Page 35 - 1964

The sea was as murky as the air that foggy night of November 12, 1785 aboard the trading vessel "Byslyp." Sud- denly, the ship hit a large rock, which ripped a huge hole in the bow of the vessel and sent the crew into a frantic dash to the lifeboats.
In two hours' time, the scene was again silent and the Byslyp's bow was submerged under the water, leaving the after-end resting on a partially submerged section of the huge rock which had caused the disaster. The vessel seemed deserted, but, at that moment, a groan came from the small cabin located on the uplifted end of the ship. The voice belonged to John Walters, a seaman of the Byslyp, who had hit his head during the collision and was forgotten by the frantic sailors intent on saving their own skins.
Getting up from the floor, he looked around, and almost stepped into the sea when he opened the cabin door to explore.
"Is anybody on board, " he yelled, "Answer me!" His voice began to take on the characteristics of hysteria as he screamed, ''In the name of Mercy, answer me!" He fell to the ship's water-soaked deck and wept violently.
During the last few days he got hold of himself and realized that he must sur- vive until another ship happened along to save him. Finding a large quantity of provisions, he knew that he didn't have to worry about food, at least for a month-- and he kept telling himself that if God had any mercy, He would spare him from any extended length of time on this ship.
Since the air reeked of a heavy, moist, musty quality, which made the process of inhaling and exhaling almost unbearable, rescue had to come soon!
But that wasn't his only worry. His mind never stopped thinking and thinking intently, which always brought him back to his past life. He had lied, stolen, and been involved in evil enterprises, including the smuggling of gold, silver and jewels, the shipment of white slaves, and the cruel and savage deaths of several innocent people.
Never before had he prayed, but now he did little else.
After two weeks, W alters noticed that the texture of his skin was changing, and that a membrane was forming between his fingers and toes.
One morning, a few days after this, he got up as usual but when he noticed his arm and hand, horror struck him, for he no longer had skin, but was covered with scales, and his hands were webbed like a duck's foot !
As time passed, he noticed a difficulty in breathing, and he had a great desire to turn to the sea for his food.
Several weeks after the wreck of the Byslyp, the crew of a small British naval vessel were drawn to the scene of the disaster by a faint voice which seemed to say, "Spare me, oh, God, spare me!" but when they found the remains of the ship, all they could see was a huge, man-sized, fish-like creature, which quickly slipped
into the water at their approach!
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By Dave Harris
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