The night after this event, when I went to the galley to get a
light, I found the cook inclined to be talkative, so I sat down on the
spars, and gave him an opportunity to hold a yarn. I was the more
inclined to do so, as I found that he was full of the superstitions
once more common among seamen, and which the recent death had waked up
in his mind. He talked about George's having spoken of his friends,
and said he believed few men died without having a warning of it,
which he supported by a great many stories of dreams, and the
unusual behavior of men before death. From this he went on to other
superstitions, the Flying Dutchman, etc., and talked rather
mysteriously, having something evidently on his mind. At length he put
his head out of the galley and looked carefully about to see if any
one was within hearing, and being satisfied on that point, asked me in
a low tone-
"I say! you know what countryman 'e carpenter be?"
"Yes," said I, "he's a German."
"What kind of a German?" said the cook.
"He belongs to Bremen," said I.
"Are you sure o' dat?" said he.
I satisfied him on that point by saying that he could speak no
language but the German and English.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72