第3章

TheNan-Shanhadanathwartshipcoal-bunker，which，beingattimesusedascargospace，communicatedbyanirondoorwiththefore\'tween-deck。Itwasemptythen，anditsmanholewastheforemostoneinthealleyway。Theboatswaincouldgetin，therefore，withoutcomingoutondeckatall；buttohisgreatsurprisehefoundhecouldinducenoonetohelphimintakingoffthemanholecover。Hegropedforitallthesame，butoneofthecrewlyinginhiswayrefusedtobudge。 \"Why，Ionlywanttogetyouthatblamedlightyouarecryingfor，\"heexpostulated，almostpitifully。 Somebodytoldhimtogoandputhisheadinabag。Heregrettedhecouldnotrecognizethevoice，andthatitwastoodarktosee，otherwise，ashesaid，hewouldhaveputaheadonthatsonofasea-cook，anyway，sinkorswim。Nevertheless，hehadmadeuphismindtoshowthemhecouldgetalight，ifheweretodieforit。 Throughtheviolenceoftheship\'srolling，everymovementwasdangerous。Tobelyingdownseemedlabourenough。Henearlybrokehisneckdroppingintothebunker。Hefellonhisback，andwassentshootinghelplesslyfromsidetosideinthedangerouscompanyofaheavyironbar——acoal-trimmer\'ssliceprobably——leftdowntherebysomebody。Thisthingmadehimasnervousasthoughithadbeenawildbeast。Hecouldnotseeit，theinsideofthebunkercoatedwithcoal-dustbeingperfectlyandimpenetrablyblack；buthehearditslidingandclattering，andstrikinghereandthere，alwaysintheneighbourhoodofhishead。Itseemedtomakeanextraordinarynoise，too——togiveheavythumpsasthoughithadbeenasbigasabridgegirder。 Thiswasremarkableenoughforhimtonoticewhilehewasflungfromporttostarboardandbackagain，andclawingdesperatelythesmoothsidesofthebunkerintheendeavourtostophimself。 Thedoorintothe\'tween-decknotfittingquitetrue，hesawathreadofdimlightatthebottom。 Beingasailor，andastillactiveman，hedidnotwantmuchofachancetoregainhisfeet；andasluckwouldhaveit，inscramblingupheputhishandontheironslice，pickingitupasherose。Otherwisehewouldhavebeenafraidofthethingbreakinghislegs，oratleastknockinghimdownagain。Atfirsthestoodstill。Hefeltunsafeinthisdarknessthatseemedtomaketheship\'smotionunfamiliar，unforeseen，anddifficulttocounteract。Hefeltsomuchshakenforamomentthathedarednotmoveforfearof\"takingchargeagain。\"Hehadnomindtogetbatteredtopiecesinthatbunker。 Hehadstruckhisheadtwice；hewasdazedalittle。Heseemedtohearyetsoplainlytheclatterandbangsoftheironsliceflyingabouthisearsthathetightenedhisgriptoprovetohimselfhehadittheresafelyinhishand。Hewasvaguelyamazedattheplainnesswithwhichdowntherehecouldhearthegaleraging。Itshowlsandshrieksseemedtotakeon，intheemptinessofthebunker，somethingofthehumancharacter，ofhumanrageandpain——beingnotvastbutinfinitelypoignant。 Andtherewere，witheveryroll，thumps，too——profound，ponderousthumps，asifabulkyobjectoffive-tonweightorsohadgotplayinthehold。Buttherewasnosuchthinginthecargo。Somethingondeck？Impossible。Oralongside？Couldn\'tbe。 Hethoughtallthisquickly，clearly，competently，likeaseaman，andintheendremainedpuzzled。Thisnoise，though，camedeadenedfromoutside，togetherwiththewashingandpouringofwaterondeckabovehishead。Wasitthewind？Mustbe。Itmadedowntherearowliketheshoutingofabiglotofcrazedmen。Andhediscoveredinhimselfadesireforalight，too-ifonlytogetdrownedby——andanervousanxietytogetoutofthatbunkerasquicklyaspossible。 Hepulledbackthebolt:theheavyironplateturnedonitshinges；anditwasasthoughhehadopenedthedoortothesoundsofthetempest。Agustofhoarseyellingmethim:theairwasstill；andtherushingofwateroverheadwascoveredbyatumultofstrangled，throatyshrieksthatproducedaneffectofdesperateconfusion。Hestraddledhislegsthewholewidthofthedoorwayandstretchedhisneck。Andatfirstheperceivedonlywhathehadcometoseek:sixsmallyellowflamesswingingviolentlyonthegreatbodyofthedusk。 Itwasstayedlikethegalleryofamine，witharowofstanchionsinthemiddle，andcross-beamsoverhead，penetratingintothegloomahead——indefinitely。Andtoportthereloomed，likethecavinginofoneofthesides，abulkymasswithaslantingoutline。Thewholeplace，withtheshadowsandtheshapes，movedallthetime。Theboatswainglared:theshiplurchedtostarboard，andagreathowlcamefromthatmassthathadtheslantoffallenearth。 Piecesofwoodwhizzedpast。Planks，hethought，inexpressiblystartled，andflingingbackhishead。Athisfeetamanwentslidingover，open-eyed，onhisback，strainingwithupliftedarmsfornothing:andanothercameboundinglikeadetachedstonewithhisheadbetweenhislegsandhishandsclenched。His58 pigtailwhippedintheair；hemadeagrabattheboatswain\'slegs，andfromhisopenedhandabrightwhitediscrolledagainsttheboatswain\'sfoot。Herecognizedasilverdollar，andyelledatitwithastonishment。Withaprecipitatedsoundoftramplingandshufflingofbarefeet，andwithgutturalcries，themoundofwrithingbodiespileduptoportdetacheditselffromtheship\'ssideandsliding，inertandstruggling，shiftedtostarboard，withadull，brutalthump。Thecriesceased。Theboatswainheardalongmoanthroughtheroarandwhistlingofthewind；hesawaninextricableconfusionofheadsandshoulders，nakedsoleskickingupwards，fistsraised，tumblingbacks，legs，pigtails，faces。 \"GoodLord!\"hecried，horrified，andbanged-totheirondooruponthisvision。 Thiswaswhathehadcomeonthebridgetotell。Hecouldnotkeepittohimself；andonboardshipthereisonlyonemantowhomitisworthwhiletounburdenyourself。Onhispassagebackthehandsinthealleywaysworeathimforafool。Whydidn\'thebringthatlamp？Whatthedevildidthecooliesmattertoanybody？Andwhenhecameout，theextremityoftheshipmadewhatwentoninsideofherappearoflittlemoment。 Atfirsthethoughthehadleftthealleywayintheverymomentofhersinking。Thebridgeladdershadbeenwashedaway，butanenormousseafillingtheafter-deckfloatedhimup。Afterthathehadtolieonhisstomachforsometime，holdingtoaring-bolt，gettinghisbreathnowandthen，andswallowingsaltwater。Hestruggledfartheronhishandsandknees，toofrightenedanddistractedtoturnback。Inthiswayhereachedtheafter-partofthewheelhouse。Inthatcomparativelyshelteredspothefoundthesecondmate。 Theboatswainwaspleasantlysurprised——hisimpressionbeingthateverybodyondeckmusthavebeenwashedawayalongtimeago。HeaskedeagerlywheretheCaptainwas。 Thesecondmatewaslyinglow，likeamalignantlittleanimalunderahedge。 \"Captain？Goneoverboard，aftergettingusintothismess。\"Themate，too，forallhekneworcared。Anotherfool。Didn\'tmatter。Everybodywasgoingby-and-by。 Theboatswaincrawledoutagainintothestrengthofthewind； notbecausehemuchexpectedtofindanybody，hesaid，butjusttogetawayfrom\"thatman。\"Hecrawledoutasoutcastsgotofaceaninclementworld。HencehisgreatjoyatfindingJukesandtheCaptain。Butwhatwasgoingoninthe\'tween-deckwastohimaminormatterbythattime。Besides，itwasdifficulttomakeyourselfheard。ButhemanagedtoconveytheideathattheChinamanhadbrokenadrifttogetherwiththeirboxes，andthathehadcomeuponpurposetoreportthis。Astothehands，theywereallright。Then，appeased，hesubsidedonthedeckinasittingposture，huggingwithhisarmsandlegsthestandoftheengine-roomtelegraph——anironcastingasthickasapost。 Whenthatwent，why，heexpectedhewouldgo，too。Hegavenomorethoughttothecoolies。 CaptainMacWhirrhadmadeJukesunderstandthathewantedhimtogodownbelow——tosee。 \"WhatamItodothen，sir？\"AndthetremblingofhiswholewetbodycausedJukes\'voicetosoundlikebleating。 \"Seefirst……Boss\'n……says……adrift。\" \"Thatboss\'nisaconfoundedfool，\"howledJukes，shakily。 TheabsurdityofthedemandmadeuponhimrevoltedJukes。Hewasasunwillingtogoasifthemomenthehadleftthedecktheshipweresuretosink。 \"Imustknow……can\'tleave……\" \"They\'llsettle，sir。\" \"Fight……boss\'nsaystheyfight……Why？Can\'thave…… fighting……boardship……Muchratherkeepyouhere…… case……Ishould……washedoverboardmyself……Stopit……someway。Youseeandtellme……throughengine-roomtube。Don\'twantyou……comeuphere……toooften。 Dangerous……movingabout……deck。\" Jukes，heldwithhisheadinchancery，hadtolistentowhatseemedhorriblesuggestions。 \"Don\'twant……yougetlost……solong……shipisn\'t……Rout……Goodman……Ship……may……throughthis……allrightyet。\" AllatonceJukesunderstoodhewouldhavetogo。 \"Doyouthinkshemay？\"hescreamed。 Butthewinddevouredthereply，outofwhichJukesheardonlytheoneword，pronouncedwithgreatenergy\"……Always……\" CaptainMacWhirrreleasedJukes，andbendingovertheboatswain，yelled，\"Getbackwiththemate。\"Jukesonlyknewthatthearmwasgoneoffhisshoulders。Hewasdismissedwithhisorders—— todowhat？Hewasexasperatedintolettinggohisholdcarelessly，andontheinstantwasblownaway。Itseemedtohimthatnothingcouldstophimfrombeingblownrightoverthestern。Heflunghimselfdownhastily，andtheboatswain，whowasfollowing，fellonhim。 \"Don\'tyougetupyet，sir，\"criedtheboatswain。\"Nohurry!\" Aseasweptover。Jukesunderstoodtheboatswaintosplutterthatthebridgeladdersweregone。\"I\'llloweryoudown，sir，byyourhands，\"hescreamed。Heshoutedalsosomethingaboutthesmoke-stackbeingaslikelytogooverboardasnot。Jukesthoughtitverypossible，andimaginedthefiresout，theshiphelpless……Theboatswainbyhissidekeptonyelling。 \"What？Whatisit？\"Jukescrieddistressfully；andtheotherrepeated，\"Whatwouldmyoldwomansayifshesawmenow？\" Inthealleyway，wherealotofwaterhadgotinandsplashedinthedark，themenwerestillasdeath，tillJukesstumbledagainstoneofthemandcursedhimsavagelyforbeingintheway。 Twoorthreevoicesthenasked，eagerandweak，\"Anychanceforus，sir？\" \"What\'sthematterwithyoufools？\"hesaidbrutally。Hefeltasthoughhecouldthrowhimselfdownamongstthemandnevermoveanymore。Buttheyseemedcheered；andinthemidstofobsequiouswarnings，\"Lookout!Mindthatmanholelid，sir，\" theyloweredhimintothebunker。Theboatswaintumbleddownafterhim，andassoonashehadpickedhimselfupheremarked，\"Shewouldsay，\'Serveyouright，youoldfool，forgoingtosea。\'\" Theboatswainhadsomemeans，andmadeapointofalludingtothemfrequently。Hiswife——afatwoman——andtwogrown-updaughterskeptagreengrocer\'sshopintheEast-endofLondon。 Inthedark，Jukes，unsteadyonhislegs，listenedtoafaintthunderouspatter。Adeadenedscreamingwentonsteadilyathiselbow，asitwere；andfromabovetheloudertumultofthestormdescendeduponthesenearsounds。Hisheadswam。Tohim，too，inthatbunker，themotionoftheshipseemednovelandmenacing，sappinghisresolutionasthoughhehadneverbeenafloatbefore。 Hehadhalfamindtoscrambleoutagain；buttheremembranceofCaptainMacWhirr\'svoicemadethisimpossible。Hisordersweretogoandsee。Whatwasthegoodofit，hewantedtoknow。 Enraged，hetoldhimselfhewouldsee——ofcourse。Buttheboatswain，staggeringclumsily，warnedhimtobecarefulhowheopenedthatdoor；therewasablamedfightgoingon。AndJukes，asifingreatbodilypain，desiredirritablytoknowwhatthedeviltheywerefightingfor。 \"Dollars!Dollars，sir。Alltheirrottenchestsgotburstopen。 Blamedmoneyskippingallovertheplace，andtheyaretumblingafteritheadoverheels——tearingandbitinglikeanything。A regularlittlehellinthere。\" Jukesconvulsivelyopenedthedoor。Theshortboatswainpeeredunderhisarm。 Oneofthelampshadgoneout，brokenperhaps。Rancorous，gutturalcriesburstoutloudlyontheirears，andastrangepantingsound，theworkingofallthesestrainingbreasts。A hardblowhitthesideoftheship:waterfellabovewithastunningshock，andintheforefrontofthegloom，wheretheairwasreddishandthick，Jukessawaheadbangthedeckviolently，twothickcalveswavingonhigh，musculararmstwinedroundanakedbody，ayellow-face，open-mouthedandwithasetwildstare，lookupandslideaway。Anemptychestclatteredturningover；amanfellheadfirstwithajump，asifliftedbyakick； andfartheroff，indistinct，othersstreamedlikeamassofrollingstonesdownabank，thumpingthedeckwiththeirfeetandflourishingtheirarmswildly。Thehatchwayladderwasloadedwithcooliesswarmingonitlikebeesonabranch。Theyhungonthestepsinacrawling，stirringcluster，beatingmadlywiththeirfiststheundersideofthebattenedhatch，andtheheadlongrushofthewaterabovewasheardintheintervalsoftheiryelling。Theshipheeledovermore，andtheybegantodropoff: firstone，thentwo，thenalltherestwentawaytogether，fallingstraightoffwithagreatcry。 Jukeswasconfounded。Theboatswain，withgruffanxiety，beggedhim，\"Don\'tyougointhere，sir。\" Thewholeplaceseemedtotwistuponitself，jumpingincessantlythewhile；andwhentheshiprosetoaseaJukesfanciedthatallthesemenwouldbeshotuponhiminabody。Hebackedout，swungthedoorto，andwithtremblinghandspushedatthebolt…… AssoonashismatehadgoneCaptainMacWhirr，leftaloneonthebridge，sidledandstaggeredasfarasthewheelhouse。Itsdoorbeinghingedforward，hehadtofightthegaleforadmittance，andwhenatlasthemanagedtoenter，itwaswithaninstantaneousclatterandabang，asthoughhehadbeenfiredthroughthewood。Hestoodwithin，holdingontothehandle。 Thesteering-gearleakedsteam，andintheconfinedspacetheglassofthebinnaclemadeashinyovaloflightinathinwhitefog。Thewindhowled，hummed，whistled，withsuddenboomingguststhatrattledthedoorsandshuttersintheviciouspatterofsprays。Twocoilsoflead-lineandasmallcanvasbaghungonalonglanyard，swungwideoff，andcamebackclingingtothebulkheads。Thegratingsunderfootwerenearlyafloat；witheverysweepingblowofasea，watersquirtedviolentlythroughthecracksallroundthedoor，andthemanatthehelmhadflungdownhiscap，hiscoat，andstoodproppedagainstthegear-casinginastripedcottonshirtopenonhisbreast。Thelittlebrasswheelinhishandshadtheappearanceofabrightandfragiletoy。Thecordsofhisneckstoodhardandlean，adarkpatchlayinthehollowofhisthroat，andhisfacewasstillandsunkenasindeath。 CaptainMacWhirrwipedhiseyes。Theseathathadnearlytakenhimoverboardhad，tohisgreatannoyance，washedhissou\'-westerhatoffhisbaldhead。Thefluffy，fairhair，soakedanddarkened，resembledameanskeinofcottonthreadsfestoonedroundhisbareskull。Hisface，glisteningwithsea-water，hadbeenmadecrimsonwiththewind，withthestingofsprays。Helookedasthoughhehadcomeoffsweatingfrombeforeafurnace。 \"Youhere？\"hemuttered，heavily。 Thesecondmatehadfoundhiswayintothewheelhousesometimebefore。Hehadfixedhimselfinacornerwithhiskneesup，afistpressedagainsteachtemple；andthisattitudesuggestedrage，sorrow，resignation，surrender，withasortofconcentratedunforgiveness。Hesaidmournfullyanddefiantly，\"Well，it\'smywatchbelownow:ain\'tit？\" Thesteamgearclattered，stopped，clatteredagain；andthehelmsman\'seyeballsseemedtoprojectoutofahungryfaceasifthecompasscardbehindthebinnacleglasshadbeenmeat。Godknowshowlonghehadbeenlefttheretosteer，asifforgottenbyallhisshipmates。Thebellshadnotbeenstruck；therehadbeennoreliefs；theship\'sroutinehadgonedownwind；buthewastryingtokeepherheadnorth-north-east。Theruddermighthavebeengoneforallheknew，thefiresout，theenginesbrokendown，theshipreadytorolloverlikeacorpse。Hewasanxiousnottogetmuddledandlosecontrolofherhead，becausethecompass-cardswungfarbothways，wrigglingonthepivot，andsometimesseemedtowhirlrightround。Hesufferedfrommentalstress。Hewashorriblyafraid，also，ofthewheelhousegoing。 Mountainsofwaterkeptontumblingagainstit。Whentheshiptookoneofherdesperatedivesthecornersofhislipstwitched。 CaptainMacWhirrlookedupatthewheelhouseclock。Screwedtothebulk-head，ithadawhitefaceonwhichtheblackhandsappearedtostandquitestill。Itwashalf-pastoneinthemorning。 \"Anotherday，\"hemutteredtohimself。 Thesecondmateheardhim，andliftinghisheadasonegrievingamongstruins，\"Youwon\'tseeitbreak，\"heexclaimed。Hiswristsandhiskneescouldbeseentoshakeviolently。\"No，byGod!Youwon\'t……\" Hetookhisfaceagainbetweenhisfists。 Thebodyofthehelmsmanhadmovedslightly，buthisheaddidn\'tbudgeonhisneck，——likeastoneheadfixedtolookonewayfromacolumn。Duringarollthatallbuttookhisbootedlegsfromunderhim，andintheverystaggertosavehimself，CaptainMacWhirrsaidausterely，\"Don\'tyoupayanyattentiontowhatthatmansays。\"Andthen，withanindefinablechangeoftone，verygrave，headded，\"Heisn\'tonduty。\" Thesailorsaidnothing。 Thehurricaneboomed，shakingthelittleplace，whichseemedair-tight；andthelightofthebinnacleflickeredallthetime。 \"Youhaven\'tbeenrelieved，\"CaptainMacWhirrwenton，lookingdown。\"Iwantyoutosticktothehelm，though，aslongasyoucan。You\'vegotthehangofher。Anothermancomingheremightmakeamessofit。Wouldn\'tdo。Nochild\'splay。Andthehandsareprobablybusywithajobdownbelow……Thinkyoucan？\" Thesteering-gearleapedintoanabruptshortclatter，stoppedsmoulderinglikeanember；andthestillman，withamotionlessgaze，burstout，asifallthepassioninhimhadgoneintohislips:\"ByHeavens，sir!Icansteerforeverifnobodytalkstome。\" \"Oh!aye!Allright……\"TheCaptainliftedhiseyesforthefirsttimetotheman，\"……Hackett。\" Andheseemedtodismissthismatterfromhismind。Hestoopedtotheengine-roomspeaking-tube，blewin，andbenthishead。Mr。 Routbelowanswered，andatonceCaptainMacWhirrputhislipstothemouthpiece。 Withtheuproarofthegalearoundhimheappliedalternatelyhislipsandhisear，andtheengineer\'svoicemountedtohim，harshandasifoutoftheheatofanengagement。Oneofthestokerswasdisabled，theothershadgivenin，thesecondengineerandthedonkey-manwerefiring-up。Thethirdengineerwasstandingbythesteam-valve。Theengineswerebeingtendedbyhand。Howwasitabove？ \"Badenough。Itmostlyrestswithyou，\"saidCaptainMacWhirr。 Wasthematedownthereyet？No？Well，hewouldbepresently。 WouldMr。Routlethimtalkthroughthespeaking-tube？——throughthedeckspeaking-tube，becausehe——theCaptain——wasgoingoutagainonthebridgedirectly。TherewassometroubleamongsttheChinamen。Theywerefighting，itseemed。Couldn\'tallowfightinganyhow…… Mr。Routhadgoneaway，andCaptainMacWhirrcouldfeelagainsthisearthepulsationoftheengines，likethebeatoftheship\'sheart。Mr。Rout\'svoicedownthereshoutedsomethingdistantly。 Theshippitchedheadlong，thepulsationleapedwithahissingtumult，andstoppeddead。CaptainMacWhirr\'sfacewasimpassive，andhiseyeswerefixedaimlesslyonthecrouchingshapeofthesecondmate。AgainMr。Rout\'svoicecriedoutinthedepths，andthepulsatingbeatsrecommenced，withslowstrokes——growingswifter。 Mr。Routhadreturnedtothetube。\"Itdon\'tmattermuchwhattheydo，\"hesaid，hastily；andthen，withirritation，\"Shetakesthesedivesasifshenevermeanttocomeupagain。\" \"Awfulsea，\"saidtheCaptain\'svoicefromabove。 \"Don\'tletmedriveherunder，\"barkedSolomonRoutupthepipe。 \"Darkandrain。Can\'tseewhat\'scoming，\"utteredthevoice。 \"Must——keep——her——moving——enoughtosteer——andchanceit，\"itwentontostatedistinctly。 \"IamdoingasmuchasIdare。\" \"Weare——getting——smashedup——agooddealuphere，\" proceededthevoicemildly。\"Doing——fairlywell——though。Ofcourse，ifthewheelhouseshouldgo……\" Mr。Rout，bendinganattentiveear，mutteredpeevishlysomethingunderhisbreath。 Butthedeliberatevoiceuptherebecameanimatedtoask:\"Jukesturnedupyet？\"Then，afterashortwait，\"Iwishhewouldbearahand。Iwanthimtobedoneandcomeuphereincaseofanything。Tolookaftertheship。Iamallalone。Thesecondmate\'slost……\" \"What？\"shoutedMr。Routintotheengine-room，takinghisheadaway。Thenupthetubehecried，\"Goneoverboard？\"andclappedhisearto。 \"Losthisnerve，\"thevoicefromabovecontinuedinamatter-of-facttone。\"Damnedawkwardcircumstance。\" Mr。Rout，listeningwithbowedneck，openedhiseyeswideatthis。However，heheardsomethinglikethesoundsofascuffleandbrokenexclamationscomingdowntohim。Hestrainedhishearing；andallthetimeBeale，thethirdengineer，withhisarmsuplifted，heldbetweenthepalmsofhishandstherimofalittleblackwheelprojectingatthesideofabigcopperpipe。 Heseemedtobepoisingitabovehishead，asthoughitwereacorrectattitudeinsomesortofgame。 Tosteadyhimself，hepressedhisshoulderagainstthewhitebulkhead，onekneebent，andasweat-ragtuckedinhisbelthangingonhiship。Hissmoothcheekwasbegrimedandflushed，andthecoaldustonhiseyelids，liketheblackpencillingofamake-up，enhancedtheliquidbrillianceofthewhites，givingtohisyouthfulfacesomethingofafeminine，exoticandfascinatingaspect。Whentheshippitchedhewouldwithhastymovementsofhishandsscrewhardatthelittlewheel。 \"Gonecrazy，\"begantheCaptain\'svoicesuddenlyinthetube。 \"Rushedatme……Justnow。Hadtoknockhimdown…… Thisminute。Youheard，Mr。Rout？\" \"Thedevil!\"mutteredMr。Rout。\"Lookout，Beale!\" Hisshoutrangoutliketheblastofawarningtrumpet，betweentheironwallsoftheengine-room。Paintedwhite，theyrosehighintotheduskoftheskylight，slopinglikearoof；andthewholeloftyspaceresembledtheinteriorofamonument，dividedbyfloorsofirongrating，withlightsflickeringatdifferentlevels，andamassofgloomlingeringinthemiddle，withinthecolumnarstirofmachineryunderthemotionlessswellingofthecylinders。Aloudandwildresonance，madeupofallthenoisesofthehurricane，dweltinthestillwarmthoftheair。Therewasinitthesmellofhotmetal，ofoil，andaslightmistofsteam。Theblowsoftheseaseemedtotraverseitinanunringing，stunningshock，fromsidetoside。 Gleams，likepalelongflames，trembleduponthepolishofmetal； fromtheflooringbelowtheenormouscrank-headsemergedintheirturnswithaflashofbrassandsteel——goingover；whiletheconnecting-rods，big-jointed，likeskeletonlimbs，seemedtothrustthemdownandpullthemupagainwithanirresistibleprecision。Anddeepinthehalf-lightotherrodsdodgeddeliberatelytoandfro，crossheadsnodded，discsofmetalrubbedsmoothlyagainsteachother，slowandgentle，inacomminglingofshadowsandgleams。 Sometimesallthosepowerfulandunerringmovementswouldslowdownsimultaneously，asiftheyhadbeenthefunctionsofalivingorganism，strickensuddenlybytheblightoflanguor；andMr。Rout\'seyeswouldblazedarkerinhislongsallowface。Hewasfightingthisfightinapairofcarpetslippers。Ashortshinyjacketbarelycoveredhisloins，andhiswhitewristsprotrudedfaroutofthetightsleeves，asthoughtheemergencyhadaddedtohisstature，hadlengthenedhislimbs，augmentedhispallor，hollowedhiseyes。 Hemoved，climbinghighup，disappearinglowdown，witharestless，purposefulindustry，andwhenhestoodstill，holdingtheguard-railinfrontofthestarting-gear，hewouldkeepglancingtotherightatthesteam-gauge，atthewater-gauge，fixeduponthewhitewallinthelightofaswayinglamp。Themouthsoftwospeakingtubesgapedstupidlyathiselbow，andthedialoftheengine-roomtelegraphresembledaclockoflargediameter，bearingonitsfacecurtwordsinsteadoffigures。Thegroupedlettersstoodoutheavilyblack，aroundthepivot-headoftheindicator，emphaticallysymbolicofloudexclamations:AHEAD，ASTERN，SLOW，Half，STANDBY；andthefatblackhandpointeddownwardstothewordFULL，which，thussingledout，capturedtheeyeasasharpcrysecuresattention。 Thewood-encasedbulkofthelow-pressurecylinder，frowningportlyfromabove，emittedafaintwheezeateverythrust，andexceptforthatlowhisstheenginesworkedtheirsteellimbsheadlongorslowwithasilent，determinedsmoothness。Andallthis，thewhitewalls，themovingsteel，thefloorplatesunderSolomonRout\'sfeet，thefloorsofirongratingabovehishead，theduskandthegleams，uproseandsankcontinuously，withoneaccord，upontheharshwashofthewavesagainsttheship\'sside。 Thewholeloftinessoftheplace，boominghollowtothegreatvoiceofthewind，swayedatthetoplikeatree，wouldgooverbodily，asifbornedownthiswayandthatbythetremendousblasts。 \"You\'vegottohurryup，\"shoutedMr。Rout，assoonashesawJukesappearinthestokeholddoorway。 Jukes\'glancewaswanderingandtipsy；hisredfacewaspuffy，asthoughhehadoverslepthimself。Hehadhadanarduousroad，andhadtravelledoveritwithimmensevivacity，theagitationofhismindcorrespondingtotheexertionsofhisbody。Hehadrushedupoutofthebunker，stumblinginthedarkalleywayamongstalotofbewilderedmenwho，trodupon，asked\"What\'sup，sir？\"inawedmuttersallroundhim；——downthestokeholdladder，missingmanyironrungsinhishurry，downintoaplacedeepasawell，blackasTophet，tippingoverbackandforthlikeasee-saw。Thewaterinthebilgesthunderedateachroll，andlumpsofcoalskippedtoandfro，fromendtoend，rattlinglikeanavalancheofpebblesonaslopeofiron。 Somebodyintheremoanedwithpain，andsomebodyelsecouldbeseencrouchingoverwhatseemedthepronebodyofadeadman；alustyvoiceblasphemed；andtheglowundereachfire-doorwaslikeapoolofflamingbloodradiatingquietlyinavelvetyblackness。 AgustofwindstruckuponthenapeofJukes\'neckandnextmomenthefeltitstreamingabouthiswetankles。Thestokeholdventilatorshummed:infrontofthesixfire-doorstwowildfigures，strippedtothewaist，staggeredandstooped，wrestlingwithtwoshovels。 \"Hallo!Plentyofdraughtnow，\"yelledthesecondengineeratonce，asthoughhehadbeenallthetimelookingoutforJukes。 Thedonkeyman，adapperlittlechapwithadazzlingfairskinandatiny，gingerymoustache，workedinasortofmutetransport。 Theywerekeepingafullheadofsteam，andaprofoundrumbling，asofanemptyfurniturevantrottingoverabridge，madeasustainedbasstoalltheothernoisesoftheplace。 \"Blowingoffallthetime，\"wentonyellingthesecond。Withasoundasofahundredscouredsaucepans，theorificeofaventilatorspatuponhisshoulderasuddengushofsaltwater，andhevolleyedastreamofcursesuponallthingsonearthincludinghisownsoul，rippingandraving，andallthetimeattendingtohisbusiness。Withasharpclashofmetaltheardentpaleglareofthefireopeneduponhisbullethead，showinghissplutteringlips，hisinsolentface，andwithanotherclangclosedlikethewhite-hotwinkofanironeye。 \"Where\'sthebloomingship？Canyoutellme？blastmyeyes! Underwater——orwhat？It\'scomingdownhereintons。ArethecondemnedcowlsgonetoHades？Hey？Don\'tyouknowanything—— youjollysailor-manyou……？\" Jukes，afterabewilderedmoment，hadbeenhelpedbyarolltodartthrough；andassoonashiseyestookinthecomparativevastness，peaceandbrillianceoftheengine-room，theship，settinghersternheavilyinthewater，senthimchargingheaddownuponMr。Rout。 Thechief\'sarm，longlikeatentacle，andstraighteningasifworkedbyaspring，wentouttomeethim，anddeflectedhisrushintoaspintowardsthespeaking-tubes。AtthesametimeMr。 Routrepeatedearnestly: \"You\'vegottohurryup，whateveritis。\" Jukesyelled\"Areyouthere，sir？\"andlistened。Nothing。 Suddenlytheroarofthewindfellstraightintohisear，butpresentlyasmallvoiceshovedasidetheshoutinghurricanequietly。 \"You，Jukes？——Well？\" Jukeswasreadytotalk:itwasonlytimethatseemedtobewanting。Itwaseasyenoughtoaccountforeverything。Hecouldperfectlyimaginethecooliesbatteneddowninthereeking\'tween-deck，lyingsickandscaredbetweentherowsofchests。 Thenoneofthesechests——orperhapsseveralatonce—— breakinglooseinaroll，knockingoutothers，sidessplitting，lidsflyingopen，andalltheseclumsyChinamenrisingupinabodytosavetheirproperty。Afterwardseveryflingoftheshipwouldhurlthattramping，yellingmobhereandthere，fromsidetoside，inawhirlofsmashedwood，tornclothing，rollingdollars。Astruggleoncestarted，theywouldbeunabletostopthemselves。Nothingcouldstopthemnowexceptmainforce。Itwasadisaster。Hehadseenit，andthatwasallhecouldsay。 Someofthemmustbedead，hebelieved。Therestwouldgoonfighting…… Hesentuphiswords，trippingovereachother，crowdingthenarrowtube。Theymountedasifintoasilenceofanenlightenedcomprehensiondwellingaloneuptherewithastorm。AndJukeswantedtobedismissedfromthefaceofthatodioustroubleintrudingonthegreatneedoftheship。 V HEWAITED。Beforehiseyestheenginesturnedwithslowlabour，thatinthemomentofgoingoffintoamadflingwouldstopdeadatMr。Rout\'sshout，\"Lookout，Beale!\"Theypausedinanintelligentimmobility，stilledinmid-stroke，aheavycrankarrestedonthecant，asifconsciousofdangerandthepassageoftime。Then，witha\"Now，then!\"fromthechief，andthesoundofabreathexpelledthroughclenchedteeth，theywouldaccomplishtheinterruptedrevolutionandbeginanother。 Therewastheprudentsagacityofwisdomandthedeliberationofenormousstrengthintheirmovements。Thiswastheirwork——thispatientcoaxingofadistractedshipoverthefuryofthewavesandintotheveryeyeofthewind。AttimesMr。Rout\'schinwouldsinkonhisbreast，andhewatchedthemwithknittedeyebrowsasiflostinthought。 ThevoicethatkeptthehurricaneoutofJukes\'earbegan:\"Takethehandswithyou……，\"andleftoffunexpectedly。 \"WhatcouldIdowiththem，sir？\" Aharsh，abrupt，imperiousclangexplodedsuddenly。ThethreepairsofeyesflewuptothetelegraphdialtoseethehandjumpfromFULLtoSTOP，asifsnatchedbyadevil。Andthenthesethreemenintheengineroomhadtheintimatesensationofacheckupontheship，ofastrangeshrinking，asifshehadgatheredherselfforadesperateleap。 \"Stopher!\"bellowedMr。Rout。 Nobody——notevenCaptainMacWhirr，whoaloneondeckhadcaughtsightofawhitelineoffoamcomingonatsuchaheightthathecouldn\'tbelievehiseyes-nobodywastoknowthesteepnessofthatseaandtheawfuldepthofthehollowthehurricanehadscoopedoutbehindtherunningwallofwater。 Itracedtomeettheship，and，withapause，asofgirdingtheloins，theNan-Shanliftedherbowsandleaped。Theflamesinallthelampssank，darkeningtheengine-room。Onewentout。 Withatearingcrashandaswirling，ravingtumult，tonsofwaterfelluponthedeck，asthoughtheshiphaddartedunderthefootofacataract。 Downtheretheylookedateachother，stunned。 \"Sweptfromendtoend，byGod!\"bawledJukes。 Shedippedintothehollowstraightdown，asifgoingovertheedgeoftheworld。Theengine-roomtoppledforwardmenacingly，liketheinsideofatowernoddinginanearthquake。Anawfulracket，ofironthingsfalling，camefromthestokehold。ShehungonthisappallingslantlongenoughforBealetodroponhishandsandkneesandbegintocrawlasifhemeanttoflyonallfoursoutoftheengine-room，andforMr。Routtoturnhisheadslowly，rigid，cavernous，withthelowerjawdropping。Jukeshadshuthiseyes，andhisfaceinamomentbecamehopelesslyblankandgentle，likethefaceofablindman。 Atlastsheroseslowly，staggering，asifshehadtoliftamountainwithherbows。 Mr。Routshuthismouth；Jukesblinked；andlittleBealestooduphastily。 \"Anotheronelikethis，andthat\'sthelastofher，\"criedthechief。 HeandJukeslookedateachother，andthesamethoughtcameintotheirheads。TheCaptain!Everythingmusthavebeensweptaway。 Steering-geargone——shiplikealog。Alloverdirectly。 \"Rush!\"ejaculatedMr。Routthickly，glaringwithenlarged，doubtfuleyesatJukes，whoansweredhimbyanirresoluteglance。 Theclangofthetelegraphgongsoothedtheminstantly。TheblackhanddroppedinaflashfromSTOPtoFULL。 \"Nowthen，Beale!\"criedMr。Rout。 Thesteamhissedlow。Thepiston-rodsslidinandout。Jukesputhiseartothetube。Thevoicewasreadyforhim。Itsaid: \"Pickupallthemoney。Bearahandnow。I\'llwantyouuphere。\" Andthatwasall。 \"Sir？\"calledupJukes。Therewasnoanswer。 Hestaggeredawaylikeadefeatedmanfromthefieldofbattle。 Hehadgot，insomewayorother，acutabovehislefteyebrow—— acuttothebone。Hewasnotawareofitintheleast: quantitiesoftheChinaSea，largeenoughtobreakhisneckforhim，hadgoneoverhishead，hadcleaned，washed，andsaltedthatwound。Itdidnotbleed，butonlygapedred；andthisgashovertheeye，hisdishevelledhair，thedisorderofhisclothes，gavehimtheaspectofamanworstedinafightwithfists。 \"Gottopickupthedollars。\"HeappealedtoMr。Rout，smilingpitifullyatrandom。 \"What\'sthat？\"askedMr。Rout，wildly。\"Pickup……？Idon\'tcare……\"Then，quiveringineverymuscle，butwithanexaggerationofpaternaltone，\"Goawaynow，forGod\'ssake。Youdeckpeople\'lldrivemesilly。There\'sthatsecondmatebeengoingfortheoldman。Don\'tyouknow？Youfellowsaregoingwrongforwantofsomethingtodo……\" AtthesewordsJukesdiscoveredinhimselfthebeginningsofanger。Wantofsomethingtodo——indeed……Fullofhotscornagainstthechief，heturnedtogothewayhehadcome。Inthestokeholdtheplumpdonkeymantoiledwithhisshovelmutely，asifhistonguehadbeencutout；butthesecondwascarryingonlikeanoisy，undauntedmaniac，whohadpreservedhisskillintheartofstokingunderamarineboiler。 \"Hallo，youwanderingofficer!Hey!Can\'tyougetsomeofyourslush-slingerstowindupafewofthemashes？Iamgettingchokedwiththemhere。Curseit!Hallo!Hey!Rememberthearticles:Sailorsandfirementoassisteachother。Hey!D\'yehear？\" Jukeswasclimbingoutfrantically，andtheother，liftinguphisfaceafterhim，howled，\"Can\'tyouspeak？Whatareyoupokingaboutherefor？What\'syourgame，anyhow？\" AfrenzypossessedJukes。Bythetimehewasbackamongstthemeninthedarknessofthealleyway，hefeltreadytowringalltheirnecksattheslightestsignofhangingback。Theverythoughtofitexasperatedhim。Hecouldn\'thangback。Theyshouldn\'t。 Theimpetuositywithwhichhecameamongstthemcarriedthemalong。Theyhadalreadybeenexcitedandstartledatallhiscomingsandgoings——bythefiercenessandrapidityofhismovements；andmorefeltthanseeninhisrushes，heappearedformidable-busiedwithmattersoflifeanddeaththatbrookednodelay。Athisfirstwordheheardthemdropintothebunkeroneafteranotherobediently，withheavythumps。 Theywerenotclearastowhatwouldhavetobedone。\"Whatisit？Whatisit？\"theywereaskingeachother。Theboatswaintriedtoexplain；thesoundsofagreatscufflesurprisedthem: andthemightyshocks，reverberatingawfullyintheblackbunker，kepttheminmindoftheirdanger。Whentheboatswainthrewopenthedooritseemedthataneddyofthehurricane，stealingthroughtheironsidesoftheship，hadsetallthesebodieswhirlinglikedust:therecametothemaconfuseduproar，atempestuoustumult，afiercemutter，gustsofscreamsdyingaway，andthetrampingoffeetminglingwiththeblowsofthesea。 Foramomenttheyglaredamazed，blockingthedoorway。Jukespushedthroughthembrutally。Hesaidnothing，andsimplydartedin。Anotherlotofcooliesontheladder，strugglingsuicidallytobreakthroughthebattenedhatchtoaswampeddeck，felloffasbefore，andhedisappearedunderthemlikeamanovertakenbyalandslide。 Theboatswainyelledexcitedly:\"Comealong。Getthemateout。 He\'llbetrampledtodeath。Comeon。\" Theychargedin，stampingonbreasts，onfingers，onfaces，catchingtheirfeetinheapsofclothing，kickingbrokenwood； butbeforetheycouldgetholdofhimJukesemergedwaistdeepinamultitudeofclawinghands。Intheinstanthehadbeenlosttoview，allthebuttonsofhisjackethadgone，itsbackhadgotsplituptothecollar，hiswaistcoathadbeentornopen。ThecentralstrugglingmassofChinamenwentovertotheroll，dark，indistinct，helpless，withawildgleamofmanyeyesinthedimlightofthelamps。 \"Leavemealone——damnyou。Iamallright，\"screechedJukes。 \"Drivethemforward。Watchyourchancewhenshepitches。 Forwardwith\'em。Drivethemagainstthebulkhead。Jam\'emup。\" Therushofthesailorsintotheseething\'tween-deckwaslikeasplashofcoldwaterintoaboilingcauldron。Thecommotionsankforamoment。 ThebulkofChinamenwerelockedinsuchacompactscrimmagethat，linkingtheirarmsandaidedbyanappallingdiveoftheship，theseamensentitforwardinonegreatshove，likeasolidblock。Behindtheirbackssmallclustersandloosebodiestumbledfromsidetoside。 Theboatswainperformedprodigiousfeatsofstrength。Withhislongarmsopen，andeachgreatpawclutchingatastanchion，hestoppedtherushofsevenentwinedChinamenrollinglikeaboulder。Hisjointscracked；hesaid，\"Ha!\"andtheyflewapart。 Butthecarpentershowedthegreaterintelligence。Withoutsayingawordtoanybodyhewentbackintothealleyway，tofetchseveralcoilsofcargogearhehadseenthere——chainandrope。 Withtheselife-lineswererigged。 Therewasreallynoresistance。Thestruggle，howeveritbegan，hadturnedintoascrambleofblindpanic。Ifthecoolieshadstartedupaftertheirscattereddollarstheywerebythattimefightingonlyfortheirfooting。Theytookeachotherbythethroatmerelytosavethemselvesfrombeinghurledabout。 Whoevergotaholdanywherewouldkickattheotherswhocaughtathislegsandhungon，tillarollsentthemflyingtogetheracrossthedeck。 Thecomingofthewhitedevilswasaterror。Hadtheycometokill？Theindividualstornoutoftheruckbecameverylimpintheseamen\'shands:some，draggedasidebytheheels，werepassive，likedeadbodies，withopen，fixedeyes。Hereandthereacooliewouldfallonhiskneesasifbeggingformercy； several，whomtheexcessoffearmadeunruly，werehitwithhardfistsbetweentheeyes，andcowered；whilethosewhowerehurtsubmittedtoroughhandling，blinkingrapidlywithoutaplaint。 Facesstreamedwithblood；therewererawplacesontheshavenheads，scratches，bruises，tornwounds，gashes。Thebrokenporcelainoutofthechestswasmostlyresponsibleforthelatter。HereandthereaChinaman，wild-eyed，withhistailunplaited，nursedableedingsole。