The Ghost Pirates

y the 'Pr

strange thing had come aboard, and left the ship; but I found nothing unu

iscover anything fresh that might tend to throw some light on the matter. I was careful to say nothin

was no nearer to an understanding of the affair.

or the old packet steered very easily, and there was precious little to do, beyond giving her an odd spoke now and again. And then, all at once, it seemed to me that I heard someone calling my name, softly. I could not be certain; and first I glanced forrard to where the Second stood, smoking, and from him, I looked into the binnacle. The ship's head was right on her course, and I felt easier. Then, suddenly, I heard it again. There was no d

after a couple of moments' further inef

, with a quick little gasp, he sprang across the wheel-box, and stood beside me,

ad shown such terror; and the way he stared to

ed the Second Mate. I glanced forrard to where he lounged. His back wa

d sees you!" I said. "If you want to say anything,

e Second Mate came running aft, singing out to know what was the matter. Then, suddenly, crouching under the rail near the log-reel, I saw something that looked like a man; but so h

nowledge that he would not be able to see what I saw. (Queer, wasn't it?) And then, almost

he log-reel for a brief instant; t

waiting for my denial, he told Tammy to go to hell out

ipe, again-walking forward and aft every few minutes, and eyeing me,

me, and I was in doubt what I ought to do. I found him crouched on a sea-chest, his knees up to his chin, and his gaze fixed on the doorway, with a

tried to steady; and I stepped over the was

t down on to the deck, and leaning forwa

n, and I put up my

"You'll wake the

felt, all at once, that it might be better to deny all knowledge-to say I hadn't s

o ask you. A pretty pair of fools you made of the two of us

y remark in a

"You know I didn't. You know you saw it yourself.

crying between fear, and ve

leeping in your time-keeping. You dreamed somethi

odness! I wanted assurance myself. If he had known of tha

" he said, bitterly. "And you know it. Yo

I said,

he said, again.

inquired, in a

s it; but they don't more than half be

d. "That's all a bloomi

re haunted

ot an old shellback's yarn ... Why won't you say you saw it?" he cr

not to wake

ay that you saw

chest, and went

ike this, round the decks. Take my tip, and turn-in and get a sleep. You're talkin

elieve he followed me to the door to say someth

to convince him that he had been mistaken in supposing that he had seen anything that night. Yet, after all, it was little enough use, as