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sallow man without a cap and with a very still face。 Captain Jones
… let us call him Jones … had been caught unawares。 Two orders he
had given at the first sign of an utterly unforeseen onset； after
that the magnitude of his mistake seemed to have overwhelmed him。
We were doing what was needed and feasible。 The ship behaved well。
Of course； it was some time before we could pause in our fierce and
laborious exertions； but all through the work； the excitement； the
uproar； and some dismay； we were aware of this silent little man at
the break of the poop； perfectly motionless； soundless； and often
hidden from us by the drift of sprays。
When we officers clambered at last upon the poop； he seemed to come
out of that numbed composure； and shouted to us down wind： 〃Try
the pumps。〃 Afterwards he disappeared。 As to the ship； I need not
say that； although she was presently swallowed up in one of the
blackest nights I can remember； she did not disappear。 In truth； I
don't fancy that there had ever been much danger of that； but
certainly the experience was noisy and particularly distracting …
and yet it is the memory of a very quiet silence that survives。
XXIV。
For； after all； a gale of wind； the thing of mighty sound； is
inarticulate。 It is man who； in a chance phrase； interprets the
elemental passion of his enemy。 Thus there is another gale in my
memory； a thing of endless； deep； humming roar； moonlight； and a
spoken sentence。
It was off that other cape which is always deprived of its title as
the Cape of Good Hope is robbed of its name。 It was off the Horn。
For a true expression of dishevelled wildness there is nothing like
a gale in the bright moonlight of a high latitude。
The ship； brought…to and bowing to enormous flashing seas；
glistened wet from deck to trucks； her one set sail stood out a
coal…black shape upon the gloomy blueness of the air。 I was a
youngster then； and suffering from weariness； cold； and imperfect
oilskins which let water in at every seam。 I craved human
companionship； and； coming off the poop； took my place by the side
of the boatswain （a man whom I did not like） in a comparatively dry
spot where at worst we had water only up to our knees。 Above our
heads the explosive booming gusts of wind passed continuously；
justifying the sailor's saying 〃It blows great guns。〃 And just
from that need of human companionship； being very close to the man；
I said； or rather shouted：
〃Blows very hard； boatswain。〃
His answer was：
〃Ay； and if it blows only a little harder things will begin to go。
I don't mind as long as everything holds； but when things begin to
go it's bad。〃
The note of dread in the shouting voice； the practical truth of
these words； heard years ago from a man I did not like； have
stamped its peculiar character on that gale。
A look in the eyes of a shipmate； a low murmur in the most
sheltered spot where the watch on duty are huddled together； a
meaning moan from one to the other with a glance at the windward
sky； a sigh of weariness； a gesture of disgust passing into the
keeping of the great wind； become part and parcel of the gale。 The
olive hue of hurricane clouds presents an aspect peculiarly
appalling。 The inky ragged wrack； flying before a nor'…west wind；
makes you dizzy with its headlong speed that depicts the rush of
the invisible air。 A hard sou'…wester startles you with its close
horizon and its low gray sky； as if the world were a dungeon
wherein there is no rest for body or soul。 And there are black
squalls； white squalls； thunder squalls； and unexpected gusts that
come without a single sign in the sky； and of each kind no one of
them resembles another。
There is infinite variety in the gales of wind at sea； and except
for the peculiar； terrible； and mysterious moaning that may be
heard sometimes passing through the roar of a hurricane … except
for that unforgettable sound； as if the soul of the universe had
been goaded into a mournful groan … it is； after all； the human
voice that stamps the mark of human consciousness upon the
character of a gale。
XXV。
There is no part of the world of coasts； continents； oceans； seas；
straits； capes； and islands which is not under the sway of a
reigning wind； the sovereign of its typical weather。 The wind
rules the aspects of the sky and the action of the sea。 But no
wind rules unchallenged his realm of land and water。 As with the
kingdoms of the earth； there are regions more turbulent than
others。 In the middle belt of the earth the Trade Winds reign
supreme； undisputed； like monarchs of long…settled kingdoms； whose
traditional power； checking all undue ambitions； is not so much an
exercise of personal might as the working of long…established
institutions。 The intertropical kingdoms of the Trade Winds are
favourable to the ordinary life of a merchantman。 The trumpet…call
of strife is seldom borne on their wings to the watchful ears of
men on the decks of ships。 The regions ruled by the north…east and
south…east Trade Winds are serene。 In a southern…going ship； bound
out for a long voyage； the passage through their dominions is
characterized by a relaxation of strain and vigilance on the part
of the seamen。 Those citizens of the ocean feel sheltered under
the aegis of an uncontested law； of an undisputed dynasty。 There；
indeed； if anywhere on earth； the weather may be trusted。
Yet not too implicitly。 Even in the constitutional realm of Trade
Winds； north and south of the equator； ships are overtaken by
strange disturbances。 Still； the easterly winds； and； generally
speaking； the easterly weather all the world over； is characterized
by regularity and persistence。
As a ruler； the East Wind has a remarkable stability； as an invader
of the high latitudes lying under the tumultuous sway of his great
brother； the Wind of the West； he is extremely difficult to
dislodge； by the reason of his cold craftiness and profound
duplicity。
The narrow seas around these isles； where British admirals keep
watch and ward upon the marches of the Atlantic Ocean； are subject
to the turbulent sway of the West Wind。 Call it north…west or
south…west； it is all one … a different phase of the same
character； a changed expression on the same face。 In the
orientation of the winds that rule the seas； the north and south
directions are of no importance。 There are no North and South
Winds of any account upon this earth。 The North and South Winds
are but small princes in the dynasties that make peace and war upon
the sea。 They never assert themselves upon a vast stage。 They
depend upon loc