Part 26 (2/2)
”Was.h.i.+ngton and Andy,” answered Jack, who kept track of the matter.
”I guess we'll change it, and have you and Mark take them,” went on the captain. He gave Jack a peculiar look, and made a sign to him not to say anything. Wondering what was to come Jack went up on deck to watch the sunset.
CHAPTER XXI
CAUGHT IN A WHIRLPOOL
The boy was joined a little later by the captain, who, coming close to him whispered:
”I am going to try to discover the ghost to-night. That is why I wanted you boys on hand to help me. This thing must be stopped if it is a joke, and, if it isn't--”
”Do you think it is some one playing tricks?” asked Jack.
”I don't know what to think,” answered Mr. Henderson. ”We will see what happens to-night.”
Mark came on deck a little while, and the three talked of the strange appearances of the mysterious white object. The boys told of their experiences, and Jack related more fully his on the night the s.h.i.+p went up on the big rock upheaval.
”I don't believe in ghosts,” said Mr. Henderson, ”I'm going to lay this one,” and he smiled grimly.
Night settled down. Jack, who had the first tour under the new arrangement, had made himself comfortable in the conning tower, and Mr.
Henderson had hidden himself in the companionway. His idea was to thus guard both openings into the s.h.i.+p and ascertain whether the ghost came from within or without the craft.
Up to a short time before twelve o'clock nothing out of the ordinary happened. The only sound was the lapping of the waves on the steel sides of the _Porpoise_, and now and then a splash as a big fish leaped out of the water. There was only the slightest breeze.
Jack who, somehow or other, felt much sleepier than usual, caught himself nodding several times. Once he awoke with a start and realized that he had been dozing.
”Come, come,” he remarked to himself, ”this will not do at all. This is a fine way to watch for a ghost.”
He remained wide awake for perhaps five minutes. Then he was off to the land of nod again. He was just dreaming that he was skating on a pond and was playing snap the whip with a lot of boys, when he awoke with a start.
He felt something pressing on his chest and to his horror, as he looked up, he saw a big towering white object standing over him. A second glance showed him it was a man, or the semblance of one, and the thing's foot was on his chest.
With a terrified scream Jack sprang up, upsetting the ghost, which, the boy thought at the time, seemed rather heavy for an unearthly spirit.
”Did you catch it?” cried the professor.
”No! Yes! I don't know!” yelled Jack, struggling to his feet in time to see the white object glide down the stairs that led from the conning tower into the forward cabin.
”Run after it! We must solve the mystery!” cried Mr. Henderson springing from the companionway up on deck.
But at that moment the s.h.i.+p began to whirl about in a circle slowly at first, but with increasing speed until Jack and the professor felt sick and dizzy. All about the water seemed to be bubbling and boiling, while, at the same time, there arose on the air a mournful howl.
The professor jumped to the rail and looked over the side. What he saw made him recoil with horror.
”Quick! Close the man-hole hatch!” he cried. ”Shut the door of the conning tower!”
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