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between me and the driving clouds； like an angel going to fly away。
It had happened on the second day； towards night； that Mrs。
Atherfield； in getting Little Lucy to sleep； sang her a song。 She
had a soft； melodious voice； and； when she had finished it； our
people up and begged for another。 She sang them another； and after
it had fallen dark ended with the Evening Hymn。 From that time；
whenever anything could be heard above the sea and wind； and while
she had any voice left； nothing would serve the people but that she
should sing at sunset。 She always did； and always ended with the
Evening Hymn。 We mostly took up the last line； and shed tears when
it was done； but not miserably。 We had a prayer night and morning；
also； when the weather allowed of it。
Twelve nights and eleven days we had been driving in the boat； when
old Mr。 Rarx began to be delirious； and to cry out to me to throw
the gold overboard or it would sink us； and we should all be lost。
For days past the child had been declining； and that was the great
cause of his wildness。 He had been over and over again shrieking
out to me to give her all the remaining meat； to give her all the
remaining rum； to save her at any cost； or we should all be ruined。
At this time； she lay in her mother's arms at my feet。 One of her
little hands was almost always creeping about her mother's neck or
chin。 I had watched the wasting of the little hand； and I knew it
was nearly over。
The old man's cries were so discordant with the mother's love and
submission； that I called out to him in an angry voice； unless he
held his peace on the instant； I would order him to be knocked on
the head and thrown overboard。 He was mute then； until the child
died； very peacefully； an hour afterwards： which was known to all
in the boat by the mother's breaking out into lamentations for the
first time since the wreckfor； she had great fortitude and
constancy； though she was a little gentle woman。 Old Mr。 Rarx then
became quite ungovernable； tearing what rags he had on him； raging
in imprecations； and calling to me that if I had thrown the gold
overboard （always the gold with him！） I might have saved the child。
〃And now；〃 says he； in a terrible voice； 〃we shall founder； and all
go to the Devil； for our sins will sink us； when we have no innocent
child to bear us up！〃 We so discovered with amazement； that this
old wretch had only cared for the life of the pretty little creature
dear to all of us； because of the influence he superstitiously hoped
she might have in preserving him！ Altogether it was too much for
the smith or armourer； who was sitting next the old man； to bear。
He took him by the throat and rolled him under the thwarts； where he
lay still enough for hours afterwards。
All that thirteenth night； Miss Coleshaw； lying across my knees as I
kept the helm； comforted and supported the poor mother。 Her child；
covered with a pea…jacket of mine； lay in her lap。 It troubled me
all night to think that there was no Prayer…Book among us； and that
I could remember but very few of the exact words of the burial
service。 When I stood up at broad day； all knew what was going to
be done； and I noticed that my poor fellows made the motion of
uncovering their heads； though their heads had been stark bare to
the sky and sea for many a weary hour。 There was a long heavy swell
on； but otherwise it was a fair morning； and there were broad fields
of sunlight on the waves in the east。 I said no more than this： 〃I
am the Resurrection and the Life； saith the Lord。 He raised the
daughter of Jairus the ruler； and said she was not dead but slept。
He raised the widow's son。 He arose Himself； and was seen of many。
He loved little children； saying； Suffer them to come unto Me and
rebuke them not； for of such is the kingdom of heaven。 In His name；
my friends； and committed to His merciful goodness！〃 With those
words I laid my rough face softly on the placid little forehead； and
buried the Golden Lucy in the grave of the Golden Mary。
Having had it on my mind to relate the end of this dear little
child； I have omitted something from its exact place； which I will
supply here。 It will come quite as well here as anywhere else。
Foreseeing that if the boat lived through the stormy weather； the
time must come； and soon come； when we should have absolutely no
morsel to eat； I had one momentous point often in my thoughts。
Although I had； years before that； fully satisfied myself that the
instances in which human beings in the last distress have fed upon
each other； are exceedingly few； and have very seldom indeed （if
ever） occurred when the people in distress； however dreadful their
extremity； have been accustomed to moderate forbearance and
restraint； I say； though I had long before quite satisfied my mind
on this topic； I felt doubtful whether there might not have been in
former cases some harm and danger from keeping it out of sight and
pretending not to think of it。 I felt doubtful whether some minds；
growing weak with fasting and exposure and having such a terrific
idea to dwell upon in secret； might not magnify it until it got to
have an awful attraction about it。 This was not a new thought of
mine； for it had grown out of my reading。 However； it came over me
stronger than it had ever done beforeas it had reason for doing
in the boat； and on the fourth day I decided that I would bring out
into the light that unformed fear which must have been more or less
darkly in every brain among us。 Therefore； as a means of beguiling
the time and inspiring hope； I gave them the best summary in my
power of Bligh's voyage of more than three thousand miles； in an
open boat； after the Mutiny of the Bounty； and of the wonderful
preservation of that boat's crew。 They listened throughout with
great interest； and I concluded by telling them； that； in my
opinion； the happiest circumstance in the whole narrative was； that
Bligh； who was no delicate man either； had solemnly placed it on
record therein that he was sure and certain that under no
conceivable circumstances whatever would that emaciated party； who
had gone through all the pains of famine； have preyed on one
another。 I cannot describe the visible relief which this spread
through the boat； and how the tears stood in every eye。 From that
time I was as well convinced as Bligh himself that there was no
danger； and that this phantom； at any rate； did not haunt us。
Now； it was a part of Bligh's experience that when the people in his
boat were most cast down； nothing did them so much good as hearing a
story told by one of their number。 When I mentioned that； I saw
that it struck the general attention as much as it did my own； for I
had not thought of it until I came to it in my summary。 This was on
the day after Mrs。 Atherfield first sang to us。 I proposed that；
whenever the weather would permit； we should have a story two hours
after