Meeker took an old newspaper from his pocket and unfolded it on the table carefully.
"I think I have something here which will interest you both," he began. "It concerns—my glasses! Will you pardon me for a minute while I get my glasses from my room? I'll be back presently," and he bowed himself out.
"The old shark is funny," said Riggs. "I hold to what I have said about parsons—I don't like 'em aboard me."
I glanced at the passage and wondered if I would have time to whisper to
Riggs about Meeker before the latter returned.
"He wants to hold some sort of service for'ard this evening," continued the captain. "I'm suited if the crew is. It's not that I'm against the sailing directions in the Bible, mind, Mr. Trenholm, or an ungodly man, for I was a deacon back home in Maine. I don't like this chap—he looks too slippery to suit me."
Meeker came back and closed the bulkhead door behind him, adjusting his glasses and picking up the newspaper as he took his seat.
"My dear sirs," he resumed, "I want to read this little article to you and then I'll explain it more fully to you. I am sure that you will find it of interest, Mr. Trenholm, as a literary man and a member of the press, even if in no other way, and you, my dear Captain Riggs, will be interested because it concerns the sea, and you may have some knowledge of the facts. When I was in Aden four—no, five years ago it was—I met a most remarkable gentleman. Most remarkable! He told me a story that was passing strange, and—"
He was interrupted by the bulkhead door flying open violently and Rajah, with his hands thrown up and terror in his eyes, ran toward Captain Riggs, making frantic efforts to frame words with his lips.
"Sally Ann!" cried Riggs in alarm, jumping up. "What the devil has happened to give the boy such a turn! He's nigh out of his wits!"
Rajah pointed to the open door, but we could not see into the passage beyond the triangle of light thrown out from the gimbal-lamps in the saloon. The boy ran toward the door and pointed again, and then drew back in fear, drawing his kris and raising it in a position of defence.