in my life. Did you, Bates?"

"No, sir," replied the coxswain. "I hopes to God, sir, I never shall
again, sir!"

"What is it, sir?" I asked, all my curiosity aroused. "May I come down
and see the place, sir?"

"No, Vernon, it's not fit for a boy like you to look at such a horrible
sight. Why, it would haunt your memory for months, as I'm sure it will
mine!"

So saying, he began to mount the companion way towards me slowly, but
had hardly ascended a couple of steps when he came to a halt, looking up
for a moment as if undecided in his mind.

"Stay; I think you may come down, youngster, after all," he said at
length. "Perhaps it might be as well that you should see with your own
eyes what Bates and I have seen; for, then you will serve as an
additional witness in the event of there being any future inquiry. I
hope you have a good strong stomach, my boy, and are not squeamish?"

"Oh, no, sir," I rejoined as I followed him down the steps again to the
gangway below, "I'm not squeamish."

"Well, then," he cried, throwing open the opposite door which gave
entrance to the cabin directly under the broken skylight, "look in
there!"

It was fortunate that I had a steady nerve and was not easily
frightened, for the sight that met my gaze would have startled most
grown-up persons, let alone one of my age!

The place was in as great confusion as the open deck above, the sea
having worked its ravages here as well as there and littered it with
lumber of every description, which the water that had likewise gained
admittance was washing about the floor, in company with the overturned
tables and chairs.

Broken plates and dishes were mixed up with stray articles of clothing;
while books and empty bottles, which, strangely whole, bobbed up and
down amidst the general ruin, floated in and out between the heavier
dunnage.

I noticed even a mandoline, with a blue riband attached to it cruising
round the bottles; which seemed quite out of its latitude there! But,
this was not all.

There was a strange, sickly smell in the room; and what was that looking
up at me from the rubbish-strewn deck close to where I stood by the
cabin door?

I almost shrieked out as it caught my wandering glance, the eyes seeming
to look right into mine, opened wide in one fixed stare.

It was the face of a dead woman, over whose marble-like features the
water rippled as the ship lurched, tossing her long hair about as if
playing with it an