He seemed greatly perturbed, unable to reply to me.
"What's the matter ?" I asked.

"Are you sick ?" He shook his head, and with a deep sign as of awakening, caught his breath.
"You'd better get on your course, then," I chided.
He put a few spokes over, and I watched the compass-card swing slowly to N.N.W.and steady itself with slight oscillations.
I took a fresh hold on my bedclothes and was preparing to start on, when some movement caught my eye and I looked astern to the rail.

A sinewy hand, dripping with water, was clutching the rail.

A second hand took form in the darkness beside it.

I watched, fascinated.