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The carpenter , very prematurely , and without any authority from the crew , had sounded the mate as to whether he would take command of the ship , and intimated an intention to displace the captain ; and the mate , as in duty bound , had told the whole to the captain , who immediately sent for all hands aft . We thought there must be a sail in sight , and that we were about to heave-to and speak her ; and were just congratulating ourselves upon it - for we had seen neither sail nor land since we had left port - when we heard the mate 's voice on deck , ( he turned-in " all standing , " and was always on deck the moment he was called , ) singing out to the men who were taking in the studding-sails , and asking where his watch were . The constant wading in the water , in all weathers , to take off hides , together with the other labors , is too much for old men , and for any who have not good constitutions . The medicines were strong , and took hold and gave a check to the disorder which was destroying him ; and , more than that , they had begun the work of exterminating it . It carries you back to the spot , better than anything else .