He held the lantern higher and we went out cautiously.
Stubbins reached the Ordinary, and put his hand on his shoulder, with a soothing gesture.
"Steady hon now, Jacobs," he said. "Steady hon."
At his touch, as though by magic, the young fellow calmed down, and
Stubbins—reaching round him—grasped the jackstay on the other side.
"Get a hold of him your side, Jessop," he sung out. "I'll get this side."
This, I did, and Stubbins climbed round him.
"There hain't no one here," Stubbins called to me; but his voice expressed no surprise.
"What!" sung out the Second Mate. "No one there! Where's Svensen, then?"
I did not catch Stubbins's reply; for suddenly, it seemed to me that I saw something shadowy at the extreme end of the yard, out by the lift. I stared. It rose up, on the yard, and I saw that it was the figure of a man. It grasped at the lift, and commenced to swarm up, quickly. It passed diagonally above Stubbins's head, and reached down a vague hand and arm.
"Look out! Stubbins!" I shouted. "Look out!"