He was stark naked, covered with blood,
and raving. He had cut and slashed himself in a score of places.
From one wound in the wrist the blood spurted with each beat of the
pulse. He was a loathsome, non-human thing. I have seen a scared
orang in a zoo, and for all the world this bestial-faced, mowing,
gibbering thing reminded me of the orang. The sailors surrounded
him, laying hands on him, withstraining him, the while they guffawed
and cheered. Right and left the two mates shoved them away, and
dragged the lunatic down the deck and into a room in the 'midship
house. I could not help marking the strength of Mr. Pike and Mr.
Mellaire. I had heard of the superhuman strength of madmen, but this
particular madman was as a wisp of straw in their hands. Once into
the bunk, Mr. Pike held down the struggling fool easily with one hand
while he dispatched the second mate for marlin with which to tie the
fellow's arms.
"Bughouse," Mr. Pike grinned at me. "I've seen some bughouse crews
in my time, but this one's the limit.
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