MS. Found in a Bottle Summary

The narrator begins his tale by explaining that he has received a good education due to his family's wealth, and that though he has always been interested in the mind he has always lacked imagination. He mentions this to lend credibility to the story he is about to tell.

Having spent many years traveling, the narrator set out as a passenger on a ship bound for the Archipelago Islands. The voyage is smooth at first, but after several days he notices strange clouds and a change of weather. He is a bit disturbed by the sudden calmness but the captain doesn't seem worried, even when the narrator expresses concern. Unable to sleep, the narrator starts up on deck. It is then that he hears an odd humming noise. Suddenly, the ship is rocked by a...