Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/48

 42 THE CRATER; Mark took charge of the watch, as he did soon after, or a eight o clock, he was in hopes, by means of vigilance, stilt to escape the danger. The darkness, which was getting to be very intense, was now the greatest and most imme diate source of his apprehensions. Could he only get a glimpse of the sea a cable s-length ahead, he would have felt vast relief; but even that small favour was denied him. By the time the captain and second-mate had turned in, which each did after going below and taking a stiff glass of rum and water in his turn, it was so dark our young mate could not discern the combing of the waves a hundred yards from the ship, in any direction. This obscurity was owing to the drizzle that filled the atmosphere, as well as to the clouds that covered the canopy above that lone and wandering ship. As for Mark, he took his station between the knight- heads, where he remained most of the watch, nearly strain ing the eyes out of his head, in the. effort to penetrate the gloom, and listening acutely to ascertain if he might not catch some warning roar of the breakers, that he felt so intimately persuaded must be getting nearer and nearer at each instant. As midnight approached, came the thought of Hillson s taking his place, drowsy and thick-headed as he knew he must be at that hour. At length Mark actu ally fancied he heard the dreaded sounds; the warning, however, was not ahead, but well on his starboard beam. This he thought an ample justification for departing from his instructions, and he instantly issued an order to put the helm hard a-starboard, so as to bring the vessel up to the wind, on the contrary tack. Unfortunately, as the result proved, it now became his imperative duty to report to Captain Crutchely what he had done. For a minute or two the young man thought of keeping silence, to stand on his present course, to omit calling the second-mate., and to say nothing about what he had done, keeping the deck himself until light should return. But reflection induced him to shrink from the execution of this plan, which would have involved him in a serious misunderstanding with both his brother officers, who could not fail to hear all that had occurred in the night, and who must certainly know, each ii? ais respective sphere, that they themselves had been I