"I was drawin' away at my pipe, and not saying a deal, when all of a sudden the bo's'n seized me by the arm.
"He was all of a shake now, and his eyes was eyes of terror, as he pointed aloft with outstretched arm.
"'Look! oh, look!'
"Yes, sure enough, cap'n, on the mizen topgallant mast-head, burned a strange tapering light as tall as a man's arm.
"We both stood mute with fear. It burned brightly for a minute, then flickered and went out. Only to reappear, however, in a few seconds, this time more blue than white. Then, flickering once more, it fled, and we saw it not again.
"Neither spoke for long seconds. We looked into each others' faces inquiringly-like.
"'That,' said the bo's'n, 'is St. Helmo's (St. Elmo's) fire, and this bloomin' ship is doomed.'
"I said nothing. I merely walked below, and passin' thro' the saloon entered the skipper's cabin and touched him gentle-like on the shoulder. Two candles was burnin' in jimbles, and a book he had been reading lay on the white coverlet. Sound asleep as a baby he were, but sailor-like he opened his eyes the moment I touched him.
"'Well, Goodwin, anything up?'
"'Nothin' much, sir. Only St. Helmo's fire been a burnin' on the mizen truck.'