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that he might keep her in his。 〃Mr。 Rarx；〃 said I to him when it came to
that； 〃I have a loaded pistol in my pocket； and if you don't stand out of the
gang… way； and keep perfectly quiet； I shall shoot you through the heart； if
you have got one。〃 Says he； 〃You won't do murder； Captain Ravender！〃
〃No； sir；〃 says I； 〃I won't murder forty…four people to humour you； but I'll
shoot you to save them。〃 After that he was quiet； and stood shivering a
little way off； until I named him to go over the side。
The Long…boat being cast off； the Surf…boat was soon filled。 There
only remained aboard the Golden Mary； John Mullion the man who had
kept on burning the blue…lights （and who had lighted every new one at
every old one before it went out； as quietly as if he had been at an
illumination）； John Steadiman； and myself。 I hurried those two into the
Surf…boat； called to them to keep off； and waited with a grateful and
relieved heart for the Long…boat to come and take me in； if she could。 I
looked at my watch； and it showed me； by the blue…light； ten minutes past
two。 They lost no time。 As soon as she was near enough； I swung myself
into her； and called to the men； 〃With a will； lads！ She's reeling！〃 We were
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not an inch too far out of the inner vortex of her going down； when； by the
blue…light which John Mullion still burnt in the bow of the Surf…boat； we
saw her lurch； and plunge to the bottom head…foremost。 The child cried；
weeping wildly； 〃O the dear Golden Mary！ O look at her！ Save her！ Save
the poor Golden Mary！〃 And then the light burnt out； and the black dome
seemed to come down upon us。
I suppose if we had all stood a…top of a mountain； and seen the whole
remainder of the world sink away from under us； we could hardly have felt
more shocked and solitary than we did when we knew we were alone on
the wide ocean； and that the beautiful ship in which most of us had been
securely asleep within half an hour was gone for ever。 There was an awful
silence in our boat； and such a kind of palsy on the rowers and the man at
the rudder； that I felt they were scarcely keeping her before the sea。 I
spoke out then； and said； 〃Let every one here thank the Lord for our
preservation！〃 All the voices answered （even the child's）； 〃We thank the
Lord！〃 I then said the Lord's Prayer； and all hands said it after me with a
solemn murmuring。 Then I gave the word 〃Cheerily； O men； Cheerily！〃
and I felt that they were handling the boat again as a boat ought to be
handled。
The Surf…boat now burnt another blue…light to show us where they
were； and we made for her； and laid ourselves as nearly alongside of her as
we dared。 I had always kept my boats with a coil or two of good stout stuff
in each of them； so both boats had a rope at hand。 We made a shift； with
much labour and trouble； to got near enough to one another to divide the
blue…lights （they were no use after that night； for the sea…water soon got at
them）； and to get a tow…rope out between us。 All night long we kept
together； sometimes obliged to cast off the rope； and sometimes getting it
out again； and all of us wearying for the morningwhich appeared so long
in coming that old Mr。 Rarx screamed out； in spite of his fears of me； 〃The
world is drawing to an end； and the sun will never rise any more！〃
When the day broke； I found that we were all huddled together in a
miserable manner。 We were deep in the water； being； as I found on
mustering； thirty…one in number； or at least six too many。 In the Surf…boat
they were fourteen in number； being at least four too many。 The first thing
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I did； was to get myself passed to the rudderwhich I took from that time…
…and to get Mrs。 Atherfield； her child； and Miss Coleshaw； passed on to sit
next me。 As to old Mr。 Rarx； I put him in the bow； as far from us as I could。
And I put some of the best men near us in order that if I should drop there
might be a skilful hand ready to take the helm。
The sea moderating as the sun came up； though the sky was cloudy
and wild； we spoke the other boat； to know what stores they had； and to
overhaul what we had。 I had a compass in my pocket； a small telescope； a
double…barrelled pistol； a knife； and a fire…box and matches。 Most of my
men had knives； and some had a little tobacco： some； a pipe as well。 We
had a mug among us； and an iron spoon。 As to provisions； there were in
my boat two bags of biscuit； one piece of raw beef； one piece of raw pork；
a bag of coffee； roasted but not ground （thrown in； I imagine； by mistake；
for something else）； two small casks of water； and about half…a…gallon of
rum in a keg。 The Surf…boat； having rather more rum than we； and fewer to
drink it； gave us； as I estimated； another quart into our keg。 In return； we
gave them three double handfuls of coffee； tied up in a piece of a
handkerchief； they reported that they had aboard besides； a bag of biscuit；
a piece of beef； a small cask of water； a small box of lemons； and a Dutch
cheese。 It took a long time to make these exchanges； and they were not
made without risk to both parties； the sea running quite high enough to
make our approaching near to one another very hazardous。 In the bundle
with the coffee； I conveyed to John Steadiman （who had a ship's compass
with him）； a paper written in pencil； and torn from my pocket…book；
containing the course I meant to steer； in the hope of making land； or
being picked up by some vesselI say in the hope； though I had little hope
of either deliverance。 I then sang out to him； so as all might hear； that if we
two boats could live or die together； we would； but； that if we should be
parted by the weather； and join company no more； they should have our
prayers and blessings； and we asked for theirs。 We then gave them three
cheers； which they returned； and I saw the men's heads droop in both boats
as they fell to their oars again。
These arrangements had occupied the general attention advantageously
for all； though （as I expressed in the last sentence） they ended in a
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sor