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aboard a North Sea pilot to help him sail the ship up the east
coast。 He had not felt equal to the task by himself； for it is the
sort of thing that keeps a deep…water man on his feet pretty well
night and day。
When we arrived in Dundee； Mrs。 B… was already there； waiting to
take him home。 We travelled up to London by the same train； but by
the time I had managed to get through with my examination the ship
had sailed on her next voyage without him； and； instead of joining
her again； I went by request to see my old commander in his home。
This is the only one of my captains I have ever visited in that
way。 He was out of bed by then； 〃quite convalescent；〃 as he
declared； making a few tottering steps to meet me at the sitting…
room door。 Evidently he was reluctant to take his final cross…
bearings of this earth for a Departure on the only voyage to an
unknown destination a sailor ever undertakes。 And it was all very
nice … the large； sunny room； his deep； easy…chair in a bow window；
with pillows and a footstool； the quiet； watchful care of the
elderly； gentle woman who had borne him five children； and had not；
perhaps； lived with him more than five full years out of the thirty
or so of their married life。 There was also another woman there in
a plain black dress； quite gray…haired； sitting very erect on her
chair with some sewing； from which she snatched side…glances in his
direction； and uttering not a single word during all the time of my
call。 Even when； in due course； I carried over to her a cup of
tea； she only nodded at me silently； with the faintest ghost of a
smile on her tight…set lips。 I imagine she must have been a maiden
sister of Mrs。 B… come to help nurse her brother…in…law。 His
youngest boy； a late…comer； a great cricketer it seemed； twelve
years old or thereabouts； chattered enthusiastically of the
exploits of W。 G。 Grace。 And I remember his eldest son； too； a
newly…fledged doctor； who took me out to smoke in the garden； and；
shaking his head with professional gravity； but with genuine
concern； muttered： 〃Yes； but he doesn't get back his appetite。 I
don't like that … I don't like that at all。〃 The last sight of
Captain B… I had was as he nodded his head to me out of the bow
window when I turned round to close the front gate。
It was a distinct and complete impression； something that I don't
know whether to call a Landfall or a Departure。 Certainly he had
gazed at times very fixedly before him with the Landfall's vigilant
look； this sea…captain seated incongruously in a deep…backed chair。
He had not then talked to me of employment； of ships； of being
ready to take another command； but he had discoursed of his early
days； in the abundant but thin flow of a wilful invalid's talk。
The women looked worried； but sat still； and I learned more of him
in that interview than in the whole eighteen months we had sailed
together。 It appeared he had 〃served his time〃 in the copper…ore
trade； the famous copper…ore trade of old days between Swansea and
the Chilian coast； coal out and ore in； deep…loaded both ways； as
if in wanton defiance of the great Cape Horn seas … a work； this；
for staunch ships； and a great school of staunchness for West…
Country seamen。 A whole fleet of copper…bottomed barques； as
strong in rib and planking； as well…found in gear； as ever was sent
upon the seas； manned by hardy crews and commanded by young
masters； was engaged in that now long defunct trade。 〃That was the
school I was trained in；〃 he said to me almost boastfully； lying
back amongst his pillows with a rug over his legs。 And it was in
that trade that he obtained his first command at a very early age。
It was then that he mentioned to me how； as a young commander； he
was always ill for a few days before making land after a long
passage。 But this sort of sickness used to pass off with the first
sight of a familiar landmark。 Afterwards； he added； as he grew
older； all that nervousness wore off completely； and I observed his
weary eyes gaze steadily ahead； as if there had been nothing
between him and the straight line of sea and sky； where whatever a
seaman is looking for is first bound to appear。 But I have also
seen his eyes rest fondly upon the faces in the room； upon the
pictures on the wall； upon all the familiar objects of that home；
whose abiding and clear image must have flashed often on his memory
in times of stress and anxiety at sea。 Was he looking out for a
strange Landfall； or taking with an untroubled mind the bearings
for his last Departure？
It is hard to say； for in that voyage from which no man returns
Landfall and Departure are instantaneous； merging together into one
moment of supreme and final attention。 Certainly I do not remember
observing any sign of faltering in the set expression of his wasted
face； no hint of the nervous anxiety of a young commander about to
make land on an uncharted shore。 He had had too much experience of
Departures and Landfalls！ And had he not 〃served his time〃 in the
famous copper…ore trade out of the Bristol Channel； the work of the
staunchest ships afloat； and the school of staunch seamen？
IV。
Before an anchor can ever be raised； it must be let go； and this
perfectly obvious truism brings me at once to the subject of the
degradation of the sea language in the daily press of this country。
Your journalist； whether he takes charge of a ship or a fleet；
almost invariably 〃casts〃 his anchor。 Now； an anchor is never
cast； and to take a liberty with technical language is a crime
against the clearness； precision； and beauty of perfected speech。
An anchor is a forged piece of iron； admirably adapted to its end；
and technical language is an instrument wrought into perfection by
ages of experience； a flawless thing for its purpose。 An anchor of
yesterday （because nowadays there are contrivances like mushrooms
and things like claws； of no particular expression or shape … just
hooks） … an anchor of yesterday is in its way a most efficient
instrument。 To its perfection its size bears witness； for there is
no other appliance so small for the great work it has to do。 Look
at the anchors hanging from the cat…heads of a big ship！ How tiny
they are in proportion to the great size of the hull！ Were they
made of gold they would look like trinkets； like ornamental toys；
no bigger in proportion than a jewelled drop in a woman's ear。 And
yet upon them will depend； more than once； the very life of the
ship。
An anchor is forged and fashioned for faithfulness； give it ground
that it can bite； and it will hold till the cable parts； and then；
whatever may afterwards befall its ship； that anchor is 〃lost。〃
The hon