История о корабле призраке

           Theycontinuallybecamemorenoisyandearnest,untilatlength,withdoubledfist,theCaptainbroughtthetableablowwhichshookthewholeapartment. Withwildlaughtertheothersprangup,andbeckonedtotheCaptaintofollowhim. Thelatterrose,drewhissabre,andthenbothlefttheapartment. Webreathedmorefreelywhentheywereaway;butouranxietyhadstillforalongtimenoend. Louderandlouderbecamethenoiseupondeck; weheardhastyrunningtoandfro,shouting,laughing,andhowling. Atlengththerecameanactuallyhellishsound,sothatwethoughtthedeckandallthesailswouldfalldownuponus,theclashofarms,andshrieks—ofasuddenallwasdeepsilence. When,aftermanyhours,weventuredtogoforth,wefoundeverythingasbefore;notonelaydifferently—allwereasstiffaswoodenfigures. 

           Thuspassedweseveraldaysonthevessel;itmovedcontinuallytowardstheEast,inwhichdirection,accordingtomycalculation,laytheland; butifbydayitmademanymiles,bynightitappearedtogobackagain,forwealwaysfoundourselvesinthesamespotwhenthesunwentdown. Wecouldexplainthisinnootherway,thanthatthedeadmeneverynightsailedbackagainwithafullbreeze. Inordertopreventthis,wetookinallthesailbeforeitbecamenight,andemployedthesamemeansasatthedoorinthecabin;wewroteonparchmentthenameoftheProphet,andalso,inaddition,thelittlestanzaofthegrandfather,andboundthemuponthefurledsail. Anxiouslyweawaitedtheresultinourchamber.