"You'll wake up in exactly two hours," said Charley, "and stand your anchor watch. I don't believe in leaving the boat to take care of herself all night so near to a road as we are. I'll stand the first watch, from eight to ten, and when your two hours are up, you will call Harry, who will call Tom at two o'clock, and we'll all turn out at four. So go to sleep, you fellows, and I'll just put my water-proof round my shoulders, and sit on deck."
Charley was firmly determined to keep awake until ten o'clock, but it was very dull work sitting still for two hours. Besides, there was a very heavy dew, and the young Captain soon found himself growing cold. He thought he would lie down on deck, and draw the water-proof blanket over his head, so as to keep himself warm. He did so, and in a few moments was sound asleep. He woke up about dawn, feeling very cold and stiff, and creeping into the cabin, took a second nap until nearly seven o'clock.
"What do you do in the navy with a man who goes to sleep when he is on duty?" asked Harry, as the crew sat down to breakfast.
"We try him by court-martial, and punish him," answered Charley.
"Then I'd like to know how soon you'll be ready to be tried for going to sleep last night while you were on watch."
"You did sleep, you know, for I woke up twice in the night and spoke to you, but you were regularly snoring," said Tom.
"We're awfully sorry about it," added Joe, "but I can't see how such a crime can be overlooked. It's a dreadful example for a Captain to set, and if it isn't punished, there won't be any discipline at all on this vessel."
"We haven't any yard-arm, so we can't hang you very well," continued Harry; "but we might give you six dozen lashes, and then put you in irons, if that would suit you."
"You're forgetting one thing, boys," said Charley. "A Captain isn't required to stand an anchor watch, and has the right to sleep all night if he wants to. I can't be punished for going to sleep, but all three of you can. You have no excuse for not coming on deck when it came your turn, and I ought to punish every one of you, but I shall pardon you this time. Only mind you don't let it happen again. Now if you have got through breakfast, the port watch will clear up the deck and then go below, and the starboard watch will weigh anchor, and get out the oars."