he couple came dashing madly up
on deck again.

"What is it?" inquired the pallid skipper.

The mate, leaning for support against the wheel, opened his mouth, but
no words came; the cook, his hands straight by his side and his eyes
glassy, made a picture from which the crew drew back in awe.

"What's--the--matter?" said the skipper again.

Then the mate, regaining his composure by an effort, spoke.

"You needn't trouble to fasten the companion again," he said slowly.

The skipper's face changed from white to grey, "Why not?" he asked in a
trembling voice.

"He's dead," was the solemn reply.

"Nonsense," said the other, with quivering lips.

"He's shamming or else fainting. Did you try to bring him round?"

"I did not," said the mate. "I don't deceive you. I didn't stay down
there to do no restoring, and I don't think you would either."

"Go down and see whether you can wake him, cook," said the skipper.

"Not me," said the cook with a mighty shudder.

Two of the hands went and peeped furtively down through the skylight.
The empty cabin looked strangely quiet and drear, and the door of the
state-room stood ajar. There was nothing to satisfy their curiosity, but
they came back looking as though they had seen a ghost.

"What's to be done?" said the skipper, helplessly.

"Nothing can be done," said the mate. "He's beyond our aid."

"I wasn't thinking about _him_," said the skipper.

"Well, the best thing you can do when we get to Plymouth is to bolt,"
said the mate. "We'll hide it up as long as we can to give you a start.
It's a hanging matter."

The hapless master of the _Fearless_ wiped his clammy brow. "I can't
think he's dead," he said slowly. "Who'll come down with me to see?"

"You'd better leave it alone," said the mate kindly, "it ain't pleasant,
and besides that we can all swear up to the present that you haven't
touched him or been near him."

"Who'll come down with me?" repeated the skipper. "I believe it's a
trick, and that he'll start up and serve me, but I feel I must go."

He caught Bill's eye, and that worthy seaman, after a short tussle with
his nerves, shuffled after him. The skipper brushing aside the mate,
who sought to detain him, descended first, and entering the cabin stood
hesitating, with Bill close behind him.

"Just open the door, Bill," he said slowly.

"Arter you, sir," said the well-bred Bill.

The skipper stepped slowly towards it and flung it suddenly open. Then
h