Breakfasttimecame，andImadeshifttoswallowsomehottea。
ThenImuststaggerbelowtotakethetime，readingthechronometerwithdizzyeyes，andmarvellingthewhilewhatvaluetherecouldbeinobservationstakeninashiplaunchedasoursthenwaslikeamissileamongflyingseas。Theforenoondraggedoninagrindingmonotonyofperil；everyspokeofthewheelarash，butanobligedexperiment——rashasaforlornhope，needfulastheleapthatlandsafiremanfromaburningstaircase。Noonwasmade；thecaptaindinedonhisday’swork，andIonwatchinghim；andourplacewasenteredonthechartwithameticulousprecisionwhichseemedtomehalfpitifulandhalfabsurd，sincethenexteyetobeholdthatsheetofpapermightbetheeyeofanexploringfish。Oneo’clockcame，thentwo；thecaptaingloomedandchafed，asheheldtothecoamingofthehouse，andifeverIsawdormantmurderinman’seye，itwasinhis。Godhelpthehandthatshouldhavedisobeyedhim。
Ofasudden，heturnedtowardsthemate，whowasdoinghistrickatthewheel。
“Twopointsontheportbow。”Iheardhimsay。Andhetookthewheelhimself。
Johnsonnodded，wipedhiseyeswiththebackofhiswethand，watchedachanceasthevessellungeduphill，andgottothemainrigging，whereheswarmedaloft。Upandup，Iwatchedhimgo，hangingonateveryuglyplunge，gainingwitheverylulloftheschooner’smovement，until，clamberingintothecross-treesandclingingwithonearmaroundthemasts，Icouldseehimtakeonecomprehensivesweepofthesouthwesterlyhorizon。Thenextmoment，hehadsliddownthebackstayandstoodondeck，withagrin，anod，andagestureofthefingerthatsaid“yes“；thenextagain，andhewasbacksweatingandsquirmingatthewheel，histiredfacestreamingandsmiling，andhishairandtheragsandcornersofhisclotheslashingroundhiminthewind。