"As for Tubbs, he was like a hen with her head cut off,--one minute at the lee rail, and the next in the weather-rigging, then forrard to look out for the strange craft, and then aft to see why the schooner didn't answer her helm. Meanwhile, he was singing out to the watch to brace round the fore-topsail and help her, to let fly the jib-sheets, and to haul aft the main-boom; the watch below came tumbling up, and everybody was expecting to feel the bunt of our striking the next minute. I laughed as though I should split; for nobody could see me where I stood, in the shadow of the companion-way, and everybody was looking out ahead, for the other vessel. First I knew, the old man had got in board again, and was standing there aft, as if he'd just come on deck. 'What's all this noise here?' says he.--'What are you doing on deck, Mr. Cope? Go below, Sir!--Go below, the larboard watch, and let's have no more of this! Who's seen any vessel? Vessel, your eye, Mr. Tubbs! I tell you, you've been dreaming.' Then, as he got his head about to the level of the top of the companion-way, and out of the reach of any spare belaying-pin that might come that way, says he,--'I've just come in from the end of the flyin'-jib-boom, and there was no vessel in sight, except one topsail-schooner, _with the watch all asleep_,--so it can't be her that hailed you.' "That cured all sleeping on the watch for _that_ voyage, I tell you. And as for Tubbs, you had only to say, 'Port your helm,' and he was off." Just then Mr. Brown came aft to ask if it wasn't time to have in the fore-topgallant-sail,--and a little splash of rain falling broke up our party and drove most of us below. I knew that reefing topsails would come in the course of an hour or so, if the wind held on to blow as it did; so, as I waited to see that same, I lighted a cheroot, and as soon as the fore-topgallant-sail was clewed up I made my way forward, for a chat with Mr. Brown, the English second mate.