I never knew that to happen before." "An accident, no doubt.

The steward probably left some near-by port open, and a gust of wind did the business.

That's nothing to worry over." He shook his head as though far from satisfied by my theory, but went below without attempting to reply.

I watched him through the skylight, but he merely gulped down a glass of liquor, and entered his stateroom.
My watch was uneventful.

The fellow at the wheel was unfamiliar to me, and rather surly in his answers, to the few questions I put to him.