Gregory examined the tow-line, as he had been instructed to do, and found it all right so far as he was able to judge. When he had complied so far with the routine of the vessel and with his orders, he went forward to the engine-room. Alexander was on duty there; and he was the only one of the Tritonia’s ship’s company on the watch in charge of the steamer. Mr. Fluxion and Mr. Pelham had agreed that officers and seamen from each vessel should be in the same watch, so far as it was practicable; and this arrangement would remove any possible danger of quarrelling and disagreement among the students from the different craft. This had been done; but the rule could not be applied to the engineers, for both of them belonged to the Tritonia. But the “greasers,” one from each quarter, belonged to the regular watch.
“Good-morning, Mr. Gregory,” said the chief engineer, with a yawn, as the first officer stepped into the engine-room.
“Good-morning, Mr. Alexander,” replied Gregory coldly, as he invariably spoke to all the officers of the Tritonia. “You have on a big head of steam.”
“The firemen have done very well since I came on watch,” answered the engineer, with another yawn.
He had not been careful to improve all his opportunities for sleep, as a sailor should, and as the students had learned to do when on regular duty, and had not turned in till after ten o’clock in the evening; and he had been called at twelve. In the force of engineers the steamer was short-handed; and the watch was changed at six and twelve, night and day; and this bill had been adopted at the request of the engineers themselves, so that they could find no fault with it.
“We are making eleven knots; and that’s high speed for a steamer towing a six-hundred-ton ship,” added Gregory, who was really sorry to find the engine doing so well.
“So much the sooner this voyage will be over,” answered Alexander; and then he yawned again, for he had not slept more than those two hours out of the last twenty-four.
“Why, don’t you like it?” asked Gregory, not a little astonished to hear a Tritonian express even a hint of being dissatisfied.
“I can’t say I do,” replied Alexander, with a heavy gape; “at least, I have had about enough of it, as the thing is going now. A fellow can’t stand it without his sleep. I have to keep my eye on that gauge all the time; and it is with the utmost difficulty that I can keep my peepers open.”
Alexander gaped again, and Gregory seated himself by his side.