So was the coxswain’s; and both seemed to start on seeing me as if I had been a ghost.
“Good heavens, my boy!” exclaimed the lieutenant. “How did you get here?”
“The doctor sent me, sir,” I answered glibly. “He was getting anxious about you and thought something had happened.”
“By Jove, you gave me quite a turn after coming out of that infernal den there!” he said with a shudder, pointing over his shoulder. “I never saw such a sight in my life. Did you, Bates?”
“No, sir,” replied the coxswain. “I hopes to God, sir, I never shall again, sir!”
“What is it, sir?” I asked, all my curiosity aroused. “May I come down and see the place, sir?”
“No, Vernon, it’s not fit for a boy like you to look at such a horrible sight. Why, it would haunt your memory for months, as I’m sure it will mine!”
So saying, he began to mount the companion way towards me slowly, but had hardly ascended a couple of steps when he came to a halt, looking up for a moment as if undecided in his mind.
“Stay; I think you may come down, youngster, after all,” he said at length. “Perhaps it might be as well that you should see with your own eyes what Bates and I have seen; for, then you will serve as an additional witness in the event of there being any future inquiry. I hope you have a good strong stomach, my boy, and are not squeamish?”
“Oh, no, sir,” I rejoined as I followed him down the steps again to the gangway below, “I’m not squeamish.”