hile I investigated further; and
forthwith plunged below.

Arrived at the foot of the companion ladder, I found myself confronted
by a bulkhead running athwart the ship, and in this I presently found
the handle of a door. Turning this, I found myself--as I had expected--
in the cabin, which was of course pitch dark, the panes of the skylight
just dimly showing, overhead, with the merest suggestion of a certain
faintly--gleaming something hanging from the beams, and swinging with
the roll of the ship, which I presently identified as the extinguished
cabin lamp. Groping cautiously with my hands, I presently encountered a
table, uncovered, working round which I next came to some lockers
upholstered in horsehair--as I gathered from the touch; and while I was
groping about on these lockers my hands suddenly encountered what seemed
to be a tablecloth, with a few knives and forks, some broken crockery,
and a few other matters entangled in its folds, the whole suggesting the
idea that the cabin had been the scene of a furious struggle, during
which the table, laid for a meal, had been swept of everything upon it.
Leaving all this quite undisturbed--in the belief that when I could see
just how it all lay I might obtain a clue to the mystery at present
connected with the ship--I continued my researches, with the result that
I made out the cabin to occupy the extreme after-end of the vessel, with
possibly a small sail-room, or something of that kind, abaft it, and
that it took up the whole width of that part of the hull; that is to
say, there were no staterooms between it and the ship's side, as is
sometimes the case. Continuing to grope my way round the cabin, I
presently arrived once more at the bulkhead, wherein, on the starboard
side, I found another door, giving access to a stateroom, as I soon
discovered by finding the bunk, with the bedding still in it, and
apparently quite ready for an occupant. It did not take me long to
arrive at the conclusion that I was in the skipper's stateroom; for I
found that underneath the bunk was a chest of drawers; while in one
corner was a wash-basin, etcetera, and in the other what seemed to be a
small bookcase. Having progressed thus far, I had hopes of soon finding
that of which I was in search, namely, a box of matches. Being a
sailor, and well acquainted with sailors' ways, I knew exactly where
would be the most likely place to find what I wanted, and, clambering up
on the bunk, I