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Updated: May 8, 2025
It may have been nothing more than an imagined sensation; yet I am inclined to think otherwise; for, instantly, the hold about my waist was released; and I commenced to scramble down, clutching the shrouds pretty desperately. I have only a very uncertain remembrance of that which followed. Whether I slid over Jaskett, or whether he gave way to me, I cannot tell.
He paused, as though trying to grasp some elusive thought. "Eh?" said Jaskett, in the interval. Stubbins continued, without noticing the query. He appeared to be answering some half-formed thought in his own brain, rather than Jaskett: "Things is queer an' it's been a bad job tonight. I don't savvy one bit what Williams was sayin' of hup aloft. I've thought sometimes he'd somethin' on 'is mind "
I tried to get past old Jaskett; but he was clinging to the rigging, sprawled on to it, is the best way to describe his attitude, so much of it as I could see in the darkness. Up above him, Stubbins and Plummer still shouted and cursed, and the shrouds quivered and shook, as though the two were fighting desperately.
What do you mean?" "She were there one minnit, Sir, as plain as me 'att, an' ther next, she'd gone." "That's a damn silly yarn to tell me!" the Second replied. "You don't expect me to believe it, do you?" "It's Gospel trewth any'ow, Sir," Jaskett answered. "An' Jessop seen it just ther same." He seemed to have added that last part as an afterthought.
Out at the yard-arm there came a splutter of a match, and then, straightaway, a great spurt of fire as the flare took light. "That's better, Jaskett. You're all right now!" the Second Mate called out to him. "What was it, Mr. Tulipson?" I heard the Skipper ask. I looked up, and saw that he had sprung across to where the Second Mate was standing.
I glanced across to starboard. Jaskett, and the other man in the Mate's watch, were about midway between the deck of the house and the foretop. Their faces showed extraordinary pale in the dead glare of the blue-light. Higher, I saw the Second Mate in the futtock rigging, holding his light up over the edge of the top. Then he went further, and disappeared.
Among us there came a moment of dead silence, and I noticed the wail and moan of the wind aloft, and the flap, flap of the three unfurled t'gallan's'ls. The Second Mate called the next name, hurriedly: "Jaskett," he sung out. "Sir," Jaskett answered. "Quoin." "Yes, Sir." "Jessop." "Sir," I replied. "Stubbins." There was no answer. "Stubbins," again called the Second Mate.
"What are yer drivin' at?" "Nothin'," answered Stubbins. "Honly it's damned queer. Looks as though ther ship might be unlucky, after all." "Well," agreed Plummer. "Things 'as been a bit funny lately; and then there's what's 'appened ter-night. I shall 'ang on pretty tight ther next time I go aloft." Old Jaskett took his pipe from his mouth, and sighed.
I sent Jessop off the look-out, and then you must go and start the same game." "We 'aven't " Jaskett started to say; but the Second silenced him. "Stow it!" he said, and turned and went down the ladder, passing us quickly, without a word. "Doesn't look to me, Stubbins," I said, "as though the Second did believe we've seen the light." "I hain't so sure," he answered. "He's a puzzler."
By its light we could see, plainly; but there was no vestige of Stubbins, so far as the light went. "Get out on to the yard-arms with those flares, you two men," shouted the Skipper. "Be smart now! Keep them away from the sail!" The men got on to the foot-ropes Quoin on the port, and Jaskett on the starboard side.
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