17/23 The third officer was a lad, only eighteen, a brave and charming boy. He shared with the second officer the starboard stern-sheet plank. They drew a line to mark the division, and neither, lapping up what scant moisture fell during the night-hours, ever dreamed of trespassing across the line. They were too honourable. They squabbled amongst themselves over the dew- surfaces, and only the night before one of them was knifed because he so stole. |