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           Iunderstandthattheskipper,too,startedravingliketherestofthem.Themanhadbeendeprivedofsleepformorethanaweek,andtohavethissprungonhimattheheightofafuriousgalenearlydrovehimoutofhismind.Iwondertheydidn’tflingmeoverboardaftergettingthecarcassoftheirpreciousshipmateoutofmyfingers.Theyhadratherajobtoseparateus,I’vebeentold.Asufficientlyfiercestorytomakeanoldjudgeandarespectablejurysitupabit.ThefirstthingIheardwhenIcametomyselfwasthemaddeninghowlingofthatendlessgale,andonthatthevoiceoftheoldman.Hewashangingontomybunk,staringintomyfaceoutofhissou’wester.

           “‘Mr.Leggatt,youhavekilledaman.Youcanactnolongeraschiefmateofthisship.’”

           Hiscaretosubduehisvoicemadeitsoundmonotonous.Herestedahandontheendoftheskylighttosteadyhimselfwith,andallthattimedidnotstiralimb,sofarasIcouldsee.“Nicelittletaleforaquietteaparty,”heconcludedinthesametone.

           Oneofmyhands,too,restedontheendoftheskylight;neitherdidIstiralimb,sofarasIknew.Westoodlessthanafootfromeachother.Itoccurredtomethatifold“Blessmysoul—youdon’tsayso”weretoputhisheadupthecompanionandcatchsightofus,hewouldthinkhewasseeingdouble,orimaginehimselfcomeuponasceneofweirdwitchcraft;thestrangecaptainhavingaquietconfabulationbythewheelwithhisowngrayghost.Ibecameverymuchconcernedtopreventanythingofthesort.Iheardtheother’ssoothingundertone.