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mistake … perhaps a half…excusable one … about the distribution of
his ship's cargo should pay the penalty。 A piece of one of the
minor spars that did carry away flew against the chief mate's back；
and sent him sliding on his face for quite a considerable distance
along the main deck。 Thereupon followed various and unpleasant
consequences of a physical order … 〃queer symptoms；〃 as the
captain； who treated them； used to say； inexplicable periods of
powerlessness； sudden accesses of mysterious pain； and the patient
agreed fully with the regretful mutters of his very attentive
captain wishing that it had been a straightforward broken leg。
Even the Dutch doctor who took the case up in Samarang offered no
scientific explanation。 All he said was： 〃Ah； friend； you are
young yet； it may be very serious for your whole life。 You must
leave your ship； you must quite silent be for three months … quite
silent。〃
Of course； he meant the chief mate to keep quiet … to lay up； as a
matter of fact。 His manner was impressive enough； if his English
was childishly imperfect when compared with the fluency of Mr。
Hudig； the figure at the other end of that passage； and memorable
enough in its way。 In a great airy ward of a Far Eastern hospital；
lying on my back； I had plenty of leisure to remember the dreadful
cold and snow of Amsterdam； while looking at the fronds of the
palm…trees tossing and rustling at the height of the window。 I
could remember the elated feeling and the soul…gripping cold of
those tramway journeys taken into town to put what in diplomatic
language is called pressure upon the good Hudig； with his warm
fire； his armchair； his big cigar； and the never…failing suggestion
in his good…natured voice： 〃I suppose in the end it is you they
will appoint captain before the ship sails？〃 It may have been his
extreme good…nature； the serious； unsmiling good…nature of a fat；
swarthy man with coal…black moustache and steady eyes； but he might
have been a bit of a diplomatist； too。 His enticing suggestions I
used to repel modestly by the assurance that it was extremely
unlikely； as I had not enough experience。 〃You know very well how
to go about business matters；〃 he used to say； with a sort of
affected moodiness clouding his serene round face。 I wonder
whether he ever laughed to himself after I had left the office。 I
dare say he never did； because I understand that diplomatists； in
and out of the career； take themselves and their tricks with an
exemplary seriousness。
But he had nearly persuaded me that I was fit in every way to be
trusted with a command。 There came three months of mental worry；
hard rolling； remorse； and physical pain to drive home the lesson
of insufficient experience。
Yes； your ship wants to be humoured with knowledge。 You must treat
with an understanding consideration the mysteries of her feminine
nature； and then she will stand by you faithfully in the unceasing
struggle with forces wherein defeat is no shame。 It is a serious
relation； that in which a man stands to his ship。 She has her
rights as though she could breathe and speak； and； indeed； there
are ships that； for the right man； will do anything but speak； as
the saying goes。
A ship is not a slave。 You must make her easy in a seaway； you
must never forget that you owe her the fullest share of your
thought； of your skill； of your self…love。 If you remember that
obligation； naturally and without effort； as if it were an
instinctive feeling of your inner life； she will sail； stay； run
for you as long as she is able； or； like a sea…bird going to rest
upon the angry waves； she will lay out the heaviest gale that ever
made you doubt living long enough to see another sunrise。
XVI。
Often I turn with melancholy eagerness to the space reserved in the
newspapers under the general heading of 〃Shipping Intelligence。〃 I
meet there the names of ships I have known。 Every year some of
these names disappear … the names of old friends。 〃Tempi passati！〃
The different divisions of that kind of news are set down in their
order； which varies but slightly in its arrangement of concise
headlines。 And first comes 〃Speakings〃 … reports of ships met and
signalled at sea； name； port； where from； where bound for； so many
days out； ending frequently with the words 〃All well。〃 Then come
〃Wrecks and Casualties〃 … a longish array of paragraphs； unless the
weather has been fair and clear； and friendly to ships all over the
world。
On some days there appears the heading 〃Overdue〃 … an ominous
threat of loss and sorrow trembling yet in the balance of fate。
There is something sinister to a seaman in the very grouping of the
letters which form this word； clear in its meaning； and seldom
threatening in vain。
Only a very few days more … appallingly few to the hearts which had
set themselves bravely to hope against hope … three weeks； a month
later； perhaps； the name of ships under the blight of the 〃Overdue〃
heading shall appear again in the column of 〃Shipping
Intelligence；〃 but under the final declaration of 〃Missing。〃
〃The ship； or barque； or brig So…and…so； bound from such a port；
with such and such cargo； for such another port； having left at
such and such a date； last spoken at sea on such a day； and never
having been heard of since； was posted to…day as missing。〃 Such in
its strictly official eloquence is the form of funeral orations on
ships that； perhaps wearied with a long struggle； or in some
unguarded moment that may come to the readiest of us； had let
themselves be overwhelmed by a sudden blow from the enemy。
Who can say？ Perhaps the men she carried had asked her to do too
much； had stretched beyond breaking…point the enduring faithfulness
which seems wrought and hammered into that assemblage of iron ribs
and plating； of wood and steel and canvas and wire； which goes to
the making of a ship … a complete creation endowed with character；
individuality； qualities and defects； by men whose hands launch her
upon the water； and that other men shall learn to know with an
intimacy surpassing the intimacy of man with man； to love with a
love nearly as great as that of man for woman； and often as blind
in its infatuated disregard of defects。
There are ships which bear a bad name； but I have yet to meet one
whose crew for the time being failed to stand up angrily for her
against every criticism。 One ship which I call to mind now had the
reputation of killing somebody every voyage she made。 This was no
calumny； and yet I remember well； somewhere far back in the late
seventies； that the crew of that ship were； if anything； rather
proud of her evil fame； as if they