“Well,” said Uncle Paul, “I have for a long time had my doubts, and now I am no longer a sceptic.”
He looked very hard at the skipper as he spoke, and feeling that he was called upon to answer, the sturdy captain shook his head and brought his big hand down heavily upon the cabin table.
“That you are not, sir,” he said; “your head’s too full of science and knowledge and larning to be what you say. I don’t quite exactly know what it means, but I’ll answer for it you are not that; and now if you don’t mind I should like for us to go up on deck again and have a good look round. It’s ’most as light as day, and if a thing like that is playing around we are just as likely as not to sight it again. What do you say, sir, to taking your glass and being on the look-out?”
“By all means,” said the doctor. “Get the glass, Rodd. Hullo! What’s the matter with you?”
“Oh, nothing, uncle,” said the boy, hastily rising.
“Why, you took hold of the table as if you felt dizzy.”
“No, no, uncle. I am all right.”
“Not afraid, are you?”
“I—I was for a moment, uncle.”
“Good lad and true! Naught to be ashamed on, and spoke out like a man,” grunted the skipper.