Captains Log, The Demeter, Varna to WhitbyWritten 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall keep accurate note henceforth till we land:
On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and 50 boxes of earth bound for London. At noon set sail. East wind, fresh. Crew, five hands . . . two mates, cook, and myself, (captain).
On 13 July passed Cape Matapan. Crew dissatisfied about something. Seemed scared, but would not speak out.
On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crew. Men all steady fellows, who sailed with me before. Mate could not make out what was wrong. They only told him there was something, and crossed themselves.
On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of the crew, Petrofsky, was missing. Men more downcast than ever. All said they expected something of the kind, but would not say more than there was SOMETHING aboard.
On 17 July, yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren, came to my cabin, and in an awestruck way confided to me that he thought there was a strange man aboard the ship. He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread.
Later in the day I got together the whole crew, and told them, as they evidently thought there was some one in the ship, we would search from stem to stern. . We left no corner unsearched. As there were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide.
22nd of July, the ship passed Gibraltar with apparently no further problems. Two days later, however, another man is lost, and the remaining men grow panicky and frightened.
Augsut 3rd. In a panic, the mate, a Roumanian, hisses, "It is here." (The mate thinks that "it" is in the hold, perhaps "in one of the boxes.)" The mate descends into the hold, only to come flying from the hold moments later, screaming in terror, telling me "He is there. I know the secret now." In despair, the mate throws himself overboard, preferring drowning to a confrontation with "the thing."
4 August.--Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce, I know there is sunrise because I am a sailor, why else I know not. I dared not go below, I dared not leave the helm, so here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the night I saw it, Him! God, forgive me, but the mate was right to jump overboard.But I am captain, and I must not leave my ship. But I shall baffle this fiend or monster, for I shall tie my hands to the wheel when my strength begins to fail, and along with them I shall tie that which He, It, dare not touch. And then, come good wind or foul, I shall save my soul, and my honour as a captain.
CUTTING FROM "THE DAILYGRAPH," 8 AUGUST
(PASTED IN MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL)One of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been experienced here, with results both strange and unique...Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner with all sails set.The wind had by this time backed to the east, and there was a shudder amongst the watchers on the cliff as they realized the terrible danger in which she now was.
Between her and the port lay the great flat reef on which so many good ships have from time to time suffered, and, with the wind blowing from its present quarter,it would be quite impossible that she should fetch the entrance of the harbour.
There was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up on the sand heap. Every spar, rope, and stay was strained,and some of the `top-hammer' came crashing down. But, strangest of all,the very instant the shore was touched, an immense dog sprang up on deck from below,as if shot up by the concussion, and running forward, jumped from the bow on the sand.
Mina Harkers JournalAugsut 10th Poor Lucy seemed much upset. She was restless and uneasy all the time,and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night is telling on her. She is quite odd in one thing. She will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness, or if there be, she does not understand it herself.
Coming soon...... The Vampire Lucy
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