Varna to Whitby
Written 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall keep accurate note henceforth till we land.
On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes of
earth. At noon set sail. East wind, fresh. Crew, five hands . . . two
mates, cook, and myself, (captain).
On 11 July at dawn entered Bosphorus. Boarded by Turkish Customs officers. Backsheesh. All correct. Under way at 4 p. m.
On 12 July through Dardanelles. More Customs officers and flagboat
of guarding squadron. Backsheesh again. Work of officers thorough, but
quick. Want us off soon. At dark passed into Archipelago.
On 13 July passed Cape Matapan. Crew dissatisfied about something. Seemed scared, but would not speak out.
On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crew. Men all steady fellows,
who sailed with me before. Mate could not make out what was wrong. They
only told him there was something, and crossed themselves. Mate lost
temper with one of them that day and struck him. Expected fierce
quarrel, but all was quiet.
On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of the crew,
Petrofsky, was missing. Could not account for it. Took larboard watch
eight bells last night, was relieved by Amramoff, but did not go to
bunk. Men more downcast than ever. All said they expected something of
the kind, but would not say more than there was SOMETHING aboard. Mate
getting very impatient with them. Feared some trouble ahead.
On 17 July, yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren, came to my cabin,
and in an awestruck way confided to me that he thought there was a
strange man aboard the ship. He said that in his watch he had been
sheltering behind the deckhouse, as there was a rain storm, when he saw
a tall, thin man, who was not like any of the crew, come up the
companionway, and go along the deck forward and disappear. He followed
cautiously, but when he got to bows found no one, and the hatchways
were all closed. He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am
afraid the panic may spread. To allay it, I shall today search the
entire ship carefully from stem to stern.
Later in the day I got together the whole crew, and told them, as
they evidently thought there was some one in the ship, we would search
from stem to stern. First mate angry, said it was folly, and to yield
to such foolish ideas would demoralise the men, said he would engage to
keep them out of trouble with the handspike. I let him take the helm,
while the rest began a thorough search, all keeping abreast, with
lanterns. We left no corner unsearched. As there were only the big
wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide. Men
much relieved when search over, and went back to work cheerfully.
First mate scowled, but said nothing.
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