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would seek out the captain and try to comfort him with caressing pats on
the shoulder。 One day； when hunger and thirst were making their sure
inroad； upon the men's strength and spirits； a floating barrel was seen
at a distance。 It seemed a great find； for doubtless it contained food
of some sort。 A brave fellow swam to it； and after long and exhausting
effort got it to the raft。 It was eagerly opened。 It was a barrel of
magnesia！ On the fifth day an onion was spied。 A sailor swam off and
got it。 Although perishing with hunger； he brought it in its integrity
and put it into the captain's hand。 The history of the sea teaches that
among starving； shipwrecked men selfishness is rare； and a wonder…
compelling magnanimity the rule。 The onion was equally divided into
eight parts； and eaten with deep thanksgivings。 On the eighth day a
distant ship was sighted。 Attempts were made to hoist an oar； with
Captain Rounceville's coat on it for a signal。 There were many failures；
for the men were but skeletons now； and strengthless。 At last success
was achieved； but the signal brought no help。 The ship faded out of
sight and left despair behind her。 By and by another ship appeared；
and passed so near that the castaways； every eye eloquent with gratitude；
made ready to welcome the boat that would be sent to save them。 But this
ship also drove on； and left these men staring their unutterable surprise
and dismay into each other's ashen faces。 Late in the day； still another
ship came up out of the distance； but the men noted with a pang that her
course was one which would not bring her nearer。 Their remnant of life
was nearly spent； their lips and tongues were swollen； parched； cracked
with eight days' thirst； their bodies starved； and here was their last
chance gliding relentlessly from them； they would not be alive when the
next sun rose。 For a day or two past the men had lost their voices； but
now Captain Rounceville whispered； 〃Let us pray。〃 The Portuguese patted
him on the shoulder in sign of deep approval。 All knelt at the base of
the oar that was waving the signal…coat aloft； and bowed their heads。
The sea was tossing； the sun rested； a red； rayless disk； on the sea…line
in the west。 When the men presently raised their heads they would have
roared a hallelujah if they had had a voicethe ship's sails lay
wrinkled and flapping against her mastsshe was going about！ Here was
rescue at last； and in the very last instant of time that was left for
it。 No； not rescue yetonly the imminent prospect of it。 The red disk
sank under the sea； and darkness blotted out the ship。 By and by came a
pleasant sound…oars moving in a boat's rowlocks。 Nearer it came； and
nearer…within thirty steps； but nothing visible。 Then a deep voice：
〃Hol…lo！〃 The castaways could not answer； their swollen tongues refused
voice。 The boat skirted round and round the raft； started awaythe
agony of it！returned； rested the oars； close at hand； listening； no
doubt。 The deep voice again： 〃Hol…lo！ Where are ye； shipmates？〃
Captain Rounceville whispered to his men； saying： 〃Whisper your best；
boys！ now…all at once！〃 So they sent out an eightfold whisper in hoarse
concert： 〃Here！〃； There was life in it if it succeeded； death if it
failed。 After that supreme moment Captain Rounceville was conscious of
nothing until he came to himself on board the saving ship。 Said the
Reverend； concluding：
〃There was one little moment of time in which that raft could be visible
from that ship； and only one。 If that one little fleeting moment had
passed unfruitful； those men's doom was sealed。 As close as that does
God shave events foreordained from the beginning of the world。 When the
sun reached the water's edge that day； the captain of that ship was
sitting on deck reading his prayer…book。 The book fell； he stooped to
pick it up； and happened to glance at the sun。 In that instant that far…
off raft appeared for a second against the red disk； its needlelike oar
and diminutive signal cut sharp and black against the bright surface； and
in the next instant was thrust away into the dusk again。 But that ship；
that captain； and that pregnant instant had had their work appointed for
them in the dawn of time and could not fail of the performance。 The
chronometer of God never errs！〃
There was deep； thoughtful silence for some moments。 Then the grave；
pale young man said：
〃What is the chronometer of God？〃
II
At dinner； six o'clock； the same people assembled whom we had talked with
on deck and seen at luncheon and breakfast this second day out； and at
dinner the evening before。 That is to say； three journeying ship…
masters； a Boston merchant； and a returning Bermudian who had been absent
from his Bermuda thirteen years； these sat on the starboard side。 On the
port side sat the Reverend in the seat of honor； the pale young man next
to him； I next； next to me an aged Bermudian； returning to his sunny
islands after an absence of twenty…seven years。 Of course； our captain
was at the head of the table； the purser at the foot of it。 A small
company； but small companies are pleasantest。
No racks upon the table； the sky cloudless； the sun brilliant； the blue
sea scarcely ruffled； then what had become of the four married couples；
the three bachelors； and the active and obliging doctor from the rural
districts of Pennsylvania？for all these were on deck when we sailed
down New York harbor。 This is the explanation。 I quote from my note…
book：
Thursday； 3。30 P。M。 Under way； passing the Battery。 The large
party； of four married couples； three bachelors； and a cheery；
exhilarating doctor from the wilds of Pennsylvania； are evidently
traveling together。 All but the doctor grouped in camp…chairs on
deck。
Passing principal fort。 The doctor is one of those people who has
an infallible preventive of seasickness； is flitting from friend to
friend administering it and saying； 〃Don't you be afraid； I know
this medicine； absolutely infallible； prepared under my own
supervision。〃 Takes a dose himself； intrepidly。
4。15 P。M。 Two of those ladies have struck their colors；
notwithstanding the 〃infallible。〃 They have gone below。 The other
two begin to show distress。
5 P。M。 Exit one husband and one bachelor。 These still had their
infallible in cargo when they started； but arrived at the
companionway without it。
5。10。 Lady No。 3； two bachelors； and one married man have gone
below with their own opinion of the infallible。
5。20。 Passing Quarantine Hulk。 The infallible has done the
business for all the party except the Scotchman's wife and the
author of that formidable remedy。
Nearing the Light…Ship。 Exit the Scotchman's wife； head drooped on
stewardess's shoulder。
Entering the open sea。 Exit doctor！
The rout seems permanent； hence the smallness of the company at table
since the voyage began。 Our captain is a grave； handsome Hercules of
thirty…five； with a brown hand of such majestic size that one cannot eat
for admiring it an