I do not say that I assumed my new duties without misgivings at the future, or that I wholly justified myself to myself in regard to my killing the mate; but I won the skipper's approval at once; and, as Fred got the whiskey out of him, slept well in my watch below, seeing neither monsters nor things.
For a few days, Fred was more of a third mate than a first, as the skipper stood watch with him, until, under his tutelage, Fred had mastered the merchant-ship rig. Then he proved competent, and the men, respecting his position, if not him, gave him no trouble.
He and I agreed very well. I was more amused than irritated at his quarter-deck airs; and a quiet hint from the skipper that I study up on navigation, with the loan of an "Epitome," a nautical almanac, and an old log book, gave promise that our positions might some time be reversed. And, so adjusted, we sailed out into the broad Atlantic.
So far I have said nothing of the weather. As a fact, it blew a gale from the west or northwest continually from the first day out until we hit the Gulf Stream, by which time, though fair, the wind forced us to heave the ship to—that is, to bring her up on the starboard tack under short sail. We performed the maneuver successfully, and the darkness had come when the gear was coiled up, and the watch sent below. The ship took it easily, plunging up and down in the same hole, and taking very little water on board. But the change from the long, swinging heave and roll of a ship running free, to the short, jerky lifts and dives of a ship hove to, was too sudden for the steward in the cabin. I had the deck, and from my position in the weather alley could hear the crashing of dishes sent to the floor, and the scraping and bumping of cabin furniture. Also, I heard a scream, and wondered if Fred had the jumps again; but before I could even speculate on the matter, the after companion opened, and the steward appeared, his face twisting in excitement. He was German, and he stammered; and, while wondering what he had on his mind, as he endeavored to speak, I noticed a cloud of smoke floating away to leeward from one of the lee cabin windows. I sprang aft to the steward, and he found voice.
"Fire!" he said explosively. "Der lamp f-f-fell der t-t-t-table off."
"Call all hands forward there," I sang out. "Bring the deck pump aft, and bear a hand." Then I tumbled down into the smoke-filled after cabin, followed by the steward.
"In der s-s-s-storeroom," he stammered.
"Where's the captain?" I asked, as I groped my way through the smoke.
"Der c-c-cappen is fall down by der storeroom," he answered.
A stifled scream came out of the smoke, and a slim figure in a dressing gown staggered into view, falling helplessly into my arms. It was a girl, and by the dim light from the swinging lamp above, I saw that she was young, pale, and sweet of face.