"What are you hiding behind the mast for ?" he inquired, stepping towards him.
Mr.Stobell made no reply, but with an agility hardly to be expected of one of his bulk dashed behind the galley again.
A sense of mystery and unreality stole over Mr.Chalk.

He began to think that he must be dreaming.

He turned and looked at Mr.Duckett, and Mr.
Duckett, trying to smile at him, contorted his face so horribly that he shrank back appalled.

He looked about him and saw that they were now in open water and drawing gradually away from the land.

The stillness and mystery became unbearable, and with an air of resolution he cocked his rifle and proceeded with infinite caution to stalk the galley.