The Search for Stubbins

In a way, I was that the Skipper and the Mates were among us, trying to us into some of calmness. Eventually they succeeded, and we were told to go to the Saloon door, which we did in a body. Here, the Skipper himself out a large of to each of us. Then, at his orders, the Second Mate called the roll.

He called over the Mate's watch first, and answered. Then he came to ours, and he must have been much agitated; for the name he out was Jock's.

Among us there came a moment of silence, and I noticed the and of the wind aloft, and the flap, of the three t'gallan's'ls.

The Second Mate called the next name, hurriedly:

"Jaskett," he out.

"Sir," Jaskett answered.

"Quoin."

"Yes, Sir."

"Jessop."

"Sir," I replied.

"Stubbins."

There was no answer.

"Stubbins," again called the Second Mate.

Again there was no reply.

"Is Stubbins here?—anyone!" The Second's voice and anxious.

There was a moment's pause. Then one of the men spoke:

"He's not here, Sir."

"Who saw him last?" the Second asked.

Plummer into the light that through the Saloon doorway. He had on neither cap, and his shirt to be about him in tatters.

"It were me, Sir," he said.

The Old Man, who was next to the Second Mate, took a him, and stopped and stared; but it was the Second who spoke.

"Where?" he asked.

"'e were just above me, in crosstrees, when, when—" the man off short.

"Yes! yes!" the Second Mate replied. Then he to the Skipper.

"Someone will have to go up, Sir, and see—" He hesitated.

"But—" said the Old Man, and stopped.

The Second Mate cut in.

"I shall go up, for one, Sir," he said, quietly.

Then he to the of us.

"Tammy," he out. "Get a of out of the lamp-locker."

"i, i, Sir," Tammy replied, and ran off.

"Now," said the Second Mate, us. "I want a of men to jump along with me and take a look for Stubbins."

Not a man replied. I would have liked to step out and offer; but the memory of that was with me, and for the life of me, I not up the courage.

"Come! come, men!" he said. "We can't him up there. We shall take lanterns. Who'll come now?"

I walked out to the front. I was in a funk; but, for very shame, I not any longer.

"I'll come with you, Sir," I said, not very loud, and up with nervousness.

"That's more the tune, Jessop!" he replied, in a that me glad

I had out.

At this point, Tammy came up, with the lights. He them to the

Second, who took one, and told him to give the other to me. The Second

Mate his light above his head, and looked at the hesitating

men.

"Now, men!" he out. "You're not going to let Jessop and me go up alone. Come along, another one or two of you! Don't act like a of cowards!"

Quoin out, and spoke for the crowd.

"I as we're actin' like cowyards, Sir; but just look at 'im," and he pointed at Plummer, who still full in the light from the Saloon doorway.

"What of a Thing is it 'as done that, Sir?" he on. "An' then us go up agen! It aren't likely as we're in a 'urry."

The Second Mate looked at Plummer, and surely, as I have mentioned, the was in a state; his ripped-up shirt was in the that came through the doorway.

The Second looked; yet he said nothing. It was as though the of Plummer's condition had left him without a word more to say. It was Plummer himself who the silence.

"I'll come with yer, Sir," he said. "Only ought 'ave more light than them two lanterns. 'Twon't be no use, unless we 'as er light."

The man had grit; and I was at his to go, after what he must have gone through. Yet, I was to have a astonishment; for, abruptly, The Skipper—who all this time had spoken—stepped a pace, and put his hand on the Second Mate's shoulder.

"I'll come with you, Mr. Tulipson," he said.

The Second Mate his round, and at him a moment, in astonishment. Then he opened his mouth.

"No, Sir; I don't think—" he began.

"That's sufficient, Mr. Tulipson," the Old Man interrupted. "I've up my mind."

He to the First Mate, who had by without a word.

"Mr. Grainge," he said. "Take a of the 'prentices with you, and pass out a box of blue-lights and some flare-ups."

The Mate answered something, and away into the Saloon, with the two 'prentices in his watch. Then the Old Man spoke to the men.

"Now, men!" he began. "This is no time for dilly-dallying. The Second Mate and I will go aloft, and I want about a dozen of you to come along with us, and lights. Plummer and Jessop here, have volunteered. I want four or five more of you. Step out now, some of you!"

There was no whatever, now; and the man to come was Quoin. After him three of the Mate's crowd, and then old Jaskett.

"That will do; that will do," said the Old Man.

He to the Second Mate.

"Has Mr. Grainge come with those lights yet?" he asked, with a irritability.

"Here, Sir," said the First Mate's voice, him in the Saloon doorway. He had the box of blue-lights in his hands, and him, came the two boys the flares.

The Skipper took the box from him, with a quick gesture, and opened it.

"Now, one of you men, come here," he ordered.

One of the men in the Mate's watch ran to him.

He took of the lights from the box, and them to the man.

"See here," he said. "When we go aloft, you into the foretop, and keep one of these going all the time, do you hear?"

"Yes, Sir," the man.

"You know how to them?" the Skipper asked, abruptly.

"Yes, Sir," he answered.

The Skipper out to the Second Mate:

"Where's that boy of yours—Tammy, Mr. Tulipson?"

"Here, Sir," said Tammy, for himself.

The Old Man took another light from the box.

"Listen to me, boy!" he said. "Take this, and stand-by on the house. When we go aloft, you must give us a light until the man his going in the top. You understand?"

"Yes, Sir," answered Tammy, and took the light.

"One minute!" said the Old Man, and and took a second light from the box. "Your light may go out we're ready. You'd have another, in case it does."

Tammy took the second light, and moved away.

"Those all for there, Mr. Grainge?" the Captain asked.

"All ready, Sir," the Mate.

The Old Man pushed one of the blue-lights into his pocket, and upright.

"Very well," he said. "Give each of the men one apiece. And just see that they all have matches."

He spoke to the men particularly:

"As soon as we are ready, the other two men in the Mate's watch will up into the cranelines, and keep their going there. Take your with you. When we the upper topsail, Quoin and Jaskett will out on the yard-arms, and their there. Be to keep your lights away from the sails. Plummer and Jessop will come up with the Second Mate and myself. Does every man understand?"

"Yes, Sir," said the men in a chorus.

A idea to to the Skipper, and he turned, and through the into the Saloon. In about a minute, he came back, and something to the Second Mate, that in the light from the lanterns. I saw that it was a revolver, and he another in his other hand, and this I saw him put into his pocket.

The Second Mate the pistol a moment, looking a doubtful.

"I don't think, Sir—" he began. But the Skipper cut him short.

"You don't know!" he said. "Put it in your pocket."

Then he to the First Mate.

"You will take of the deck, Mr. Grainge, while we're aloft," he said.

"i, i, Sir," the Mate answered and out to one of his 'prentices to take the blue-light box into the cabin.

The Old Man and the way forrard. As we went, the light from the two upon the decks, the of the t'gallant gear. The were of one another in a regular "bunch o' buffers[1]." This had been caused, I suppose, by the over them in their excitement, when they the deck. And then, suddenly, as though the had me up to a more comprehension, you know, it came to me new and fresh, how was the whole business… I got a little touch of despair, and asked myself what was going to be the end of all these happenings. You can understand?

[Footnote 1: Modified from the original.]

Abruptly, I the Skipper shouting, away forward. He was out to Tammy to up on to the house with his blue-light. We the rigging, and, the same instant, the strange, of Tammy's blue-light out into the night every rope, sail, and to jump out weirdly.

I saw now that the Second Mate was already in the rigging, with his lantern. He was to Tammy to keep the from his light clear of the staysail, which was upon the house. Then, from on the port side, I the Skipper to us to hurry.

"Smartly now, you men," he was saying. "Smartly now."

The man who had been told to take up a station in the fore-top, was just the Second Mate. Plummer was a of lower.

I the Old Man's voice again.

"Where's Jessop with that other lantern?" I him shout.

"Here, Sir," I out.

"Bring it over this side," he ordered. "You don't want the two on one side."

I ran the of the house. Then I saw him. He was in the rigging, and making his way aloft. One of the Mate's watch and Quoin were with him. This, I saw as I came the house. Then I a jump, the sheerpole, and myself up on to the rail. And then, all at once, Tammy's blue-light out, and there came, what by contrast, darkness. I where I was—one on the rail and my upon the sheerpole. The light from my no more than a yellow against the gloom, and higher, some or fifty feet, and a the on the side, there was another of in the night. Apart from these, all was blackness. And then from above—high above—there through the a weird, cry. What it was, I do not know; but it horrible.

The Skipper's voice came down, jerkily.

"Smartly with that light, boy!" he shouted. And the out again, almost he had speaking.

I up at the Skipper. He was where I had him the light out, and so were the two men. As I looked, he to climb again. I across to starboard. Jaskett, and the other man in the Mate's watch, were about the of the house and the foretop. Their in the of the blue-light. Higher, I saw the Second Mate in the rigging, his light up over the of the top. Then he further, and disappeared. The man with the blue-lights followed, and also from view. On the port side, and more directly above me, the Skipper's were just out of the shrouds. At that I to follow.

Then, suddenly, when I was close under the top, there came from above me the of a blue-light, and almost in the same instant, Tammy's out.

I at the decks. They were with flickering, by the light above. A group of the men by the port door—their and and under the of the light.

Then I was in the rigging, and a moment afterwards, in the top, the Old Man. He was to the men who had gone out on the craneline. It that the man on the port was bungling; but at last—nearly a minute after the other man had his flare—he got going. In that time, the man in the top had his second blue-light, and we were to into the rigging. First, however, the Skipper over the of the top, and out to the First Mate to send a man up on to the fo'cas'le with a flare. The Mate replied, and then we started again, the Old Man leading.

Fortunately, the rain had ceased, and there to be no in the wind; indeed, if anything, there appeared to be less; yet what there was the of the flare-ups out into occasional, of fire at least a long.

About half-way up the rigging, the Second Mate out to the Skipper, to know Plummer should light his flare; but the Old Man said he had wait until we the crosstrees, as then he out away from the to where there would be less of setting fire to anything.

We the crosstrees, and the Old Man stopped and out to me to pass him the by Quoin. A more, and he and the Second Mate stopped almost simultaneously, their as high as possible, and up into the darkness.

"See any of him, Mr. Tulipson?" the Old Man asked.

"No, Sir," the Second. "Not a sign."

He his voice.

"Stubbins," he out. "Stubbins, are you there?"

We listened; but nothing came to us the of the wind, and the flap, of the t'gallant above.

The Second Mate over the crosstrees, and Plummer followed. The man got out by the backstay, and his flare. By its light we see, plainly; but there was no of Stubbins, so as the light went.

"Get out on to the yard-arms with those flares, you two men," the Skipper. "Be now! Keep them away from the sail!"

The men got on to the foot-ropes—Quoin on the port, and Jaskett on the side. By the light from Plummer's flare, I see them clearly, as they out upon the yard. It to me that they gingerly—which is no thing. And then, as they near to the yard-arms, they passed the of the light; so that I not see them clearly. A passed, and then the light from Quoin's out upon the wind; yet nearly a minute by, and there was no of Jaskett's.

Then out from the semi-darkness at the yard-arm, there came a from Jaskett, almost by a noise of something vibrating.

"What's up?" the Second Mate. "What's up, Jaskett?"

"It's foot-rope, Sir-r-r!" he out the last word into a of gasp.

The Second Mate quickly, with the lantern. I the after of the top-mast, and looked.

"What is the matter, Mr. Tulipson?" I the Old Man out.

Out on the yard-arm, Jaskett to for help, and then, all at once, in the light from the Second Mate's lantern, I saw that the foot-rope on the upper was being shaken—savagely shaken, is a word. And then, almost in the same instant, the Second Mate the from his right to his left hand. He put the right into his pocket and out his gun with a jerk. He his hand and arm, as though pointing at something a little the yard. Then a quick out across the shadows, by a sharp, crack. In the same moment, I saw that the foot-rope to shake.

"Light your flare! Light your flare, Jaskett!" the Second shouted. "Be now!"

Out at the yard-arm there came a of a match, and then, straightaway, a great of fire as the took light.

"That's better, Jaskett. You're all right now!" the Second Mate called out to him.

"What was it, Mr. Tulipson?" I the Skipper ask.

I looked up, and saw that he had across to where the Second Mate was standing. The Second Mate to him; but he did not speak loud for me to catch what he said.

I had been by Jaskett's attitude, when the light of his had him. He had been with his right over the yard, and his left leg it and the foot-rope, while his had been over the for support, as he was the flare. Now, however, he had on to the foot-rope, and was on his belly, over the yard, with the a little the of the sail. It was thus, with the light being on the of the sail, that I saw a small a little the foot-rope, through which a of the light shone. It was the which the from the Second Mate's had in the sail.

Then I the Old Man to Jaskett.

"Be with that there!" he out. "You'll be having that sail scorched!"

He left the Second Mate, and came on to the port of the mast.

To my right, Plummer's to be dwindling. I up at his through the smoke. He was paying no attention to it; instead, he was up above his head.

"Shove some on to it, Plummer," I called to him. "It'll be out in a minute."

He looked to the light, and did as I suggested. Then he it out at arm's length, and up again into the darkness.

"See anything?" asked the Old Man, his attitude.

Plummer at him, with a start.

"It's r'yal, Sir," he explained. "It's all adrift."

"What!" said the Old Man.

He was a up the t'gallant rigging, and he his to a look.

"Mr. Tulipson!" he shouted. "Do you know that the royal's all adrift?"

"No, Sir," answered the Second Mate. "If it is, it's more of this work!"

"It's right enough," said the Skipper, and he and the Second a higher, level with one another.

I had now got above the crosstrees, and was just at the Old Man's heels.

Suddenly, he out:

"There he is!—Stubbins! Stubbins!"

"Where, Sir?" asked the Second, eagerly. "I can't see him!"

"There! there!" the Skipper, pointing.

I out from the rigging, and looked up along his back, in the direction his indicated. At first, I see nothing; then, slowly, you know, there upon my a upon the of the royal, and by the mast. I stared, and it came to me that there was a of them, and out upon the yard, a that might have been anything, and was only visible the of the canvas.

"Stubbins!" the Skipper out. "Stubbins, come out of that! Do you me?"

But no one came, and there was no answer.

"There's two—" I began; but he was again:

"Come out of that! Do you well me?"

Still there was no reply.

"I'm if I can see him at all, Sir!" the Second Mate called out from his of the mast.

"Can't see him!" said the Old Man, now angry. "I'll soon let you see him!"

He to me with the lantern.

"Catch hold, Jessop," he said, which I did.

Then he the light from his pocket, and as he was doing so, I saw the Second the of the at him. Evidently, in the light, he must have the Skipper's action; for, all at once, he out in a voice:

"Don't shoot, Sir! For God's sake, don't shoot!"

"Shoot be damned!" the Old Man. "Watch!"

He off the cap of the light.

"There's two of them, Sir," I called again to him.

"What!" he said in a loud voice, and at the same he the end of the light across the cap, and it into fire.

He it up so that it the like day, and straightway, a of from the on to the t'gallant yard. At the same moment, the Something, out upon the yard, rose up. It ran in to the mast, and I of it.

"God!" I the Skipper gasp, and he in his pocket.

I saw the two which had on to the t'gallant, along the yard—one to the and the other to the port yard-arms.

On the other of the mast, the Second Mate's pistol out twice, sharply. Then, from over my the Skipper twice, and then again; but with what effect, I not tell. Abruptly, as he his last shot, I was aware of an Something, the backstay. It was full upon Plummer, who, all of the thing, was the t'gallant yard.

"Look out above you, Plummer!" I almost shrieked.

"What? where?" he called, and at the stay, and his flare, excitedly.

Down on the upper yard, Quoin's and Jaskett's voices rose simultaneously, and in the instant, their out. Then Plummer shouted, and his light utterly. There were left only the two lanterns, and the blue-light by the Skipper, and that, a afterwards, and died out.

The Skipper and the Second Mate were to the men upon the yard, and I them answer, in voices. Out on the crosstrees, I see, by the light from my lantern, that Plummer was in a fashion to the backstay.

"Are you all right, Plummer?" I called.

"Yes," he said, after a little pause; and then he swore.

"Come in off that yard, you men!" the Skipper was out. "Come in! come in!"

Down on deck, I someone calling; but not the words. Above me, pistol in hand, the Skipper was about, uneasily.

"Hold up that light, Jessop," he said. "I can't see!"

Below us, the men got off the yard, into the rigging.

"Down on with you!" ordered the Old Man.

"As as you can!"

"Come in off there, Plummer!" out the Second Mate. "Get with the others!"

"Down with you, Jessop!" said the Skipper, speaking rapidly. "Down with you!"

I got over the crosstrees, and he followed. On the other side, the Second Mate was level with us. He had passed his to Plummer, and I the of his in his right hand. In this fashion, we the top. The man who had been there with the blue-lights, had gone. Afterwards, I that he on as soon as they were finished. There was no of the man with the on the craneline. He also, I learnt later, had one of the on to the deck, only a very while we the top. He that a great black of a man had come upon him from aloft. When I that, I the thing I had upon Plummer. Yet the man who had gone out upon the port craneline—the one who had with the of his flare—was still where we had left him; though his light was now but dimly.

"Come in out of that, you!" the Old Man out "Smartly now, and on deck!"

"i, i, Sir," the man replied, and started to make his way in.

The Skipper waited until he had got into the main rigging, and then he told me to out of the top. He was in the act of following, when, all at once, there rose a loud on deck, and then came the of a man screaming.

"Get out of my way, Jessop!" the Skipper roared, and himself alongside of me.

I the Second Mate something from the rigging. Then we were all as hard as we go. I had a of a man from the on the port of the fo'cas'le. In less than a minute we were upon the deck, and among a of the men who were something. Yet, enough, they were not looking at the thing among them; but away at something in the darkness.