"It—it's in the pilot-house!" gasped the now thoroughly frightened mate.
"What's in the pilot-house?" demanded Captain Simms angrily.
"Nobody—I mean I don't know. It's a——"
But the skipper waited to hear no more. He rushed up the stairs, two steps at a jump. Reaching the bridge deck he sprang for the door of the pilot-house and jerked it open. As he did so his keen eyes caught sight of a huge, shadowy figure at the wheel. The strange, uncouth shape was twirling the wheel merrily, while the ship was diving this way and that in a most unusual and erratic manner.
The figure at the wheel suddenly bolted forward, making a grab for Captain Simms. Quite a portion of the skipper's pajamas were left in the grip of the strange object, causing the captain to retire hastily, slamming the door as he did so.
"It's the bear! The bear has escaped!" he shouted.
"The bear?" yelled several voices.
"Yes, the bear in that crate in the lazaret. We were taking it down for Mr. Carrhart, to be shipped to a friend of his in Pittsburgh."
"Wow!" cried Jarvis, who had been creeping up the stairs. He turned and bolted down again with all speed.