At the foot of the stairs in the companion way, the door of the ward room was open, and he saw that Lillyworth was seated at the table.

He sat at the foot of it, the head being the place of the first lieutenant, and the captain could see only his back.

He was slightly bald at the apex of his head, for he was an older man than either the captain or the first lieutenant, but inferior to them in rank, though all of them were masters, and seniority depended upon the date of the commissions; and even a single day settled the degree in these days of multiplied appointments.

Christy went into his cabin, where the table was set for his own supper.
The commander looked at his barometer, and his reading of it assured him that Flint was correct in regard to his prognostics of the weather.

But the young officer had faced the winter gales of the Atlantic, and the approach of any ordinary storm did not disturb him in the least degree.
On the contrary he rather liked a lively sea, for it was less monotonous than a calm.