Corporal Van Spitter had entered the cabin with the air of the profoundest devotion and respect--had raised his hand up as usual, but before the hand had arrive its destination, he beheld Vanslyperken seated on the locker, patting the head of Snarleyyow, as if nothing had happened. At this unexpected resuscitation, the corporal uttered a tremendous "Mein Gott!" and burst, like a mad bull, out of the cabin, sweeping down all who obstructed has passage on the lower deck, till he arrived at the fore-ladder, which he climbed up with tottering knees, and then sank down on the forecastle at the feet of Jemmy Ducks. "Mein Gott, mein Gott, mein Gott!" exclaimed the corporal, putting his hands to his eyes as if to shut out the horrid vision. "What the devil is the matter?" exclaimed Coble. "Ah! mein Gott, mein Gott!" As it was evident that something uncommon had happened, they all now crowded round the corporal, who, by degrees, recovered himself. "What is it, corporal?" inquired Jemmy Ducks. Before the corporal could reply, Smallbones, who had been summoned to the cabin on account of the corporal's unaccountable exit, sprang up the ladder with one bound, his hair flying, his eyes goggling, and his mouth wide open: lifting his hands over his head, and pausing as if for breath, exclaimed with a solemn, sepulchral voice, "By all the devils in hell he's com again!" "Who?" exclaimed several voices at once. "Snarleyyow," replied Smallbones, mournfully. "Yes--mein Gott!" exclaimed Corporal Van Spitter, attempting to rise on his legs. "Whew!" whistled Jemmy Ducks--but nobody else uttered a sound; they all looked at one another, some with compressed lips, others with mouths open. At last one shook his head--then another. The corporal rose on his feet and shook himself like an elephant. "Dat tog is de tyfel's imp, and dat's de end on it," said he, with alarm still painted on his countenance. "And is he really on board again?" inquired Coble, doubtingly. "As sartin as I stands on this here forecastle--a-kissing and slobbering the lieutenant for all the world like a Christian," replied Smallbones, despondingly. "Then he flare fire on me wid his one eye," said the corporal. "Warn't even wet," continued Smallbones. Here there was another summons for Corporal Van Spitter. "Mein Gott, I will not go," exclaimed the corporal. "Yes, yes, go, corporal," replied Smallbones; "it's the best way to face the devil." "Damn the devil!--and that's not swearing," exclaimed Short--such a long sentence out of his mouth was added to the marvels of the night--some even shrugged up their shoulders at that, as if it also were supernatural. "I always say so," said Jansen, "I always say so--no tog, no tog, after all." "No, no," replied Coble, shaking his head. Corporal Van Spitter was again summoned, but the corporal was restive as a rhinoceros.