What Tammy the 'Prentice Saw
The next morning, in my watch below, I had a look at the places where that thing had come aboard, and left the ship; but I nothing unusual, and no to help me to the of the man.
For days after that, all quietly; though I about the at night, trying to anything fresh that might to some light on the matter. I was to say nothing to any one about the thing I had seen. In any case, I sure I should only have been laughed at.
Several nights passed away in this manner, and I was no nearer to an of the affair. And then, in the middle watch, something happened.
It was my wheel. Tammy, one of the 'prentices, was time—walking up and the of the poop. The Second Mate was forrard, over the of the poop, smoking. The weather still fine, and the moon, though declining, was powerful to make every detail about the poop, out distinctly. Three had gone, and I'll admit I was sleepy. Indeed, I I must have dozed, for the old packet very easily, and there was little to do, her an odd spoke now and again. And then, all at once, it to me that I someone calling my name, softly. I not be certain; and I to where the Second stood, smoking, and from him, I looked into the binnacle. The ship's was right on her course, and I easier. Then, suddenly, I it again. There was no about it this time, and I to leeward. There I saw Tammy over the gear, his hand out, in the act of trying to touch my arm. I was about to ask him what the he wanted, when he up his for silence, and pointed along the of the poop. In the light, his palely, and he much agitated. For a seconds, I in the direction he indicated, but see nothing.
"What is it?" I asked in an undertone, after a of moments' peering. "I can't see anything."
"H'sh!" he muttered, hoarsely, without looking in my direction. Then, all at once, with a quick little gasp, he across the wheel-box, and me, trembling. His appeared to the movements of something I not see.
I must say that I was startled. His movement had such terror; and the way he to me think he saw something uncanny.
"What the is up with you?" I asked, sharply. And then I the Second Mate. I to where he lounged. His was still us, and he had not Tammy. Then I to the boy.
"For sake, to the Second sees you!" I said. "If you want to say anything, say it across the wheel-box. You've been dreaming."
Even as I spoke, the little at my with one hand; and, pointing across to the log-reel with the other, screamed: "He's coming! He's coming——" At this instant, the Second Mate came aft, out to know what was the matter. Then, suddenly, under the rail near the log-reel, I saw something that looked like a man; but so and unreal, that I say I saw anything. Yet, like a flash, my to the I had in the of the moonlight, a week earlier.
The Second Mate me, and I pointed, dumbly; and yet, as I did so, it was with the knowledge that he would not be able to see what I saw. (Queer, wasn't it?) And then, almost in a breath, I of the thing, and aware that Tammy was my knees.
The Second to at the log-reel for a instant; then he to me, with a sneer.
"Been asleep, the pair of you, I suppose!" Then, without waiting for my denial, he told Tammy to go to out of it and stop his noise, or he'd him off the poop.
After that, he walked to the of the poop, and his pipe, again—walking and every minutes, and me, at times, I thought, with a strange, half-doubtful, half-puzzled look.
Later, as soon as I was relieved, I to the 'Prentice's berth. I was to speak to Tammy. There were a dozen questions that me, and I was in what I ought to do. I him on a sea-chest, his up to his chin, and his on the doorway, with a stare. I put my into the berth, and he gave a gasp; then he saw who it was, and his something of its expression.
He said: "Come in," in a low voice, which he to steady; and I over the wash-board, and sat on a chest, him.
"What was it?" he asked; his on to the deck, and forward. "For God's sake, tell me what it was!"
His voice had risen, and I put up my hand to him.
"H'sh!" I said. "You'll wake the other fellows."
He his question, but in a tone. I hesitated, him. I felt, all at once, that it might be to all knowledge—to say I hadn't anything unusual. I quickly, and answer on the turn of the moment.
"What was what?" I said. "That's just the thing I've come to ask you. A pair of you of the two of us up on the just now, with your tomfoolery."
I my in a of anger.
"I didn't!" he answered, in a whisper. "You know I didn't. You know you saw it yourself. You pointed it out to the Second Mate. I saw you."
The little was nearly fear, and at my unbelief.
"Rot!" I replied. "You know well you were sleeping in your time-keeping. You something and up suddenly. You were off your chump."
I was to him, if possible; though, goodness! I wanted myself. If he had of that other thing, I had on the maindeck, what then?
"I wasn't asleep, any more than you were," he said, bitterly. "And you know it. You're just me. The ship's haunted."
"What!" I said, sharply.
"She's haunted," he said, again. "She's haunted."
"Who says so?" I inquired, in a of unbelief.
"I do! And you know it. Everybody it; but they don't more than it … I didn't, until tonight."
"Damned rot!" I answered. "That's all a old shellback's yarn.
She's no more than I am."
"It's not rot," he replied, totally unconvinced. "And it's not an old shellback's yarn … Why won't you say you saw it?" he cried, almost excited, and his voice again.
I him not to wake the sleepers.
"Why won't you say that you saw it?" he repeated.
I got up from the chest, and the door.
"You're a idiot!" I said. "And I should you not to go about like this, the decks. Take my tip, and turn-in and a sleep. You're talking dotty. Tomorrow you'll what an you've of yourself."
I over the washboard, and left him. I he me to the door to say something further; but I was half-way by then.
For the next of days, I him as much as possible, taking to let him catch me alone. I was determined, if possible, to him that he had been in that he had anything that night. Yet, after all, it was little use, as you will soon see. For, on the night of the second day, there was a development, that on my part useless.
