Mr。Baker，comingoutofhiscabin，calledoutthefirstnamesharplybeforeclosingthedoorbehindhim。Hewasgoingtotakechargeofthedeck。Onthehomewardtripaccordingtoanoldcustomofthesea，thechiefofficertakesthefirstnight—watch——fromeighttillmidnight。
SoMr。Baker，afterhehadheardthelast‘Yes，sir！’
saidmoodily，‘Relievethewheelandlook—out;’andclimbedwithheavyfeetthepoopladdertowindward。SoonafterMr。Creightoncamedown，whistlingsoftly，andwentintothecabin。Onthedoorstepthestewardlounged，inslippers，meditative，andwithhisshirt—sleevesrolleduptothearmpits。Onthemaindeckthecook，lockingupthegalleydoors，hadanaltercationwithyoungCharleyaboutapairofsocks。Hecouldbeheardsayingimpressively，inthedarknessamidships：‘Youdon’tdeserveakindness。I’vebeendryingthemforyou，andnowyoucomplainabouttheholes——andyouswear，too！Rightinfrontofme！IfIhadn’tbeenaChristian——whichyouain’t，youyoungruffian——Iwouldgiveyouacloutonthehead……Goaway！’MenincouplesorthreesstoodpensiveormovedsilentlyalongthebulwarksinthePage21
waist。Thefirstbusydayofahomewardpassagewassinkingintothedullpeaceofresumedroutine。Aft，onthehighpoop，Mr。Bakerwalkedshuffling，gruntedtohimselfinthepausesofhisthoughts。Forward，thelook—outman，erectbetweentheflukesofthetwoanchors，hummedanendlesstune，keepinghiseyesfixeddutifullyaheadinavacantstare。Amultitudeofstarscomingoutintotheclearnightpeopledtheemptinessofthesky。
Theyglittered，asifaliveabovethesea;theysurroundedtherunningshiponallsides;moreintensethantheeyesofastaringcrowd，andasinscrutableasthesoulsofmen。