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cot； off Saugar Point。 But he was； and give him his back against a
bulwark； he would have done the same by half a dozen of them。 The
name of the young mother was Mrs。 Atherfield； the name of the young
lady in black was Miss Coleshaw； and the name of the old gentleman
was Mr。 Rarx。
As the child had a quantity of shining fair hair； clustering in
curls all about her face； and as her name was Lucy； Steadiman gave
her the name of the Golden Lucy。 So； we had the Golden Lucy and the
Golden Mary； and John kept up the idea to that extent as he and the
child went playing about the decks； that I believe she used to think
the ship was alive somehowa sister or companion； going to the same
place as herself。 She liked to be by the wheel； and in fine
weather； I have often stood by the man whose trick it was at the
wheel； only to hear her； sitting near my feet； talking to the ship。
Never had a child such a doll before； I suppose； but she made a doll
of the Golden Mary； and used to dress her up by tying ribbons and
little bits of finery to the belaying…pins； and nobody ever moved
them； unless it was to save them from being blown away。
Of course I took charge of the two young women； and I called them
〃my dear；〃 and they never minded； knowing that whatever I said was
said in a fatherly and protecting spirit。 I gave them their places
on each side of me at dinner； Mrs。 Atherfield on my right and Miss
Coleshaw on my left； and I directed the unmarried lady to serve out
the breakfast； and the married lady to serve out the tea。 Likewise
I said to my black steward in their presence； 〃Tom Snow； these two
ladies are equally the mistresses of this house； and do you obey
their orders equally；〃 at which Tom laughed； and they all laughed。
Old Mr。 Rarx was not a pleasant man to look at； nor yet to talk to；
or to be with； for no one could help seeing that he was a sordid and
selfish character； and that he had warped further and further out of
the straight with time。 Not but what he was on his best behaviour
with us； as everybody was； for we had no bickering among us； for'ard
or aft。 I only mean to say； he was not the man one would have
chosen for a messmate。 If choice there had been； one might even
have gone a few points out of one's course； to say； 〃No！ Not him！〃
But； there was one curious inconsistency in Mr。 Rarx。 That was；
that he took an astonishing interest in the child。 He looked； and I
may add； he was； one of the last of men to care at all for a child；
or to care much for any human creature。 Still； he went so far as to
be habitually uneasy； if the child was long on deck； out of his
sight。 He was always afraid of her falling overboard； or falling
down a hatchway； or of a block or what not coming down upon her from
the rigging in the working of the ship； or of her getting some hurt
or other。 He used to look at her and touch her； as if she was
something precious to him。 He was always solicitous about her not
injuring her health； and constantly entreated her mother to be
careful of it。 This was so much the more curious； because the child
did not like him； but used to shrink away from him； and would not
even put out her hand to him without coaxing from others。 I believe
that every soul on board frequently noticed this； and not one of us
understood it。 However； it was such a plain fact； that John
Steadiman said more than once when old Mr。 Rarx was not within
earshot； that if the Golden Mary felt a tenderness for the dear old
gentleman she carried in her lap； she must be bitterly jealous of
the Golden Lucy。
Before I go any further with this narrative； I will state that our
ship was a barque of three hundred tons； carrying a crew of eighteen
men； a second mate in addition to John； a carpenter； an armourer or
smith； and two apprentices （one a Scotch boy； poor little fellow）。
We had three boats； the Long…boat； capable of carrying twenty…five
men； the Cutter； capable of carrying fifteen； and the Surf…boat；
capable of carrying ten。 I put down the capacity of these boats
according to the numbers they were really meant to hold。
We had tastes of bad weather and head…winds； of course； but； on the
whole we had as fine a run as any reasonable man could expect； for
sixty days。 I then began to enter two remarks in the ship's Log and
in my Journal； first； that there was an unusual and amazing quantity
of ice； second； that the nights were most wonderfully dark； in spite
of the ice。
For five days and a half； it seemed quite useless and hopeless to
alter the ship's course so as to stand out of the way of this ice。
I made what southing I could； but； all that time； we were beset by
it。 Mrs。 Atherfield after standing by me on deck once； looking for
some time in an awed manner at the great bergs that surrounded us；
said in a whisper； 〃O！ Captain Ravender； it looks as if the whole
solid earth had changed into ice； and broken up！〃 I said to her；
laughing； 〃I don't wonder that it does； to your inexperienced eyes；
my dear。〃 But I had never seen a twentieth part of the quantity；
and； in reality； I was pretty much of her opinion。
However； at two p。m。 on the afternoon of the sixth day； that is to
say； when we were sixty…six days out； John Steadiman who had gone
aloft； sang out from the top； that the sea was clear ahead。 Before
four p。m。 a strong breeze springing up right astern； we were in open
water at sunset。 The breeze then freshening into half a gale of
wind； and the Golden Mary being a very fast sailer； we went before
the wind merrily； all night。
I had thought it impossible that it could be darker than it had
been； until the sun； moon； and stars should fall out of the Heavens；
and Time should be destroyed； but； it had been next to light； in
comparison with what it was now。 The darkness was so profound； that
looking into it was painful and oppressivelike looking； without a
ray of light； into a dense black bandage put as close before the
eyes as it could be； without touching them。 I doubled the look…out；
and John and I stood in the bow side…by…side； never leaving it all
night。 Yet I should no more have known that he was near me when he
was silent； without putting out my arm and touching him； than I
should if he had turned in and been fast asleep below。 We were not
so much looking out； all of us； as listening to the utmost； both
with our eyes and ears。
Next day； I found that the mercury in the barometer； which had risen
steadily since we cleared the ice； remained steady。 I had had very
good observations； with now and then the interruption of a day or
so； since our departure。 I got the sun at noon； and found that we
were in Lat。 58 degrees S。； Long。 60 degrees W。； off New South
Shetland； in the neighbourhood of Cape Horn。 We were sixty…seven
days out； that day。 The ship's reckoning was accurately worked and
made up。 The ship did her duty admirably； all on board were well；
and all hands were as smart； eff