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Updated: June 11, 2025
A dim lantern swayed to and fro, through the murk we could make out a dozen bunks. "They call this the fo'cas'le," said Yank placidly. "Crew sleeps here. This is our happy home. Everything else full up. We four," said he, with a little flash of triumph, "are just about the only galoots of the whole b'iling at Panama that gets passage.
I see a change for the worse even in our own town here; full of loafers now, small and poor as 'tis, who once would have followed the sea, every lazy soul of 'em. There is no occupation so fit for just that class o' men who never get beyond the fo'cas'le.
Tammy, you go into your place and see if the other fellows are in their bunks. Then come and tell me. Smartly now!" The boy went, and he turned to the other 'prentice. "You get along forrard to the fo'cas'le," he said. "Count the other watch; then come aft and report to me."
He came out at us from the darkness with a rush and a roar like a bull and brandishing a belaying-pin. I had failed to take into account the scene which his eyes must have shown him: the whole crowd of men in the fo'cas'le both watches pouring out on to the deck in utter confusion, and greatly excited, with a couple of fellows at their head, carrying lanterns.
Then, all at once, I heard steps coming along the deck, forrard, and the 'prentice, whose time-keeping it was, came up on to the fo'cas'le head. "The Second Mate says he can't see any light Jessop," he said, coming over to where I stood. "Whereabouts is it?" "I don't know," I answered. "I've lost sight of it myself. It was a green light, about a couple of points on the port bow.
"Are you bringing that gantline?" he sang out. "Yes, Sir," I heard one of the men answer. A moment later, I saw the man's head appear over the top. He had the tail-block slung round his neck, and the end of the gantline over his shoulder. Very soon we had the gantline rigged, and Tom down on deck. Then we took him into the fo'cas'le and put him in his bunk.
In the same moment there came the shrill blast of the Second's whistle; he was whistling for the watch, and I turned and ran to the fo'cas'le to rouse them out. Another minute, and I was hurrying aft with them to see what was wanted. His voice met us half-way: "Up the main some of you, smartly now, and find out who that damned fool is up there. See what mischief he's up to."
Most of the other fellows gave her a good name, and there was a pretty general opinion growing among the crowd, that it was all a silly yarn about her being haunted. And then, just when I was settling down to things, something happened that opened my eyes no end. It was in the eight to twelve watch, and I was sitting on the steps, on the starboard side, leading up to the fo'cas'le head.
The visitor in the fo'cas'le exhibited a neat row of teeth and no resentment whatever at Jim's remark, But a sharp glitter shot from his eyes as he replied suavely: "Monsieur has doubtless mistaken this ship, and probably its master also, for some other less worthy adventurer on the sea. For that very reason I have come to set you right. It may be that I have my quixotic moments.
Yer'll be all right in ther mornin'. Don't yer worry 'bout me." His tone was sympathetic. "Hell!" was all I said, and walked down off the fo'cas'le head. I wondered whether the old fellow thought I was going silly. "Have a sleep, by Jove!" I muttered to myself. "I wonder who'd feel like having a sleep after what I've seen and stood today!"
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