Chapter 7

I held out my hand, and the horrible, soft-spoken, eyeless creature gripped it in a moment like a vise. I was so much startled that I struggled to withdraw, but the blind man pulled me close up to him with a single action of his arm. “Now, boy,” he said, “take me in to the captain.” “Sir,” said I, “upon my word I dare not.” “Oh,” he sneered, “that’s it! Take me in straight or I’ll break your arm.” And he gave it, as he spoke, a wrench that made me cry out. “Sir,” said I, “it is for yourself I mean. The captain is n…