He commanded the watch while the novice rested, and he had with him his son Bat and Austin.

Acteon and Hercules formed the other watch, under Dick Sand's direction.

By this means, while one steered, the others watched at the prow.
Even though these parts were deserted, and no collision was really to be feared, the novice exacted a rigorous watch during the night.

He never sailed without having his lights in position--a green light on the starboard, a red light on the larboard--and in that he acted wisely.
All the time, during those nights which Dick Sand passed entirely at the helm, he occasionally felt an irresistible heaviness over him.

His hand then steered by pure instinct.