Morgan Robertson

“ It was a horrible sight to see that beast coming aft. He came on all fours as fast as a horse could run, but he came nearly erect, swaying from side to side like a drunken man trying to walk straight; and his mouth was open, wider and redder than ever, and his little eyes were almost hidden behind that devilish grin. ”

“ At the outer gasket he dropped the cook, and that was the end of him.
“‘Now’s your chance,’ I called to the three in the fore rigging. ‘Come down and get handspikes, and I’ll join you. If you don’t he’ll kill us all, one by one.’
“They never stirred nor answered, and just then I heard the skipper driving the cabin-boy up the after-companion. ‘Get up on deck,’ he commanded. ‘What are you soldiering down here for?’
“Up came the boy—a whimpering snipe of a lad, who ought to have been home—and the skipper, brave as a lion with two pistols in his hands, but half crazy from the excitement. ”

“ So the dago went up the fore and the nigger up the main; then seven bells struck, the cabin-boy rang the breakfast-bell, and the skipper called the mate to breakfast, saying the second mate could put the canvas on her, and went down the after-companion. The mate went in the forward companion just as the two men aloft sang out, ‘Sheet home when you’re ready, sir,’ and the Chinee cook came out of the galley to help at the halyards, leaving the men’s breakfast on the galley stove. But they didn’t get that breakfast, nor even masthead the yard; and the fellows aloft never loosed the royals. ”

“ Just the same, I’ll carry my two pistols from this on. That’s no ’rang-outang or chimpanzee; that’s a gorilla, and he’s promised what he’ll do with us.’
“‘And the same here, sir,’ said the second mate. ‘I go heeled, and if he breaks loose, I’ll shoot; for I’ll consider my life in danger.’
“‘Nonsense! You make me sick and tired with your cowardice. Afraid of a sick animal! Here, you men, unhook that tackle and drag him forrard to the windlass. I’ll boss this job.’
“It took all hands to haul that squealing brute forward. ”

“ The gorilla was halfway up the fore rigging by this time, and the two Dutchmen had reached the foreyard, while the Sou’egian was going higher. One Dutchman laid out to windward, the other to leeward, and I thought of a plan.
“‘Climb aft on the forebrace, each one of you,’ I sang out. ‘If he follows, I’ll let go the brace when you’ve reached the mainmast.’
“They heard me, and obeyed. Each came aft, hand over hand and leg over leg, under the brace. The gorilla went to leeward, and followed Wagner, the man on that side. He could beat him and was gaining fast. ”

“ He went below, and I watched the gorilla. I suppose I might have cleared away the quarter-boat cover and got the oars myself; but I was at the wheel, and you know the habit of years. You must stand by your wheel though the heavens fall.
“I had got so used to the killing of men up aloft that I didn’t care to watch the next performance. I busied myself with yelling at the skipper, and just as he came up I saw the sprawling figure of the nigger come down on the lee side ”