"Seems rum of a big ugly fellow like me talking about his mother, sir; but, Lor' bless you! all us chaps has got a bit of a soft spot somewhere insides us for our old woman, even them as never talks about it; and do you know, sir, that night just when I felt worst as I rolled about in my hammock, and was going to get out and find the bucket of water for a drink, I got thinking about my old mother, and how she used to come and tuck me up in bed of a night, and kiss me and say, Gawd bless me, and then of how she used to talk to me and tell me always to do what was right, and, no matter what happened, I should feel at rest. And then I got thinking as I must have done very wrong in killing that Chinee, to feel as bad as I did. And I got arguing it over first one way and then the other for a minute or two, and the next thing I remember is it being tumble-up time, and till you spoke to me about it just now, I've never hardly thought about it since. It was doing my duty, sir, of course; now, warn't it?" "Of course, Morris," I said importantly; and the man nodded, looked satisfied, and then glanced to right and left again before unbuttoning his jacket and cautiously pulling out an old-fashioned gold watch. "Why, hallo, Morris!" I cried. "Hush, sir; keep it quiet. Mr Reardon give it to me the day afore yesterday, and said I wasn't to talk about it, for it was just between ourselves." "It's a fine old watch," I said, feeling glad that the man we lads looked upon as such a stem tyrant could show so warm and generous a side to his nature. "Said, sir, he gave it to me for attending so well to dishipline, as he called it, for he said if I had not attended well to my drill, there would have been no first lieutenant to give me a watch out of gratitude for saving his life." "You must take care of that, Morris," I said. "Yes, sir," he said dolefully. "That's the worst of it. Gold watch is an orkard thing for a marine, but I mean to try." "And be very careful to wind it up regularly every night." He looked at me with his face all wrinkled up. "Would you, sir--would you wind it up?" "Why, of course; what's a watch for?" "Well, that depends, sir. It's all right for a gentleman, but don't seem no good to me. We allus knows how many bells it is, and the sergeants takes good care that we're in time for everything. It's rather in my way, too. Look here, sir; s'pose you took care of it for me to the end of the voyage?" "Oh no, Morris. You'll soon get used to having a watch," I said. "Take care of it yourself." He shook his head. "I don't know as I can, sir," he said. "If it had been a silliver one, I shouldn't so much have minded. I was thinking of sewing it up in the padding of my jacket." "No, no; keep it in your pocket and never part with it," I said. "It's a watch to be proud of, for it was earned in a noble way."