I said to myself, 'Now I AM done for!'-- For although, as a rule, he was so fatherly and indulgent toward the boat's family, and so patient of minor shortcomings, he could be stern enough when the fault was worth it.
I tried to imagine what he WOULD do to a cub pilot who had been guilty of such a crime as mine, committed on a boat guard-deep with costly freight and alive with passengers.

Our watch was nearly ended.

I thought I would go and hide somewhere till I got a chance to slide ashore.

So I slipped out of the pilot-house, and down the steps, and around to the texas door--and was in the act of gliding within, when the captain confronted me! I dropped my head, and he stood over me in silence a moment or two, then said impressively-- 'Follow me.' I dropped into his wake; he led the way to his parlor in the forward end of the texas.

We were alone, now.