I followed him, getting my revolver
and my oil-skins, for I knew that it would be wet work. I had scarce
reached the deck again when I felt the schooner moving; but no break of
light showed the place where the other was, and the skipper called
presently for a blue flare, which cast a glowing light for many hundred
yards, and still left us uncertain.

"She's gone, for sure," said Dan to the men around him, for every soul
on board, even including old Chasselot--called by the men
"Cuss-a-lot"--our cook, was staring into the thick night; "and I
wouldn't stake a noggin that her crew ain't cheated the old un at last
an' gone down singing. It's mighty easy to die with your head full o'
rum, but I don't go for to choose it meself, not particler."

Billy Eightbells, the second mate, was quite of Dan's opinion. The
looks of the others told me then that they began to fear the adventure.
Billy was the first really to give expression to the common sentiment.

"Making bold to speak," he said, "it were two years ago come Christmas
as I met something like this afore, down Rio way----"

"Was it at eight bells, Billy?" asked Mary mischievously. She knew that
all Billy's yarns began at eight bells.

"Well, I think it were, mum, but as I was saying----"

"Flash again," said the skipper, suddenly interrupting the harangue,
and as the blue light flashed we saw right ahead of us the wanderer we
sought; but she was bearing down upon us, and there was fear in the
skipper's voice when he roared--

"For God's sake, hard a-starboard!"

The helm went over, and the yacht loomed up black, as our own light
died away; and passed us within a cable's length. What lift of the
night there was showed us her decks again; but they were not deserted,
for as one or two aboard gave a great cry, I saw the white and horridly
distorted face of a man who clung to the main shrouds--and he alone was
guardian of the wanderer.

The horrid vision struck my own men with a deadly fearing.

"May the Lord help us!" said Dan.

"And him!" added Piping Jack solemnly.

"Was he alive, d'you think?" asked Dan.

"It's my opinion he'd seen something as no Christian man ought to see.
Please God, we all get to port again!"

"Please God!" said half-a-dozen; and their words had meaning.

For myself, my thoughts were very different. That vision of the man I
had left well and hopeful and strong not three days since was terrible
to me. A brave man had gone to his death, b