第1章

THEmaincharacteristicofthisvolumeconsistsinthis，thatallthestoriescomposingitbelongnotonlytothesameperiodbuthavebeenwrittenoneafteranotherintheorderinwhichtheyappearinthebook。 TheperiodisthatwhichfollowsonmyconnectionwithBlackwood\'sMagazine。Ihadjustfinishedwriting\"TheEndoftheTether\"andwascastingaboutforsomesubjectwhichcouldbedevelopedinashorterformthanthetalesinthevolumeof\"Youth\"whentheinstanceofasteamshipfullofreturningcooliesfromSingaporetosomeportinnorthernChinaoccurredtomyrecollection。YearsbeforeIhadhearditbeingtalkedaboutintheEastasarecentoccurrence。Itwasforusmerelyonesubjectofconversationamongstmanyothersofthekind。Menearningtheirbreadinanyveryspecializedoccupationwilltalkship，notonlybecauseitisthemostvitalinterestoftheirlivesbutalsobecausetheyhavenotmuchknowledgeofothersubjects。Theyhaveneverhadthetimetogetacquaintedwiththem。Life，formostofus，isnotsomuchahardasanexactingtaskmaster。 Inevermetanybodypersonallyconcernedinthisaffair，theinterestofwhichforuswas，ofcourse，notthebadweatherbuttheextraordinarycomplicationbroughtintotheship\'slifeatamomentofexceptionalstressbythehumanelementbelowherdeck。 Neitherwasthestoryitselfeverenlargeduponinmyhearing。Inthatcompanyeachofuscouldimagineeasilywhatthewholethingwaslike。Thefinancialdifficultyofit，presentingalsoahumanproblem，wassolvedbyamindmuchtoosimpletobeperplexedbyanythingintheworldexceptmen\'sidletalkforwhichitwasnotadapted。 Fromthefirstthemereanecdote，themerestatementImightsay，thatsuchathinghadhappenedonthehighseas，appearedtomeasufficientsubjectformeditation。Yetitwasbutabitofaseayarnafterall。Ifeltthattobringoutitsdeepersignificancewhichwasquiteapparenttome，somethingother，somethingmorewasrequired；aleadingmotivethatwouldharmonizealltheseviolentnoises，andapointofviewthatwouldputallthatelementalfuryintoitsproperplace。 WhatwasneededofcoursewasCaptainMacWhirr。DirectlyI perceivedhimIcouldseethathewasthemanforthesituation。 Idon\'tmeantosaythatIeversawCaptainMacWhirrintheflesh，orhadevercomeincontactwithhisliteralmindandhisdauntlesstemperament。MacWhirrisnotanacquaintanceofafewhours，orafewweeks，orafewmonths。Heistheproductoftwentyyearsoflife。Myownlife。Consciousinventionhadlittletodowithhim。IfitistruethatCaptainMacWhirrneverwalkedandbreathedonthisearth(whichIfindformypartextremelydifficulttobelieve)Icanalsoassuremyreadersthatheisperfectlyauthentic。Imayventuretoassertthesameofeveryaspectofthestory，whileIconfessthattheparticulartyphoonofthetalewasnotatyphoonofmyactualexperience。 Atitsfirstappearance\"Typhoon，\"thestory，wasclassedbysomecriticsasadeliberatelyintendedstorm-piece。OtherspickedoutMacWhirr，inwhomtheyperceivedadefinitesymbolicintention。Neitherwasexclusivelymyintention。BoththetyphoonandCaptainMacWhirrpresentedthemselvestomeasthenecessitiesofthedeepconvictionwithwhichIapproachedthesubjectofthestory。Itwastheiropportunity。Itwasalsomyopportunity；anditwouldbevaintodiscourseaboutwhatImadeofitinahandfulofpages，sincethepagesthemselvesarehere，betweenthecoversofthisvolume，tospeakforthemselves。 Thisisabelatedreflection。IfithadoccurredtomebeforeitwouldhaveperhapsdoneawaywiththeexistenceofthisAuthor\'sNote；for，indeed，thesameremarkappliestoeverystoryinthisvolume。Noneofthemarestoriesofexperienceintheabsolutesenseoftheword。Experienceinthemisbutthecanvasoftheattemptedpicture。Eachofthemhasitsmorethanoneintention。 Witheachthequestioniswhatthewriterhasdonewithhisopportunity；andeachanswersthequestionforitselfinwordswhich，ifImaysaysowithoutunduesolemnity，werewrittenwithaconscientiousregardforthetruthofmyownsensations。Andeachofthosestories，tomeansomething，mustjustifyitselfinitsownwaytotheconscienceofeachsuccessivereader。 \"Falk\"——thesecondstoryinthevolume——offendedthedelicacyofonecriticatleastbycertainpeculiaritiesofitssubject。 Butwhatisthesubjectof\"Falk\"？Ipersonallydonotfeelsoverycertainaboutit。Hewhoreadsmustfindoutforhimself。 Myintentioninwriting\"Falk\"wasnottoshockanybody。AsinmostofmywritingsIinsistnotontheeventsbutontheireffectuponthepersonsinthetale。ButineverythingIhavewrittenthereisalwaysoneinvariableintention，andthatistocapturethereader\'sattention，bysecuringhisinterestandenlistinghissympathiesforthematterinhand，whateveritmaybe，withinthelimitsofthevisibleworldandwithintheboundariesofhumanemotions。 ImaysafelysaythatFalkisabsolutelytruetomyexperienceofcertainstraightforwardcharacterscombiningaperfectlynaturalruthlessnesswithacertainamountofmoraldelicacy。Falkobeysthelawofself-preservationwithouttheslightestmisgivingsastohisright，butatacrucialturnofthatruthlesslypreservedlifehewillnotcondescendtododgethetruth。Asheispresentedassensitiveenoughtobeaffectedpermanentlybyacertainunusualexperience，thatexperiencehadtobesetbymebeforethereadervividly；butitisnotthesubjectofthetale。 IfwegobymerefactsthenthesubjectisFalk\'sattempttogetmarried；inwhichthenarratorofthetalefindshimselfunexpectedlyinvolvedbothonitsruthlessanditsdelicateside。 \"Falk\"shareswithoneotherofmystories(\"TheReturn\"inthe\"TalesofUnrest\"volume)thedistinctionofneverhavingbeenserialized。Ithinkthecopywasshowntotheeditorofsomemagazinewhorejecteditindignantlyonthesolegroundthat\"thegirlneversaysanything。\"Thisisperfectlytrue。FromfirsttolastHermann\'snieceuttersnowordinthetale——anditisnotbecausesheisdumb，butforthesimplereasonthatwhenevershehappenstocomeundertheobservationofthenarratorshehaseithernooccasionoristooprofoundlymovedtospeak。Theeditor，whoobviouslyhadreadthestory，mighthaveperceivedthatforhimself。Apparentlyhedidnot，andIrefrainedfrompointingouttheimpossibilitytohimbecause，sincehedidnotventuretosaythat\"thegirl\"didnotlive，Ifeltnoconcernathisindignation。 Alltheotherstorieswereserialized。The\"Typhoon\"appearedintheearlynumbersofthePallMallMagazine，thenunderthedirectionofthelateMr。Halkett。Itwasonthatoccasion，too，thatIsawforthefirsttimemyconceptionsrenderedbyanartistinanothermedium。Mr。MauriceGrieffenhagenknewhowtocombineinhisillustrationstheeffectofhisownmostdistinguishedpersonalvisionwithanabsolutefidelitytotheinspirationofthewriter。\"AmyFoster\"waspublishedinTheIllustratedLondonNewswithafinedrawingofAmyonherdayoutgivingteatothechildrenatherhome，inahatwithabigfeather。\"To-morrow\"appearedfirstinthePallMallMagazine。 OfthatstoryIwillonlysaythatitstruckmanypeoplebyitsadaptabilitytothestageandthatIwasinducedtodramatizeitunderthetitleof\"OneDayMore\"；uptothepresentmyonlyeffortinthatdirection。Imayalsoaddthateachofthefourstoriesontheirappearanceinbookformwaspickedoutonvariousgroundsasthe\"bestofthelot\"bydifferentcritics，whoreviewedthevolumewithawarmthofappreciationandunderstanding，asympatheticinsightandafriendlinessofexpressionforwhichIcannotbesufficientlygrateful。 1919。J。C。 TYPHOON I CAPTAINMACWHIRR，ofthesteamerNan-Shan，hadaphysiognomythat，intheorderofmaterialappearances，wastheexactcounterpartofhismind:itpresentednomarkedcharacteristicsoffirmnessorstupidity；ithadnopronouncedcharacteristicswhatever；itwassimplyordinary，irresponsive，andunruffled。 Theonlythinghisaspectmighthavebeensaidtosuggest，attimes，wasbashfulness；becausehewouldsit，inbusinessofficesashore，sunburntandsmilingfaintly，withdowncasteyes。Whenheraisedthem，theywereperceivedtobedirectintheirglanceandofbluecolour。Hishairwasfairandextremelyfine，claspingfromtempletotemplethebalddomeofhisskullinaclampasoffluffysilk。Thehairofhisface，onthecontrary，carrotyandflaming，resembledagrowthofcopperwireclippedshorttothelineofthelip；while，nomatterhowcloseheshaved，fierymetallicgleamspassed，whenhemovedhishead，overthesurfaceofhischeeks。Hewasratherbelowthemediumheight，abitround-shouldered，andsosturdyoflimbthathisclothesalwayslookedashadetootightforhisarmsandlegs。 Asifunabletograspwhatisduetothedifferenceoflatitudes，heworeabrownbowlerhat，acompletesuitofabrownishhue，andclumsyblackboots。Theseharbourtogsgavetohisthickfigureanairofstiffanduncouthsmartness。Athinsilverwatchchainloopedhiswaistcoat，andheneverlefthisshipfortheshorewithoutclutchinginhispowerful，hairyfistanelegantumbrellaoftheverybestquality，butgenerallyunrolled。YoungJukes，thechiefmate，attendinghiscommandertothegangway，wouldsometimesventuretosay，withthegreatestgentleness，\"Allowme，sir\"——andpossessinghimselfoftheumbrelladeferentially，wouldelevatetheferule，shakethefolds，twirlaneatfurlinajiffy，andhanditback；goingthroughtheperformancewithafaceofsuchportentousgravity，thatMr。SolomonRout，thechiefengineer，smokinghismorningcigarovertheskylight，wouldturnawayhisheadinordertohideasmile。\"Oh!aye!Theblessedgamp……Thank\'ee，Jukes，thank\'ee，\"wouldmutterCaptainMacWhirr，heartily，withoutlookingup。 Havingjustenoughimaginationtocarryhimthrougheachsuccessiveday，andnomore，hewastranquillysureofhimself； andfromtheverysamecausehewasnotintheleastconceited。 Itisyourimaginativesuperiorwhoistouchy，overbearing，anddifficulttoplease；buteveryshipCaptainMacWhirrcommandedwasthefloatingabodeofharmonyandpeace。Itwas，intruth，asimpossibleforhimtotakeaflightoffancyasitwouldbeforawatchmakertoputtogetherachronometerwithnothingexceptatwo-poundhammerandawhip-sawinthewayoftools。 Yettheuninterestinglivesofmensoentirelygiventotheactualityofthebareexistencehavetheirmysteriousside。ItwasimpossibleinCaptainMacWhirr\'scase，forinstance，tounderstandwhatunderheavencouldhaveinducedthatperfectlysatisfactorysonofapettygrocerinBelfasttorunawaytosea。 Andyethehaddonethatverythingattheageoffifteen。Itwasenough，whenyouthoughtitover，togiveyoutheideaofanimmense，potent，andinvisiblehandthrustintotheant-heapoftheearth，layingholdofshoulders，knockingheadstogether，andsettingtheunconsciousfacesofthemultitudetowardsinconceivablegoalsandinundreamt-ofdirections。 Hisfatherneverreallyforgavehimforthisundutifulstupidity。 \"Wecouldhavegotonwithouthim，\"heusedtosaylateron，\"butthere\'sthebusiness。Andheanonlyson，too!\"Hismotherweptverymuchafterhisdisappearance。Asithadneveroccurredtohimtoleavewordbehind，hewasmournedoverfordeadtill，aftereightmonths，hisfirstletterarrivedfromTalcahuano。Itwasshort，andcontainedthestatement:\"Wehadveryfineweatheronourpassageout。\"Butevidently，inthewriter\'smind，theonlyimportantintelligencewastotheeffectthathiscaptainhad，ontheverydayofwriting，enteredhimregularlyontheship\'sarticlesasOrdinarySeaman。\"BecauseIcandothework，\" heexplained。Themotheragainweptcopiously，whiletheremark，\"Tom\'sanass，\"expressedtheemotionsofthefather。Hewasacorpulentman，withagiftforslychaffing，whichtotheendofhislifeheexercisedinhisintercoursewithhisson，alittlepityingly，asifuponahalf-wittedperson。 MacWhirr\'svisitstohishomewerenecessarilyrare，andinthecourseofyearshedespatchedotherletterstohisparents，informingthemofhissuccessivepromotionsandofhismovementsuponthevastearth。Inthesemissivescouldbefoundsentenceslikethis:\"Theheathereisverygreat。\"Or:\"OnChristmasdayat4P。M。wefellinwithsomeicebergs。\"Theoldpeopleultimatelybecameacquaintedwithagoodmanynamesofships，andwiththenamesoftheskipperswhocommandedthem——withthenamesofScotsandEnglishshipowners——withthenamesofseas，oceans，straits，promontories——withoutlandishnamesoflumber-ports，ofrice-ports，ofcotton-ports——withthenamesofislands——withthenameoftheirson\'syoungwoman。ShewascalledLucy。Itdidnotsuggestitselftohimtomentionwhetherhethoughtthenamepretty。Andthentheydied。 ThegreatdayofMacWhirr\'smarriagecameinduecourse，followingshortlyuponthegreatdaywhenhegothisfirstcommand。 Alltheseeventshadtakenplacemanyyearsbeforethemorningwhen，inthechart-roomofthesteamerNan-Shan，hestoodconfrontedbythefallofabarometerhehadnoreasontodistrust。Thefall——takingintoaccounttheexcellenceoftheinstrument，thetimeoftheyear，andtheship\'spositionontheterrestrialglobe——wasofanatureominouslyprophetic；buttheredfaceofthemanbetrayednosortofinwarddisturbance。 Omenswereasnothingtohim，andhewasunabletodiscoverthemessageofaprophecytillthefulfilmenthadbroughtithometohisverydoor。\"That\'safall，andnomistake，\"hethought。 \"Theremustbesomeuncommonlydirtyweatherknockingabout。\" TheNan-ShanwasonherwayfromthesouthwardtothetreatyportofFu-chau，withsomecargoinherlowerholds，andtwohundredChinesecooliesreturningtotheirvillagehomesintheprovinceofFo-kien，afterafewyearsofworkinvarioustropicalcolonies。Themorningwasfine，theoilyseaheavedwithoutasparkle，andtherewasaqueerwhitemistypatchintheskylikeahaloofthesun。Thefore-deck，packedwithChinamen，wasfullofsombreclothing，yellowfaces，andpigtails，sprinkledoverwithagoodmanynakedshoulders，fortherewasnowind，andtheheatwasclose。Thecoolieslounged，talked，smoked，orstaredovertherail；some，drawingwaterovertheside，sluicedeachother；afewsleptonhatches，whileseveralsmallpartiesofsixsatontheirheelssurroundingirontrayswithplatesofriceandtinyteacups；andeverysingleCelestialofthemwascarryingwithhimallhehadintheworld——awoodenchestwitharinginglockandbrassonthecorners，containingthesavingsofhislabours:someclothesofceremony，sticksofincense，alittleopiummaybe，bitsofnamelessrubbishofconventionalvalue，andasmallhoardofsilverdollars，toiledforincoallighters，woningambling-housesorinpettytrading，grubbedoutofearth，sweatedoutinmines，onrailwaylines，indeadlyjungle，underheavyburdens——amassedpatiently，guardedwithcare，cherishedfiercely。 AcrossswellhadsetinfromthedirectionofFormosaChannelaboutteno\'clock，withoutdisturbingthesepassengersmuch，becausetheNan-Shan，withherflatbottom，rollingchocksonbilges，andgreatbreadthofbeam，hadthereputationofanexceptionallysteadyshipinasea-way。Mr。Jukes，inmomentsofexpansiononshore，wouldproclaimloudlythatthe\"oldgirlwasasgoodasshewaspretty。\"ItwouldneverhaveoccurredtoCaptainMacWhirrtoexpresshisfavourableopinionsoloudorintermssofanciful。 Shewasagoodship，undoubtedly，andnotoldeither。ShehadbeenbuiltinDumbartonlessthanthreeyearsbefore，totheorderofafirmofmerchantsinSiam-Messrs。SiggandSon。Whenshelayafloat，finishedineverydetailandreadytotakeuptheworkofherlife，thebuilderscontemplatedherwithpride。 \"Sigghasaskedusforareliableskippertotakeherout，\" remarkedoneofthepartners；andtheother，afterreflectingforawhile，said:\"IthinkMacWhirrisashorejustatpresent。\"\"Ishe？Thenwirehimatonce。He\'stheveryman，\"declaredthesenior，withoutamoment\'shesitation。 NextmorningMacWhirrstoodbeforethemunperturbed，havingtravelledfromLondonbythemidnightexpressafterasuddenbutundemonstrativepartingwithhiswife。Shewasthedaughterofasuperiorcouplewhohadseenbetterdays。 \"Wehadbetterbegoingtogetherovertheship，Captain，\"saidtheseniorpartner；andthethreemenstartedtoviewtheperfectionsoftheNan-Shanfromstemtostern，andfromherkeelsontothetrucksofhertwostumpypole-masts。 CaptainMacWhirrhadbegunbytakingoffhiscoat，whichhehungontheendofasteamwindlessembodyingallthelatestimprovements。 \"Myunclewroteofyoufavourablybyyesterday\'smailtoourgoodfriends——Messrs。Sigg，youknow-anddoubtlessthey\'llcontinueyououtthereincommand，\"saidthejuniorpartner。\"You\'llbeabletoboastofbeinginchargeofthehandiestboatofhersizeonthecoastofChina，Captain，\"headded。 \"Haveyou？Thank\'ee，\"mumbledvaguelyMacWhirr，towhomtheviewofadistanteventualitycouldappealnomorethanthebeautyofawidelandscapetoapurblindtourist；andhiseyeshappeningatthemomenttobeatrestuponthelockofthecabindoor，hewalkeduptoit，fullofpurpose，andbegantorattlethehandlevigorously，whileheobserved，inhislow，earnestvoice，\"Youcan\'ttrusttheworkmennowadays。Abrand-newlock，anditwon\'tactatall。Stuckfast。See？See？\" Assoonastheyfoundthemselvesaloneintheirofficeacrosstheyard:\"YoupraisedthatfellowuptoSigg。Whatisityouseeinhim？\"askedthenephew，withfaintcontempt。 \"Iadmithehasnothingofyourfancyskipperabouthim，ifthat\'swhatyoumean，\"saidtheelderman，curtly。\"IstheforemanofthejoinersontheNan-Shanoutside？……Comein，Bates。HowisitthatyouletTait\'speopleputusoffwithadefectivelockonthecabindoor？TheCaptaincouldseedirectlyheseteyeonit。Haveitreplacedatonce。Thelittlestraws，Bates……thelittlestraws……\" Thelockwasreplacedaccordingly，andafewdaysafterwardstheNan-ShansteamedouttotheEast，withoutMacWhirrhavingofferedanyfurtherremarkastoherfittings，orhavingbeenheardtoutterasinglewordhintingatprideinhisship，gratitudeforhisappointment，orsatisfactionathisprospects。 Withatemperamentneitherloquaciousnortaciturnhefoundverylittleoccasiontotalk。Thereweremattersofduty，ofcourse——directions，orders，andsoon；butthepastbeingtohisminddonewith，andthefuturenotthereyet，themoregeneralactualitiesofthedayrequirednocomment——becausefactscanspeakforthemselveswithoverwhelmingprecision。 OldMr。Sigglikedamanoffewwords，andonethat\"youcouldbesurewouldnottrytoimproveuponhisinstructions。\"MacWhirrsatisfyingtheserequirements，wascontinuedincommandoftheNan-Shan，andappliedhimselftothecarefulnavigationofhisshipintheChinaseas。ShehadcomeoutonaBritishregister，butaftersometimeMessrs。SiggjudgeditexpedienttotransferhertotheSiameseflag。 AtthenewsofthecontemplatedtransferJukesgrewrestless，asifunderasenseofpersonalaffront。Hewentaboutgrumblingtohimself，andutteringshortscornfullaughs。\"FancyhavingaridiculousNoah\'sArkelephantintheensignofone\'sship，\"hesaidonceattheengine-roomdoor。\"DashmeifIcanstandit: I\'llthrowupthebillet。Don\'titmakeyousick，Mr。Rout？\" Thechiefengineeronlyclearedhisthroatwiththeairofamanwhoknowsthevalueofagoodbillet。 ThefirstmorningthenewflagfloatedoverthesternoftheNan-ShanJukesstoodlookingatitbitterlyfromthebridge。Hestruggledwithhisfeelingsforawhile，andthenremarked，\"Queerflagforamantosailunder，sir。\" \"What\'sthematterwiththeflag？\"inquiredCaptainMacWhirr。 \"Seemsallrighttome。\"Andhewalkedacrosstotheendofthebridgetohaveagoodlook。 \"Well，itlooksqueertome，\"burstoutJukes，greatlyexasperated，andflungoffthebridge。 CaptainMacWhirrwasamazedatthesemanners。Afterawhilehesteppedquietlyintothechart-room，andopenedhisInternationalSignalCode-bookattheplatewheretheflagsofallthenationsarecorrectlyfiguredingaudyrows。Heranhisfingeroverthem，andwhenhecametoSiamhecontemplatedwithgreatattentiontheredfieldandthewhiteelephant。Nothingcouldbemoresimple；buttomakesurehebroughtthebookoutonthebridgeforthepurposeofcomparingthecoloureddrawingwiththerealthingattheflagstaffastern。WhennextJukes，whowascarryingonthedutythatdaywithasortofsuppressedfierceness，happenedonthebridge，hiscommanderobserved: \"There\'snothingamisswiththatflag。\" \"Isn\'tthere？\"mumbledJukes，fallingonhiskneesbeforeadeck-lockerandjerkingtherefromviciouslyasparelead-line。 \"No。Ilookedupthebook。Lengthtwicethebreadthandtheelephantexactlyinthemiddle。Ithoughtthepeopleashorewouldknowhowtomakethelocalflag。Standstoreason。Youwerewrong，Jukes……\" \"Well，sir，\"beganJukes，gettingupexcitedly，\"allIcansay——\"Hefumbledfortheendofthecoiloflinewithtremblinghands。 \"That\'sallright。\"CaptainMacWhirrsoothedhim，sittingheavilyonalittlecanvasfolding-stoolhegreatlyaffected。 \"Allyouhavetodoistotakecaretheydon\'thoisttheelephantupside-downbeforetheygetquiteusedtoit。\" Jukesflungthenewlead-lineoveronthefore-deckwithaloud\"Hereyouare，bo\'ss\'en——don\'tforgettowetitthoroughly，\" andturnedwithimmenseresolutiontowardshiscommander；butCaptainMacWhirrspreadhiselbowsonthebridge-railcomfortably。 \"Becauseitwouldbe，Isuppose，understoodasasignalofdistress，\"hewenton。\"Whatdoyouthink？Thatelephantthere，Itakeit，standsforsomethinginthenatureoftheUnionJackintheflag……\" \"Doesit!\"yelledJukes，sothateveryheadontheNan-Shan\'sdeckslookedtowardsthebridge。Thenhesighed，andwithsuddenresignation:\"Itwouldcertainlybeadam\'distressfulsight，\"hesaid，meekly。 Laterinthedayheaccostedthechiefengineerwithaconfidential，\"Here，letmetellyoutheoldman\'slatest。\" Mr。SolomonRout(frequentlyalludedtoasLongSol，OldSol，orFatherRout)，fromfindinghimselfalmostinvariablythetallestmanonboardeveryshiphejoined，hadacquiredthehabitofastooping，leisurelycondescension。Hishairwasscantandsandy，hisflatcheekswerepale，hisbonywristsandlongscholarlyhandswerepale，too，asthoughhehadlivedallhislifeintheshade。 HesmiledfromonhighatJukes，andwentonsmokingandglancingaboutquietly，inthemannerofakindunclelendinganeartothetaleofanexcitedschoolboy。Then，greatlyamusedbutimpassive，heasked: \"Anddidyouthrowupthebillet？\" \"No，\"criedJukes，raisingaweary，discouragedvoiceabovetheharshbuzzoftheNan-Shan\'sfrictionwinches。Allofthemwerehardatwork，snatchingslingsofcargo，highup，totheendoflongderricks，only，asitseemed，toletthemripdownrecklesslybytherun。Thecargochainsgroanedinthegins，clinkedoncoamings，rattledovertheside；andthewholeshipquivered，withherlonggrayflankssmokinginwreathsofsteam。 \"No，\"criedJukes，\"Ididn\'t。What\'sthegood？Imightjustaswellflingmyresignationatthisbulkhead。Idon\'tbelieveyoucanmakeamanlikethatunderstandanything。Hesimplyknocksmeover。\" AtthatmomentCaptainMacWhirr，backfromtheshore，crossedthedeck，umbrellainhand，escortedbyamournful，self-possessedChinaman，walkingbehindinpaper-soledsilkshoes，andwhoalsocarriedanumbrella。 ThemasteroftheNan-Shan，speakingjustaudiblyandgazingathisbootsashismannerwas，remarkedthatitwouldbenecessarytocallatFu-chauthistrip，anddesiredMr。Routtohavesteamupto-morrowafternoonatoneo\'clocksharp。Hepushedbackhishattowipehisforehead，observingatthesametimethathehatedgoingashoreanyhow；whileovertoppinghimMr。Rout，withoutdeigningaword，smokedausterely，nursinghisrightelbowinthepalmofhislefthand。ThenJukeswasdirectedinthesamesubduedvoicetokeeptheforward\'tween-deckclearofcargo。Twohundredcooliesweregoingtobeputdownthere。TheBunHinCompanyweresendingthatlothome。Twenty-fivebagsofricewouldbecomingoffinasampandirectly，forstores。Allseven-years\'-mentheywere，saidCaptainMacWhirr，withacamphor-woodchesttoeveryman。Thecarpentershouldbesettoworknailingthree-inchbattensalongthedeckbelow，foreandaft，tokeeptheseboxesfromshiftinginasea-way。Jukeshadbetterlooktoitatonce。\"D\'yehear，Jukes？\"ThischinamanherewascomingwiththeshipasfarasFu-chau——asortofinterpreterhewouldbe。BunHin\'sclerkhewas，andwantedtohavealookatthespace。Jukeshadbettertakehimforward。 \"D\'yehear，Jukes？\" Jukestookcaretopunctuatetheseinstructionsinproperplaceswiththeobligatory\"Yes，sir，\"ejaculatedwithoutenthusiasm。 Hisbrusque\"Comealong，John；makelooksee\"settheChinamaninmotionathisheels。 \"Wancheelooksee，allsamelookseecando，\"saidJukes，whohavingnotalentforforeignlanguagesmangledtheverypidgin-Englishcruelly。Hepointedattheopenhatch。\"Catcheenumberonepiecieplacetosleepin。Eh？\" Hewasgruff，asbecamehisracialsuperiority，butnotunfriendly。TheChinaman，gazingsadandspeechlessintothedarknessofthehatchway，seemedtostandattheheadofayawninggrave。 \"Nocatcheeraindownthere——savee？\"pointedoutJukes。 \"Supposeall\'eesamefineweather，onepieciecoolie-mancometopside，\"hepursued，warmingupimaginatively。\"Makeso—— Phooooo!\"Heexpandedhischestandblewouthischeeks。 \"Savee，John？Breathe——freshair。Good。Eh？Washeehimpieciepants，chow-chowtop-side——see，John？\" Withhismouthandhandshemadeexuberantmotionsofeatingriceandwashingclothes；andtheChinaman，whoconcealedhisdistrustofthispantomimeunderacollecteddemeanourtingedbyagentleandrefinedmelancholy，glancedoutofhisalmondeyesfromJukestothehatchandbackagain。\"Vellygood，\"hemurmured，inadisconsolateundertone，andhastenedsmoothlyalongthedecks，dodgingobstaclesinhiscourse。Hedisappeared，duckinglowunderaslingoftendirtygunny-bagsfullofsomecostlymerchandiseandexhalingarepulsivesmell。 CaptainMacWhirrmeantimehadgoneonthebridge，andintothechart-room，wherealetter，commencedtwodaysbefore，awaitedtermination。Theselonglettersbeganwiththewords，\"Mydarlingwife，\"andthesteward，betweenthescrubbingofthefloorsandthedustingofchronometer-boxes，snatchedateveryopportunitytoreadthem。Theyinterestedhimmuchmorethantheypossiblycouldthewomanforwhoseeyetheywereintended； andthisforthereasonthattheyrelatedinminutedetaileachsuccessivetripoftheNan-Shan。 Hermaster，faithfultofacts，whichalonehisconsciousnessreflected，wouldsetthemdownwithpainstakingcareuponmanypages。Thehouseinanorthernsuburbtowhichthesepageswereaddressedhadabitofgardenbeforethebow-windows，adeepporchofgoodappearance，colouredglasswithimitationleadframeinthefrontdoor。Hepaidfive-and-fortypoundsayearforit，anddidnotthinktherenttoohigh，becauseMrs。 MacWhirr(apretentiouspersonwithascraggyneckandadisdainfulmanner)wasadmittedlyladylike，andintheneighbourhoodconsideredas\"quitesuperior。\"Theonlysecretofherlifewasherabjectterrorofthetimewhenherhusbandwouldcomehometostayforgood。UnderthesamerooftheredweltalsoadaughtercalledLydiaandason，Tom。Thesetwowerebutslightlyacquaintedwiththeirfather。Mainly，theyknewhimasararebutprivilegedvisitor，whoofaneveningsmokedhispipeinthedining-roomandsleptinthehouse。Thelankygirl，uponthewhole，wasratherashamedofhim；theboywasfranklyandutterlyindifferentinastraightforward，delightful，unaffectedwaymanlyboyshave。 AndCaptainMacWhirrwrotehomefromthecoastofChinatwelvetimeseveryyear，desiringquaintlytobe\"rememberedtothechildren，\"andsubscribinghimself\"yourlovinghusband，\"ascalmlyasifthewordssolongusedbysomanymenwere，apartfromtheirshape，worn-outthings，andofafadedmeaning。 TheChinaseasnorthandsoutharenarrowseas。Theyareseasfullofevery-day，eloquentfacts，suchasislands，sand-banks，reefs，swiftandchangeablecurrents——tangledfactsthatneverthelessspeaktoaseamaninclearanddefinitelanguage。 TheirspeechappealedtoCaptainMacWhirr\'ssenseofrealitiessoforciblythathehadgivenuphisstate-roombelowandpracticallylivedallhisdaysonthebridgeofhisship，oftenhavinghismealssentup，andsleepingatnightinthechart-room。Andheinditedtherehishomeletters。Eachofthem，withoutexception，containedthephrase，\"Theweatherhasbeenveryfinethistrip，\"orsomeotherformofastatementtothateffect。Andthisstatement，too，initswonderfulpersistence，wasofthesameperfectaccuracyasalltheotherstheycontained。 Mr。Routlikewisewroteletters；onlynooneonboardknewhowchattyhecouldbepeninhand，becausethechiefengineerhadenoughimaginationtokeephisdesklocked。Hiswiferelishedhisstylegreatly。Theywereachildlesscouple，andMrs。Rout，abig，high-bosomed，jollywomanofforty，sharedwithMr。Rout\'stoothlessandvenerablemotheralittlecottagenearTeddington。 Shewouldrunoverhercorrespondence，atbreakfast，withlivelyeyes，andscreamoutinterestingpassagesinajoyousvoiceatthedeafoldlady，prefacingeachextractbythewarningshout，\"Solomonsays!\"ShehadthetrickoffiringoffSolomon\'sutterancesalsouponstrangers，astonishingthemeasilybytheunfamiliartextandtheunexpectedlyjocularveinofthesequotations。Onthedaythenewcuratecalledforthefirsttimeatthecottage，shefoundoccasiontoremark，\"AsSolomonsays: \'theengineersthatgodowntotheseainshipsbeholdthewondersofsailornature\'；\"whenachangeinthevisitor\'scountenancemadeherstopandstare。 \"Solomon……Oh!……Mrs。Rout，\"stutteredtheyoungman，veryredintheface，\"Imustsay……Idon\'t……\" \"He\'smyhusband，\"sheannouncedinagreatshout，throwingherselfbackinthechair。Perceivingthejoke，shelaughedimmoderatelywithahandkerchieftohereyes，whilehesatwearingaforcedsmile，and，fromhisinexperienceofjollywomen，fullypersuadedthatshemustbedeplorablyinsane。Theywereexcellentfriendsafterwards；for，absolvingherfromirreverentintention，hecametothinkshewasaveryworthypersonindeed；andhelearnedintimetoreceivewithoutflinchingotherscrapsofSolomon\'swisdom。 \"Formypart，\"Solomonwasreportedbyhiswifetohavesaidonce，\"givemethedullestassforaskipperbeforearogue。 Thereisawaytotakeafool；butarogueissmartandslippery。\"ThiswasanairygeneralizationdrawnfromtheparticularcaseofCaptainMacWhirr\'shonesty，which，initself，hadtheheavyobviousnessofalumpofclay。Ontheotherhand，Mr。Jukes，unabletogeneralize，unmarried，andunengaged，wasinthehabitofopeninghisheartafteranotherfashiontoanoldchumandformershipmate，actuallyservingassecondofficeronboardanAtlanticliner。 FirstofallhewouldinsistupontheadvantagesoftheEasterntrade，hintingatitssuperioritytotheWesternoceanservice。 Heextolledthesky，theseas，theships，andtheeasylifeoftheFarEast。TheNanShan，heaffirmed，wassecondtononeasasea-boat。 \"Wehavenobrass-bounduniforms，butthenwearelikebrothershere，\"hewrote。\"Weallmesstogetherandlivelikefighting-cocks……Allthechapsoftheblack-squadareasdecentastheymakethatkind，andoldSol，theChief，isadrystick。Wearegoodfriends。Astoouroldman，youcouldnotfindaquieterskipper。Sometimesyouwouldthinkhehadn\'tsenseenoughtoseeanythingwrong。Andyetitisn\'tthat。Can\'tbe。Hehasbeenincommandforagoodfewyearsnow。Hedoesn\'tdoanythingactuallyfoolish，andgetshisshipalongallrightwithoutworryinganybody。Ibelievehehasn\'tbrainsenoughtoenjoykickinguparow。Idon\'ttakeadvantageofhim。Iwouldscornit。Outsidetheroutineofdutyhedoesn\'tseemtounderstandmorethanhalfofwhatyoutellhim。Wegetalaughoutofthisattimes；butitisdull，too，tobewithamanlikethis——inthelong-run。OldSolsayshehasn\'tmuchconversation。Conversation!OLord!Henevertalks。TheotherdayIhadbeenyarningunderthebridgewithoneoftheengineers，andhemusthaveheardus。WhenIcameuptotakemywatch，hestepsoutofthechart-roomandhasagoodlookallround，peepsoveratthesidelights，glancesatthecompass，squintsupwardatthestars。That\'shisregularperformance。 By-and-byhesays:\'Wasthatyoutalkingjustnowintheportalleyway？\'\'Yes，sir。\'\'Withthethirdengineer？\'\'Yes，sir。\' Hewalksofftostarboard，andsitsunderthedodgeronalittlecampstoolofhis，andforhalfanhourperhapshemakesnosound，exceptthatIheardhimsneezeonce。ThenafterawhileIhearhimgettingupoverthere，andhestrollsacrosstoport，whereI was。\'Ican\'tunderstandwhatyoucanfindtotalkabout，\'sayshe。\'Twosolidhours。Iamnotblamingyou。Iseepeopleashoreatitalldaylong，andthenintheeveningtheysitdownandkeepatitoverthedrinks。Mustbesayingthesamethingsoverandoveragain。Ican\'tunderstand。\' \"Didyoueverhearanythinglikethat？Andhewassopatientaboutit。Itmademequitesorryforhim。Butheisexasperating，too，sometimes。Ofcourseonewouldnotdoanythingtovexhimevenifitwereworthwhile。Butitisn\'t。 He\'ssojollyinnocentthatifyouweretoputyourthumbtoyournoseandwaveyourfingersathimhewouldonlywondergravelytohimselfwhatgotintoyou。Hetoldmeoncequitesimplythathefounditverydifficulttomakeoutwhatmadepeoplealwaysactsoqueerly。He\'stoodensetotroubleabout，andthat\'sthetruth。\" ThuswroteMr。JukestohischumintheWesternoceantrade，outofthefulnessofhisheartandthelivelinessofhisfancy。 Hehadexpressedhishonestopinion。Itwasnotworthwhiletryingtoimpressamanofthatsort。Iftheworldhadbeenfullofsuchmen，lifewouldhaveprobablyappearedtoJukesanunentertainingandunprofitablebusiness。Hewasnotaloneinhisopinion。Theseaitself，asifsharingMr。Jukes\' good-naturedforbearance，hadneverputitselfouttostartlethesilentman，whoseldomlookedup，andwanderedinnocentlyoverthewaterswiththeonlyvisiblepurposeofgettingfood，raiment，andhouse-roomforthreepeopleashore。Dirtyweatherhehadknown，ofcourse。Hehadbeenmadewet，uncomfortable，tiredintheusualway，feltatthetimeandpresentlyforgotten。Sothatuponthewholehehadbeenjustifiedinreportingfineweatherathome。Buthehadneverbeengivenaglimpseofimmeasurablestrengthandofimmoderatewrath，thewraththatpassesexhaustedbutneverappeased——thewrathandfuryofthepassionatesea。Heknewitexisted，asweknowthatcrimeandabominationsexist；hehadheardofitasapeaceablecitizeninatownhearsofbattles，famines，andfloods，andyetknowsnothingofwhatthesethingsmean——though，indeed，hemayhavebeenmixedupinastreetrow，havegonewithouthisdinneronce，orbeensoakedtotheskininashower。CaptainMacWhirrhadsailedoverthesurfaceoftheoceansassomemengoskimmingovertheyearsofexistencetosinkgentlyintoaplacidgrave，ignorantoflifetothelast，withouteverhavingbeenmadetoseeallitmaycontainofperfidy，ofviolence，andofterror。 Thereareonseaandlandsuchmenthusfortunate——orthusdisdainedbydestinyorbythesea。 II OBSERVINGthesteadyfallofthebarometer，CaptainMacWhirrthought，\"There\'ssomedirtyweatherknockingabout。\"Thisispreciselywhathethought。Hehadhadanexperienceofmoderatelydirtyweather——thetermdirtyasappliedtotheweatherimplyingonlymoderatediscomforttotheseaman。Hadhebeeninformedbyanindisputableauthoritythattheendoftheworldwastobefinallyaccomplishedbyacatastrophicdisturbanceoftheatmosphere，hewouldhaveassimilatedtheinformationunderthesimpleideaofdirtyweather，andnoother，becausehehadnoexperienceofcataclysms，andbeliefdoesnotnecessarilyimplycomprehension。ThewisdomofhiscountyhadpronouncedbymeansofanActofParliamentthatbeforehecouldbeconsideredasfittotakechargeofashipheshouldbeabletoanswercertainsimplequestionsonthesubjectofcircularstormssuchashurricanes，cyclones，typhoons；andapparentlyhehadansweredthem，sincehewasnowincommandoftheNan-ShanintheChinaseasduringtheseasonoftyphoons。Butifhehadansweredherememberednothingofit。Hewas，however，consciousofbeingmadeuncomfortablebytheclammyheat。Hecameoutonthebridge，andfoundnorelieftothisoppression。Theairseemedthick。Hegaspedlikeafish，andbegantobelievehimselfgreatlyoutofsorts。 TheNan-Shanwasploughingavanishingfurrowuponthecircleoftheseathathadthesurfaceandtheshimmerofanundulatingpieceofgraysilk。Thesun，paleandwithoutrays，poureddownleadenheatinastrangelyindecisivelight，andtheChinamenwerelyingprostrateaboutthedecks。Theirbloodless，pinched，yellowfaceswerelikethefacesofbiliousinvalids。CaptainMacWhirrnoticedtwoofthemespecially，stretchedoutontheirbacksbelowthebridge。Assoonastheyhadclosedtheireyestheyseemeddead。Threeothers，however，werequarrellingbarbarouslyawayforward；andonebigfellow，halfnaked，withherculeanshoulders，washanginglimplyoverawinch；another，sittingonthedeck，hiskneesupandhisheaddroopingsidewaysinagirlishattitude，wasplaitinghispigtailwithinfinitelanguordepictedinhiswholepersonandintheverymovementofhisfingers。Thesmokestruggledwithdifficultyoutofthefunnel，andinsteadofstreamingawayspreaditselfoutlikeaninfernalsortofcloud，smellingofsulphurandrainingsootalloverthedecks。 \"Whatthedevilareyoudoingthere，Mr。Jukes？\"askedCaptainMacWhirr。 Thisunusualformofaddress，thoughmumbledratherthanspoken，causedthebodyofMr。Jukestostartasthoughithadbeenproddedunderthefifthrib。Hehadhadalowbenchbroughtonthebridge，andsittingonit，withalengthofropecurledabouthisfeetandapieceofcanvasstretchedoverhisknees，waspushingasail-needlevigorously。Helookedup，andhissurprisegavetohiseyesanexpressionofinnocenceandcandour。 \"Iamonlyropingsomeofthatnewsetofbagswemadelasttripforwhippingupcoals，\"heremonstrated，gently。\"Weshallwantthemforthenextcoaling，sir。\" \"Whatbecameoftheothers？\" \"Why，wornoutofcourse，sir。\" CaptainMacWhirr，afterglaringdownirresolutelyathischiefmate，disclosedthegloomyandcynicalconvictionthatmorethanhalfofthemhadbeenlostoverboard，\"ifonlythetruthwasknown，\"andretiredtotheotherendofthebridge。Jukes，exasperatedbythisunprovokedattack，broketheneedleatthesecondstitch，anddroppinghisworkgotupandcursedtheheatinaviolentundertone。 Thepropellerthumped，thethreeChinamenforwardhadgivenupsquabblingverysuddenly，andtheonewhohadbeenplaitinghistailclaspedhislegsandstareddejectedlyoverhisknees。Theluridsunshinecastfaintandsicklyshadows。Theswellranhigherandswiftereverymoment，andtheshiplurchedheavilyinthesmooth，deephollowsofthesea。 \"Iwonderwherethatbeastlyswellcomesfrom，\"saidJukesaloud，recoveringhimselfafterastagger。 \"North-east，\"gruntedtheliteralMacWhirr，fromhissideofthebridge。\"There\'ssomedirtyweatherknockingabout。Goandlookattheglass。\" WhenJukescameoutofthechart-room，thecastofhiscountenancehadchangedtothoughtfulnessandconcern。Hecaughtholdofthebridge-railandstaredahead。 Thetemperatureintheengine-roomhadgoneuptoahundredandseventeendegrees。Irritatedvoiceswereascendingthroughtheskylightandthroughthefiddleofthestokeholdinaharshandresonantuproar，mingledwithangryclangsandscrapesofmetal，asifmenwithlimbsofironandthroatsofbronzehadbeenquarrellingdownthere。Thesecondengineerwasfallingfoulofthestokersforlettingthesteamgodown。Hewasamanwitharmslikeablacksmith，andgenerallyfeared；butthatafternoonthestokerswereansweringhimbackrecklessly，andslammedthefurnace23 doorswiththefuryofdespair。Thenthenoiseceasedsuddenly，andthesecondengineerappeared，emergingoutofthestokeholdstreakedwithgrimeandsoakingwetlikeachimney-sweepcomingoutofawell。AssoonashisheadwasclearofthefiddlehebegantoscoldJukesfornottrimmingproperlythestokeholdventilators；andinanswerJukesmadewithhishandsdeprecatorysoothingsignsmeaning:\"Nowind——can\'tbehelped——youcanseeforyourself。\"Buttheotherwouldn\'thearreason。Histeethflashedangrilyinhisdirtyface。Hedidn\'tmind，hesaid，thetroubleofpunchingtheirblankedheadsdownthere，blankhissoul，butdidthecondemnedsailorsthinkyoucouldkeepsteamupintheGod-forsakenboilerssimplybyknockingtheblankedstokersabout？No，byGeorge!Youhadtogetsomedraught，too——mayhebeeverlastinglyblankedforaswab-headeddeck-handifyoudidn\'t!Andthechief，too，rampagingbeforethesteam-gaugeandcarryingonlikealunaticupanddowntheengine-roomeversincenoon。WhatdidJukesthinkhewasstuckuptherefor，ifhecouldn\'tgetoneofhisdecayed，good-for-nothingdeck-cripplestoturntheventilatorstothewind？ Therelationsofthe\"engine-room\"andthe\"deck\"oftheNan-Shanwere，asisknown，ofabrotherlynature；thereforeJukesleanedoverandbeggedtheotherinarestrainedtonenottomakeadisgustingassofhimself；theskipperwasontheothersideofthebridge。Buttheseconddeclaredmutinouslythathedidn\'tcarearapwhowasontheothersideofthebridge，andJukes，passinginaflashfromloftydisapprovalintoastateofexaltation，invitedhiminunflatteringtermstocomeupandtwistthebeastlythingstopleasehimself，andcatchsuchwindasadonkeyofhissortcouldfind。Thesecondrusheduptothefray。Heflunghimselfattheportventilatorasthoughhemeanttotearitoutbodilyandtossitoverboard。Allhedidwastomovethecowlroundafewinches，withanenormousexpenditureofforce，andseemedspentintheeffort。Heleanedagainstthebackofthewheelhouse，andJukeswalkeduptohim。 \"Oh，Heavens!\"ejaculatedtheengineerinafeeblevoice。Heliftedhiseyestothesky，andthenlethisglassystaredescendtomeetthehorizonthat，tiltinguptoanangleoffortydegrees，seemedtohangonaslantforawhileandsettleddownslowly。\"Heavens!Phew!What\'sup，anyhow？\" Jukes，straddlinghislonglegslikeapairofcompasses，putonanairofsuperiority。\"We\'regoingtocatchitthistime，\"hesaid。\"Thebarometeristumblingdownlikeanything，Harry。Andyoutryingtokickupthatsillyrow……\" Theword\"barometer\"seemedtorevivethesecondengineer\'smadanimosity。Collectingafreshallhisenergies，hedirectedJukesinalowandbrutaltonetoshovetheunmentionableinstrumentdownhisgorythroat。Whocaredforhiscrimsonbarometer？Itwasthesteam——thesteam——thatwasgoingdown；andwhatbetweenthefiremengoingfaintandthechiefgoingsilly，itwasworsethanadog\'slifeforhim；hedidn\'tcareatinker\'scursehowsoonthewholeshowwasblownoutofthewater。Heseemedonthepointofhavingacry，butafterregaininghisbreathhemuttereddarkly，\"I\'llfaintthem，\"anddashedoff。Hestoppeduponthefiddlelongenoughtoshakehisfistattheunnaturaldaylight，anddroppedintothedarkholewithawhoop。 WhenJukesturned，hiseyesfellupontheroundedbackandthebigredearsofCaptainMacWhirr，whohadcomeacross。Hedidnotlookathischiefofficer，butsaidatonce，\"That\'saveryviolentman，thatsecondengineer。\" \"Jollygoodsecond，anyhow，\"gruntedJukes。\"Theycan\'tkeepupsteam，\"headded，rapidly，andmadeagrabattherailagainstthecominglurch。 CaptainMacWhirr，unprepared，tookarunandbroughthimselfupwithajerkbyanawningstanchion。 \"Aprofaneman，\"hesaid，obstinately。\"Ifthisgoeson，I\'llhavetogetridofhimthefirstchance。\" \"It\'stheheat，\"saidJukes。\"Theweather\'sawful。Itwouldmakeasaintswear。EvenuphereIfeelexactlyasifIhadmyheadtiedupinawoollenblanket。\" CaptainMacWhirrlookedup。\"D\'yemeantosay，Mr。Jukes，youeverhadyourheadtiedupinablanket？Whatwasthatfor？\" \"It\'samannerofspeaking，sir，\"saidJukes，stolidly。 \"Someofyoufellowsdogoon!What\'sthataboutsaintsswearing？Iwishyouwouldn\'ttalksowild。Whatsortofsaintwouldthatbethatwouldswear？Nomoresaintthanyourself，I expect。Andwhat\'sablanketgottodowithit——ortheweathereither……Theheatdoesnotmakemeswear——doesit？It\'sfilthybadtemper。That\'swhatitis。Andwhat\'sthegoodofyourtalkinglikethis？\" ThusCaptainMacWhirrexpostulatedagainsttheuseofimagesinspeech，andattheendelectrifiedJukesbyacontemptuoussnort，followedbywordsofpassionandresentment:\"Damme!I\'llfirehimoutoftheshipifhedon\'tlookout。\" AndJukes，incorrigible，thought:\"Goodnessme!Somebody\'sputanewinsidetomyoldman。Here\'stemper，ifyoulike。Ofcourseit\'stheweather；whatelse？Itwouldmakeanangelquarrelsome——letaloneasaint。\" AlltheChinamenondeckappearedattheirlastgasp。 Atitssettingthesunhadadiminisheddiameterandanexpiringbrown，raylessglow，asifmillionsofcenturieselapsingsincethemorninghadbroughtitnearitsend。Adensebankofcloudbecamevisibletothenorthward；ithadasinisterdarkolivetint，andlaylowandmotionlessuponthesea，resemblingasolidobstacleinthepathoftheship。Shewentflounderingtowardsitlikeanexhaustedcreaturedriventoitsdeath。Thecopperytwilightretiredslowly，andthedarknessbroughtoutoverheadaswarmofunsteady，bigstars，that，asifblownupon，flickeredexceedinglyandseemedtohangveryneartheearth。Ateighto\'clockJukeswentintothechart-roomtowriteuptheship\'slog。 Hecopiesneatlyoutoftherough-bookthenumberofmiles，thecourseoftheship，andinthecolumnfor\"wind\"scrawledtheword\"calm\"fromtoptobottomoftheeighthourssincenoon。Hewasexasperatedbythecontinuous，monotonousrollingoftheship。Theheavyinkstandwouldslideawayinamannerthatsuggestedperverseintelligenceindodgingthepen。Havingwritteninthelargespaceundertheheadof\"Remarks\"\"Heatveryoppressive，\"hestucktheendofthepenholderinhisteeth，pipefashion，andmoppedhisfacecarefully。 \"Shiprollingheavilyinahighcrossswell，\"hebeganagain，andcommentedtohimself，\"Heavilyisnowordforit。\"Thenhewrote:\"Sunsetthreatening，withalowbankofcloudstoN。andE。Skyclearoverhead。\" Sprawlingoverthetablewitharrestedpen，heglancedoutofthedoor，andinthatframeofhisvisionhesawallthestarsflyingupwardsbetweentheteakwoodjambsonablacksky。Thewholelottookflighttogetheranddisappeared，leavingonlyablacknessfleckedwithwhiteflashes，fortheseawasasblackastheskyandspeckledwithfoamafar。Thestarsthathadflowntotherollcamebackonthereturnswingoftheship，rushingdownwardsintheirglitteringmultitude，notoffierypoints，butenlargedtotinydiscsbrilliantwithaclearwetsheen。 Jukeswatchedtheflyingbigstarsforamoment，andthenwrote: \"8P。M。Swellincreasing。Shiplabouringandtakingwateronherdecks。Batteneddownthecooliesforthenight。Barometerstillfalling。\"Hepaused，andthoughttohimself，\"Perhapsnothingwhatever\'llcomeofit。\"Andthenheclosedresolutelyhisentries:\"Everyappearanceofatyphooncomingon。\" Ongoingouthehadtostandaside，andCaptainMacWhirrstrodeoverthedoorstepwithoutsayingawordormakingasign。 \"Shutthedoor，Mr。Jukes，willyou？\"hecriedfromwithin。 Jukesturnedbacktodoso，mutteringironically:\"Afraidtocatchcold，Isuppose。\"Itwashiswatchbelow，butheyearnedforcommunionwithhiskind；andheremarkedcheerilytothesecondmate:\"Doesn\'tlooksobad，afterall——doesit？\" Thesecondmatewasmarchingtoandfroonthebridge，trippingdownwithsmallstepsonemoment，andthenextclimbingwithdifficultytheshiftingslopeofthedeck。AtthesoundofJukes\'voicehestoodstill，facingforward，butmadenoreply。 \"Hallo!That\'saheavyone，\"saidJukes，swayingtomeetthelongrolltillhisloweredhandtouchedtheplanks。Thistimethesecondmatemadeinhisthroatanoiseofanunfriendlynature。 Hewasanoldish，shabbylittlefellow，withbadteethandnohaironhisface。HehadbeenshippedinahurryinShanghai，thattripwhenthesecondofficerbroughtfromhomehaddelayedtheshipthreehoursinportbycontriving(insomemannerCaptainMacWhirrcouldneverunderstand)tofalloverboardintoanemptycoal-lighterlyingalongside，andhadtobesentashoretothehospitalwithconcussionofthebrainandabrokenlimbortwo。 Jukeswasnotdiscouragedbytheunsympatheticsound。\"TheChinamenmustbehavingalovelytimeofitdownthere，\"hesaid。 \"It\'sluckyforthemtheoldgirlhastheeasiestrollofanyshipI\'veeverbeenin。Therenow!Thisonewasn\'tsobad。\" \"Youwait，\"snarledthesecondmate。 Withhissharpnose，redatthetip，andhisthinpinchedlips，healwayslookedasthoughhewereraginginwardly；andhewasconciseinhisspeechtothepointofrudeness。Allhistimeoffdutyhespentinhiscabinwiththedoorshut，keepingsostillintherethathewassupposedtofallasleepassoonashehaddisappeared；butthemanwhocameintowakehimforhiswatchondeckwouldinvariablyfindhimwithhiseyeswideopen，flatonhisbackinthebunk，andglaringirritablyfromasoiledpillow。 Heneverwroteanyletters，didnotseemtohopefornewsfromanywhere；andthoughhehadbeenheardoncetomentionWestHartlepool，itwaswithextremebitterness，andonlyinconnectionwiththeextortionatechargesofaboarding-house。Hewasoneofthosemenwhoarepickedupatneedintheportsoftheworld。Theyarecompetentenough，appearhopelesslyhardup，shownoevidenceofanysortofvice，andcarryaboutthemallthesignsofmanifestfailure。Theycomeaboardonanemergency，carefornoshipafloat，liveintheirownatmosphereofcasualconnectionamongsttheirshipmateswhoknownothingofthem，andmakeuptheirmindstoleaveatinconvenienttimes。TheyclearoutwithnowordsofleavetakinginsomeGod-forsakenportothermenwouldfeartobestrandedin，andgoashoreincompanyofashabbysea-chest，cordedlikeatreasure-box，andwithanairofshakingtheship\'sdustofftheirfeet。 \"Youwait，\"herepeated，balancedingreatswingswithhisbacktoJukes，motionlessandimplacable。 \"Doyoumeantosaywearegoingtocatchithot？\"askedJukeswithboyishinterest。 \"Say？……Isaynothing。Youdon\'tcatchme，\"snappedthelittlesecondmate，withamixtureofpride，scorn，andcunning，asifJukes\'questionhadbeenatrapcleverlydetected。\"Oh，no!NoneofyouhereshallmakeafoolofmeifIknowit，\"hemumbledtohimself。 Jukesreflectedrapidlythatthissecondmatewasameanlittlebeast，andinhishearthewishedpoorJackAllenhadneversmashedhimselfupinthecoal-lighter。Thefar-offblacknessaheadoftheshipwaslikeanothernightseenthroughthestarrynightoftheearth——thestarlessnightoftheimmensitiesbeyondthecreateduniverse，revealedinitsappallingstillnessthroughalowfissureintheglitteringsphereofwhichtheearthisthekernel。 \"Whatevertheremightbeabout，\"saidJukes，\"wearesteamingstraightintoit。\" \"You\'vesaidit，\"caughtupthesecondmate，alwayswithhisbacktoJukes。\"You\'vesaidit，mind——notI。\" \"Oh，gotoJericho!\"saidJukes，frankly；andtheotheremittedatriumphantlittlechuckle。 \"You\'vesaidit，\"herepeated。 \"Andwhatofthat？\" \"I\'veknownsomerealgoodmengetintotroublewiththeirskippersforsayingadam\'sightless，\"answeredthesecondmatefeverishly。\"Oh，no!Youdon\'tcatchme。\" \"Youseemdeucedlyanxiousnottogiveyourselfaway，\"saidJukes，completelysouredbysuchabsurdity。\"Iwouldn\'tbeafraidtosaywhatIthink。\" \"Aye，tome!That\'snogreattrick。Iamnobody，andwellI knowit。\"