Out to Sea

           Ihadthisstoryfromonewhohadnobusinesstotellittome,ortoanyother.Imaycredittheseductiveinfluenceofanoldvintageuponthenarratorforthebeginningofit,andmyownskepticalincredulityduringthedaysthatfollowedforthebalanceofthestrangetale.

           Whenmyconvivialhostdiscoveredthathehadtoldmesomuch,andthatIwaspronetodoubtfulness,hisfoolishprideassumedthetasktheoldvintagehadcommenced,andsoheunearthedwrittenevidenceintheformofmustymanuscript,anddryofficialrecordsoftheBritishColonialOfficetosupportmanyofthesalientfeaturesofhisremarkablenarrative.

           Idonotsaythestoryistrue,forIdidnotwitnessthehappeningswhichitportrays,butthefactthatinthetellingofittoyouIhavetakenfictitiousnamesfortheprincipalcharactersquitesufficientlyevidencesthesincerityofmyownbeliefthatitMAYbetrue.

           Theyellow,mildewedpagesofthediaryofamanlongdead,andtherecordsoftheColonialOfficedovetailperfectlywiththenarrativeofmyconvivialhost,andsoIgiveyouthestoryasIpainstakinglypieceditoutfromtheseseveralvariousagencies.

           Ifyoudonotfinditcredibleyouwillatleastbeasonewithmeinacknowledgingthatitisunique,remarkable,andinteresting.