The end of this was that in about twenty minutes the ship was three or four miles ahead of us; so not choosing to lose any more time, I swung the mizzen-yards, and got the _Grosvenor_ upon her course again. Stevens went below to put on his coat and cap and boots in order to relieve me, for it was now four o'clock. The dawn had broken with every promise of a fine day, and where the sun rose the sky resembled frost-work, layer upon layer of high delicate clouds, ranged like scale armour, all glittering with silver brightness and whitening the sea, over which they hung with a pale, pearly light. I was thoroughly exhausted, not so much from the want of rest as from the excitement I had gone through. Still, I had a part to play before I turned in; so I stuck my knuckles in my eyes to rub them open, and waited for Stevens, who presently came on deck, having first stopped on the main-deck to grumble to his crony Fish over his not having had a quarter of an hour's sleep since midnight. "I'm growed sick o' the sight o' this poop," he growled to me. "Sick o' the sight o' the whole wessel. Fust part o' the woyage I was starved for food. Now, with the skipper overboard, I'm starved for sleep. How long are we going to take to reach Florida? Sink me if I shouldn't ha' woted for some nearer coast had I known this woyage wur going to last to the day o' judgment." "If it don't fall calm," I answered, "I may safely promise to put you off the coast of Florida on Friday afternoon." He thrust his hands into his breeches' pockets, and stared aft. "I am very much troubled about the loss of the bo'sun," said I. "Are you?" he responded, ironically. "He was a civil man and a good sailor." "Yes; I dessay he was. But he's no use now." "He deserved that we should have made an effort to save him." "Well, you said that before, and I said no; and I suppose I know wot I mean when I says no." "But won't the crew think me a heartless rascal for not sending a boat to the poor devil?" I demanded, pretending to lose my temper. "The bo'sun was none so popular--don't make no mistake; he wasn't one of----Hell seize me! where are you drivin' to, Mr. Royle? Can't you let a drownded man alone?" he cried, with an outburst of passion. But immediately he softened his voice, and with a look of indescribable cunning, said, "Some of the hands didn't like him, of course; and some did, and they'll be sorry. I am one of them as did, and would ha' saved him if I hadn't feared the masts, and reckoned there'd be no use in the boat gropin' about in the dark for a drownin' man." "No doubt of that," I replied, in a most open manner. "You know the course, Mr. Stevens? You might set the fore-topmast stun'-sail presently, for we shall have a fine day." And with a civil nod I left him, more than ever satisfied that my stratagem was a complete success.