“What’s the matter with him?” the Second Mate was singing out.  “What’s happened?”

“He’s gone off his head, I think,” I said.

“What?” asked the Second Mate.  But before I could answer him, Tammy ceased suddenly to struggle, and flopped down upon the deck.

“’e’s fainted,” said Plummer, with some sympathy.  He looked at me, with a puzzled, suspicious air.  “What’s ’appened?  What’s ’e been doin’?”

“Take him aft into the berth!” ordered the Second Mate, a bit abruptly.  It struck me that he wished to prevent questions.  He must have tumbled to the fact that we had seen something, about which it would be better not to tell the crowd.

Plummer stooped to lift the boy.

“No,” said the Second Mate.  “Not you, Plummer.  Jessop, you take him.”  He turned to the rest of the men.  “That will do,” he told them and they went forrard, muttering a little.

I lifted the boy, and carried him aft.

“No need to take him into the berth,” said the Second Mate.  “Put him down on the after hatch.  I’ve sent the other lad for some brandy.”

Then the brandy came, we dosed Tammy and soon brought him round.  He sat up, with a somewhat dazed air.  Otherwise, he seemed quiet and sane enough.

“What’s up?” he asked.  He caught sight of the Second Mate.  “Have I been ill, Sir?” he exclaimed.

“You’re right enough now, youngster,” said the Second Mate.  “You’ve been a bit off.  You’d better go and lie down for a bit.”

“I’m all right now, Sir,” replied Tammy.  “I don’t think—­”

“You do as you’re told!” interrupted the Second.  “Don’t always have to be told twice!  If I want you, I’ll send for you.”

Tammy stood up, and made his way, in rather an unsteady fashion, into the berth.  I fancy he was glad enough to lie down.

“Now then, Jessop,” exclaimed the Second Mate, turning to me.  “What’s been the cause of all this?  Out with it now, smart!”

I commenced to tell him; but, almost directly, he put up his hand.

“Hold on a minute,” he said.  “There’s the breeze!”

He jumped up the port ladder, and sung out to the chap at the wheel.  Then down again.

“Starboard fore brace,” he sung out.  He turned to me.  “You’ll have to finish telling me afterwards,” he said.

“i, i, Sir,” I replied, and went to join the other chaps at the braces.

As soon as we were braced sharp up on the port tack, he sent some of the watch up to loose the sails.  Then he sung out for me.

“Go on with your yarn now, Jessop,” he said.

I told him about the great shadow vessel, and I said something about Tammy—­I mean about my not being sure now whether he had tried to jump overboard.  Because, you see, I began to realise that I had seen the shadow; and I remembered the stirring of the water above the submerged truck.  But the Second did not wait, of course, for any theories, but was away, like a shot, to see for himself.  He ran to the side, and looked down.  I followed, and stood beside him; yet, now that the surface of the water was blurred by the wind, we could see nothing.