“What’s a corposant?” whispered John.
“I don’t know,” replied Grant, “except that that’s what they call a ball of light like that one. If it goes up it’s supposed to be good luck, but if it comes down it’s bad.”
“I wish Petersen wasn’t up there,” muttered Fred.
“Don’t be silly, Fred,” exclaimed Grant sharply. The tension was affecting every one’s nerves. It was almost pitch dark on the Josephine now.
“I can’t help it,” insisted Fred. “I wish it was some one else up there.”
“It’s gone,” remarked John suddenly.
“No, it isn’t,” George corrected. “There it is, down on the yard.”
“It came down then,” said Fred. “I knew it would.”
“Don’t blame Petersen,” exclaimed Grant. “It’s not his fault.”
The two sailors had climbed down quickly after their task was completed and now joined the rest of the crew. All together they stood and watched the strange light until after playing about the mast for some ten minutes or so it disappeared as suddenly as it had come.