The Strange Face.

           Weleftthecabinandfoundamanatthecompanionobstructingourway.Hewasstandingontheladderwithhisbacktous,peeringoverthecombingofthehatchway.Hewas,Icouldsee,amisshapenman,short,broad,andclumsy,withacrookedback,ahairyneck,andaheadsunkbetweenhisshoulders.Hewasdressedindark-blueserge,andhadpeculiarlythick,coarse,blackhair.Iheardtheunseendogsgrowlfuriously,andforthwithheduckedback,—comingintocontactwiththehandIputouttofendhimofffrommyself.Heturnedwithanimalswiftness.

           Insomeindefinablewaytheblackfacethusflasheduponmeshockedmeprofoundly.Itwasasingularlydeformedone.Thefacialpartprojected,formingsomethingdimlysuggestiveofamuzzle,andthehugehalf-openmouthshowedasbigwhiteteethasIhadeverseeninahumanmouth.Hiseyeswereblood-shotattheedges,withscarcelyarimofwhiteroundthehazelpupils.Therewasacuriousglowofexcitementinhisface.

           "Confoundyou!"saidMontgomery."Whythedevildon’tyougetoutoftheway?"

           Theblack-facedmanstartedasidewithoutaword.Iwentonupthecompanion,staringathiminstinctivelyasIdidso.Montgomerystayedatthefootforamoment."Youhavenobusinesshere,youknow,"hesaidinadeliberatetone."Yourplaceisforward."

           Theblack-facedmancowered."They—won’thavemeforward."Hespokeslowly,withaqueer,hoarsequalityinhisvoice.