They ARE cowardly. This was shown conclusively this morning at two
o'clock. Never have I witnessed such panic fear, and it was fear of
the immediate thing--fear, stupid and beast-like. It was Mr.
Mellaire's watch. As luck would have it, I was reading Boas's Mind
of Primitive Man when I heard the rush of feet over my head. The
Elsinore was hove to on the port tack at the time, under very short
canvas. I was wondering what emergency had brought the watch upon
the poop, when I heard another rush of feet that meant the second
watch. I heard no pulling and hauling, and the thought of mutiny
flashed across my mind.
Still nothing happened, and, growing curious, I got into my sea-
boots, sheepskin coat, and oilskin, put on my sou'wester and mittens,
and went on deck. Mr. Pike had already dressed and was ahead of me.
Captain West, who in this bad weather sleeps in the chart-room, stood
in the lee doorway of the house, through which the lamplight streamed
on the frightened faces of the men.
Those of the 'midship-house were not present, but every man Jack of
the forecastle, with the exception of Andy Fay and Mulligan Jacobs,
as I afterwards learned, had joined in the flight aft.
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