Chapter 7
This chapter begins with a newspaper clipping pasted in Mina Murray's journal. It describes the events surrounding a sudden and violent storm in Whitby. In the midst of this mighty tempest, a foreign schooner comes crashing through the harbor and, to the surprise of the danger-seeking onlookers gathered on the shore, lands hard but safely on shore. The sole living occupant, a great dog, leaps immediately from the ship and runs away. The only other passenger is a dead man tied to the helm. "The man was simply fastened by his hands, tied one over the other, to a spoke of the wheel. Between the inner hand and the wood was a crucifix..." Chapter 7, pg. 88 The man had been dead for days.
Topic Tracking: Religion/Religious Duty 3
Mina, interested in the story, does some research and records it in her journal. She finds that the ship was Russian, and the only cargo on board was "a number of great wooden boxes filled with mould." The dog has disappeared, leaving no trace except for the mangled remains of another dog that picked a foolish fight.
She also manages to hear a translation of the ship's log, which tells a terrifying tale. The crew members, experienced sailors all, become nervous and superstitious.
Topic Tracking: Superstition 5
After ten days at sea, the men begin to disappear, one by one. The ship is searched to no avail. The crew is thrown into a panic and tells tales of seeing a strange man aboard. "...[A] man, tall and thin, and ghastly pale... I crept behind It, and gave It my knife; but the knife went through It, empty as the air." Chapter 7, pg. 93
After his last man, the first mate, throws himself overboard to escape the monster, the captain assumes that it was him who killed all the sailors. Finally, he, too, sees the ghostly man, and ties his hands to the wheel in a valiant attempt to complete his mission alone. He is given a hero's funeral.
At the same time that this is happening, Mina writes that Lucy's sleepwalking is getting worse. Also, Mr. Swales died in the churchyard, his neck broken and a look of horror on his face.
A local dog, usually friendly, progresses from anger to fear while in the churchyard.
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