Part 35 (2/2)

”How is it there are no lamps, Mr. Tulipson?” he said, in a surprised tone.

”I thought there would be no need up here, Sir,” the Second Mate replied. Then he added something about saving oil.

”Better have them, I think,” I heard the Skipper say.

”Very good, Sir,” answered the Second, and sung out to the time-keeper to bring up a couple of lamps.

Then the two of them walked aft, to where I stood by the skylight.

”What are you doing, away from the wheel?” asked the Old Man, in a stern voice.

I had collected my wits somewhat by now.

”I won't go, Sir, till there's a light,” I said.

The Skipper stamped his foot, angrily; but the Second Mate stepped forward.

”Come! Come, Jessop!” he exclaimed. ”This won't do, you know! You'd better get back to the wheel without further bother.”

”Wait a minute,” said the Skipper, at this juncture. ”What objection have you to going back to the wheel?” he asked.

”I saw something,” I said. ”It was climbing over the taffrail, Sir--”

”Ah!” he said, interrupting me with a quick gesture. Then, abruptly: ”Sit down! sit down; you're all in a shake, man.”

I flopped down on to the skylight seat. I was, as he had said, all in a shake, and the binnacle lamp was wobbling in my hand, so that the light from it went dancing here and there across the deck.

”Now,” he went on. ”Just tell us what you saw.”

I told them, at length, and while I was doing so, the time-keeper brought up the lights and lashed one up on the sheerpole in each rigging.

”Shove one under the spanker boom,” the Old Man sung out, as the boy finished las.h.i.+ng up the other two. ”Be smart now.”

”i, i, Sir,” said the 'prentice, and hurried off.

”Now then,” remarked the Skipper when this had been done ”You needn't be afraid to go back to the wheel. There's a light over the stern, and the Second Mate or myself will be up here all the time.”

I stood up.

”Thank you, Sir,” I said, and went aft. I replaced my lamp in the binnacle, and took hold of the wheel; yet, time and again, I glanced behind and I was very thankful when, a few minutes later, four bells went, and I was relieved.

Though the rest of the chaps were forrard in the fo'cas'le, I did not go there. I s.h.i.+rked being questioned about my sudden appearance at the foot of the p.o.o.p ladder; and so I lit my pipe and wandered about the maindeck. I did not feel particularly nervous, as there were now two lanterns in each rigging, and a couple standing upon each of the spare top-masts under the bulwarks.

Yet, a little after five bells, it seemed to me that I saw a shadowy face peer over the rail, a little abaft the fore lanyards. I s.n.a.t.c.hed up one of the lanterns from off the spar, and flashed the light towards it, whereupon there was nothing. Only, on my mind, more than my sight, I fancy, a queer knowledge remained of wet, peery eyes. Afterwards, when I thought about them, I felt extra beastly. I knew then how brutal they had been ... Inscrutable, you know. Once more in that same watch I had a somewhat similar experience, only in this instance it had vanished even before I had time to reach a light. And then came eight bells, and our watch below.

XV

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