"Not necessarily," I answered. "It may have been nothing more than a rift in it; though, of course, I may be all wrong. But, anyway, the fact that the lights disappeared almost as soon as they were seen, shows that it was very much round the ship." That made him feel a bit the way I did, and when next he spoke, his tone had lost its hopefulness. "Then you think it'll be no use telling the Second Mate and the Skipper anything?" he asked. "I don't know," I replied. "I've been thinking about it, and it can't do any harm. I've a very good mind to." "I should," he said. "You needn't be afraid of anybody laughing at you, now. It might do some good. You've seen more than anyone else." He stopped in his walk, and looked round. "Wait a minute," he said, and ran aft a few steps. I saw him look up at the break of the poop; then he came back. "Come along now," he said. "The Old Man's up on the poop, talking to the Second Mate. You'll never get a better chance." Still I hesitated; but he caught me by the sleeve, and almost dragged me to the lee ladder. "All right," I said, when I got there. "All right, I'll come. Only I'm hanged if I know what to say when I get there." "Just tell them you want to speak to them," he said. "They'll ask what you want, and then you spit out all you know. They'll find it interesting enough." "You'd better come too," I suggested. "You'll be able to back me up in lots of things." "I'll come, fast enough," he replied. "You go up." I went up the ladder, and walked across to where the Skipper and the Second Mate stood talking earnestly, by the rail. Tammy kept behind. As I came near to them, I caught two or three words; though I attached no meaning then to them. They were: "...send for him." Then the two of them turned and looked at me, and the Second Mate asked what I wanted. "I want to speak to you and the Old M--Captain, Sir," I answered. "What is it, Jessop?" the Skipper inquired. "I scarcely know how to put it, Sir," I said. "It's--it's about these-- these things." "What things? Speak out, man," he said. "Well, Sir," I blurted out. "There's some dreadful thing or things come aboard this ship, since we left port." I saw him give one quick glance at the Second Mate, and the Second looked back. Then the Skipper replied. "How do you mean, come aboard?" he asked. "Out of the sea, Sir," I said. "I've seen them. So's Tammy, here." "Ah!" he exclaimed, and it seemed to me, from his face, that he was understanding something better. "Out of the Sea!" Again he looked at the Second Mate; but the Second was staring at me. "Yes Sir," I said. "It's the _ship_. She's not safe! I've watched. I think I understand a bit; but there's a lot I don't." I stopped. The Skipper had turned to the Second Mate. The Second nodded, gravely. Then I heard him mutter, in a low voice, and the Old Man replied; after which he turned to me again.