Next morning, when I went upon deck, after a short and perturbed sleep, I found Marietta dashing water over it, that she might efface all vestige of the transactions of the preceding night. Angerstoff did not make his appearance till noon, and his looks were ghastly and agonised. He seemed stupified with horror, and sometimes entirely lost all perception of the things around him for a considerable time. He suddenly came close up to me, and demanded, with a bold air, but quivering voice, what I had meant by calling him a murderer?--"Why, that you are one," replied I, after a pause.
"Beware what you say," returned he fiercely,--"you cannot escape my power now--I tell you, sir, Morvalden fell overboard."--"Whence, then, came that blood that covered the deck?" inquired I. He grew pale, and then cried, "You lie--you lie infernally--there was none!"--"I saw it," said I--"I saw Morvalden himself--long after midnight. He was clinging to the stern-cable, and said"--"Ha, ha, ha--devils!--curses!" exclaimed Angerstoff--"Did you hear me dreaming?--I was mad last night--Come, come, come!--We shall tend the beacon together--Let us make friends, and don't be afraid, for you'll find me a good fellow in the end." He now forcibly shook hands with me, and then hurried down to the cabin.
In the afternoon, while sitting on deck, I discerned a boat far off, but I determined to conceal this from Angerstoff and Marietta, lest they should use some means to prevent its approach. I walked carelessly about, casting a glance upon the sea occasionally, and meditating how I could best take advantage of the means of deliverance which I had in prospect. After the lapse of an hour, the boat was not more than half a mile distant from us, but she suddenly changed her course, and bore away towards the shore. I immediately shouted, and waved a handkerchief over my head, as signals for her to return. Angerstoff rushed from the cabin, and seized my arm, threatening at the same time to push me overboard if I attempted to hail her again. I disengaged myself from his grasp, and dashed him violently from me. The noise brought Marietta upon deck, who immediately perceived the cause of the affray, and cried, "Does the wretch mean to make his escape? For Godsake, prevent the possibility of that!"--"Yes, yes," returned Angerstoff; "he never shall leave the vessel--He had as well take care, lest I do to him what I did to--" "To Morvalden, I suppose you mean," said I.--"Well, well, speak it out," replied he ferociously; "there is no one here to listen to your damnable falsehoods, and I'll not be fool enough to give you an opportunity of uttering them elsewhere. I'll strangle you the next time you tell these lies about--" "Come," interrupted Marietta, "don't be uneasy--the boat will soon be far enough away--If he wants to give you the slip, he must leap overboard."