"What's up?" he inquired, in a confused sort of way, and seeming as if
he could not see us clearly.

"What's up?" he asked again.

"That's just what I want to know!" said the Second Mate, speaking for
the first time with some sternness.

"I ain't been snoozin' while there's been a job on?" Tom inquired,
anxiously.

He looked round at the men appealingly.

"It's knocked 'im dotty, strikes me," said one of the men, audibly.

"No," I said, answering Tom's question, "you've had--"

"Shut that, Jessop!" said the Second Mate, quickly, interrupting me. "I
want to hear what the boy's got to say for himself."

He turned again to Tom.

"You were up at the fore royal," he prompted.

"I carn't say I was, Sir," said Tom, doubtfully. I could see that he had
not gripped the Second Mate's meaning.

"But you were!" said the Second, with some impatience. "It was blowing
adrift, and I sent you up to shove a gasket round it."