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After thus overwhelming us with the extent of his information
he slipped out of the cabin。 The mate observed regretfully
that he 〃could not account for that young fellow's whims。〃
What prevented him telling us all about it at once；
he wanted to know。
I detained him as he was making a move。 For the last two days the crew had
had plenty of hard work； and the night before they had very little sleep。
I felt painfully that Ia strangerwas doing something unusual when I
directed him to let all hands turn in without setting an anchor watch。
I proposed to keep on deck myself till one o'clock or thereabouts。
I would get the second mate to relieve me at that hour。
〃He will turn out the cook and the steward at four；〃 I concluded；
〃and then give you a call。 Of course at the slightest sign of any
sort of wind we'll have the hands up and make a start at once。〃
He concealed his astonishment。 〃Very well； sir。〃 Outside the cuddy
he put his head in the second mate's door to inform him of my
unheard…of caprice to take a five hours' anchor watch on myself。
I heard the other raise his voice incredulously〃What？ The
Captain himself？〃 Then a few more murmurs； a door closed； then another。
A few moments later I went on deck。
My strangeness； which had made me sleepless； had prompted that
unconventional arrangement； as if I had expected in those solitary
hours of the night to get on terms with the ship of which I
knew nothing； manned by men of whom I knew very little more。
Fast alongside a wharf； littered like any ship in port with a
tangle of unrelated things； invaded by unrelated shore people；
I had hardly seen her yet properly。 Now； as she lay cleared for sea；
the stretch of her main…deck seemed to me very find under the stars。
Very fine； very roomy for her size； and very inviting。
I descended the poop and paced the waist； my mind picturing
to myself the coming passage through the Malay Archipelago；
down the Indian Ocean； and up the Atlantic。 All its phases
were familiar enough to me； every characteristic； all the
alternatives which were likely to face me on the high seas
everything！ 。 。 。 except the novel responsibility of command。
But I took heart from the reasonable thought that the ship
was like other ships； the men like other men； and that the sea
was not likely to keep any special surprises expressly
for my discomfiture。
Arrived at that comforting conclusion； I bethought myself
of a cigar and went below to get it。 All was still down there。
Everybody at the after end of the ship was sleeping profoundly。
I came out again on the quarter…deck； agreeably at ease in my sleeping
suit on that warm breathless night； barefooted； a glowing cigar
in my teeth； and； going forward； I was met by the profound silence of
the fore end of the ship。 Only as I passed the door of the forecastle；
I heard a deep； quiet； trustful sigh of some sleeper inside。
And suddenly I rejoiced in the great security of the sea as compared
with the unrest of the land； in my choice of that untempted life
presenting no disquieting problems； invested with an elementary
moral beauty by the absolute straightforwardness of its appeal
and by the singleness of its purpose。
The riding light in the forerigging burned with a clear； untroubled；
as if symbolic； flame； confident and bright in the mysterious
shades of the night。 Passing on my way aft along the other side
of the ship； I observed that the rope side ladder； put over； no doubt；
for the master of the tug when he came to fetch away our letters；
had not been hauled in as it should have been。 I became annoyed at this；
for exactitude in some small matters is the very soul of discipline。
Then I reflected that I had myself peremptorily dismissed my
officers from duty； and by my own act had prevented the anchor
watch being formally set and things properly attended to。
I asked myself whether it was wise ever to interfere with the
established routine of duties even from the kindest of motives。
My action might have made me appear eccentric。 Goodness only knew
how that absurdly whiskered mate would 〃account〃 for my conduct；
and what the whole ship thought of that informality of their new captain。
I was vexed with myself。
Not from compunction certainly； but； as it were mechanically；
I proceeded to get the ladder in myself。 Now a side ladder
of that sort is a light affair and comes in easily； yet my
vigorous tug； which should have brought it flying on board；
merely recoiled upon my body in a totally unexpected jerk。
What the devil！ 。 。 。 I was so astounded by the immovableness
of that ladder that I remained stockstill； trying to
account for it to myself like that imbecile mate of mine。
In the end； of course； I put my head over the rail。
The side of the ship made an opaque belt of shadow on
the darkling glassy shimmer of the sea。 But I saw at once
something elongated and pale floating very close to the ladder。
Before I could form a guess a faint flash of phosphorescent light；
which seemed to issue suddenly from the naked body of a man；
flickered in the sleeping water with the elusive； silent play
of summer lightning in a night sky。 With a gasp I saw revealed
to my stare a pair of feet； the long legs； a broad livid back
immersed right up to the neck in a greenish cadaverous glow。
One hand； awash； clutched the bottom rung of the ladder。
He was complete but for the head。 A headless corpse！ The cigar
dropped out of my gaping mouth with a tiny plop and a short hiss
quite audible in the absolute stillness of all things under heaven。
At that I suppose he raised up his face； a dimly pale oval
in the shadow of the ship's side。 But even then I could only
barely make out down there the shape of his black…haired head。
However； it was enough for the horrid； frost…bound sensation
which had gripped me about the chest to pass off。
The moment of vain exclamations was past； too。 I only climbed
on the spare spar and leaned over the rail as far as I could；
to bring my eyes nearer to that mystery floating alongside。
As he hung by the ladder； like a resting swimmer； the sea
lightning played about his limbs at every stir； and he appeared
in it ghastly； silvery； fishlike。 He remained as mute as
a fish； too。 He made no motion to get out of the water； either。
It was inconceivable that he should not attempt to come on board；
and strangely troubling to suspect that perhaps he did not want to。
And my first words were prompted by just that troubled incertitude。
〃What's the matter？〃 I asked in my ordinary tone； speaking down to the face
upturned exactly under mine。
〃Cramp；〃 it answered； no louder。 Then slightly anxious； 〃I say；
no need to call anyone。〃
〃I was not going to；〃 I said。
〃Are you alone on deck？〃
〃Yes。〃
I had somehow the impression that he was on the point of letting go the ladder
to swim away beyond my kenmysterious as he came。 But； for the moment；
th