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I felt just then a very unpleasant faintness。 After the life I've
been leading for nine weeks； anybody would have got out of condition。
I wasn't capable of swimming round as far as your rudder chains。
And； lo and behold！ there was a ladder to get hold of。
After I gripped it I said to myself； ‘What's the good？'
When I saw a man's head looking over I thought I would swim away
presently and leave him shoutingin whatever language it was。
I didn't mind being looked at。 II liked it。 And then you speaking to me
so quietlyas if you had expected memade me hold on a little longer。
It had been a confounded lonely timeI don't mean while swimming。
I was glad to talk a little to somebody that didn't belong to the Sephora。
As to asking for the captain； that was a mere impulse。 It could
have been no use； with all the ship knowing about me and the other
people pretty certain to be round here in the morning。 I don't know
I wanted to be seen； to talk with somebody； before I went on。
I don't know what I would have said。 。 。 。 ‘Fine night； isn't it？'
or something of the sort。〃
〃Do you think they will be round here presently？〃
I asked with some incredulity。
〃Quite likely；〃 he said； faintly。
〃He looked extremely haggard all of a sudden。 His head rolled
on his shoulders。
〃H'm。 We shall see then。 Meantime get into that bed；〃 I whispered。
〃Want help？ There。〃
It was a rather high bed place with a set of drawers underneath。
This amazing swimmer really needed the lift I gave him by seizing his leg。
He tumbled in； rolled over on his back； and flung one arm across his eyes。
And then； with his face nearly hidden； he must have looked exactly as I used
to look in that bed。 I gazed upon my other self for a while before drawing
across carefully the two green serge curtains which ran on a brass rod。
I thought for a moment of pinning them together for greater safety；
but I sat down on the couch； and once there I felt unwilling to rise
and hunt for a pin。 I would do it in a moment。 I was extremely tired；
in a peculiarly intimate way； by the strain of stealthiness；
by the effort of whispering and the general secrecy of this excitement。
It was three o'clock by now and I had been on my feet since nine；
but I was not sleepy； I could not have gone to sleep。 I sat there；
fagged out； looking at the curtains； trying to clear my mind of the confused
sensation of being in two places at once； and greatly bothered by an
exasperating knocking in my head。 It was a relief to discover suddenly
that it was not in my head at all； but on the outside of the door。
Before I could collect myself the words 〃Come in〃 were out of my mouth；
and the steward entered with a tray； bringing in my morning coffee。
I had slept； after all； and I was so frightened that I shouted；
〃This way！ I am here； steward；〃 as though he had been miles away。
He put down the tray on the table next the couch and only then said；
very quietly； 〃I can see you are here； sir。〃 I felt him give me a keen look；
but I dared not meet his eyes just then。 He must have wondered why I
had drawn the curtains of my bed before going to sleep on the couch。
He went out； hooking the door open as usual。
I heard the crew washing decks above me。 I knew I would have
been told at once if there had been any wind。 Calm； I thought；
and I was doubly vexed。 Indeed； I felt dual more than ever。
The steward reappeared suddenly in the doorway。
I jumped up from the couch so quickly that he gave a start。
〃What do you want here？〃
〃Close your port； sirthey are washing decks。〃
〃It is closed；〃 I said； reddening。
〃Very well； sir。〃 But he did not move from the doorway and returned
my stare in an extraordinary； equivocal manner for a time。
Then his eyes wavered； all his expression changed； and in a voice
unusually gentle； almost coaxingly：
〃May I come in to take the empty cup away； sir？〃
〃Of course！〃 I turned my back on him while he popped in and out。
Then I unhooked and closed the door and even pushed the bolt。
This sort of thing could not go on very long。 The cabin was as hot
as an oven； too。 I took a peep at my double； and discovered
that he had not moved； his arm was still over his eyes； but his
chest heaved； his hair was wet； his chin glistened with perspiration。
I reached over him and opened the port。
〃I must show myself on deck；〃 I reflected。
Of course； theoretically； I could do what I liked； with no
one to say nay to me within the whole circle of the horizon；
but to lock my cabin door and take the key away I did not dare。
Directly I put my head out of the companion I saw the group
of my two officers； the second mate barefooted； the chief
mate in long India…rubber boots； near the break of the poop；
and the steward halfway down the poop ladder talking to them eagerly。
He happened to catch sight of me and dived； the second
ran down on the main…deck shouting some order or other；
and the chief mate came to meet me； touching his cap。
There was a sort of curiosity in his eye that I did not like。
I don't know whether the steward had told them that I was 〃queer〃 only；
or downright drunk； but I know the man meant to have a good look at me。
I watched him coming with a smile which； as he got into point…blank range；
took effect and froze his very whiskers。 I did not give him time
to open his lips。
〃Square the yards by lifts and braces before the hands go to breakfast。〃
It was the first particular order I had given on board that ship；
and I stayed on deck to see it executed； too。 I had felt the need
of asserting myself without loss of time。 That sneering young cub
got taken down a peg or two on that occasion； and I also seized
the opportunity of having a good look at the face of every
foremast man as they filed past me to go to the after braces。
At breakfast time； eating nothing myself； I presided with such
frigid dignity that the two mates were only too glad to escape from
the cabin as soon as decency permitted； and all the time the dual
working of my mind distracted me almost to the point of insanity。
I was constantly watching myself； my secret self； as dependent
on my actions as my own personality； sleeping in that bed；
behind that door which faced me as I sat at the head of the table。
It was very much like being mad； only it was worse because one was
aware of it。
I had to shake him for a solid minute； but when at last he opened his eyes
it was in the full possession of his senses； with an inquiring look。
〃All's well so far；〃 I whispered。 〃Now you must vanish into the bathroom。〃
He did so； as noiseless as a ghost； and then I rang for the steward；
and facing him boldly； directed him to tidy up my stateroom while I was
having my bath〃and be quick about it。〃 As my tone admitted of no excuses；
he said； 〃Yes； sir；〃 and ran off to fetch his dustpan and brushes。
I took a bath and did most of my dressing； splashing； and whistling
softly f