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all our faces； both crews rested on their oars with one great
shudder； and stared over the gunwale of either 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
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 doingknowing
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； over and over again； give the credit to others which
was due only to himself； praising this man for patience； and
thanking that man for help； when the patience and the help had
really and truly； as to the best part of both； come only from him。
All this； and much more； I heard pouring confusedly from the men's
lips while they crouched down； sobbing and crying over their
commander； and wrapping the jacket as warmly and tenderly as they
could over is cold feet。 It went to my heart to check them； but I
knew that if this lamenting spirit spread any further； all chance of
keeping alight any last sparks of hope and resolution among the
boat's company would be lost for ever。 Accordingly I sent them to
their places； spoke a few encouraging words to the men forward；
promising to serve out； when the morning came； as much as I dared；
of any eatable thing left in the lockers； called to Rames； in my old
boat； to keep as near us as he safely could； drew the garments and
coverings of the two poor suffering women more closely about them；
and； with a secret prayer to be directed for the best in bearing the
awful responsibility now laid on my shoulders； took my Captain's
vacant place at the helm of the Long…boat。
This； as well as I can tell it； is the full and true account of how
I came to be placed in charge of the lost passengers and crew of the
Golden Mary； on the morning of the twenty…seventh day after the ship
struck the Iceberg； and foundered at sea。
End