It rose to
its feet, and crossing over to the unconscious skipper, rubbed its head
affectionately and vigorously against his leg.
From simple causes great events do spring. The skipper sprang four
yards, and let off a screech which was the subject of much comment on
the barque which had just passed. When Bob, who came shuffling up at the
double, reached him he was leaning against the side, incapable of
speech, and shaking all over.
"Anything wrong, sir?" inquired the seaman anxiously, as he ran to the
wheel.
The skipper pulled himself together a bit, and got closer to his
companion.
"Believe me or not, Bob," he said at length, in trembling accents, "just
as you please, but the ghost of that--cat, I mean the ghost of that poor
affectionate animal which I drowned, and which I wish I hadn't, came and
rubbed itself up against my leg."
"Which leg?" inquired Bob, who was ever careful about details.
"What the blazes does it matter which leg?" demanded the skipper, whose
nerves were in a terrible state. "Ah, look--look there!"
The seaman followed his outstretched finger, and his heart failed him as
he saw the cat, with its back arched, gingerly picking its way along the
side of the vessel.
"I can't see nothing," he said doggedly.
"I don't suppose you can, Bob," said the skipper in a melancholy voice,
as the cat vanished in the bows; "it's evidently only meant for me to
see.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81