The Shadow in the Sea
When eight went, at four o'clock, and the other watch came on to us, it had been for some time. Before we below, the Second Mate had the three t'gallants set; and now that it was light, we were to have a look aloft, up the fore; and Tom, who had been up to the gear, was questioned a lot, when he came down, as to there were any of anything up there. But he told us there was nothing to be seen.
At eight o'clock, when we came on for the eight to twelve watch, I saw the Sailmaker along the deck, from the Second Mate's old berth. He had his in his hand, and I he had been the in there, for their outfit. From time until near noon, he worked, out three from some old sailcloth. Then, with the of the Second Mate and one of the hands, he out the three on to the after hatch, and there them up, with a of at their feet. He was just when eight went, and I the Old Man tell the Second Mate to call all hands for the burial. This was done, and one of the unshipped.
We had no big enough, so they had to off one of the hatches, and use it instead. The wind had died away the morning, and the sea was almost a calm—the ship so to an occasional heave. The only that on the ear were the soft, slow and occasional of the sails, and the and creak, of the and at the movements of the vessel. And it was in this half-quietness that the Skipper read the service.
They had put the Dutchman upon the (I tell him by his stumpiness), and when at last the Old Man gave the signal, the Second Mate his end, and he off, and into the dark.
"Poor old Dutchie," I one of the men say, and I we all a like that.
Then they Jacobs on to the hatch, and when he had gone, Jock. When Jock was lifted, a of ran through the crowd. He had been a in a way, and I know I felt, all at once, just a queer. I was by the rail, upon the after bollard, and Tammy was next to me; while Plummer a little behind. As the Second Mate the for the last time, a little, from the men:
"S'long, Jock! So long, Jock!"
And then, at the plunge, they to the to see the last of him as he downwards. Even the Second Mate was not able to this feeling, and he, too, over. From where I had been standing, I had been able to see the take the water, and now, for a of seconds, I saw the white of the canvas, by the of the water, and in the depth. Abruptly, as I stared, it disappeared—too abruptly, it to me.
"Gone!" I voices say, and then our watch to go slowly forrard, while one or two of the other, started to replace the hatch.
Tammy pointed, and me.
"See, Jessop," he said. "What is it?"
"What?" I asked.
"That shadow," he replied. "Look!"
And then I saw what he meant. It was something big and shadowy, that appeared to be clearer. It the exact place—so it to me—in which Jock had disappeared.
"Look at it!" said Tammy, again. "It's bigger!"
He was excited, and so was I.
I was down. The thing to be out of the depths. It was taking shape. As I what the shape was, a queer, cold took me.
"See," said Tammy. "It's just like the of a ship!"
And it was. The of a ship out of the our keel. Plummer, who had not yet gone forrard, Tammy's last remark, and over.
"What's 'e mean?" he asked.
"That!" Tammy, and pointed.
I my into his ribs; but it was too late. Plummer had seen.
Curiously enough, though, he to think nothing of it.
"That ain't nothin', 'cept er ship," he said.
Tammy, after my hint, let it go at that. But when Plummer had gone with the others, I told him not to go telling the decks, like that.
"We've got to be careful!" I remarked. "You know what the Old
Man said, last watch!"
"Yes," said Tammy. "I wasn't thinking; I'll be next time."
A little way from me the Second Mate was still into the water. I turned, and spoke to him.
"What do you make it out to be, Sir?" I asked.
"God knows!" he said, with a quick to see any of the men were about.
He got from the rail, and to go up on to the poop. At the top of the ladder, he over the break.
"You may as well ship that gangway, you two," he told us. "And mind,
Jessop, keep your mouth about this."
"i, i, Sir," I answered.
"And you too, youngster!" he added and along the poop.
Tammy and I were with the when the Second came back. He had the Skipper.
"Right under the gangway, Sir" I the Second say, and he pointed into the water.
For a little while, the Old Man stared. Then I him speak.
"I don't see anything," he said.
At that, the Second Mate more and down. So did I; but the thing, it was, had gone completely.
"It's gone, Sir," said the Second. "It was there right when I came for you."
About a minute later, having the gangway, I was going forrard, when the Second's voice called me back
"Tell the Captain what it was you saw just now," he said, in a low voice.
"I can't say exactly, Sir," I replied. "But it to me like the of a ship, up through the water."
"There, Sir," the Second Mate to the Old Man. "Just what I told you."
The Skipper at me.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir," I answered. "Tammy saw it, too."
I waited a minute. Then they to go aft. The Second was saying something.
"Can I go, Sir?" I asked.
"Yes, that will do, Jessop," he said, over his shoulder. But the Old Man came to the break, and spoke to me.
"Remember, not a word of this forrard!" he said.
"No Sir," I replied, and he to the Second Mate; while I walked to the fo'cas'le to something to eat.
"Your whack's in the kettle, Jessop," said Tom, as I in over the washboard. "An' I got your lime-juice in a pannikin."
"Thanks," I said, and sat down.
As I away my grub, I took no notice of the of the others. I was too with my own thoughts. That of a rising, you know, out of the deeps, had me tremendously. It had not been imagination. Three of us had it—really four; for Plummer saw it; though he failed to it as anything extraordinary.
As you can understand, I a about this of a vessel. But, I am sure, for a time, my ideas must just have gone in an everlasting, circle. And then I got another thought; for I got of the I had in the early morning; and I to fresh things. You see, that thing that had come up over the side, had come out of the sea. And it had gone back. And now there was this vessel-thing—ghost-ship I called it. It was a good name, too. And the dark, noiseless men … I a on these lines. Unconsciously, I put a question to myself, aloud:
"Were they the crew?"
"Eh?" said Jaskett, who was on the next chest.
I took of myself, as it were, and at him, in an careless manner.
"Did I speak?" I asked.
"Yes, mate," he replied, me, curiously. "Yer said sumthin' about a crew."
"I must have been dreaming," I said; and rose up to put away my plate.
