d, and there was a thing at the window. It was
looking in."

"What sort of a thing?"

"What I told you--white."

"A white head?"

"It wasn't a head. For God's sake, Leslie! I can't tell you any more
than that. I saw it. That's enough. I saw it three times."

"It isn't enough for me," I said doggedly. "It hadn't any head or
face, but it looked in! It's dark out there. How could you see?"

For reply, he leaned over and, turning down the lamp, blew it out. We
sat in the smoking darkness, and slowly, out of the thick night, the
window outlined itself. I could see it distinctly. But how, white and
faceless, had it stared in at the window, or reached through the bars,
as Singleton declared it had done, and waved a fingerless hand at us?

He was in a state of mental and physical collapse, and begged so
pitifully not to be left, that at last I told him I would take him with
me, on his promise to remain in a chair until dawn, and to go back
without demur. He sat near me, amidships, huddled down among the
cushions of one of the wicker chairs, not sleeping, but staring
straight out, motionless.

With the first light of dawn Burns relieved me, and I went forward with
Singleton. He dropped into his bunk, and was asleep almost
immediately. Then, inch by inch, I went over the deck for footprints,
for any clue to what, under happier circumstances, I should have
considered a ghastly hoax. But the deck was slippery and sodden, the
rail dripping, and between the davits where the jolly-boat had swung
was stretched a line with a shirt of Burns's hung on it, absurdly
enough, to dry. Poor Burns, promoted to the dignity of first mate, and
trying to dress the part!

Oleson and Adams made no attempt to work that day; indeed, Oleson was
not able. As I had promised, the breakfast for the after house was
placed on the companion steps by Tom, the cook, whence it was removed
by Mrs. Sloane. I saw nothing of either Elsa Lee or Mrs. Johns. Burns
was inclined to resent the deadline the women had drawn below, and
suggested that, since they were so anxious to take care of themselves,
we give up guarding the after house and let them do it. We were
short-handed enough, he urged, and, if they were going to take that
attitude, let them manage. I did not argue, but my eyes traveled over
the rail to where the jolly-boat rose to meet the fresh sea of the
morning, and he colored. After that he made no comment.

Singleton awakened