The mate came quickly, as he always did when he heard the prefix to his name. It was used only in emergencies.
"What soundings did you get at the lead when we were blowing out?" asked the captain. "What water did you have when you sang out 'a quarter six' and 'a quarter less six'?"
"N-n-one, capt'n. There warn't any bottom. I jess wanted to get you to drop the other anchor and hold her off the reef."
"Got him tight, cappen?" asked the mate. "Shall I help you hold 'im?"
"I've got my sight back. I've got Tom Plate under my gun. How long have you been flying signals of distress, Tom Plate?"
"Ever since I could see, capt'n," answered the trembling sailor.
"How long is that?"
"Second day out, sir."
"What's your idea in keeping still about it? What could you gain by being taken aboard a man-of-war?"
"I didn't want to have all the work piled on me jess 'cause I could see, capt'n. I never thought anybody could ever see again. I slept partly under No. 2 gun that night, and didn't get it so bad."