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grumpy； and seem to resent the mere sound of your voice as an
injury and an insult。
But a grumpy recluse cannot worry his subordinates： whereas the
man in whom the sense of duty is strong （or； perhaps； only the
sense of self…importance）； and who persists in airing on deck his
moroseness all day … and perhaps half the night … becomes a
grievous infliction。 He walks the poop darting gloomy glances； as
though he wished to poison the sea； and snaps your head off
savagely whenever you happen to blunder within earshot。 And these
vagaries are the harder to bear patiently； as becomes a man and an
officer； because no sailor is really good…tempered during the first
few days of a voyage。 There are regrets； memories； the instinctive
longing for the departed idleness； the instinctive hate of all
work。 Besides； things have a knack of going wrong at the start；
especially in the matter of irritating trifles。 And there is the
abiding thought of a whole year of more or less hard life before
one； because there was hardly a southern…going voyage in the
yesterday of the sea which meant anything less than a twelvemonth。
Yes； it needed a few days after the taking of your departure for a
ship's company to shake down into their places； and for the
soothing deep…water ship routine to establish its beneficent sway。
It is a great doctor for sore hearts and sore heads； too； your
ship's routine； which I have seen soothe … at least for a time …
the most turbulent of spirits。 There is health in it； and peace；
and satisfaction of the accomplished round； for each day of the
ship's life seems to close a circle within the wide ring of the sea
horizon。 It borrows a certain dignity of sameness from the
majestic monotony of the sea。 He who loves the sea loves also the
ship's routine。
Nowhere else than upon the sea do the days； weeks and months fall
away quicker into the past。 They seem to be left astern as easily
as the light air…bubbles in the swirls of the ship's wake； and
vanish into a great silence in which your ship moves on with a sort
of magical effect。 They pass away； the days； the weeks； the
months。 Nothing but a gale can disturb the orderly life of the
ship； and the spell of unshaken monotony that seems to have fallen
upon the very voices of her men is broken only by the near prospect
of a Landfall。
Then is the spirit of the ship's commander stirred strongly again。
But it is not moved to seek seclusion； and to remain； hidden and
inert； shut up in a small cabin with the solace of a good bodily
appetite。 When about to make the land； the spirit of the ship's
commander is tormented by an unconquerable restlessness。 It seems
unable to abide for many seconds together in the holy of holies of
the captain's state…room； it will out on deck and gaze ahead；
through straining eyes； as the appointed moment comes nearer。 It
is kept vigorously upon the stretch of excessive vigilance。
Meantime the body of the ship's commander is being enfeebled by
want of appetite； at least； such is my experience； though
〃enfeebled〃 is perhaps not exactly the word。 I might say； rather；
that it is spiritualized by a disregard for food； sleep； and all
the ordinary comforts； such as they are； of sea life。 In one or
two cases I have known that detachment from the grosser needs of
existence remain regrettably incomplete in the matter of drink。
But these two cases were； properly speaking； pathological cases；
and the only two in all my sea experience。 In one of these two
instances of a craving for stimulants； developed from sheer
anxiety； I cannot assert that the man's seaman…like qualities were
impaired in the least。 It was a very anxious case； too； the land
being made suddenly； close…to； on a wrong bearing； in thick
weather； and during a fresh onshore gale。 Going below to speak to
him soon after； I was unlucky enough to catch my captain in the
very act of hasty cork…drawing。 The sight； I may say； gave me an
awful scare。 I was well aware of the morbidly sensitive nature of
the man。 Fortunately； I managed to draw back unseen； and； taking
care to stamp heavily with my sea…boots at the foot of the cabin
stairs； I made my second entry。 But for this unexpected glimpse；
no act of his during the next twenty…four hours could have given me
the slightest suspicion that all was not well with his nerve。
III。
Quite another case； and having nothing to do with drink； was that
of poor Captain B…。 He used to suffer from sick headaches； in his
young days； every time he was approaching a coast。 Well over fifty
years of age when I knew him； short； stout； dignified； perhaps a
little pompous； he was a man of a singularly well…informed mind；
the least sailor…like in outward aspect； but certainly one of the
best seamen whom it has been my good luck to serve under。 He was a
Plymouth man； I think； the son of a country doctor； and both his
elder boys were studying medicine。 He commanded a big London ship；
fairly well known in her day。 I thought no end of him； and that is
why I remember with a peculiar satisfaction the last words he spoke
to me on board his ship after an eighteen months' voyage。 It was
in the dock in Dundee； where we had brought a full cargo of jute
from Calcutta。 We had been paid off that morning； and I had come
on board to take my sea…chest away and to say good…bye。 In his
slightly lofty but courteous way he inquired what were my plans。 I
replied that I intended leaving for London by the afternoon train；
and thought of going up for examination to get my master's
certificate。 I had just enough service for that。 He commended me
for not wasting my time； with such an evident interest in my case
that I was quite surprised； then； rising from his chair； he said：
〃Have you a ship in view after you have passed？〃
I answered that I had nothing whatever in view。
He shook hands with me； and pronounced the memorable words：
〃If you happen to be in want of employment； remember that as long
as I have a ship you have a ship； too。〃
In the way of compliment there is nothing to beat this from a
ship's captain to his second mate at the end of a voyage； when the
work is over and the subordinate is done with。 And there is a
pathos in that memory； for the poor fellow never went to sea again
after all。 He was already ailing when we passed St。 Helena； was
laid up for a time when we were off the Western Islands； but got
out of bed to make his Landfall。 He managed to keep up on deck as
far as the Downs； where； giving his orders in an exhausted voice；
he anchored for a few hours to send a wire to his wife and take
aboard a North Sea pilot to help him sail the ship up the east
coast