The Man Who Cried for Help
It was, as I have said, on the night that something happened. And it home to me, if not to any of the others, the of a personal aboard.
We had gone for the eight to twelve watch, and my last of the weather at eight o'clock, was that the wind was freshening. There had been a great bank of cloud astern, which had looked as if it were going to up still more.
At a to twelve, when we were called for our twelve to four watch on deck, I tell at once, by the sound, that there was a fresh blowing; at the same time, I the voices of the men on the other watch, out as they on the ropes. I the of in the wind, and that they were taking the off her. I looked at my watch, which I always in my bunk. It the time to be just after the quarter; so that, with luck, we should having to go up to the sails.
I quickly, and then to the door to look at the weather. I that the wind had from the quarter, to right aft; and, by the look of the sky, there to be a promise of more, long.
Up aloft, I make out the and in the wind. The main had been left for a while longer. In the riggings, Jacobs, the Ordinary Seaman in the Mate's watch, was another of the men to the sail. The Mate's two 'prentices were already up at the mizzen. Down on deck, the of the men were up the ropes.
I to my bunk, and looked at my watch—the time was only a minutes off eight bells; so I got my ready, for it looked like rain outside. As I was doing this, Jock to the door for a look.
"What's it doin', Jock?" Tom asked, out of his bunk, hurriedly.
"I'm thinkin' maybe it's goin' to a wee, and ye'll be needin' yer' oilskins," Jock answered.
When eight went, and we for roll-call, there was a delay, to the Mate to call the roll until Tom (who as usual, had only out of his at the last minute) came to answer his name. When, at last, he did come, the Second and the Mate joined in him a good for a lazy sojer; so that minutes passed we were on our way again. This was a small in itself, and yet terrible in its to one of our number; for, just as we the rigging, there was a aloft, loud above the noise of the wind, and the next moment, something into our midst, with a great, thud—something and weighty, that full upon Jock, so that he with a loud, horrible, "ugg," and said a word. From the whole of us there up a of fear, and then, with one accord, there was a for the fo'cas'le. I am not to say that I ran with the rest. A blind, had me, and I did not stop to think.
Once in the fo'cas'le and the light, there was a reaction. We all and looked at one another for a moments. Then someone asked a question, and there was a of denial. We all ashamed, and someone up and the on the port side. I did the same with the one; and there was a quick movement the doors. As we out on deck, I the of the Mates' voices. They had come from off the to out what had happened; but it was too dark to see their whereabouts.
"Where the have you all got to?" I the Mate shout.
The next instant, they must have the light from our lanterns; for I their footsteps, along the at a run. They came the side, and just the rigging, one of them and over something. It was the First Mate who had tripped. I this by the that came directly afterwards. He himself up, and, without stopping to see what manner of thing it was that he had over, a to the pin-rail. The Second Mate ran into the circle of light by our lanterns, and stopped, dead— us doubtfully. I am not at this, now, at the of the Mate, the instant; but at that time, I must say I not what had come to them, particularly the First Mate. He came out at us from the with a and a like a and a belaying-pin. I had failed to take into account the which his must have him:—the whole of men in the fo'cas'le—both watches—pouring out on to the in confusion, and excited, with a of at their head, lanterns. And this, there had been the and the crash on deck, by the of the crew, and the of many running. He may well have taken the for a signal, and our for something not of mutiny. Indeed, his told us that this was his very thought.
"I'll the off the man that comes a step aft!" he shouted, the pin in my face. "I'll who's master here! What the do by this? Get into kennel!"
There was a low from the men at the last remark, and the old a of paces.
"Hold on, you fellows!" I out. "Shut up a minute."
"Mr. Tulipson!" I called out to the Second, who had not been able to a word in edgeways, "I don't know what the devil's the with the First Mate; but he'll not it pay to talk to a like ours, in that of fashion, or there'll be aboard."
"Come! come! Jessop! This won't do! I can't have you talking like that about the Mate!" he said, sharply. "Let me know what's to-do, and then go again, the of you."
"We'd have told you at first, Sir," I said, "only the Mate wouldn't give any of us a to speak. There's been an accident, Sir. Something's from aloft, right on to Jock—"
I stopped suddenly; for there was a loud aloft.
"Help! help! help!" someone was shouting, and then it rose from a into a scream.
"My God! Sir!" I shouted. "That's one of the men up at the royal!"
"Listen!" ordered the Second Mate. "Listen!" Even as he spoke, it came again—broken and, as it were, in gasps.
"Help!… Oh!… God!… Oh!… Help! H-e-l-p!"
Abruptly, Stubbins's voice in.
"Hup with us, lads! By God! with us!" and he a into the rigging. I the of the my teeth, and followed. Plummer was coming; but the Second Mate him back.
"That's sufficient," he said. "I'm going," and he came up after me.
We over the foretop, like fiends. The light from the me from to any in the darkness; but, at the crosstrees, Stubbins, who was some ahead, out all at once, and in gasps:
"They're fightin' … like … hell!"
"What?" called the Second Mate, breathlessly.
Apparently, Stubbins did not him; for he no reply. We the crosstrees, and into the t'gallant rigging. The wind was fresh up there, and overhead, there the flap, of in the wind; but since we had left the deck, there had been no other from above.
Now, abruptly, there came again a wild from the over us. A strange, wild it was of for help, mixed up with violent, curses.
Beneath the yard, Stubbins halted, and looked to me.
"Hurry … with … … Jessop!" he shouted, his the words. "There'll be … done … a minute!"
I him, and the light up for him to catch. He stooped, and took it from me. Then, it above his head, he a higher. In this manner, he to a level with the yard. From my position, a little him, the but to a straggling, along the spar; yet they me something. My had been to wind'ard, and I had at once, that there was nothing on the weather arm. From there my to leeward. Indistinctly, I saw something upon the yard, that clung, struggling. Stubbins it with the light; thus I saw it more clearly. It was Jacobs, the Ordinary Seaman. He had his right arm the yard; with the other, he appeared to be himself from something on the other of him, and out upon the yard. At times, and came from him, and sometimes curses. Once, as he appeared to be from his hold, he like a woman. His whole despair. I can tell you how this me. I to at it without that the was a happening.
During the which I had and breathless, Stubbins had the after of the mast, and now I again to him.
From his position me, the Second had not been able to see the thing that was on the yard, and he out to me to know what was happening.
"It's Jacobs, Sir," I called back. "He to be with someone to of him. I can't see very yet."
Stubbins had got on to the foot-rope, and now he the up, peering, and I my way alongside of him. The Second Mate followed; but of on to the foot-rope, he got on the yard, and there on to the tie. He out for one of us to pass him up the lantern, which I did, Stubbins it to me. The Second it out at arm's length, so that it up the part of the yard. The light through the darkness, as as to where Jacobs so weirdly. Beyond him, nothing was distinct.
There had been a moment's while we were the up to the Second Mate. Now, however, Stubbins and I moved out slowly along the foot-rope. We slowly; but we did well to go at all, with any of boldness; for the whole was so uncanny. It to to you, the on the yard. You may be able to picture it yourselves. The Second Mate upon the spar, the lantern; his with each roll of the ship, and his as he along the yard. On our left, Jacobs, mad, fighting, cursing, praying, gasping; and of him, and the night.
The Second Mate spoke, abruptly.
"Hold on a moment!" he said. Then:
"Jacobs!" he shouted. "Jacobs, do you me?"
There was no reply, only the and cursing.
"Go on," the Second Mate said to us. "But be careful. Keep a tight hold!"
He the higher and we out cautiously.
Stubbins the Ordinary, and put his hand on his shoulder, with a gesture.
"Steady now, Jacobs," he said. "Steady hon."
At his touch, as though by magic, the down, and
Stubbins—reaching him—grasped the on the other side.
"Get a of him your side, Jessop," he out. "I'll this side."
This, I did, and Stubbins him.
"There hain't no one here," Stubbins called to me; but his voice no surprise.
"What!" out the Second Mate. "No one there! Where's Svensen, then?"
I did not catch Stubbins's reply; for suddenly, it to me that I saw something at the end of the yard, out by the lift. I stared. It rose up, on the yard, and I saw that it was the of a man. It at the lift, and to up, quickly. It passed above Stubbins's head, and a hand and arm.
"Look out! Stubbins!" I shouted. "Look out!"
"What's up now?" he called, in a voice. At the same instant, his cap away to leeward.
"Damn the wind!" he out.
Then all at once, Jacobs, who had only been an occasional moan, to and struggle.
"Hold fast onto him!" Stubbins yelled. "He'll be throwin' himself off the yard."
I put my left arm the Ordinary's body—getting of the on the other side. Then I looked up. Above us, I to see something dark and indistinct, that moved up the lift.
"Keep tight of him, while I a gasket," I the Second Mate sing out.
A moment later there was a crash, and the light disappeared.
"Damn and set fire to the sail!" the Second Mate.
I round, somewhat, and looked in his direction. I make him out on the yard. He had been in the act of on to the foot-rope, when the was smashed. From him, my jumped to the rigging. It that I out some thing through the darkness; but I not be sure; and then, in a breath, it had gone.
"Anything wrong, Sir?" I called out.
"Yes," he answered. "I've the lantern. The sail it out of my hand!"
"We'll be all right, Sir," I replied. "I think we can manage without it.
Jacobs to be now."
"Well, be as you come in," he us.
"Come on, Jacobs," I said. "Come on; we'll go on deck."
"Go along, feller," Stubbins put in. "You're right now. We'll take of you." And we started to him along the yard.
He enough, though without saying a word. He like a child. Once or twice he shivered; but said nothing.
We got him in to the rigging. Then, one going him, and the other below, we our way slowly on deck. We very slowly—so slowly, in fact, that the Second Mate—who had a minute to the the of the sail—was almost as soon down.
"Take Jacobs to his bunk," he said, and away to where a of the men, one with a lantern, the door of an empty under the of the on the side.
We to the fo'cas'le. There we all in darkness.
"They're with Jock, and Svenson!" Stubbins had an saying the name.
"Yes," I replied. "That's what it must have been, right enough."
"I of it all time," he said.
I in through the doorway, and a match. Stubbins followed, Jacobs him, and, together, we got him into his bunk. We him up with his blankets, for he was shivery. Then we came out. During the whole time, he had not spoken a word.
As we aft, Stubbins that he the must have him a dotty.
"It's him clean barmy," he on. "He don't a word that's said him."
"He may be different in the morning," I answered.
As we the poop, and the of waiting men, he spoke again:
"They've put 'em Second's berth."
"Yes," I said. "Poor beggars."
We the other men, and they opened out, and allowed us to near the door. Several of them asked in low tones, Jacobs was all right, and I told them, "Yes"; not saying anything then about his condition.
I got close up to the doorway, and looked into the berth. The lamp was lit, and I see, plainly. There were two in the place, and a man had been in each. The Skipper was there, up against a bulkshead. He looked worried; but was silent—seeming to be in his own thoughts. The Second Mate was with a of flags, which he was over the bodies. The First Mate was talking, telling him something; but his was so low that I his only with difficulty. It me that he subdued. I got parts of his in patches, as it were.
"…broken," I him say. "And the Dutchman…."
"I've him," the Second Mate said, shortly.
"Two, off the reel," said the Mate "…three in…."
The Second no reply.
"Of course, know … accident." The First Mate on.
"Is it!" the Second said, in a voice.
I saw the Mate at him, in a of way; but the Second was old Jock's face, and did not appear to notice his look.
"It—it—" the said, and stopped.
After a moment's hesitation, he said something further, that I not catch; but there a of in his voice.
The Second Mate appeared not to have him; at any rate, he no reply; but bent, and out a of the flag over the in the bunk. There was a in his action which me warm him.
"He's white!" I to myself.
Out loud, I said:
"We've put Jacobs into his bunk, Sir."
The Mate jumped; then round, and at me as though I had been a ghost. The Second Mate also; but he speak, the Skipper took a step me.
"Is he all right?" he asked.
"Well, Sir," I said. "He's a queer; but I think it's possible he may be better, after a sleep."
"I so, too," he replied, and out on deck. He the ladder, walking slowly. The Second and by the lamp, and the Mate, after a quick at him, came out and the Skipper up on to the poop. It to me then, like a flash, that the man had upon a of the truth. This accident so soon after that other! It was that, in his mind, he had them. I the of his to the Second Mate. Then, those many minor that had up at different times, and at which he had sneered. I he would to their significance—their beastly, significance.
"Ah! Mr. Bully-Mate," I to myself. "You're in for a time if you've to understand."
Abruptly, my jumped to the us.
"God help us!" I muttered.
The Second Mate, after a look round, the of the lamp, and came out, the door after him.
"Now, you men," he said to the Mate's watch, "get forrard; we can't do anything more. You'd go and some sleep."
"i, i, Sir," they said, in a chorus.
Then, as we all to go forrard, he asked if anyone had the look-out.
"No, sir," answered Quoin.
"Is it yours?" the Second asked.
"Yes, Sir," he replied.
"Hurry up and him then," the Second said.
"i, i, Sir," the man answered, and with the of us.
As we went, I asked Plummer who was at the wheel.
"Tom," he said.
As he spoke, of rain fell, and I up at the sky. It had clouded.
"Looks as if it were going to up," I said.
"Yes," he replied. "We'll be shortenin' 'er 'fore long."
"May be an all-hands job," I remarked.
"Yes," he answered again. "'Twon't be no use their turnin' in, if it is."
The man who was the lantern, into the fo'cas'le, and we followed.
"Where's one, belongin' to our side?" Plummer asked.
"Got hupstairs," answered Stubbins.
"'ow were that?" Plummer inquired.
Stubbins hesitated.
"The Second Mate it," I replied. "The sail it, or something."
The men in the other watch to have no of turning-in; but sat in their bunks, and around on the chests. There was a of pipes, in the of which there came a from one of the in the of the fo'cas'le—a part that was always a gloomy, and was more so now, on account of our having only one lamp.
"Wot's that?" asked one of the men to the other side.
"S—sh!" said Stubbins. "It's him."
"'oo?" Plummer. "Jacobs?"
"Yes," I replied. "Poor devil!"
"Wot were 'appenin' w'en got ther'?" asked the man on the other side, with a of his head, the royal.
Before I reply, Stubbins jumped up from his sea-chest.
"Ther Second Mate's whistlin'!" he said. "Come hon," and he ran out on deck.
Plummer, Jaskett and I quickly. Outside, it had started to rain heavily. As we went, the Second Mate's voice came to us through the darkness.
"Stand by the main and buntlines," I him shout, and the next came the of the sail as he started to away.
In a minutes we had it up.
"Up and it, a of you," he out.
I the rigging; then I hesitated. No one else had moved.
The Second Mate came among us.
"Come on now, lads," he said. "Make a move. It's got to be done."
"I'll go," I said. "If someone else will come."
Still, no one stirred, and no one answered.
Tammy came across to me.
"I'll come," he volunteered, in a voice.
"No, by God, no!" said the Second Mate, abruptly.
He jumped into the main himself. "Come along, Jessop!" he shouted.
I him; but I was astonished. I had him to on to the other fellows' like a of bricks. It had not to me that he was making allowances. I was puzzled then; but it upon me.
No sooner had I the Second Mate, than, straightway, Stubbins,
Plummer, and Jaskett came up after us at a run.
About half-way to the maintop, the Second Mate stopped, and looked down.
"Who's that up you, Jessop?" he asked.
Before I could, speak, Stubbins answered:
"It's me, Sir, an' Plummer an' Jaskett."
"Who the told you to come now? Go down, the of you!"
"We're comin' keep you company, Sir," was his reply.
At that, I was of a of from the Second; and yet, for the second time a of minutes I was wrong. Instead of Stubbins, he, after a moment's pause, on up the rigging, without another word, and the of us followed. We the royal, and work of it; indeed, there were of us to have it. When we had finished, I noticed that the Second Mate on the until we were all in the rigging. Evidently, he had to take a full of any there might be; but I took to keep close to him; so as to be on hand if anything happened; yet we the again, without anything having occurred. I have said, without anything having occurred; but I am not in this; for, as the Second Mate came over the crosstrees, he gave a short, cry.
"Anything wrong, Sir?" I asked.
"No—o!" he said. "Nothing! I my knee."
And yet now, I he was lying. For, that same watch, I was to men just such cries; but, God knows, they had enough.
