Tammy, who had heard them both ragging him during the second dog-watch the following day.  There was another thing Tammy told me, that showed how the Second Mate bothered about his inability to understand the mysterious appearance and disappearance of the man he had seen go aloft.  He had made Tammy give him every detail he could remember about the figure we had seen by the log-reel.  What is more, the Second had not even affected to treat the matter lightly, nor as a thing to be sneered at; but had listened seriously, and asked a great many questions.  It is very evident to me that he was reaching out towards the only possible conclusion.  Though, goodness knows, it was one that was impossible and improbable enough.

It was on the Wednesday night, after the five days of talk I have mentioned, that there came, to me and to those who knew, another element of fear.  And yet, I can quite understand that, at that time, those who had seen nothing, would find little to be afraid of, in all that I am going to tell you.  Still, even they were much puzzled and astonished, and perhaps, after all, a little awed.  There was so much in the affair that was inexplicable, and yet again such a lot that was natural and commonplace.  For, when all is said and done, it was nothing more than the blowing adrift of one of the sails; yet accompanied by what were really significant details—­significant, that is, in the light of that which Tammy and I and the Second Mate knew.

Seven bells, and then one, had gone in the first watch, and our side was being roused out to relieve the Mate’s.  Most of the men were already out of their bunks, and sitting about on their sea-chests, getting into their togs.

Suddenly, one of the ’prentices in the other watch, put his head in through the doorway on the port side.

“The Mate wants to know,” he said, “which of you chaps made fast the fore royal, last watch.”

“Wot’s ’e want to know that for?” inquired one of the men.

“The lee side’s blowing adrift,” said the ’prentice.  “And he says that the chap who made it fast is to go up and see to it as soon as the watch is relieved.”

“Oh! does ’e?  Well ’twasn’t me, any’ow,” replied the man.  “You’d better arsk sum of t’others.”

“Ask what?” inquired Plummer, getting out of his bunk, sleepily.

The ’prentice repeated his message.

The man yawned and stretched himself.

“Let me see,” he muttered, and scratched his head with one hand, while he fumbled for his trousers with the other. “’oo made ther fore r’yal fast?” He got into his trousers, and stood up.  “Why, ther Or’nary, er course; ’oo else do yer suppose?”

“That’s all I wanted to know!” said the ’prentice, and went away.

“Hi!  Tom!” Stubbins sung out to the Ordinary.  “Wake up, you lazy young devil.  Ther Mate’s just sent to hinquire who it was made the fore royal fast.  It’s all blowin’ adrift, and he says you’re to get along up as soon as eight bells goes, and make it fast again.”