victims of that singular complaint are, or at least fail to recognize
the extent of their aberration. In your case it has only been indicated
by a profound melancholy and natural shunning of society. In a paroxysm
of your disorder, you rise in the night, fully dress yourself, and glide
as unconsciously along the deck in pursuance of some vague fancy. You
pass the honest but energetic sailor who has just left us, who thinks
you are a phantom, and fails to give the alarm; you are precipitated
by a lurch of the ship through an open hatchway: the shock renders you
insensible until you are discovered and restored."

"And who will believe this pretty story?" said the young man scornfully.

"The honest sailor who picked you up, who has related it in his own
picturesque tongue to ME, who will in turn interpret it to the captain
and the other passengers," replied Senor Perkins blandly.

"And what of the two mates who were here?" said the prisoner
hesitatingly.

"They are two competent officers, who are quite content to carry out
the orders of their superiors, and who understand their duty too well to
interfere with the reports of their subordinates, on which these orders
are based. Mr. Brooks, the first officer, though fairly intelligent
and a good reader of history, is only imperfectly acquainted with the
languages, and Mr. M'Carthy's knowledge of Spanish is confined to a few
objurgations which generally preclude extended conversation."

"And who are you," said Hurlstone, more calmly, "who are willing to do
this for a stranger?"