Yes, I did, he forces himself to answer.
The coxswain waits a moment, then says: I don't like it.

.

.

And he turns to the mate, telling him it was a pity he did not try to run along the deck and hurry up the captain when the lull came.

Stafford answers at once that he did think of it, only he was afraid of missing him on the deck in the dark.