"
Then raising his head, and elevating his voice, "Hilloa!
aloft there!"
The only answer was a groan, followed by a deeper commotion
among the rustling foliage.
"Why, what the devil's the matter with you now, Jack?"
pursued the boatswain, in a voice of angry vehemence.
"Are ye scared at another ghost, and be damned to you,
that ye keep groaning there after that fashion?"
At that moment a heavy dull mass was heard tumbling
through the upper rigging of the schooner towards the
deck, and presently a human form fell at the very feet
of the small group, composed of the two officers and the
individual who had last spoken.
"A light, a light!" shouted the boatswain; "the foolish
chap has lost his hold through fear, and ten to one if
he hasn't cracked his skull-piece for his pains. Quick
there with a light, and let's see what we can do for him."
The attention of all had been arrested by the sound of
the falling weight, and as one of the sailors now advanced,
bearing a dark lantern from below, the whole of the crew,
with the exception of those employed on the fallen tree,
gathered themselves in a knot round the motionless form
of the prostrate man.
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