six o’clock
Get down ! '' Johnson hesitated , but the long years of obedience to the masters of ships overpowered him , and he dropped sullenly to the deck and went on forward . At half after five I went below to set the cabin table , but I hardly knew what I did , for my eyes and my brain were filled with the vision of a man , white-faced and trembling , comically like a bug , clinging to the thrashing gaff . At six o'clock , when I served supper , going on deck to get the food from the galley , I saw Harrison , still in the same position . The conversation at the table was of other things . Nobody seemed interested in the wantonly imperilled life . But making an extra trip to the galley a little later , I was gladdened by the sight of Harrison staggering weakly from the rigging to the forecastle scuttle .