162 WHALEMAN ON THE STAGE. 



We got a part of the story from the Sag Harbor 

 captain. It seems they had sailed out of port 

 about ten in the morning, the next day after 

 Pierce's strange disappearance. At four that after- 

 noon, when they were about fifteen miles from the 

 land, the man at the lookout on the mainmast 

 head reported something in sight, floating on the 

 water about two miles from the ship. The captain 

 went aloft with the glass to have a look at it, but 

 could not make out what it was, only he was certain 

 it was something alive, for it kept moving and 

 wriggling all the while, as if to attract attention 

 from the ship. The old man's curiosity was so 

 thoroughly aroused by this time that he veered 

 off his course and steered straight for the strange 

 object. 



"When I came near enough," said the captain, 

 " What should I see through my glass but a little 

 live man, squatting on the surface of the water 

 and waving his arms ! Yes, that's the real truth, 

 and I give an honest seaman's word for it." 



My eyes were well open by this time, and I 

 was beginning to believe the story. 



Talk about mermaids and sea-serpents and the 

 Plying Dutchman and the rest of the fo'cas'le 

 nonsense ! Here was a real, genuine thing to beat 

 'em all ! 



