I have been forced to hunt, and to house, and to howl with dogs much
worse than myself; and that's equally true.
"Maintopmast-head there," squeaked out the very disagreeable treble of
Captain Reud, who had then come on deck, as I was trolling, "Shake off
dull sloth, and early rise."
"Mr Rattlin, what do you say?"
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Ay, ay, sir! what were you saying? How many sails are there in sight?"
"I can't make out, sir."
"Why not? Have you counted them?"
Now, as I before stated, I had taken off my hat, and was standing up in
a fit of natural devotion; and the captain, no doubt, thought that I was
bareheaded, and shading my eyes, the better to reckon the convoy. To
lie would have been so easy, and I was tempted to reply to the question,
that I had. But my better feelings predominated; so, at the risk of a
reprimand, I answered, "Not yet, sir."
At this moment Mr Silva, the lieutenant of the watch, placed the
mast-head look-outs, and sent the signal-man up to assist me in counting
the convoy; and, at the same time, the latter bore me a quiet message,
that when the number was ascertained I might come down.