Here the narrator was interrupted by the thumping of a handspike on the deck above.  “Halloo! what’s the matter now?”

“Come, tumble up, my lads, and pump the ship out,” said the mate from above; “we had almost forgotten that.  Be smart, now; it’s but a ten minutes’ job.”

Thus broke off the story, much to my annoyance; but it could not be helped—­ships must be pumped out—­so the men went on deck, and I followed them.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

     “Recollect,” says the Fellow, “you have thrown overboard a black
     Tom Cat!”

In a quarter of an hour the pump sucked, and we all hastened down below to our grog and the completion of our yarn.  As soon as we were all comfortably seated as before, Dick recommenced.

“Well, we were abreast of Malta, when the weather, which had hitherto on the voyage been very fine, changed.  The clouds hung down very heavy, and there was every symptom of a fierce gale; and sure enough a worse gale I never was in than came on that night—­and such a sea!—­the ship rolled gunnel under, for the gale was fair, but the sea ran so high and so fast that we expected to be pooped every minute.  It was about midnight when the rain came on in torrents, and the wind blew fiercer than ever.  I was on deck, and so was the first mate and another man at the helm, for we were flying right before it, and she was hard to steer.

“We shall have it worse yet,” said the captain.

“‘Miaw!’ was the reply, so clear, so loud, we could not tell where it came from.  I thought it came from the maintop.

“‘Mercy on us! what was that?’ said the first mate, the light from the binnacle showing his face as pale as a sheet.

“‘Miaw!’ was the reply from somewhere.

“‘The black cat, by all that’s blue!’ cried the captain.

“‘The Lord have mercy upon us, we’re all gone!’ said the mate, clasping his hands in terror.  To clasp his hands, of course he let go the wheel; and the other man, who was equally frightened, had not strength to hold it.  Away he went, right over the wheel, knocking down the mate on the other side; and the ship taking a heavy lurch, they both went into the scuppers together.  The ship broached-to, and our mainmast and mizzenmast went over the side.”

“Do top that glim, Bill,” said one of the men, in a tremulous voice.

Dick paused while the snuff was taken off the candle:  and the water went tap, tap, tap against the bends, with a most melancholy sound.  I really did feel rather queer myself.

Dick continued.  “Well, all hands were on deck immediately, and it was good two hours before we could clear the wreck, for the men were disheartened.  They had heard the loud miaw when in the fore-peak, and declared that it was close to them; and the passenger and Jim came out, frightened out of their wits.  They had heard the miaw, and said that it was from under the cabin table.  At last we were clear of the wreck, and the wind roared louder than ever.