The Wreck

           DickSand’scrybroughtallthecrewtotheirfeet.Themenwhowerenotonwatchcameondeck.CaptainHull,leavinghiscabin,wenttowardthebow.

           Mrs.Weldon,Nan,eventheindifferentCousinBenedicthimself,cametoleanoverthestarboardrail,soastoseethewrecksignaledbytheyoungnovice.

           Negoro,alone,didnotleavethecabin,whichservedhimforakitchen;andasusual,ofallthecrew,hewastheonlyonewhomtheencounterwithawreckdidnotappeartointerest.

           Thenallregardedattentivelythefloatingobjectwhichthewaveswererocking,threemilesfromthe"Pilgrim."

           "Ah!whatcanthatbe?"saidasailor.

           "Someabandonedraft,"repliedanother.

           "Perhapstherearesomeunhappyshipwreckedonesonthatraft,"said

           Mrs.Weldon.

           "Weshallfindout,"repliedCaptainHull."Butthatwreckisnotaraft.Itisahullthrownoverontheside."

           "Ah!isitnotmorelikelytobesomemarineanimal—somemammiferofgreatsize?"observedCousinBenedict.

           "Idonotthinkso,"repliedthenovice.

           "Thenwhatisyouridea,Dick?"askedMrs.Weldon.

           "Anoverturnedhull,asthecaptainhassaid,Mrs.Weldon.ItevenseemstomethatIseeitscopperkeelglisteninginthesun."

           "Yes—indeed,"repliedCaptainHull.Thenaddressingthehelmsman:"Steertothewindward,Bolton.Lethergoaquarter,soastocomealongsidethewreck."

           "Yes,sir,"repliedthehelmsman.

           "But,"continuedCousinBenedict,"IkeeptowhatIhavesaid.

           Positivelyitisananimal."