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For the first time since I had known him； Monkton seemed to be in
high spirits。 He talked and jested on all sorts of subjects； and
laughed at me for allowing my cheerfulness to be affected by the
dread of seasickness。 I had really no such fear； it was my excuse
to my friend for a return of that unaccountable depression under
which I had suffered at Fondi。 Everything was in our favor；
everybody on board the brig was in good spirits。 The captain was
delighted with the vessel； the crew； Italians and Maltese； were
in high glee at the prospect of making a short voyage on high
wages in a well…provisioned ship。 I alone felt heavy at heart。
There was no valid reason that I could assign to myself for the
melancholy that oppressed me； and yet I struggled against it in
vain。
Late on our first night at sea； I made a discovery which was by
no means calculated to restore my spirits to their usual
equilibrium。 Monkton was in the cabin； on the floor of which had
been placed the packing…case containing the coffin； and I was on
deck。 The wind had fallen almost to a calm； and I was lazily
watching the sails of the brig as they flapped from time to time
against the masts； when the captain approached； and； drawing me
out of hearing of the man at the helm； whispered in my ear：
〃There's something wrong among the men forward。 Did you observe
how suddenly they all became silent just before sunset？〃
I had observed it； and told him so。
〃There's a Maltese boy on board；〃 pursued the captain； 〃who is a
smart enough lad； but a bad one to deal with。 I have found out
that he has been telling the men there is a dead body inside that
packing…case of your friend's in the cabin。〃
My heart sank as he spoke。 Knowing the superstitious
irrationality of sailorsof foreign sailors especiallyI had
taken care to spread a report on board the brig； before the
coffin was shipped； that the packing…case contained a valuable
marble statue which Mr。 Monkton prized highly； and was unwilling
to trust out of his own sight。 How could this Maltese boy have
discovered that the pretended statue was a human corpse？ As I
pondered over the question； my suspicions fixed themselves on
Monkton's servant； who spoke Italian fluently； and whom I knew to
be an incorrigible gossip。 The man denied it when I charged him
with betraying us； but I have never believed his denial to this
day。
〃The little imp won't say where he picked up this notion of his
about the dead body；〃 continued the captain。 〃It's not my place
to pry into secrets； but I advise you to call the crew aft； and
contradict the boy； whether he speaks the truth or not。 The men
are a parcel of fools who believe in ghosts； and all the rest of
it。 Some of them say they would never have signed our articles if
they had known they were going to sail with a dead man； others
only grumble； but I'm afraid we shall have some trouble with them
all； in case of rough weather； unless the boy is contradicted by
you or the other gentleman。 The men say that if either you or
your friend tell them on your words of honor that the Maltese is
a liar； they will hand him up to be rope's…ended accordingly； but
that if you won't； they have made up their minds to believe the
boy。〃
Here the captain paused and awaited my answer。 I could give him
none。 I felt hopeless under our desperate emergency。 To get the
boy punished by giving my word of honor to support a direct
falsehood was not to be thought of even for a moment。 What other
means of extrication from this miserable dilemma remained？ None
that I could think of。 I thanked the captain for his attention to
our interests； told him I would take time to consider what course
I should pursue； and begged that he would say nothing to my
friend about the discovery he had made。 He promised to be silent；
sulkily enough； and walked away from me。
We had expected the breeze to spring up with the morning； but no
breeze came。 As it wore on toward noon the atmosphere became
insufferably sultry； and the sea looked as smooth as glass。 I saw
the captain's eye turn often and anxiously to windward。 Far away
in that direction； and alone in the blue heaven； I observed a
little black cloud； and asked if it would bring us any wind。
〃More than we want；〃 the captain replied； shortly； and then； to
my astonishment； ordered the crew aloft to take in sail。 The
execution of this maneuver showed but too plainly the temper of
the men； they did their work sulkily and slowly； grumbling and
murmuring among themselves。 The captain's manner； as he urged
them on with oaths and threats； convinced me we were in danger。 I
looked again to windward。 The one little cloud had enlarged to a
great bank of murky vapor； and the sea at the horizon had changed
in color。
〃The squall will be on us before we know where we are；〃 said the
captain。 〃Go below； you will be only in the way here。〃
I descended to the cabin； and prepared Monkton for what was
coming。 He was still questioning me about what I had observed on
deck when the storm burst on us。 We felt the little brig strain
for an instant as if she would part in two； then she seemed to be
swinging round with us； then to be quite still for a moment；
trembling in every timber。 Last came a shock which hurled us from
our seats； a deafening crash； and a flood of water pouring into
the cabin。 We clambered； half drowned； to the deck。 The brig had；
in the nautical phrase； 〃broached to；〃 and she now lay on her
beam…ends。
Before I could make out anything distinctly in the horrible
confusion except the one tremendous certainty that we were
entirely at the mercy of the sea； I heard a voice from the fore
part of the ship which stilled the clamoring and shouting of the
rest of the crew in an instant。 The words were in Italian； but I
understood their fatal meaning only too easily。 We had sprung a
leak； and the sea was pouring into the ship's hold like the race
of a mill…stream。 The captain did not lose his presence of mind
in this fresh emergency。 He called for his ax to cut away the
foremast； and； ordering some of the crew to help him； directed
the others to rig out the pumps。
The words had hardly passed his lips before the men broke into
open mutiny。 With a savage look at me； their ringleader declared
that the passengers might do as they pleased； but that he and his
messmates were determined to take to the boat； and leave the
accursed ship； and _the dead man in her；_ to go to the bottom
together。 As he spoke there was a shout among the sailors； and I
observed some of them pointing derisively behind me。 Looking
round； I saw Monkton； who had hitherto kept close at my side；
making his way back to the cabin。 I followed him directly； but
the water and confusion on deck； and the impossibility； from the
position of the brig； of moving the feet without the slow
assistance of the hands； so impeded my progress that it was
impossible for me to overtake him。 When I had got below he was
crouched upon the coffin； with the water on the cabin floor
whirling and splashing about him as the ship heaved and plunged。
I saw a warning brightness in his eyes； a warning flush on his
cheek； as I approached and said to him：
〃There is nothing left for it； Alfred； but to bow to our
misfortune； and do the best we can to save our lives。〃
〃Save yours；〃 he cried； waving his hand to me； 〃for _you_ have a
future before you。 Mine is gone when this coffin goes to the
bottom。 If the ship sinks； I shall know that the fatality is
accomplished； and shall sink with her。〃
I saw that he was in no state to be reasoned with or persuaded；
and raised myself again to the deck。 The men were cutting away
all obstacles so as to launch the longboat placed amidships over
the depressed bulwark of the brig as she lay on her side； and the
captain； after having made a last vain exertion to restore his
authority； was looking on at them in silence。 The violence of the
squall seemed already to be spending itself； and I asked whether
there was really no chance for us if we remained by the ship。 The
captain answered that there might have been the best chance if
the men had obeyed his orders； but that now there was none。
Knowing that I could place no dependence on the presence of mind
of Monkton's servant； I confided to the captain； in the fewest
and plainest words； the condition of my unhappy friend； and asked
if I might depend on his help。 He nodded his head； and we
descended together to the cabin。 Even at this day it costs me
pain to write of the terrible necessity to which the strength and
obstinacy of Monkton's delusion reduced us in the last resort。 We
were compelled to secure his hands； and drag him by main force to
the deck。 The men were on the point of launching the boat； and
refused at first to receive us into it。
〃You cowards！〃 cried the captain； 〃have we got the dead man with
us this time？ Isn't he going to the bottom along with the brig？
Who are you afraid of when we get into the boat？〃
This sort of appeal produced the desired effect； the men became
ashamed of themselves； and retracted their refusal。
Just as we pushed off from the sinking ship Alfred made an effort
to break from me； but I held him firm；