"She were there one minnit, Sir, as plain as me 'att, an' ther next, she'd gone."
"That's a damn silly yarn to tell me!" the Second replied. "You don't expect me to believe it, do you?"
"It's Gospel trewth any'ow, Sir," Jaskett answered. "An' Jessop seen it just ther same."
He seemed to have added that last part as an afterthought. Evidently, the old beggar had changed his opinion as to my need for sleep.
"You're an old fool, Jaskett," the Second said, sharply. "And that idiot
Jessop has been putting things into your silly old head."
He paused, an instant. Then he continued:
"What the devil's the matter with you all, that you've taken to this sort of game? You know very well that you saw no light! I sent Jessop off the look-out, and then you must go and start the same game."
"We 'aven't—" Jaskett started to say; but the Second silenced him.
"Stow it!" he said, and turned and went down the ladder, passing us quickly, without a word.
"Doesn't look to me, Stubbins," I said, "as though the Second did believe we've seen the light."