But the stranger still lay on the water casks, kicking his heels and whistling his infernal tune, always the same. He wasn’t washed away nor moved by the action of the water; indeed, we heartily hoped and expected to see both him and the water cask floated overboard at every minute; but, as the captain said,—
“Confound the binnacle! the old water tub seems as if it were screwed on to the deck, and won’t move off and he on the top of it.”
There was a strong inclination to throw him overboard, and the men conversed in low whispers, and came round the captain, saying,—
“We have come, captain, to ask you what you think of this strange man who has come so mysteriously on board?”
“I can’t tell what to think, lads; he’s past thinking about—he’s something above my comprehension altogether, I p
