"Get out," I rejoined, pushing him from me. "If it wasn't for the shame of it, I'd hit you. The 'mate' aboard ship is the first mate, always--not the second, or the third." "But I will tell him, all right, sir," he said. "Don't trouble yourself," I responded angrily. "Let the matter drop. The mate put the fire out, and that's all that's important." So the matter dropped. It was my watch below from eight to twelve that night, and I slept well, in spite of my anger and chagrin. It was my watch on deck from twelve to four, and I stood it in the tranquil poise of mind that usually comes to men after a sleep. I forgave the poor, vain weakling, knowing that I was the stronger. But in my watch below, from four to half-past seven in the morning, I fought monsters and fled from the horrible _thing_, and awoke weak, shaken, and nerveless. I had never tasted whiskey in my life, but in my half-conscious condition there seemed to be the thought that I had tasted it--a thought which merged into the mental query as to whether it would not be better to stupefy myself, like drunkards, rather than endure such torture when asleep and helpless. Then came full awakening, and a return to my normal self. As second mates eat at the second table, I went on deck and relieved Fred. He seemed anxious to avoid direct conversation with me, and after giving me the course and the happenings of the watch, hurried below. When he came up, at eight bells, he was more friendly. "Stunning fine girl," he said. "Just able to make a pretense at breakfast, but she thinks I'm all right." I mentally consigned him to the lower regions, and went to my breakfast; but there was no sign of the young lady. The wind died away that morning, and I made sail. For the first time since sailing, the ship wore royals and skysails, sliding along with a quartering breeze over a sea that was just a little too heavy for seasick folk. Yet, about eleven, the girl came up, escorted by the skipper. And as I looked at the pale, pure, clean-cut little face and big, luminous eyes, I lost what philosophy my last nightmare had left me. I knew that from that moment this girl was to be everything to me. And I cursed the mock hero who had stolen my vantage. She went down soon, and the wind seemed to blow colder.