“So much the sooner this voyage will be over,” answered Alexander; and then he yawned again, for he had not slept more than those two hours out of the last twenty-four. “Why, don’t you like it?” asked Gregory, not a little astonished to hear a Tritonian express even a hint of being dissatisfied. “I can’t say I do,” replied Alexander, with a heavy gape; “at least, I have had about enough of it, as the thing is going now. A fellow can’t stand it without his sleep. I have to keep my eye on that gauge all the time; and it is with the utmost difficulty that I can keep my peepers open.” Alexander gaped again, and Gregory seated himself by his side. “It is rather rough on you to serve these six-hour watches,” added the first officer. “I shouldn’t have minded it for a short cruise; but I didn’t ship as an engineer for a trip to England and back.” “I suppose Richards likes it, don’t he?” Gregory proceeded, anxious to obtain more information in regard to the sentiments of the engineers. “He is more discontented than I am. He is growling all the time; and he was downright mad when he learned that the recitations were to be carried on to-morrow, just as they are in all the vessels of the squadron. I shall be in a pretty condition to study my lessons, after this watch is finished. I shall turn in as soon as I get my breakfast, and sleep till noon, when I have to take my place in the engine-room again. How am I to keep up with the class, and run this machine twelve hours a day?” “You can’t do it, of course.” “No more can Richards. He came within one of slipping out of the cabin on the first of the month, when Speers came in from the steerage; and he wants to make his election sure next time.” “It is a hard case for both of you. But I suppose you volunteered for this duty?” “Richards and I were the only fellows who knew any thing about an engine, and we were really forced to volunteer,” yawned Alexander. “I wish we were on our way to Madeira, instead of on a trip to England.” “What is the matter with these fellows down in the fire-room?” asked Gregory, whose attention had been attracted several times during the conversation, by the singing and laughing of the men at the fires. “They seem to be very jolly to-night for some reason or other,” replied the engineer, gaping fearfully as his drowsiness gained upon him. The first officer wondered why the men were so jolly at that early hour in the morning; and to satisfy himself he went down into the fire-room. After he had taken a few steps upon the iron stairs, he saw one of the Frenchmen strike off the neck of a bottle with a bar of iron. He poured the contents of the bottle into several tin cups, and passed them to his companions, retaining one for himself. The liquid was very red; and the officer had no doubt it was claret wine, such as is usually furnished to the passengers on board of French steamers.