Having gained the bulwarks, the two officers, balancing themselves on
the rail, look down over the decks of the polacca. Their glances sweep
these forward, aft, and amidships--ranging from stem to stern, and back
again.
Nothing seen there to explain the strangeness of affairs; nothing heard.
No sailor on the fore-deck, nor officer on the quarter! Only the two
queer creatures that had shown themselves on the shrouds. These are
still visible, one of them standing by the mainmast, the other crouching
near the caboose. Both again give out their jabbering speech,
accompanying it with gestures of menace.
Disregarding this, the lieutenant leaps down upon the deck, and makes
towards them; the mid and coxswain keeping close after.
At their approach, the hirsute monsters retreat; not scared-like, but
with a show of defiance, as if disposed to contest possession of the
place. They give back, however, bit by bit, till at length, ceasing to
dispute, they shuffle off over the quarter, and on to the poop.
Neither of the two officers pays any attention to their demonstrations;
and the movement aft is not made for them. Both lieutenant and
midshipman seem excited by other thoughts--some strong impulse urging
them on. Alone is the coxswain mystified by the hairy men, and not a
little alarmed; but, without speaking, he follows his superiors.
All continue on toward the quarterdeck, making for the cabin-door.
Having boarded the barque by the forechains, they must pass the caboose
going aft. Its sliding panel is open, and when opposite, the three come
to a stand. They are brought to it by a faint cry, issuing out of the
cook's quarters.
Looking in, they behold a spectacle sufficiently singular to detain
them. It is more than singular--it is startling. On the bench, in
front of the galley-fire--which shows as if long-extinguished--sits a
man, bolt upright, his back against the bulkhead. Is it a man, or but
the semblance of one? Certainly it is a human figure; or, speaking more
precisely, a human skeleton with the skin still on; this black as the
coal-cinders in the grate in front of it!
It is a man--a negro. And living; since at sight of them he betrays
motion, and makes an attempt to speak.
Only the coxswain stays to listen, or hear what he has to say. The
others hurry on aft, making direct for the cabin, which, being between
decks, is approached by a stairway.
Reaching this, they rush down, and stand before the door, which they
find shut. Only closed, not locked. It yields to the turning of the
handle; and, opening, gives them admission.
They enter hastily, one after the other, without ceremony or
announcement. Once inside, they as quickly come to a stop, both looking
aghast. The spectacle in the caboose was nought to what is now before
their eyes. That was but startling; this is appalling.
It is the main-cabin they have entered; not a large one, for the polacca
has not been constructed to carry passengers. Still is it snug, and
roomy enough for a table six feet by four. Such a one stands in the
centre, its legs fixed in the floor, with four chairs around it,
similarly stanchioned.
On the table there are decanters and dishes, alongside glasses and
plates. It is a dessert service, and on the dishes are fruits, cakes,
and sweetmeats, with fragments of the same on the plates. The decanters
contain wines of different sorts; and there are indications of wine
having been poured out into the glasses--some of them still containing
it. There are four sets, corresponding to the four chairs; and, to all
appearance, this number of guests have been seated at the table. But
two of the chairs are empty, as if those who occupied them had retired
to an inner state-room. It is the side-seats that are vacant, and a fan
lying on one, with a scarf over the back of that opposite, proclaim
their last occupants to have been ladies.
Two guests are still at the table; one at its head, the other at the
foot, facing each other. And such guests! Both are men, though, unlike
him in the caboose, they are white men. But, like him, they also appear
in the extreme of emaciation: jaws with the skin drawn tightly over
them, cheekbones prominent, chin protruding, eyes sunken in their
sockets!
Not dead neither; for their eyes, glancing and glaring, still show life.
But there is little other evidence of it. Sitting stiff in the chairs,
rigidly erect, they made no attempt to stir, no motion of either body or
limbs. It would seem as if from both all strength had departed, their
famished figures showing them in the last stages of starvation. And
this in front of a table furnished with choice wines, fruits, and other
comestibles--in short, loaded with delicacies!
What can it mean?
Not this question, but a cry comes from the lips of the two officers,
simultaneously from both, as they stand regarding the strange tableau.
Only for an instant do they thus stand. Then the lieutenant, rushing up
the stair, and on to the side, shouts out--
"Back to the ship, and bring the doctor! Row with all your might, men.
Away!"
The boat's people, obedient, pull off with alacrity. They are but too
glad to get away from the suspected spot. As they strain at their oars,
with faces now turned towards the barque, and eyes wonderingly bent upon
her, they see nought to give them a clue to the conduct of their
officers, or in any way elucidate the series of mysteries, prolonged to
a chain and still continuing. One imbued with a belief in the
supernatural, shakes his head, saying--
"Shipmates! we may never see that lieutenant again; nor the young
reefer, nor the old cox--never!"