“I suppose you got knocked about a bit last night?” inquired the captain, with a searching glance.

“Not exactly knocked about; I did not mind that so much, but——” and I hesitated.

“But you were disturbed?” he added significantly.

“Yes, very much so; I hope I shall never be disturbed in such a way again.”

“Then I take it you’ve seen them—the former passengers? They are generally aboard, they say, in dirty weather.”

“Whatever they were, I trust in God I may never witness such another scene.”

“You don’t wonder now that we are not free of offering cabin accommodation, eh? Not that I ever saw anything myself.”

“But you admit that there is something.”

“So they say”—nodding his head with a jaunty air.

“And what is the explanation? What do they say?” I asked impatiently.