Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/245

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THE NAVAL OFFICER.
241

cloud, and a cry of horror proceeded from the look-out man on the starboard gangway. I ran to inquire the cause, and found him in such a state of nervous agitation that he could only say, "Quid- Quid!" and point with his finger into the water.

I looked over the side, and, to my amazement, there was the body of Quid,

"All in dreary hammock shrouded,"

perfectly upright, and floating with the head and shoulders above water! A slight undulation of the waves gave it the appearance of nodding its head; while the rays of the moon enabled us to trace the remainder of the body underneath the surface. For a few moments, I felt a horror which I cannot describe, and contemplated the object in awful silence; while my blood ran cold, and 1 felt a sensation as if my hair was standing on end. I was completely taken by surprise, and thought the body had risen up to warn