"There’s somebody upstairs, Jack," I said. "Don’t you hear footsteps?"

"It’s the wind, captain," Jack answered; but I could see he was trembling.

"That isn’t any wind, Jack," I said; "it’s still and foggy. I’m sure there’s somebody upstairs."

"If you are so sure of it, you’d better go and see for yourself, captain," Jack answered, almost angrily.

He was angry because he was frightened. I left him before the fireplace, and went upstairs. There was no power on earth that could make me believe I hadn’t heard a man’s footsteps overhead. I knew there was somebody there. But there wasn’t. I went into the bedroom, and it was all quiet, and the evening light was streaming in, reddish through the foggy air; and I went out on the landing and looked in the little back room that was meant for a servant-girl or a child. And as I came back again I saw that the door of the other room was wide open, though I knew Jack had locked it. He had said the lock was no good. I looked in. It was a room as big as the bedroom, but almost dark, for it had shutters, and they were closed. There was a musty smell, as of old gear, and I could make out that the floor was littered with sea-chests, and that there were oilskins and such stuff piled on the bed. But I still believed that there was somebody upstairs, and I went in and struck a match and looked round. I could see the four walls and the shabby old paper, an iron bed and a cracked looking-glass, and the stuff on the floor. But there was nobody there. So I put out the match, and came out and shut the door and turned the key. Now, what I am telling you is the truth. When I had turned the key, I heard footsteps walking away from the door inside the room. Then I felt queer for a minute, and when I went downstairs I looked behind me, as the men at the wheel used to look behind them on board the Helen B.

Jack was already outside on the steps, smoking. I have an idea that he didn’t like to stay inside alone.

"Well?" he asked, trying to seem careless.

"I didn’t find anybody," I answered, "but I heard somebody moving about."

"I told you it was the wind," said Jack contemptuously. "I ought to know, for I live here, and I hear it often."