"I haven't got the right taste yet," I said.
"And never will," grumbled Smith, as we turned to have another look at
the burning barque.
"How long will a ship like that be burning, Jecks?" I said to one of
the watch.
The man scratched his head, and had a good stare at the glowing object
in the distance, as if he were making a careful calculation.
"Well," said Barkins, "out with it, Tom Jecks; we don't want to know to
two minutes and a half."
"Well, sir," said the man very deliberately, "I should say as a wessel
o' that size--"
"There goes her mainmast!" some one shouted, as a portion of the fire
fell off to our left, and lay in the sea.
We stood gazing at this part for a few minutes, during which the light
faded slowly out, quenched in the waves.