ave it or attempt
to get a peep at the interior of the boat, on any account, and then went
forward to prepare a rope's-end to drop into her as we drew up
alongside. I conned the brig in such a manner as to bring the boat
alongside under the lee fore chains, and then, when the proper moment
had arrived, let go the weather main braces and swung the topsail aback.

My intention was to have jumped into the boat with a rope's-end, as she
came alongside, taking a turn anywhere for the moment; but as, with
main-topsail aback, we crept slowly down upon the poor, forlorn-looking
waif, a gaunt, unkempt scarecrow suddenly upreared itself in the
stern-sheets and, uttering queer, gibbering sounds the while, scrambled
forward into the eyes of the boat, with movements that somehow were
equally suggestive of the very opposite qualities of agility and
exhaustion, and held out its lean, talon-like hands for the rope which I
was waiting to heave. As we drifted alongside the boat I hove the
rope's-end; the man caught it, and _collapsing_, rather than stooping,
with it, he made it fast to the ring-bolt in the stem. Then, uprearing
himself once more, stiffly, and as though fighting against a deadly
lethargy, he made a staggering spring for the brig's rail, missed it,
and would have fallen headlong backward into the boat had I not caught
him by the collar. Heavens! what a skeleton the man was! He was fully
as tall as myself, and had all the appearance of having once been a big,
brawny Hercules of a fellow, but so wasted was he now that, with
scarcely an effort, I with one hand lifted him in over the bulwarks and
deposited him on deck, where he again limply doubled up and sank in a
heap, groaning. But he kept his eyes fixed upon my face and, stiffly
opening his jaws, pointed to his black and shrivelled tongue; and I, at
once recognising his condition, ran aft and, taking a tumbler from the
pantry, quickly mixed about a wineglassful of weak brandy and water,
with which I sped back to him. I shall never forget the horrible
expression of mad, wolfish craving that leapt into the unfortunate
creature's bloodshot eyes as I approached and bent over him. He glared
at the tumbler, and howled like a wild beast; then suddenly snatched at
my hand as I held the liquid to his lips, and clung so tightly to me
that before I could withdraw the tumbler he had drained it of every drop
of its contents. Even then he would not release me, but continued to