"It happened in '84, on board the steamer George Washington, bound from
Liverpool to New York. The first eight days passed without anything
unusual happening, but on the ninth I was standing aft with the first
mate, hauling in the log, when we hears a yell from aloft, an' a chap
what we called Stuttering Sam come down as if he was possessed, and
rushed up to the mate with his eyes nearly starting out of his 'ed.
"'There's the s-s-s-s-s-s-sis-sis-sip!' ses he.
"'The what?' ses the mate.
"'The s-s-sea-sea-sssssip!'
"'Look here, my lad,' ses the mate, taking out a pocket-hankerchief an'
wiping his face, 'you just tarn your 'ed away till you get your breath.
It's like opening a bottle o' soda water to stand talking to you. Now,
what is it?'
"'It's the ssssssis-sea-sea-sea-sarpint!' ses Sam, with a bust.
"'Rather a long un by your account of it,' ses the mate, with a grin.
"'What's the matter?' ses the skipper, who just came up.
"'This man has seen the sea-sarpint, sir, that's all,' ses the mate.
"'Y-y-yes,' said Sam, with a sort o' sob.
"'Well, there ain't much doing just now,' ses the skipper, 'so you'd
better get a slice o' bread and feed it.'
"The mate bust out larfing, an' I could see by the way the skipper
smiled he was rather tickled at it himself.
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