second mate

There was no war then, and he shipped as second-mate on a merchant vessel sailing from Salem.

“Commodore has made a signal that strange vessel is a man-of-war bearing down,” said the second-mate, again entering the cabin.

“Extremely strange, that she does not answer the private signal,” said the colonel to the second-mate.

The senior apprentice, Thompson, was made acting-second mate and would be in charge of the starboard watch.

Wansley, second-mate, was indeed dead to the world in his berth.