But now I must eat."
They waited patiently, and presently, leaning comfortably back, with
his third cup of coffee in his hand, he told them what follows:
"We thought, when we reached the sunken, dismasted hull, that of course
she was abandoned, but concluded to board her, and see if there was
anything of value inside. We made her out to be a tartan, probably
with an Arab, or African, crew and it was evident she had been through
a heavy storm, for her masts were washed clean overboard, and her
bulwarks stove in. We could not distinguish a soul aboard, and if she
had carried boats they were gone, but as we went down into the hatchway
we came upon a sight that I wouldn't care for you to see. It was a
dark 'tween-decks cabin, and the stench, as we descended, was simply
horrible! At my first step I stumbled over something that sent a
shudder through me, and when I lighted a match and looked around the
sight made me crawl. Two poor wretches lay there, both dead, as we
thought, but after giving them a thorough examination I decided there
was a spark left in this poor fellow, at least, and after working over
him a while we were sure of it. The other could not be revived, so we
weighted his feet, and let him slide the plank to his watery grave.
But that wasn't all--however I guess I won't tell any more. It's
downright gruesome, and I've got to go up and take a lookout, for we're
likely to have a wild night."
"Oh yes, yes, father!" they begged.
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