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〃Is the captain dead？〃
The black figures of three or four men in the after…part of the Long…
boat all stooped down together as my voice reached them。 They were lost
to view for about a minute； then appeared againone man among them
was held up on his feet by the rest； and he hailed back the blessed words （a
very faint hope went a very long way with people in our desperate
situation）： 〃Not yet！〃
The relief felt by me； and by all with me； when we knew that our
captain； though unfitted for duty； was not lost to us； it is not in wordsat
least； not in such words as a man like me can commandto express。 I did
my best to cheer the men by telling them what a good sign it was that we
were not as badly off yet as we had feared； and then communicated what
instructions I had to give； to William Rames； who was to be left in
command in my place when I took charge of the Long…boat。 After that；
there was nothing to be done； but to wait for the chance of the wind
dropping at sunset； and the sea going down afterwards； so as to enable our
weak crews to lay the two boats alongside of each other； without undue
riskor； to put it plainer； without saddling ourselves with the necessity for
any extraordinary exertion of strength or skill。 Both the one and the other
had now been starved out of us for days and days together。
At sunset the wind suddenly dropped； but the sea； which had been
running high for so long a time past； took hours after that before it showed
any signs of getting to rest。 The moon was shining； the sky was
wonderfully clear； and it could not have been； according to my
calculations； far off midnight； when the long； slow； regular swell of the
calming ocean fairly set in； and I took the responsibility of lessening the
distance between the Long…boat and ourselves。
It was； I dare say； a delusion of mine； but I thought I had never seen
the moon shine so white and ghastly anywhere； either on sea or on land； as
she shone that night while we were approaching our companions in misery。
When there was not much more than a boat's length between us； and the
white light streamed cold and clear over all our faces； both crews rested on
their oars with one great shudder； and stared over the gunwale of either
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THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY
boat； panic…stricken at the first sight of each other。
〃Any lives lost among you？〃 I asked； in the midst of that frightful
silence。
The men in the Long…bout huddled together like sheep at the sound of
my voice。
〃None yet； but the child； thanks be to God！〃 answered one among
them。
And at the sound of his voice； all my men shrank together like the men
in the Long…boat。 I was afraid to let the horror produced by our first
meeting at close quarters after the dreadful changes that wet； cold； and
famine had produced； last one moment longer than could be helped； so；
without giving time for any more questions and answers； I commanded the
men to lay the two boats close alongside of each other。 When I rose up and
committed the tiller to the hands of Rames； all my poor follows raised
their white faces imploringly to mine。 〃Don't leave us； sir；〃 they said；
〃don't leave us。〃 〃I leave you；〃 says I； 〃under the command and the
guidance of Mr。 William Rames； as good a sailor as I am； and as trusty and
kind a man as ever stepped。 Do your duty by him； as you have done it by
me； and remember to the last； that while there is life there is hope。 God
bless and help you all！〃 With those words I collected what strength I had
left； and caught at two arms that were held out to me； and so got from the
stern…sheets of one boat into the stern…sheets of the other。
〃Mind where you step； sir；〃 whispered one of the men who had helped
me into the Long…boat。 I looked down as he spoke。 Three figures were
huddled up below me； with the moonshine falling on them in ragged
streaks through the gaps between the men standing or sitting above them。
The first face I made out was the face of Miss Coleshaw； her eyes were
wide open and fixed on me。 She seemed still to keep her senses； and； by
the alternate parting and closing of her lips； to be trying to speak； but I
could not hear that she uttered a single word。 On her shoulder rested the
head of Mrs。 Atherfield。 The mother of our poor little Golden Lucy must； I
think； have been dreaming of the child she had lost； for there was a faint
smile just ruffling the white stillness of her face； when I first saw it turned
upward； with peaceful closed eyes towards the heavens。 From her； I
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THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY
looked down a little； and there； with his head on her lap； and with one of
her hands resting tenderly on his cheekthere lay the Captain； to whose
help and guidance； up to this miserable time； we had never looked in
vain；there； worn out at last in our service； and for our sakes； lay the best
and bravest man of all our company。 I stole my hand in gently through his
clothes and laid it on his heart； and felt a little feeble warmth over it；
though my cold dulled touch could not detect even the faintest beating。
The two men in the stern…sheets with me； noticing what I was doing
knowing I loved him like a brotherand seeing； I suppose； more distress in
my face than I myself was conscious of its showing； lost command over
themselves altogether； and burst into a piteous moaning； sobbing
lamentation over him。 One of the two drew aside a jacket from his feet；
and showed me that they were bare； except where a wet； ragged strip of
stocking still clung to one of them。 When the ship struck the Iceberg； he
had run on deck leaving his shoes in his cabin。 All through the voyage in
the boat his feet had been unprotected； and not a soul had discovered it
until he dropped！ As long as he could keep his eyes open； the very look of
them had cheered the men； and comforted and upheld the women。 Not one
living creature in the boat； with any sense about him； but had felt the good
influence of that brave man in one way or another。 Not one but had heard
him