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whatever may afterwards befall its ship； that anchor is 〃lost。〃
The honest； rough piece of iron； so simple in appearance； has more
parts than the human body has limbs： the ring； the stock； the
crown； the flukes； the palms； the shank。 All this； according to
the journalist； is 〃cast〃 when a ship arriving at an anchorage is
brought up。
This insistence in using the odious word arises from the fact that
a particularly benighted landsman must imagine the act of anchoring
as a process of throwing something overboard； whereas the anchor
ready for its work is already overboard； and is not thrown over；
but simply allowed to fall。 It hangs from the ship's side at the
end of a heavy； projecting timber called the cat…head； in the bight
of a short； thick chain whose end link is suddenly released by a
blow from a top…maul or the pull of a lever when the order is
given。 And the order is not 〃Heave over！〃 as the paragraphist
seems to imagine； but 〃Let go！〃
As a matter of fact； nothing is ever cast in that sense on board
ship but the lead； of which a cast is taken to search the depth of
water on which she floats。 A lashed boat； a spare spar； a cask or
what not secured about the decks； is 〃cast adrift〃 when it is
untied。 Also the ship herself is 〃cast to port or starboard〃 when
getting under way。 She； however； never 〃casts〃 her anchor。
To speak with severe technicality； a ship or a fleet is 〃brought
up〃 … the complementary words unpronounced and unwritten being； of
course； 〃to an anchor。〃 Less technically； but not less correctly；
the word 〃anchored；〃 with its characteristic appearance and
resolute sound； ought to be good enough for the newspapers of the
greatest maritime country in the world。 〃The fleet anchored at
Spithead〃： can anyone want a better sentence for brevity and
seamanlike ring？ But the 〃cast…anchor〃 trick； with its affectation
of being a sea…phrase … for why not write just as well 〃threw
anchor；〃 〃flung anchor；〃 or 'shied anchor〃？ … is intolerably odious
to a sailor's ear。 I remember a coasting pilot of my early
acquaintance （he used to read the papers assiduously） who； to
define the utmost degree of lubberliness in a landsman； used to
say； 〃He's one of them poor； miserable 'cast…anchor' devils。〃
V。
From first to last the seaman's thoughts are very much concerned
with his anchors。 It is not so much that the anchor is a symbol of
hope as that it is the heaviest object that he has to handle on
board his ship at sea in the usual routine of his duties。 The
beginning and the end of every passage are marked distinctly by
work about the ship's anchors。 A vessel in the Channel has her
anchors always ready； her cables shackled on； and the land almost
always in sight。 The anchor and the land are indissolubly
connected in a sailor's thoughts。 But directly she is clear of the
narrow seas； heading out into the world with nothing solid to speak
of between her and the South Pole； the anchors are got in and the
cables disappear from the deck。 But the anchors do not disappear。
Technically speaking； they are 〃secured in…board〃； and； on the
forecastle head； lashed down to ring…bolts with ropes and chains；
under the straining sheets of the head…sails； they look very idle
and as if asleep。 Thus bound； but carefully looked after； inert
and powerful； those emblems of hope make company for the look…out
man in the night watches； and so the days glide by； with a long
rest for those characteristically shaped pieces of iron； reposing
forward； visible from almost every part of the ship's deck； waiting
for their work on the other side of the world somewhere； while the
ship carries them on with a great rush and splutter of foam
underneath； and the sprays of the open sea rust their heavy limbs。
The first approach to the land； as yet invisible to the crew's
eyes； is announced by the brisk order of the chief mate to the
boatswain： 〃We will get the anchors over this afternoon〃 or 〃first
thing to…morrow morning；〃 as the case may be。 For the chief mate
is the keeper of the ship's anchors and the guardian of her cable。
There are good ships and bad ships； comfortable ships and ships
where； from first day to last of the voyage； there is no rest for a
chief mate's body and soul。 And ships are what men make them：
this is a pronouncement of sailor wisdom； and； no doubt； in the
main it is true。
However； there are ships where； as an old grizzled mate once told
me； 〃nothing ever seems to go right！〃 And； looking from the poop
where we both stood （I had paid him a neighbourly call in dock）； he
added： 〃She's one of them。〃 He glanced up at my face； which
expressed a proper professional sympathy； and set me right in my
natural surmise： 〃Oh no； the old man's right enough。 He never
interferes。 Anything that's done in a seamanlike way is good
enough for him。 And yet； somehow； nothing ever seems to go right
in this ship。 I tell you what： she is naturally unhandy。〃
The 〃old man；〃 of course； was his captain； who just then came on
deck in a silk hat and brown overcoat； and； with a civil nod to us；
went ashore。 He was certainly not more than thirty； and the
elderly mate； with a murmur to me of 〃That's my old man；〃 proceeded
to give instances of the natural unhandiness of the ship in a sort
of deprecatory tone； as if to say； 〃You mustn't think I bear a
grudge against her for that。〃
The instances do not matter。 The point is that there are ships
where things DO go wrong； but whatever the ship … good or bad；
lucky or unlucky … it is in the forepart of her that her chief mate
feels most at home。 It is emphatically HIS end of the ship；
though； of course； he is the executive supervisor of the whole。
There are HIS anchors； HIS headgear； his foremast； his station for
manoeuvring when the captain is in charge。 And there； too； live
the men； the ship's hands； whom it is his duty to keep employed；
fair weather or foul； for the ship's welfare。 It is the chief
mate； the only figure of the ship's afterguard； who comes bustling
forward at the cry of 〃All hands on deck！〃 He is the satrap of
that province in the autocratic realm of the ship； and more
personally responsible for anything that may happen there。
There； too； on the approach to the land； assisted by the boatswain
and the carpenter； he 〃gets the anchors over〃 with the men of his
own watch； whom he knows better than the others。 There he sees the
cable ranged； the windlass disconnected； the compressors opened；
and there； after giving his own last order； 〃Stand clear of the
cable！〃 he waits attentive； in a silent ship that forges slowly
ahead towards her picked…out berth； for the sharp shout from aft；
〃Let go！〃