The Strange Face

We left the cabin and found a man at the companion obstructing our way. He was standing on the ladder with his back to us, peering over the combing of the hatchway. He was, I could see, a misshapen man, short, broad, and clumsy, with a crooked back, a hairy neck, and a head sunk between his shoulders. He was dressed in dark-blue serge, and had peculiarly thick, coarse, black hair. I heard the unseen dogs growl furiously, and forthwith he ducked back,—coming into contact with the hand I put out to fend him off from myself. He turned with animal swiftness.

We left the cabin and found a man blocking our way at the stairway. He stood on the ladder with his back to us, peering over the edge of the hatchway. I could see that he was misshapen, short, broad, and clumsy. He had a crooked back, a hairy neck, and a head sunk between his shoulders. He wore dark-blue serge and had unusually thick, coarse black hair. I heard dogs growling furiously somewhere out of sight, and he immediately ducked back. He bumped into my hand as I held it out to keep him away. He turned with animal speed.

In some indefinable way the black face thus flashed upon me shocked me profoundly. It was a singularly deformed one. The facial part projected, forming something dimly suggestive of a muzzle, and the huge half-open mouth showed as big white teeth as I had ever seen in a human mouth. His eyes were blood-shot at the edges, with scarcely a rim of white round the hazel pupils. There was a curious glow of excitement in his face.

In some way I could not define, the black face that flashed before me shocked me deeply. It was strangely deformed. The face stuck out, looking faintly like a muzzle. His huge, half-open mouth showed teeth as large and white as any I had ever seen in a human mouth. His eyes were bloodshot at the edges, with hardly any white around the hazel pupils. His face had a strange glow of excitement.

“Confound you!” said Montgomery. “Why the devil don’t you get out of the way?”

“Darn you!” said Montgomery. “Why the hell don’t you get out of the way?”

The black-faced man started aside without a word. I went on up the companion, staring at him instinctively as I did so. Montgomery stayed at the foot for a moment. “You have no business here, you know,” he said in a deliberate tone. “Your place is forward.”

The black-faced man stepped aside without a word. I continued up the stairs, instinctively staring at him as I went. Montgomery stayed at the bottom for a moment. “You have no business here, you know,” he said deliberately. “Your place is at the front of the ship.”

The black-faced man cowered. “They—won’t have me forward.” He spoke slowly, with a queer, hoarse quality in his voice.

The black-faced man cowered. “They... won’t let me go forward.” He spoke slowly, in a strange, hoarse voice.

“Won’t have you forward!” said Montgomery, in a menacing voice. “But I tell you to go!” He was on the brink of saying something further, then looked up at me suddenly and followed me up the ladder.

“I won’t let you go forward!” Montgomery said threateningly. “But I tell you to go!” He was about to say more, but suddenly looked up at me and followed me up the ladder.

I had paused half way through the hatchway, looking back, still astonished beyond measure at the grotesque ugliness of this black-faced creature. I had never beheld such a repulsive and extraordinary face before, and yet—if the contradiction is credible—I experienced at the same time an odd feeling that in some way I had already encountered exactly the features and gestures that now amazed me. Afterwards it occurred to me that probably I had seen him as I was lifted aboard; and yet that scarcely satisfied my suspicion of a previous acquaintance. Yet how one could have set eyes on so singular a face and yet have forgotten the precise occasion, passed my imagination.

I had stopped halfway through the hatchway and looked back. I was still utterly astonished by the grotesque ugliness of this black-faced creature. I had never seen such a repulsive and extraordinary face before. Yet, if you can believe the contradiction, I also felt something strange. Somehow, I felt I had already seen the very features and gestures that now amazed me. Later, it occurred to me that I had probably seen him as I was lifted aboard. But that hardly explained my suspicion that I had met him before. I could not imagine how I could have seen such a remarkable face and forgotten exactly when.

Montgomery’s movement to follow me released my attention, and I turned and looked about me at the flush deck of the little schooner. I was already half prepared by the sounds I had heard for what I saw. Certainly I never beheld a deck so dirty. It was littered with scraps of carrot, shreds of green stuff, and indescribable filth. Fastened by chains to the mainmast were a number of grisly staghounds, who now began leaping and barking at me, and by the mizzen a huge puma was cramped in a little iron cage far too small even to give it turning room. Farther under the starboard bulwark were some big hutches containing a number of rabbits, and a solitary llama was squeezed in a mere box of a cage forward. The dogs were muzzled by leather straps. The only human being on deck was a gaunt and silent sailor at the wheel.

When Montgomery moved to follow me, I turned my attention to the little schooner’s open deck. The sounds I had heard had already half prepared me for what I saw. I had never seen such a dirty deck. It was littered with scraps of carrot, bits of greens, and indescribable filth. Several grisly staghounds were chained to the mainmast. They began jumping and barking at me. Near the mizzenmast, a huge puma was cramped in a small iron cage. It was far too small for the animal even to turn around. Farther along, against the starboard side, were some large hutches holding several rabbits. A lone llama was squeezed into a boxlike cage near the bow. The dogs wore leather muzzles. The only person on deck was a gaunt, silent sailor at the wheel.

The patched and dirty spankers were tense before the wind, and up aloft the little ship seemed carrying every sail she had. The sky was clear, the sun midway down the western sky; long waves, capped by the breeze with froth, were running with us. We went past the steersman to the taffrail, and saw the water come foaming under the stern and the bubbles go dancing and vanishing in her wake. I turned and surveyed the unsavoury length of the ship.

The patched, dirty sails were stretched tight by the wind. High above, the little ship seemed to be carrying every sail she had. The sky was clear, and the sun was halfway down the western sky. Long waves moved with us, their crests whipped into foam by the breeze. We passed the steersman and went to the rail at the stern. We watched the water foam beneath the stern and the bubbles dance and vanish in the ship’s wake. I turned and looked over the grimy length of the ship.

“Is this an ocean menagerie?” said I.

“Is this a floating zoo?” I said.

“Looks like it,” said Montgomery.

“Looks like it,” said Montgomery.

“What are these beasts for? Merchandise, curios? Does the captain think he is going to sell them somewhere in the South Seas?”

“What are these animals for? Are they goods to sell or curiosities? Does the captain think he can sell them somewhere in the South Seas?”

“It looks like it, doesn’t it?” said Montgomery, and turned towards the wake again.

“It looks like it, doesn’t it?” said Montgomery, and turned back toward the wake.

Suddenly we heard a yelp and a volley of furious blasphemy from the companion hatchway, and the deformed man with the black face came up hurriedly. He was immediately followed by a heavy red-haired man in a white cap. At the sight of the former the staghounds, who had all tired of barking at me by this time, became furiously excited, howling and leaping against their chains. The black hesitated before them, and this gave the red-haired man time to come up with him and deliver a tremendous blow between the shoulder-blades. The poor devil went down like a felled ox, and rolled in the dirt among the furiously excited dogs. It was lucky for him that they were muzzled. The red-haired man gave a yawp of exultation and stood staggering, and as it seemed to me in serious danger of either going backwards down the companion hatchway or forwards upon his victim.

Suddenly, we heard a yelp and a burst of furious cursing from the stairway below deck. The deformed man with the black face hurried up, followed closely by a heavy red-haired man wearing a white cap. By then, the staghounds had all tired of barking at me. But when they saw the black-faced man, they became furious, howling and leaping against their chains. He hesitated in front of them, giving the red-haired man time to catch up and strike him hard between the shoulder blades. The poor devil went down like a felled ox and rolled in the dirt among the furious dogs. He was lucky they were muzzled. The red-haired man gave a triumphant yell and stood staggering. It seemed to me that he was in serious danger of falling backward down the stairway or forward onto his victim.

So soon as the second man had appeared, Montgomery had started forward. “Steady on there!” he cried, in a tone of remonstrance. A couple of sailors appeared on the forecastle. The black-faced man, howling in a singular voice rolled about under the feet of the dogs. No one attempted to help him. The brutes did their best to worry him, butting their muzzles at him. There was a quick dance of their lithe grey-figured bodies over the clumsy, prostrate figure. The sailors forward shouted, as though it was admirable sport. Montgomery gave an angry exclamation, and went striding down the deck, and I followed him. The black-faced man scrambled up and staggered forward, going and leaning over the bulwark by the main shrouds, where he remained, panting and glaring over his shoulder at the dogs. The red-haired man laughed a satisfied laugh.

As soon as the second man appeared, Montgomery stepped forward. “Take it easy there!” he cried in protest. Two sailors appeared on the forecastle. The black-faced man howled strangely and rolled about beneath the dogs’ feet. No one tried to help him. The brutes did their best to attack him, jabbing at him with their muzzles. Their agile gray bodies danced quickly over his clumsy, fallen figure. The sailors at the front of the ship shouted as though it were wonderful entertainment. Montgomery cried out angrily and strode down the deck, and I followed him. The black-faced man scrambled up and staggered forward. He leaned over the ship’s side by the main mast’s rigging. He stayed there, panting and glaring back at the dogs. The red-haired man laughed with satisfaction.

“Look here, Captain,” said Montgomery, with his lisp a little accentuated, gripping the elbows of the red-haired man, “this won’t do!”

“Look here, Captain,” said Montgomery, his lisp a little more noticeable. He gripped the red-haired man’s elbows. “This won’t do!”

I stood behind Montgomery. The captain came half round, and regarded him with the dull and solemn eyes of a drunken man. “Wha’ won’t do?” he said, and added, after looking sleepily into Montgomery’s face for a minute, “Blasted Sawbones!”

I stood behind Montgomery. The captain turned halfway around and looked at him with the dull, solemn eyes of a drunk. “What won’t do?” he said. He looked sleepily at Montgomery’s face for a minute, then added, “Blasted Sawbones!”

With a sudden movement he shook his arms free, and after two ineffectual attempts stuck his freckled fists into his side pockets.

He suddenly shook his arms free. After two failed attempts, he stuck his freckled fists into his side pockets.

“That man’s a passenger,” said Montgomery. “I’d advise you to keep your hands off him.”

“That man’s a passenger,” said Montgomery. “I’d advise you to keep your hands off him.”

“Go to hell!” said the captain, loudly. He suddenly turned and staggered towards the side. “Do what I like on my own ship,” he said.

“Go to hell!” the captain said loudly. He suddenly turned and staggered toward the side of the ship. “I can do what I like on my own ship,” he said.

I think Montgomery might have left him then, seeing the brute was drunk; but he only turned a shade paler, and followed the captain to the bulwarks.

I think Montgomery might have left him then, since the brute was drunk. But he only turned a little paler and followed the captain to the ship's railing.

“Look you here, Captain,” he said; “that man of mine is not to be ill-treated. He has been hazed ever since he came aboard.”

“Look here, Captain,” he said. “That man of mine must not be mistreated. He’s been harassed ever since he came aboard.”

For a minute, alcoholic fumes kept the captain speechless. “Blasted Sawbones!” was all he considered necessary.

For a minute, the fumes of alcohol left the captain speechless. “Blasted doctor!” was all he thought he needed to say.

I could see that Montgomery had one of those slow, pertinacious tempers that will warm day after day to a white heat, and never again cool to forgiveness; and I saw too that this quarrel had been some time growing. “The man’s drunk,” said I, perhaps officiously; “you’ll do no good.”

I could see that Montgomery had the kind of stubborn temper that grows hotter day after day and never cools enough to forgive. I also saw that this quarrel had been growing for some time. “The man’s drunk,” I said, perhaps butting in. “You won’t do any good.”

Montgomery gave an ugly twist to his dropping lip. “He’s always drunk. Do you think that excuses his assaulting his passengers?”

Montgomery twisted his drooping lip into an ugly grimace. “He’s always drunk. Do you think that excuses him for assaulting his passengers?”

“My ship,” began the captain, waving his hand unsteadily towards the cages, “was a clean ship. Look at it now!” It was certainly anything but clean. “Crew,” continued the captain, “clean, respectable crew.”

“My ship,” the captain began, waving unsteadily toward the cages, “was a clean ship. Look at it now!” The ship was certainly anything but clean. “Crew,” the captain continued, “clean, respectable crew.”

“You agreed to take the beasts.”

“You agreed to take the animals.”

“I wish I’d never set eyes on your infernal island. What the devil—want beasts for on an island like that? Then, that man of yours—understood he was a man. He’s a lunatic; and he hadn’t no business aft. Do you think the whole damned ship belongs to you?”

“I wish I’d never laid eyes on your infernal island. What the devil do you want beasts for on an island like that? Then there’s that man of yours. I understood he was a man. He’s a lunatic, and he had no business at the back of the ship. Do you think the whole damned ship belongs to you?”

“Your sailors began to haze the poor devil as soon as he came aboard.”

“Your sailors began to bully the poor devil as soon as he came aboard.”

“That’s just what he is—he’s a devil! an ugly devil! My men can’t stand him. I can’t stand him. None of us can’t stand him. Nor you either!”

“That’s exactly what he is. He’s a devil! An ugly devil! My men can’t stand him. I can’t stand him. None of us can stand him. And neither can you!”

Montgomery turned away. “You leave that man alone, anyhow,” he said, nodding his head as he spoke.

Montgomery turned away. “You leave that man alone, anyway,” he said, nodding as he spoke.

But the captain meant to quarrel now. He raised his voice. “If he comes this end of the ship again I’ll cut his insides out, I tell you. Cut out his blasted insides! Who are you, to tell me what I’m to do? I tell you I’m captain of this ship,—captain and owner. I’m the law here, I tell you,—the law and the prophets. I bargained to take a man and his attendant to and from Arica, and bring back some animals. I never bargained to carry a mad devil and a silly Sawbones, a—”

But the captain was ready to quarrel now. He raised his voice. “If he comes to this end of the ship again, I’ll cut his insides out, I tell you. Cut out his blasted insides! Who are you to tell me what I’m to do? I tell you, I’m captain of this ship. I’m the captain and owner. I’m the law here, I tell you. I’m the law and the prophets. I agreed to take a man and his attendant to Arica and back, and bring back some animals. I never agreed to carry a mad devil and a silly doctor, a...”

Well, never mind what he called Montgomery. I saw the latter take a step forward, and interposed. “He’s drunk,” said I. The captain began some abuse even fouler than the last. “Shut up!” I said, turning on him sharply, for I had seen danger in Montgomery’s white face. With that I brought the downpour on myself.

Well, never mind what he called Montgomery. I saw Montgomery take a step forward and stepped between them. “He’s drunk,” I said. The captain started hurling abuse even fouler than before. “Shut up!” I said, turning on him sharply. I had seen danger in Montgomery’s pale face. With that, I brought the torrent of abuse down on myself.

However, I was glad to avert what was uncommonly near a scuffle, even at the price of the captain’s drunken ill-will. I do not think I have ever heard quite so much vile language come in a continuous stream from any man’s lips before, though I have frequented eccentric company enough. I found some of it hard to endure, though I am a mild-tempered man; but, certainly, when I told the captain to “shut up” I had forgotten that I was merely a bit of human flotsam, cut off from my resources and with my fare unpaid; a mere casual dependant on the bounty, or speculative enterprise, of the ship. He reminded me of it with considerable vigour; but at any rate I prevented a fight.

Still, I was glad to prevent what came very close to a fight, even if it earned me the captain’s drunken hostility. I do not think I had ever heard such a continuous stream of foul language from anyone before. And I have spent enough time in eccentric company. Though I am mild-tempered, I found some of it hard to bear. But when I told the captain to “shut up,” I had forgotten my position. I was merely a piece of human wreckage, cut off from my resources, with my fare unpaid. I depended entirely on the ship’s generosity, or its hopes of making something from me. He reminded me of that very forcefully, but at least I prevented a fight.