This duty made constant movement necessary, and unwearying vigilance on the part of the lookouts imperative.
Rainy, foggy weather was the rule, and "oilers" and rubber boots the prevailing fashion in overclothing.

Sea watches were kept night and day; half of the crew being on duty all the time, and one watch relieving the other every four hours.
The watch "on deck" or on duty on a stormy night found it very tedious waiting for the "watch below" to come and relieve them.

The man who could tell a story or sing a song was in great demand, and the man who could get up a "Yankee" song was a popular hero.

The night after our wild goose chase, described in the last chapter, the port watch had the "long watch"; that is, the watch from 8 p.m.to midnight, and from four to eight the next morning--which allowed but four hour's sleep.
It was raining and the decks were wet and slippery.

The water dripped off the rims of our sou'westers in dismal fashion, and the fog hung like a blanket around the ship, while the sea lapped her sides unseen.