But little did we think that one day we would be in danger of our lives from those awful monsters.
Only it wasn’t by day, but by night, and a clear and beautiful night it was too, with the moon shining as brightly almost as it used to shine over the woods around my Persian home.
Tom and I had been sitting on the bulwarks as usual, expecting a flying fish to come on board. But they could see us too distinctly, so they kept away.
There was very little wind that night, just enough to fill the sails, and carry us along about five knots an hour.
It was a few minutes past midnight, and the watch had been changed, and stillness reigned everywhere. I think I must have fallen asleep and been dreaming, for I started in fright when one bell was struck loudly and clearly.
I started so that I missed my balance, and fell with a plash into the sea. Next moment Tom Brandy uttered a plaintive howl and dashed in after me. I am sure that the poor fellow had no idea of trying to save my life, he only wished to share my fate.
I heard a shout just after Tom came down. For a man in the watch, hearing the plash in the water, immediately concluded that someone had fallen in, and raised the alarm.
“Man overboard! Away, lifeboat’s crew!”
The shout was taken up and repeated fore and aft, down below and on deck as well.
Then something came rushing down into the sea from the stern of the ship, and fell into the water with a strange hollow ring.