The Ghost Pirates

Man to t

l moody and shaken, and I know I, for one, w

f the Second's whistle. Then

man to th

eve ther wheel," said Quoin, who had gone to the

up and knocking out his pipe. "Must be close

st on which I had been sitting. "I'll go along. It's my wh

the fo'cas'le. Reaching the poop, I met

el?" I asked him,

voice. "He's waiting to be relieved. I'll tel

aft to t

?" the Seco

op, Sir,"

though what he was saying, I could not possibly hear. For my part, I was tremendously curious to know why the Second Mate had taken the wheel. I knew that if it were just a matte

and, stooping down, peered under the wheel-box; but never addressed a word to me. Sometime later, he went down th

" he said, gasping w

?" I

hen he leant across the whee

of the sea," he added, with an air

nctness. I felt suddenly husky. "My God!" I thought. And then I made a silly

tow all that! It's no good. I must have

ance. Indeed, really, I had known it all along, and a

listen; but you'd bet

he may pop up

ing, and I saw him peering

ore you're half-way through. What was he doing at the wheel w

turning his face towards m

for?"

whole business. You know the Second Mate sent me to

," I

of the poop, and I was here all by myself. I felt as if I were frozen stiff. When it came towards me, I let go of the wheel, and yelled and bunked forrard to the Second Mate. He caught hold of me and shook me; but I was so jolly frightened, I couldn't say a word. I could only keep on pointing. The Second kept asking me 'Where?' And then, all at once, I fou

you imagine you saw something?" I said, more to gain a mom

ou did last time. I nearly went cracked with wanting to tell someone who would listen to me, and wouldn't laugh. I could stand anything, but this being alone. There's a good chap, don't pretend you don't understand. Tell me wha

. For the moment, I

kid, Jessop!" he exclai

e to tell him everything. "I need someo

out. "Are they real? I always used to th

s you are. And I don't know whether they're real-that is, not as we consider things real. You don't k

this one?" he

I ans

g certain that I had seen it and then you being so jolly positive that there had been nothing. At one time I thought I was going clean of

would think you'd been mistaken," I said. "I wanted you to thi

new about that other thi

" I r

nt of you," he said. "B

moment. Then

liams. Do you think he s

e to say. It may have been only an accident."

bout his pay-day? Who

day out of her. You know, he stayed in her, on purpose, when all the othe

nk they saw something, and got scared? It's quite possible. You know, we only joined her in 'Frisco. S

rd Williams say, I'm pretty certain, he for one, guess

y, solemnly. "We'll never be a

was silent. Then he we

ever happen in t

ueer. Some of his side have been talking about them. But he's too jolly pig-he

happen more in our watch than in his-

roof, you k

is head, d

ys funk going

im. "It may only hav

"You know you don'

t then; for I knew very

t for a coupl

e spok

ship h

stant I h

"I don't think she is.

way,

d the next. Of course, it's as likely to be all wrong; but it's the only thi

with an impatient,

o hurt us. I scarcely know how to put it; but, if I'm right in wh

a puzzled voice. "Do you mean tha

d you I didn't. Wait until I've

ght!" h

" I went on. "You say it came over

he an

ame up out of the sea, an

id; and then:

, the Lord knows what's in the sea. Though we don't want to go imagining silly things, of course. And then, again, you know, it seems fat-headed, calling anything sil

ve? Besides, that first one I saw, I thought I could see through it. And

essarily

y're not," he insiste

not saying they are flesh and blood; though, at the same time, I'm

me from?" he aske

I told him. "You

ave them coming aboard?" he sai

seems cracky-I think I can, ac

e inquir

hink that all the things of the material world are barred, as it were, from the immaterial; but that in some cases the barrier may be broken down

hat?" he asked, in a re

ose, inside of me, I don't believe it's anything of the kind, for a minute. I'm not built that way. And yet I don't know! Perhaps, there

al then, they're spi

hink, you know. I've got a queer idea, that my head-piece li

n!" h

e the earth were inhabi

and they're

n!" h

apable of appreciating the realness of the other? But they may be

e said.

terial to them, as it has to us; but neither of us could appreciate the other's realness, or the quality

e said.

ything. And the same with them; but the more we're like this, the more real and actual they could grow to us. See? That

hink they're ghosts, or someth

't think they're our ideas of flesh and blood. But, of course, it's silly

he said. "If it's really as you say, the ship ought

" I replied. "Even if he believed it a

believe it, he might explain the whole business to the Skipp

ed at again," I sai

"Not after what's

came back on to the poop, and Tammy cleared away from the wheel-bo