on in the ship to give rise to those sounds--such as
the flapping of canvas, the creaking of timbers and bulkheads, etcetera,
etcetera--that usually make a calm so irritating to people who happen to
be troubled with nerves. All was silent as death itself; our own
movements being hushed, in harmony with the prevailing stillness, so
that we spoke under our breath, and moved about on tiptoe.

In this silent, groping way I followed Roberts forward to inspect the
fire engine; and it was while thus engaged with the aid of a carefully
shielded lantern, that the mate exclaimed, in a hoarse whisper, as he
held up his hand, and bent his head in a listening attitude--

"Hark! did you hear that, sir?"

"No," said I, "I heard nothing. What was it?"

"Why," answered Roberts, "it sounded to me like the noise of an oar, or
a sweep, creaking in a rowlock; and it seemed to come from away
yonder,"--pointing, as he spoke, in the direction of the larboard bow.

We both listened intently, for fully a minute, without detecting any
sound whatever confirmatory of Roberts' evident suspicions; and at
length I said, turning once more to the examination of the fire engine--

"Tush, man, you were mistaken; you heard nothing. The fact is, Mr
Roberts, you are not quite yourself to-night. You seem nervous, and
fidgety, and anxious. The heat of to-day has upset you; and I think you
had better let me give you a good stiff dose of quinine when you go
below, at eight bells."

"Thank you, sir, no," answered Roberts; "I don't need any quinine, or
anything else in the shape of medicine to brace me up. There's nothing
the matter with me, bodily; but, to be perfectly candid, I _do_ feel a
little bit off my mental balance, as it were, to-night. The fact is--I
know you'll laugh at me, sir, but I can't help that, and it don't
matter, but I've got the feeling strong upon me that something's going
to happen to me to-night. For three nights running--that is to say,
last night, and the night before, and the night before that again--I've
started up out of a sound sleep with the idea that my dear wife was
calling me; ay, and with the very sound and tone of her sweet voice in
my ears. Now, sir, do you think that is only a coincidence, as they say
ashore; or isn't it more likely to be a sign that something is going to
happen to me?"

"Why, what nonsense is this for a sensible, educated man like yourself
to be talking!" I exclaimed half angrily. "Let me