I was officer of the forecastle, and on looking about to see if all the men were at their stations, missed one of the foretop-men.

Just at that moment I observed some one curled up, and apparently hiding himself under the bow of the barge, between the boat and the booms.

"Hillo!" I said, "who are you?
What are you doing here, you skulker?
Why are you not at your station ?" "I am not skulking, sir," said the poor fellow, the furrows in whose bronzed and weather-beaten cheek were running down with tears.

The man we had just lost had been his messmate and friend, he told me, for ten years.

I begged his pardon in full sincerity, for having used such harsh words to him at such a moment, and bid him go below to his berth for the rest of the day.
"Never mind, sir, never mind," said the kind-hearted seaman, "it can't be helped.