and Burns whistling the same tune as he went aft to strike the bell.
(It was the duty of the officer on watch to strike the hour.) It
was then half after eleven. As he passed the captain's door again,
his foot struck something, and it fell to the floor. He was afraid
the captain had been roused, and stood still until he heard him
breathing regularly again. Then he stooped down. His foot had
struck an axe upright against the captain's door, and had knocked
it down.

The axe belonged on the outer wall of the forward house. It was a
rule that it must not be removed from its place except in emergency,
and the first mate carried it out and leaned it against the forward
port corner of the after house when he went below. Later, on his
watch, he carried it forward and put it where it belonged.

He found Turner waiting on deck, and together they descended to the
chart-room. He was none too clear as to what followed. They drank
together. Vail tried to get Turner to bed, and failed. He believed
that Burns had called the captain. The captain had ordered him to
the deck, and there had been a furious quarrel. He felt ill by that
time, and, when he went on watch at midnight, Burns was uncertain
about leaving him. He was not intoxicated, he maintained, until
after half-past one. He was able to strike the bell without
difficulty, and spoke, each time he went aft, to Charlie Jones, who
was at the wheel.

After that, however, he suddenly felt strange. He thought he had
been doped, and told the helmsman so. He asked Jones to strike the
bell for him, and, going up on the forecastle head, lay down on the
boards and fell asleep. He did not waken until he heard six bells