wail.

Someone crossed the deck and went up to the side of the steamer.

"O-o-o," was heard again, but nearer this time.

"Yefim!" some one called in a low voice on the deck. "Yefimka!"

"Well?"

"Devil! Get up! Take the boat-hook."

"O-o-o," someone moaned near by, and Foma, shuddering, stepped
back from the window.

The queer sound came nearer and nearer and grew in strength, sobbed
and died out in the darkness. While on the deck they whispered
with alarm:

"Yefimka! Get up! A guest is floating!"

"Where?" came a hasty question, then bare feet began to patter about
the deck, a bustle was heard, and two boat-hooks slipped down past
the boy's face and almost noiselessly plunged into the water.

"A gue-e-est!" Some began to sob near by, and a quiet, but very
queer splash resounded.

The boy trembled with fright at this mournful cry, but he could
not tear his hands from the window nor his eyes from the water.