Таємний спільник
I
Iwasvexedwithmyself.
Notfromcompunctioncertainly,but,asitweremechanically,Iproceededtogettheladderinmyself.Nowasideladderofthatsortisalightaffairandcomesineasily,yetmyvigoroustug,whichshouldhavebroughtitflyingonboard,merelyrecoileduponmybodyinatotallyunexpectedjerk.Whatthedevil!...IwassoastoundedbytheimmovablenessofthatladderthatIremainedstock-still,tryingtoaccountforittomyselflikethatimbecilemateofmine.Intheend,ofcourse,Iputmyheadovertherail.
Thesideoftheshipmadeanopaquebeltofshadowonthedarklingglassyshimmerofthesea.ButIsawatoncesomethingelongatedandpalefloatingveryclosetotheladder.BeforeIcouldformaguessafaintflashofphosphorescentlight,whichseemedtoissuesuddenlyfromthenakedbodyofaman,flickeredinthesleepingwaterwiththeelusive,silentplayofsummerlightninginanightsky.WithagaspIsawrevealedtomystareapairoffeet,thelonglegs,abroadlividbackimmersedrightuptotheneckinagreenishcadaverousglow.Onehand,awash,clutchedthebottomrungoftheladder.Hewascompletebutforthehead.Aheadlesscorpse!Thecigardroppedoutofmygapingmouthwithatinyplopandashorthissquiteaudibleintheabsolutestillnessofallthingsunderheaven.AtthatIsupposeheraiseduphisface,adimlypaleovalintheshadowoftheship’sside.ButeventhenIcouldonlybarelymakeoutdowntheretheshapeofhisblack-hairedhead.However,itwasenoughforthehorrid,frost-boundsensationwhichhadgrippedmeaboutthechesttopassoff.
