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made up。 The ship did her duty admirably； all on board were well；
and all hands were as smart； efficient； and contented； as it was
possible to be。
When the night came on again as dark as before； it was the eighth
night I had been on deck。 Nor had I taken more than a very little
sleep in the day…time； my station being always near the helm； and
often at it； while we were among the ice。 Few but those who have
tried it can imagine the difficulty and pain of only keeping the
eyes openphysically openunder such circumstances； in such
darkness。 They get struck by the darkness； and blinded by the
darkness。 They make patterns in it； and they flash in it； as if
they had gone out of your head to look at you。 On the turn of
midnight； John Steadiman； who was alert and fresh （for I had always
made him turn in by day）； said to me； 〃Captain Ravender； I entreat
of you to go below。 I am sure you can hardly stand； and your voice
is getting weak； sir。 Go below； and take a little rest。 I'll call
you if a block chafes。〃 I said to John in answer； 〃Well； well；
John！ Let us wait till the turn of one o'clock； before we talk
about that。〃 I had just had one of the ship's lanterns held up；
that I might see how the night went by my watch； and it was then
twenty minutes after twelve。
At five minutes before one； John sang out to the boy to bring the
lantern again； and when I told him once more what the time was；
entreated and prayed of me to go below。 〃Captain Ravender；〃 says
he； 〃all's well； we can't afford to have you laid up for a single
hour； and I respectfully and earnestly beg of you to go below。〃 The
end of it was； that I agreed to do so； on the understanding that if
I failed to come up of my own accord within three hours； I was to be
punctually called。 Having settled that； I left John in charge。 But
I called him to me once afterwards； to ask him a question。 I had
been to look at the barometer； and had seen the mercury still
perfectly steady； and had come up the companion again to take a last
look about meif I can use such a word in reference to such
darknesswhen I thought that the waves； as the Golden Mary parted
them and shook them off； had a hollow sound in them； something that
I fancied was a rather unusual reverberation。 I was standing by the
quarter…deck rail on the starboard side； when I called John aft to
me； and bade him listen。 He did so with the greatest attention。
Turning to me he then said； 〃Rely upon it； Captain Ravender； you
have been without rest too long； and the novelty is only in the
state of your sense of hearing。〃 I thought so too by that time； and
I think so now； though I can never know for absolute certain in this
world； whether it was or not。
When I left John Steadiman in charge； the ship was still going at a
great rate through the water。 The wind still blew right astern。
Though she was making great way； she was under shortened sail； and
had no more than she could easily carry。 All was snug； and nothing
complained。 There was a pretty sea running； but not a very high sea
neither； nor at all a confused one。
I turned in； as we seamen say； all standing。 The meaning of that
is； I did not pull my clothes offno； not even so much as my coat：
though I did my shoes； for my feet were badly swelled with the deck。
There was a little swing…lamp alight in my cabin。 I thought； as I
looked at it before shutting my eyes； that I was so tired of
darkness； and troubled by darkness； that I could have gone to sleep
best in the midst of a million of flaming gas…lights。 That was the
last thought I had before I went off； except the prevailing thought
that I should not be able to get to sleep at all。
I dreamed that I was back at Penrith again； and was trying to get
round the church； which had altered its shape very much since I last
saw it； and was cloven all down the middle of the steeple in a most
singular manner。 Why I wanted to get round the church I don't know；
but I was as anxious to do it as if my life depended on it。 Indeed；
I believe it did in the dream。 For all that； I could not get round
the church。 I was still trying； when I came against it with a
violent shock； and was flung out of my cot against the ship's side。
Shrieks and a terrific outcry struck me far harder than the bruising
timbers； and amidst sounds of grinding and crashing； and a heavy
rushing and breaking of watersounds I understood too wellI made
my way on deck。 It was not an easy thing to do； for the ship heeled
over frightfully； and was beating in a furious manner。
I could not see the men as I went forward； but I could hear that
they were hauling in sail； in disorder。 I had my trumpet in my
hand； and； after directing and encouraging them in this till it was
done； I hailed first John Steadiman； and then my second mate； Mr。
William Rames。 Both answered clearly and steadily。 Now； I had
practised them and all my crew； as I have ever made it a custom to
practise all who sail with me； to take certain stations and wait my
orders； in case of any unexpected crisis。 When my voice was heard
hailing； and their voices were heard answering； I was aware； through
all the noises of the ship and sea； and all the crying of the
passengers below； that there was a pause。 〃Are you ready； Rames？〃
〃Ay； ay； sir！〃〃Then light up； for God's sake！〃 In a moment he and
another were burning blue…lights； and the ship and all on board
seemed to be enclosed in a mist of light； under a great black dome。
The light shone up so high that I could see the huge Iceberg upon
which we had struck； cloven at the top and down the middle； exactly
like Penrith Church in my dream。 At the same moment I could see the
watch last relieved； crowding up and down on deck； I could see Mrs。
Atherfield and Miss Coleshaw thrown about on the top of the
companion as they struggled to bring the child up from below； I
could see that the masts were going with the shock and the beating
of the ship； I could see the frightful breach stove in on the
starboard side； half the length of the vessel； and the sheathing and
timbers spirting up； I could see that the Cutter was disabled； in a
wreck of broken fragments； and I could see every eye turned upon me。
It is my belief that if there had been ten thousand eyes there； I
should have seen them all； with their different looks。 And all this
in a moment。 But you must consider what a moment。
I saw the men； as they looked at me； fall towards their appointed
stations； like good men and true。 If she had not righted； they
could have done very little there or anywhere but dienot that it
is little for a man to die at his postI mean they could have done
nothing to save the passengers and themselves。 Happily； however；
the violence of the shock with which we had so determinedly borne
down direct on that fatal Iceberg； as if it had been our destination
instead of our destruction； had so smashed and pounded the ship that
she got off i