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ran down on the main…deck shouting some order or other；
and the chief mate came to meet me； touching his cap。
There was a sort of curiosity in his eye that I did not like。
I don't know whether the steward had told them that I was 〃queer〃 only；
or downright drunk； but I know the man meant to have a good look at me。
I watched him coming with a smile which； as he got into point…blank range；
took effect and froze his very whiskers。 I did not give him time
to open his lips。
〃Square the yards by lifts and braces before the hands go to breakfast。〃
It was the first particular order I had given on board that ship；
and I stayed on deck to see it executed； too。 I had felt the need
of asserting myself without loss of time。 That sneering young cub
got taken down a peg or two on that occasion； and I also seized
the opportunity of having a good look at the face of every
foremast man as they filed past me to go to the after braces。
At breakfast time； eating nothing myself； I presided with such
frigid dignity that the two mates were only too glad to escape from
the cabin as soon as decency permitted； and all the time the dual
working of my mind distracted me almost to the point of insanity。
I was constantly watching myself； my secret self； as dependent
on my actions as my own personality； sleeping in that bed；
behind that door which faced me as I sat at the head of the table。
It was very much like being mad； only it was worse because one was
aware of it。
I had to shake him for a solid minute； but when at last he opened his eyes
it was in the full possession of his senses； with an inquiring look。
〃All's well so far；〃 I whispered。 〃Now you must vanish into the bathroom。〃
He did so； as noiseless as a ghost； and then I rang for the steward；
and facing him boldly； directed him to tidy up my stateroom while I was
having my bath〃and be quick about it。〃 As my tone admitted of no excuses；
he said； 〃Yes； sir；〃 and ran off to fetch his dustpan and brushes。
I took a bath and did most of my dressing； splashing； and whistling
softly for the steward's edification； while the secret sharer of my life
stood drawn up bolt upright in that little space； his face looking
very sunken in daylight； his eyelids lowered under the stern； dark line
of his eyebrows drawn together by a slight frown。
When I left him there to go back to my room the steward
was finishing dusting。 I sent for the mate and engaged him
in some insignificant conversation。 It was； as it were；
trifling with the terrific character of his whiskers； but my object
was to give him an opportunity for a good look at my cabin。
And then I could at last shut； with a clear conscience； the door
of my stateroom and get my double back into the recessed part。
There was nothing else for it。 He had to sit still on a small
folding stool； half smothered by the heavy coats hanging there。
We listened to the steward going into the bathroom out of
the saloon； filling the water bottles there； scrubbing the bath；
setting things to rights； whisk； bang； clatterout again
into the saloonturn the keyclick。 Such was my scheme
for keeping my second self invisible。 Nothing better could
be contrived under the circumstances。 And there we sat；
I at my writing desk ready to appear busy with some papers；
he behind me out of sight of the door。 It would not have
been prudent to talk in daytime； and I could not have stood
the excitement of that queer sense of whispering to myself。
Now and then； glancing over my shoulder； I saw him far back there；
sitting rigidly on the low stool； his bare feet close together；
his arms folded； his head hanging on his breastand perfectly still。
Anybody would have taken him for me。
I was fascinated by it myself。 Every moment I had to glance
over my shoulder。 I was looking at him when a voice outside
the door said：
〃Beg pardon； sir。〃
〃Well！ 。 。 。 I kept my eyes on him； and so when the voice outside
the door announced； 〃There's a ship's boat coming our way； sir；〃
I saw him give a startthe first movement he had made for hours。
But he did not raise his bowed head。
〃All right。 Get the ladder over。〃
I hesitated。 Should I whisper something to him？ But what？
His immobility seemed to have been never disturbed。
What could I tell him he did not know already？ 。 。 。 Finally
I went on deck。
II
The skipper of the Sephora had a thin red whisker all round his face；
and the sort of complexion that goes with hair of that color；
also the particular； rather smeary shade of blue in the eyes。
He was not exactly a showy figure； his shoulders were high；
his stature but middlingone leg slightly more bandy
than the other。 He shook hands； looking vaguely around。
A spiritless tenacity was his main characteristic； I judged。
I behaved with a politeness which seemed to disconcert him。
Perhaps he was shy。 He mumbled to me as if he were ashamed of
what he was saying； gave his name （it was something like Archbold
but at this distance of years I hardly am sure）； his ship's name；
and a few other particulars of that sort； in the manner
of a criminal making a reluctant and doleful confession。
He had had terrible weather on the passage outterribleterrible
wife aboard； too。
By this time we were seated in the cabin and the steward brought in a
tray with a bottle and glasses。 〃Thanks！ No。〃 Never took liquor。
Would have some water； though。 He drank two tumblerfuls。
Terrible thirsty work。 Ever since daylight had been exploring
the islands round his ship。
〃What was that forfun？〃 I asked； with an appearance of polite interest。
〃No！〃 He sighed。 〃Painful duty。〃
As he persisted in his mumbling and I wanted my double to hear every word；
I hit upon the notion of informing him that I regretted to say I was
hard of hearing。
〃Such a young man； too！〃 he nodded； keeping his smeary blue；
unintelligent eyes fastened upon me。 〃What was the cause of it
some disease？〃 he inquired； without the least sympathy and as
if he thought that； if so； I'd got no more than I deserved。
〃Yes； disease；〃 I admitted in a cheerful tone which seemed to shock him。
But my point was gained； because he had to raise his voice to give
me his tale。 It is not worth while to record his version。
It was just over two months since all this had happened； and he had thought
so much about it that he seemed completely muddled as to its bearings；
but still immensely impressed。
〃What would you think of such a thing happening on board your own ship？
I've had the Sephora for these fifteen years。 I am a well…known shipmaster。〃
He was densely distressedand perhaps I should have sympathized
with him if I had been able to detach my mental vision
from the unsuspected sharer of my cabin as though he were my
second self。 There he was on the other side of the bulkhead；
four or five feet from us； no more； as we sat in the saloon。
I looked politely at Captain Archbold （if that was his name）；
but it was the other I saw； in a gray sleeping suit； seated on
a low stool； his bare feet close together； his arms folded；
and every word said between us falling into the ears of his
dark head bowed on his chest。
〃I have been at sea now； man and boy； for seven…and…thirty years；
and I've never heard of such a thing happening in an English ship。
And that it should be my ship。 Wife on board； too。〃
I was hardly listening to him。
〃Don't you think；〃 I said； 〃that the heavy sea which；
you told me； came aboard just then might have killed the man？
I have seen the sheer weight of a sea kill a man very neatly；
by simply breaking his neck。〃
〃Good God！〃 he uttered； impressively； fixing his smeary blue eyes on me。
〃The sea！ No man killed by the sea ever looked like that。〃
He seemed positively scandalized at my suggestion。 And as I gazed
at him certainly not prepared for anything original on his part；
he advanced his head