THE MATE'S STORY. 



reefed topsails for a week. One night I was on watch, 

 and finding that it was blowing harder than ever, and 

 the ship was making very bad weather of it, I thought 

 I would go down and ask the skipper's leave to lay-to. 

 I dived down the hatchway and knocked twice at the 

 captain's cabin-door before I received an answer; at 

 last I heard his 'Come in.' I opened the door and 

 was about to report the gale increased, but was stopped 

 by the appearance of the captain. He was as white 

 as a sheet, and his eyes were staring like a maniac's. 

 Before I could speak a word, he said, ' Have you seen 

 her ?' I did not know what he meant, but said, ' Beg 

 pardon, sir, the ship is making very bad weather of 

 it.' He cursed the weather, and repeated, 'Did you 

 see my wife as you came in?' I said, ' See your 

 wife! No!' 



" He stared at me for an instant and then dropped 

 on his couch, and said, 'God have mercy on me.' It 

 was the first time I had ever heard him use that sacred 

 name, although the evil one's was pretty often in his 

 mouth. I then asked him about the ship, when he told 

 me to go and do what I thought best. I went up and 

 took all the canvas off, with the exception of the mizen- 

 trysail. I got the peak lowered down to the deck and 

 showed but a pocket-handkerchief sort of sail; this 

 kept her head to wind. I had a guy made fast to the 

 boom, which kept it firm, and lashed the helm ; we then 

 rode like a duck on the water. 



et I turned in as usual after being relieved, and said 

 nothing to any one about what I had heard. In the 



