The ship sailed on. Now and then Steve's keen eyes would sight a green or red or a white light, and under the instruction of the mate he quickly learned to determine the position of the boat from her lights, enabling him to say instantly which way the other ship was traveling. After a while the captain entered the pilot-house.
"Who's on the forward watch?" he demanded.
"Rush on the bridge, Jarvis in the forward peak."
"Keep a sharp lookout. They are new men."
"Aye, aye, sir. Rush is all right. He has eyes like an owl at night. Trust him for not letting anything——"