‘But the crew slunk together in a body, and murmured to each other, but put not a hand to rope or tackle. Then Ned Purvis stood forward.
‘“Who are you?” said he, “and why should we take you or your boat aboard?”
‘“You yourself asked me,” quoth the strange man; “you flung the rope; but for that I should have floated past you. I never come, but where some one welcomes me.”
‘Now, at this, Ned Purvis confessed that he felt like a great sinner, and all the men turned round and looked first at him and then at the stranger. But Ned plucked up courage, and determined to give them all bold words. So he walked up to the stranger, and said—
‘“Well, I did heave you a rope; no true-hearted mariner would see a man adrift upon the ocean, and not offer him rescue. I care little what you be. If you are our fellow-creature, we have done but our duty in saving you; if you be not, why, we are honest men here, having no crime upon our consciences, and we defy the devil and all his works. Come, shipmates, lend a hand, and heave the old gentleman’s barge aboard. It’s the captain’s orders, and orders must be obeyed.”
‘And so, after a little grumbling and murmuring, the boat was hove aboard and placed between the masts. There was neither food nor water in her, and her bottom was as foul with barnacles and sea-weed as if she had drifted ten times round the world. Meantime, the stranger and the captain went below, and the men stood in a group round the cabin, but they could hear nought of what took place there, and presently they retired to their usual posts. Well, Ned Purvis was in the first watch, and when it got dark he was standing leaning against the main-chains, wondering at the strange event of the day, when the captain touched him on the shoulder.
‘“Nevvy!” says the old man, “know you whom you have brought aboard into this ship?”
‘“Why, uncle,” answered Ned, somewhat taken aback at this address, “ought we not to take aboard any man we find starving in a boat upon the ocean, more than a week’s sail from land?”
‘“Ay, Nevvy,” quoth the old captain, “any man, but not any phantom; it is more than a hundred years since the passenger you brought on board this unhappy ship was a man!”
‘“Do you know him, then, uncle?” says Ned; “have you ever seen him before?”