第4章
Theyhadbeenrangedclosely，afterhavingbeenshakenintosubmission，cuffedalittletoallayexcitement，addressedingruffwordsofencouragementthatsoundedlikepromisesofevil。
Theysatonthedeckinghastly，droopingrows，andattheendthecarpenter，withtwohandstohelphim，movedbusilyfromplacetoplace，settingtautandhitchingthelife-lines。Theboatswain，withonelegandonearmembracingastanchion，struggledwithalamppressedtohisbreast，tryingtogetalight，andgrowlingallthetimelikeanindustriousgorilla。
Thefiguresofseamenstoopedrepeatedly，withthemovementsofgleaners，andeverythingwasbeingflungintothebunker:
clothing，smashedwood，brokenchina，andthedollars，too，gatheredupinmen"sjackets。Nowandthenasailorwouldstaggertowardsthedoorwaywithhisarmsfullofrubbish；anddolorous，slantingeyesfollowedhismovements。
WitheveryrolloftheshipthelongrowsofsittingCelestialswouldswayforwardbrokenly，andherheadlongdivesknockedtogetherthelineofshavenpollsfromendtoend。Whenthewashofwaterrollingonthedeckdiedawayforamoment，itseemedtoJukes，yetquiveringfromhisexertions，thatinhismadstruggledowntherehehadovercomethewindsomehow:thatasilencehadfallenupontheship，asilenceinwhichtheseastruckthunderouslyathersides。
Everythinghadbeenclearedoutofthe"tween-deck——allthewreckage，asthemensaid。Theystooderectandtotteringabovethelevelofheadsanddroopingshoulders。Hereandthereacooliesobbedforhisbreath。Wherethehighlightfell，Jukescouldseethesalientribsofone，theyellow，wistfulfaceofanother；bowednecks；orwouldmeetadullstaredirectedathisface。Hewasamazedthattherehadbeennocorpses；butthelotofthemseemedattheirlastgasp，andtheyappearedtohimmorepitifulthaniftheyhadbeenalldead。
Suddenlyoneofthecooliesbegantospeak。Thelightcameandwentonhislean，strainingface；hethrewhisheaduplikeabayinghound。Fromthebunkercamethesoundsofknockingandthetinkleofsomedollarsrollingloose；hestretchedouthisarm，hismouthyawnedblack，andtheincomprehensiblegutturalhootingsounds，thatdidnotseemtobelongtoahumanlanguage，penetratedJukeswithastrangeemotionasifabrutehadtriedtobeeloquent。
TwomorestartedmouthingwhatseemedtoJukesfiercedenunciations；theothersstirredwithgruntsandgrowls。Jukesorderedthehandsoutofthe"tweendeckshurriedly。Heleftlasthimself，backingthroughthedoor，whilethegruntsrosetoaloudmurmurandhandswereextendedafterhimasafteramalefactor。Theboatswainshotthebolt，andremarkeduneasily，"Seemsasifthewindhaddropped，sir。"
Theseamenweregladtogetbackintothealleyway。Secretlyeachofthemthoughtthatatthelastmomenthecouldrushoutondeck——andthatwasacomfort。Thereissomethinghorriblyrepugnantintheideaofbeingdrownedunderadeck。NowtheyhaddonewiththeChinamen，theyagainbecameconsciousoftheship"sposition。
Jukesoncomingoutofthealleywayfoundhimselfuptotheneckinthenoisywater。Hegainedthebridge，anddiscoveredhecoulddetectobscureshapesasifhissighthadbecomepreternaturallyacute。Hesawfaintoutlines。TheyrecallednotthefamiliaraspectoftheNan-Shan，butsomethingremembered-anolddismantledsteamerhehadseenyearsagorottingonamudbank。Sherecalledthatwreck。
Therewasnowind，notabreath，exceptthefaintcurrentscreatedbythelurchesoftheship。Thesmoketossedoutofthefunnelwassettlingdownuponherdeck。Hebreatheditashepassedforward。Hefeltthedeliberatethroboftheengines，andheardsmallsoundsthatseemedtohavesurvivedthegreatuproar:
theknockingofbrokenfittings，therapidtumblingofsomepieceofwreckageonthebridge。Heperceiveddimlythesquatshapeofhiscaptainholdingontoatwistedbridge-rail，motionlessandswayingasifrootedtotheplanks。TheunexpectedstillnessoftheairoppressedJukes。
"Wehavedoneit，sir，"hegasped。
"Thoughtyouwould，"saidCaptainMacWhirr。
"Didyou？"murmuredJukestohimself。
"Windfellallatonce，"wentontheCaptain。
Jukesburstout:"Ifyouthinkitwasaneasyjob——"
Buthiscaptain，clingingtotherail，paidnoattention。
"Accordingtothebookstheworstisnotoveryet。"
"Ifmostofthemhadn"tbeenhalfdeadwithseasicknessandfright，notoneofuswouldhavecomeoutofthat"tween-deckalive，"saidJukes。
"Hadtodowhat"sfairbythem，"mumbledMacWhirr，stolidly。
"Youdon"tfindeverythinginbooks。"
"Why，IbelievetheywouldhaverisenonusifIhadn"torderedthehandsoutofthatprettyquick，"continuedJukeswithwarmth。
Afterthewhisperoftheirshouts，theirordinarytones，sodistinct，rangoutveryloudtotheirearsintheamazingstillnessoftheair。Itseemedtothemtheyweretalkinginadarkandechoingvault。
Throughajaggedapertureinthedomeofcloudsthelightofafewstarsfellupontheblacksea，risingandfallingconfusedly。
Sometimestheheadofawateryconewouldtoppleonboardandminglewiththerollingflurryoffoamontheswampeddeck；andtheNan-Shanwallowedheavilyatthebottomofacircularcisternofclouds。Thisringofdensevapours，gyratingmadlyroundthecalmofthecentre，encompassedtheshiplikeamotionlessandunbrokenwallofanaspectinconceivablysinister。Within，thesea，asifagitatedbyaninternalcommotion，leapedinpeakedmoundsthatjostledeachother，slappingheavilyagainsthersides；andalowmoaningsound，theinfiniteplaintofthestorm"sfury，camefrombeyondthelimitsofthemenacingcalm。
CaptainMacWhirrremainedsilent，andJukes"readyearcaughtsuddenlythefaint，longdrawnroarofsomeimmensewaverushingunseenunderthatthickblackness，whichmadetheappallingboundaryofhisvision。
"Ofcourse，"hestartedresentfully，"theythoughtwehadcaughtatthechancetoplunderthem。Ofcourse!Yousaid——pickupthemoney。Easiersaidthandone。Theycouldn"ttellwhatwasinourheads。Wecamein，smash——rightintothemiddleofthem。
Hadtodoitbyarush。"
"Aslongasit"sdone……，"mumbledtheCaptain，withoutattemptingtolookatJukes。"Hadtodowhat"sfair。"
"Weshallfindyetthere"sthedeviltopaywhenthisisover，"
saidJukes，feelingverysore。"Letthemonlyrecoverabit，andyou"llsee。Theywillflyatourthroats，sir。Don"tforget，sir，sheisn"taBritishshipnow。Thesebrutesknowitwell，too。ThedamnedSiameseflag。"
"Weareonboard，allthesame，"remarkedCaptainMacWhirr。
"Thetrouble"snotoveryet，"insistedJukes，prophetically，reelingandcatchingon。"She"sawreck，"headded，faintly。
"Thetrouble"snotoveryet，"assentedCaptainMacWhirr，halfaloud……"Lookoutforheraminute。"
"Areyougoingoffthedeck，sir？"askedJukes，hurriedly，asifthestormweresuretopounceuponhimassoonashehadbeenleftalonewiththeship。
Hewatchedher，batteredandsolitary，labouringheavilyinawildsceneofmountainousblackwaterslitbythegleamsofdistantworlds。Shemovedslowly，breathingintothestillcoreofthehurricanetheexcessofherstrengthinawhitecloudofsteam——andthedeeptonedvibrationoftheescapewaslikethedefianttrumpetingofalivingcreatureoftheseaimpatientfortherenewalofthecontest。Itceasedsuddenly。Thestillairmoaned。AboveJukes"headafewstarsshoneintoapitofblackvapours。Theinkyedgeofthecloud-discfrownedupontheshipunderthepatchofglitteringsky。Thestars，too，seemedtolookatherintently，asifforthelasttime，andtheclusteroftheirsplendoursatlikeadiademonaloweringbrow。
CaptainMacWhirrhadgoneintothechart-room。Therewasnolightthere；buthecouldfeelthedisorderofthatplacewhereheusedtolivetidily。Hisarmchairwasupset。Thebookshadtumbledoutonthefloor:hescrunchedapieceofglassunderhisboot。
Hegropedforthematches，andfoundaboxonashelfwithadeepledge。Hestruckone，andpuckeringthecornersofhiseyes，heldoutthelittleflametowardsthebarometerwhoseglitteringtopofglassandmetalsnoddedathimcontinuously。
Itstoodverylow——incrediblylow，solowthatCaptainMacWhirrgrunted。Thematchwentout，andhurriedlyheextractedanother，withthick，stifffingers。
Againalittleflameflaredupbeforethenoddingglassandmetalofthetop。Hiseyeslookedatit，narrowedwithattention，asifexpectinganimperceptiblesign。WithhisgravefaceheresembledabootedandmisshapenpaganburningincensebeforetheoracleofaJoss。Therewasnomistake。Itwasthelowestreadinghehadeverseeninhislife。
CaptainMacWhirremittedalowwhistle。Heforgothimselftilltheflamediminishedtoabluespark，burnthisfingersandvanished。Perhapssomethinghadgonewrongwiththething!
Therewasananeroidglassscrewedabovethecouch。Heturnedthatway，struckanothermatch，anddiscoveredthewhitefaceoftheotherinstrumentlookingathimfromthebulkhead，meaningly，nottobegainsaid，asthoughthewisdomofmenweremadeunerringbytheindifferenceofmatter。Therewasnoroomfordoubtnow。CaptainMacWhirrpshawedatit，andthrewthematchdown。
Theworstwastocome，then——andifthebookswererightthisworstwouldbeverybad。Theexperienceofthelastsixhourshadenlargedhisconceptionofwhatheavyweathercouldbelike。
"It"llbeterrific，"hepronounced，mentally。Hehadnotconsciouslylookedatanythingbythelightofthematchesexceptatthebarometer；andyetsomehowhehadseenthathiswaterbottleandthetwotumblershadbeenflungoutoftheirstand。Itseemedtogivehimamoreintimateknowledgeofthetossingtheshiphadgonethrough。"Iwouldn"thavebelievedit，"hethought。Andhistablehadbeencleared，too；hisrulers，hispencils，theinkstand——allthethingsthathadtheirsafeappointedplaces——theyweregone，asifamischievoushandhadpluckedthemoutonebyoneandflungthemonthewetfloor。Thehurricanehadbrokeninupontheorderlyarrangementsofhisprivacy。Thishadneverhappenedbefore，andthefeelingofdismayreachedtheveryseatofhiscomposure。
Andtheworstwastocomeyet!Hewasgladthetroubleinthe"tween-deckhadbeendiscoveredintime。Iftheshiphadtogoafterall，then，atleast，shewouldn"tbegoingtothebottomwithalotofpeopleinherfightingteethandclaw。Thatwouldhavebeenodious。Andinthatfeelingtherewasahumaneintentionandavaguesenseofthefitnessofthings。
Theseinstantaneousthoughtswereyetintheiressenceheavyandslow，partakingofthenatureoftheman。Heextendedhishandtoputbackthematchboxinitscorneroftheshelf。Therewerealwaysmatchesthere——byhisorder。Thestewardhadhisinstructionsimpresseduponhimlongbefore。"Abox……justthere，see？Notsoveryfull……whereIcanputmyhandonit，steward。Mightwantalightinahurry。Can"ttellonboardshipwhatyoumightwantinahurry。Mind，now。"
Andofcourseonhissidehewouldbecarefultoputitbackinitsplacescrupulously。Hedidsonow，butbeforeheremovedhishanditoccurredtohimthatperhapshewouldneverhaveoccasiontousethatboxanymore。Thevividnessofthethoughtcheckedhimandforaninfinitesimalfractionofasecondhisfingersclosedagainonthesmallobjectasthoughithadbeenthesymbolofalltheselittlehabitsthatchainustothewearyroundoflife。Hereleaseditatlast，andlettinghimselffallonthesettee，listenedforthefirstsoundsofreturningwind。
Notyet。Heheardonlythewashofwater，theheavysplashes，thedullshocksoftheconfusedseasboardinghisshipfromallsides。Shewouldneverhaveachancetoclearherdecks。
Butthequietudeoftheairwasstartlinglytenseandunsafe，likeaslenderhairholdingaswordsuspendedoverhishead。Bythisawfulpausethestormpenetratedthedefencesofthemanandunsealedhislips。Hespokeoutinthesolitudeandthepitchdarknessofthecabin，asifaddressinganotherbeingawakenedwithinhisbreast。
"Ishouldn"tliketoloseher，"hesaidhalfaloud。
Hesatunseen，apartfromthesea，fromhisship，isolated，asifwithdrawnfromtheverycurrentofhisownexistence，wheresuchfreaksastalkingtohimselfsurelyhadnoplace。Hispalmsreposedonhisknees，hebowedhisshortneckandpuffedheavily，surrenderingtoastrangesensationofwearinesshewasnotenlightenedenoughtorecognizeforthefatigueofmentalstress。
Fromwherehesathecouldreachthedoorofawashstandlocker。
Thereshouldhavebeenatowelthere。Therewas。Good……
Hetookitout，wipedhisface，andafterwardswentonrubbinghiswethead。Hetowelledhimselfwithenergyinthedark，andthenremainedmotionlesswiththetowelonhisknees。Amomentpassed，ofastillnesssoprofoundthatnoonecouldhaveguessedtherewasamansittinginthatcabin。Thenamurmurarose。
"Shemaycomeoutofityet。"
WhenCaptainMacWhirrcameoutondeck，whichhedidbrusquely，asthoughhehadsuddenlybecomeconsciousofhavingstayedawaytoolong，thecalmhadlastedalreadymorethanfifteenminutes——longenoughtomakeitselfintolerableeventohisimagination。Jukes，motionlessontheforepartofthebridge，begantospeakatonce。Hisvoice，blankandforcedasthoughheweretalkingthroughhard-setteeth，seemedtoflowawayonallsidesintothedarkness，deepeningagainuponthesea。
"Ihadthewheelrelieved。Hackettbegantosingoutthathewasdone。He"slyingintherealongsidethesteering-gearwithafacelikedeath。AtfirstIcouldn"tgetanybodytocrawloutandrelievethepoordevil。Thatboss"n"sworsethannogood，I
alwayssaid。ThoughtIwouldhavehadtogomyselfandhauloutoneofthembytheneck。"
"Ah，well，"mutteredtheCaptain。HestoodwatchfulbyJukes"
side。
"Thesecondmate"sinthere，too，holdinghishead。Ishehurt，sir？"
"No——crazy，"saidCaptainMacWhirr，curtly。
"Looksasifhehadatumble，though。"
"Ihadtogivehimapush，"explainedtheCaptain。
Jukesgaveanimpatientsigh。
"Itwillcomeverysudden，"saidCaptainMacWhirr，"andfromoverthere，Ifancy。Godonlyknowsthough。Thesebooksareonlygoodtomuddleyourheadandmakeyoujumpy。Itwillbebad，andthere"sanend。Ifweonlycansteamherroundintimetomeetit……"
Aminutepassed。Someofthestarswinkedrapidlyandvanished。
"Youleftthemprettysafe？"begantheCaptainabruptly，asthoughthesilencewereunbearable。
"Areyouthinkingofthecoolies，sir？Iriggedlifelinesallwaysacrossthat"tween-deck。"
"Didyou？Goodidea，Mr。Jukes。"
"Ididn"t……thinkyoucaredto……know，"saidJukes——thelurchingoftheshipcuthisspeechasthoughsomebodyhadbeenjerkinghimaroundwhilehetalked——"howIgotonwith……
thatinfernaljob。Wedidit。Anditmaynotmatterintheend。"
"Hadtodowhat"sfair，forall——theyareonlyChinamen。Givethemthesamechancewithourselves——hangitall。Sheisn"tlostyet。Badenoughtobeshutupbelowinagale——"
"That"swhatIthoughtwhenyougavemethejob，sir，"
interjectedJukes，moodily。
"——withoutbeingbatteredtopieces，"pursuedCaptainMacWhirrwithrisingvehemence。"Couldn"tletthatgooninmyship，ifI
knewshehadn"tfiveminutestolive。Couldn"tbearit，Mr。
Jukes。"
Ahollowechoingnoise，likethatofashoutrollinginarockychasm，approachedtheshipandwentawayagain。Thelaststar，blurred，enlarged，asifreturningtothefierymistofitsbeginning，struggledwiththecolossaldepthofblacknesshangingovertheship——andwentout。
"Nowforit!"mutteredCaptainMacWhirr。"Mr。Jukes。"
"Here，sir。"
Thetwomenweregrowingindistincttoeachother。
"Wemusttrusthertogothroughitandcomeoutontheotherside。That"splainandstraight。There"snoroomforCaptainWilson"sstorm-strategyhere。"
"No，sir。"
"Shewillbesmotheredandsweptagainforhours，"mumbledtheCaptain。"There"snotmuchleftbythistimeabovedeckfortheseatotakeaway——unlessyouorme。"
"Both，sir，"whisperedJukes，breathlessly。
"Youarealwaysmeetingtroublehalfway，Jukes，"CaptainMacWhirrremonstratedquaintly。"Thoughit"safactthatthesecondmateisnogood。D"yehear，Mr。Jukes？Youwouldbeleftaloneif……"
CaptainMacWhirrinterruptedhimself，andJukes，glancingonallsides，remainedsilent。
"Don"tyoubeputoutbyanything，"theCaptaincontinued，mumblingratherfast。"Keepherfacingit。Theymaysaywhattheylike，buttheheaviestseasrunwiththewind。Facingit——
alwaysfacingit——that"sthewaytogetthrough。Youareayoungsailor。Faceit。That"senoughforanyman。Keepacoolhead。"
"Yes，sir，"saidJukes，withaflutteroftheheart。
InthenextfewsecondstheCaptainspoketotheengine-roomandgotananswer。
ForsomereasonJukesexperiencedanaccessofconfidence，asensationthatcamefromoutsidelikeawarmbreath，andmadehimfeelequaltoeverydemand。Thedistantmutteringofthedarknessstoleintohisears。Henoteditunmoved，outofthatsuddenbeliefinhimself，asamansafeinashirtofmailwouldwatchapoint。
Theshiplabouredwithoutintermissionamongsttheblackhillsofwater，payingwiththishardtumblingthepriceofherlife。Sherumbledinherdepths，shakingawhiteplummetofsteamintothenight，andJukes"thoughtskimmedlikeabirdthroughtheengine-room，whereMr。Rout——goodman——wasready。Whentherumblingceaseditseemedtohimthattherewasapauseofeverysound，adeadpauseinwhichCaptainMacWhirr"svoicerangoutstartlingly。
"What"sthat？Apuffofwind？"——itspokemuchlouderthanJukeshadeverhearditbefore——"Onthebow。That"sright。
Shemaycomeoutofityet。"
Themutterofthewindsdrewnearapace。Intheforefrontcouldbedistinguishedadrowsywakingplaintpassingon，andfaroffthegrowthofamultipleclamour，marchingandexpanding。Therewasthethrobasofmanydrumsinit，aviciousrushingnote，andlikethechantofatrampingmultitude。
Jukescouldnolongerseehiscaptaindistinctly。Thedarknesswasabsolutelypilingitselfupontheship。Atmosthemadeoutmovements，ahintofelbowsspreadout，ofaheadthrownup。
CaptainMacWhirrwastryingtodoupthetopbuttonofhisoilskincoatwithunwontedhaste。Thehurricane，withitspowertomaddentheseas，tosinkships，touproottrees，tooverturnstrongwallsanddashtheverybirdsoftheairtotheground，hadfoundthistaciturnmaninitspath，and，doingitsutmost，hadmanagedtowringoutafewwords。Beforetherenewedwrathofwindsswoopedonhisship，CaptainMacWhirrwasmovedtodeclare，inatoneofvexation，asitwere:"Iwouldn"tliketoloseher。"
Hewassparedthatannoyance。
VI
ONAbrightsunshinyday，withthebreezechasinghersmokefarahead，theNan-ShancameintoFu-chau。Herarrivalwasatoncenoticedonshore，andtheseameninharboursaid:"Look!Lookatthatsteamer。What"sthat？Siamese——isn"tshe？Justlookather!"
Sheseemed，indeed，tohavebeenusedasarunningtargetforthesecondarybatteriesofacruiser。Ahailofminorshellscouldnothavegivenherupperworksamorebroken，torn，anddevastatedaspect:andshehadabouthertheworn，wearyairofshipscomingfromthefarendsoftheworld——andindeedwithtruth，forinhershortpassageshehadbeenveryfar；sighting，verily，eventhecoastoftheGreatBeyond，whencenoshipeverreturnstogiveuphercrewtothedustoftheearth。Shewasincrustedandgraywithsalttothetrucksofhermastsandtothetopofherfunnel；asthough(assomefacetiousseamansaid)
"thecrowdonboardhadfishedheroutsomewherefromthebottomoftheseaandbroughtherinhereforsalvage。"Andfurther，excitedbythefelicityofhisownwit，heofferedtogivefivepoundsforher——"asshestands。"
Beforeshehadbeenquiteanhouratrest，ameagrelittleman，withared-tippednoseandafacecastinanangrymould，landedfromasampanonthequayoftheForeignConcession，andincontinentlyturnedtoshakehisfistather。
Atallindividual，withlegsmuchtoothinforarotundstomach，andwithwateryeyes，strolledupandremarked，"Justlefther——
eh？Quickwork。"
Heworeasoiledsuitofblueflannelwithapairofdirtycricketingshoes；adingygraymoustachedroopedfromhislip，anddaylightcouldbeseenintwoplacesbetweentherimandthecrownofhishat。
"Hallo!whatareyoudoinghere？"askedtheexsecond-mateoftheNan-Shan，shakinghandshurriedly。
"Standingbyforajob——chanceworthtaking——gotaquiethint，"explainedthemanwiththebrokenhat，injerky，apatheticwheezes。
ThesecondshookhisfistagainattheNan-Shan。"There"safellowtherethatain"tfittohavethecommandofascow，"hedeclared，quiveringwithpassion，whiletheotherlookedaboutlistlessly。
"Isthere？"
Buthecaughtsightonthequayofaheavyseaman"schest，paintedbrownunderafringedsailclothcover，andlashedwithnewmanilaline。Heeyeditwithawakenedinterest。
"Iwouldtalkandraisetroubleifitwasn"tforthatdamnedSiameseflag。Nobodytogoto——orIwouldmakeithotforhim。
Thefraud!Toldhischiefengineer——that"sanotherfraudforyou——Ihadlostmynerve。Thegreatestlotofignorantfoolsthateversailedtheseas。No!Youcan"tthink……"
"Gotyourmoneyallright？"inquiredhisseedyacquaintancesuddenly。
"Yes。Paidmeoffonboard，"ragedthesecondmate。""Getyourbreakfastonshore，"sayshe。"
"Meanskunk!"commentedthetallman，vaguely，andpassedhistongueonhislips。"Whatabouthavingadrinkofsomesort？"
"Hestruckme，"hissedthesecondmate。
"No!Struck!Youdon"tsay？"Themaninbluebegantobustleaboutsympathetically。"Can"tpossiblytalkhere。Iwanttoknowallaboutit。
Struck——eh？Let"sgetafellowtocarryyourchest。Iknowaquietplacewheretheyhavesomebottledbeer……"
Mr。Jukes，whohadbeenscanningtheshorethroughapairofglasses，informedthechiefengineerafterwardsthat"ourlatesecondmatehasn"tbeenlonginfindingafriend。Achaplookinguncommonlylikeabummer。Isawthemwalkawaytogetherfromthequay。"
ThehammeringandbangingoftheneedfulrepairsdidnotdisturbCaptainMacWhirr。Thestewardfoundintheletterhewrote，inatidychart-room，passagesofsuchabsorbinginterestthattwicehewasnearlycaughtintheact。ButMrs。MacWhirr，inthedrawing-roomoftheforty-poundhouse，stifledayawn——perhapsoutofself-respect——forshewasalone。
Shereclinedinaplush-bottomedandgilthammockchairnearatiledfireplace，withJapanesefansonthemantelandaglowofcoalsinthegrate。Liftingherhands，sheglancedwearilyhereandthereintothemanypages。Itwasnotherfaulttheyweresoprosy，socompletelyuninteresting——from"Mydarlingwife"atthebeginning，to"Yourlovinghusband"attheend。Shecouldn"tbereallyexpectedtounderstandalltheseshipaffairs。Shewasglad，ofcourse，tohearfromhim，butshehadneveraskedherselfwhy，precisely。
"……Theyarecalledtyphoons……Thematedidnotseemtolikeit……Notinbooks……Couldn"tthinkoflettingitgoon……"
Thepaperrustledsharply。"……Acalmthatlastedmorethantwentyminutes，"shereadperfunctorily；andthenextwordsherthoughtlesseyescaught，onthetopofanotherpage，were:
"seeyouandthechildrenagain……"Shehadamovementofimpatience。Hewasalwaysthinkingofcominghome。Hehadneverhadsuchagoodsalarybefore。Whatwasthematternow？
Itdidnotoccurtohertoturnbackoverleaftolook。Shewouldhavefounditrecordedtherethatbetween4and6A。M。onDecember25th，CaptainMacWhirrdidactuallythinkthathisshipcouldnotpossiblyliveanotherhourinsuchasea，andthathewouldneverseehiswifeandchildrenagain。Nobodywastoknowthis(hislettersgotmislaidsoquickly)——nobodywhateverbutthesteward，whohadbeengreatlyimpressedbythatdisclosure。
Somuchso，thathetriedtogivethecooksomeideaofthe"narrowsqueakweallhad"bysayingsolemnly，"Theoldmanhimselfhadadam"pooropinionofourchance。"
"Howdoyouknow？"asked，contemptuously，thecook，anoldsoldier。"Hehasn"ttoldyou，maybe？"
"Well，hedidgivemeahinttothateffect，"thestewardbrazeneditout。
"Getalongwithyou!Hewillbecomingtotellmenext，"jeeredtheoldcook，overhisshoulder。
Mrs。MacWhirrglancedfarther，onthealert。"……Dowhat"sfair……Miserableobjects……Onlythree，withabrokenlegeach，andone……Thoughthadbetterkeepthematterquiet……hopetohavedonethefairthing……"
Sheletfallherhands。No:therewasnothingmoreaboutcominghome。Musthavebeenmerelyexpressingapiouswish。Mrs。
MacWhirr"smindwassetatease，andablackmarbleclock，pricedbythelocaljewellerat£；318s。6d。，hadadiscreetstealthytick。
Thedoorflewopen，andagirlinthelong-legged，short-frockedperiodofexistence，flungintotheroom。
Alotofcolourless，ratherlankyhairwasscatteredoverhershoulders。Seeinghermother，shestoodstill，anddirectedherpalepryingeyesupontheletter。
"Fromfather，"murmuredMrs。MacWhirr。"Whathaveyoudonewithyourribbon？"
Thegirlputherhandsuptoherheadandpouted。
"He"swell，"continuedMrs。MacWhirrlanguidly。"AtleastIthinkso。Heneversays。"Shehadalittlelaugh。Thegirl"sfaceexpressedawanderingindifference，andMrs。MacWhirrsurveyedherwithfondpride。
"Goandgetyourhat，"shesaidafterawhile。"Iamgoingouttodosomeshopping。ThereisasaleatLinom"s。"
"Oh，howjolly!"utteredthechild，impressively，inunexpectedlygravevibratingtones，andboundedoutoftheroom。
Itwasafineafternoon，withagrayskyanddrysidewalks。
Outsidethedraper"sMrs。MacWhirrsmileduponawomaninablackmantleofgenerousproportionsarmouredinjetandcrownedwithflowersbloomingfalselyaboveabiliousmatronlycountenance。
Theybrokeintoaswiftlittlebabbleofgreetingsandexclamationsbothtogether，veryhurried，asifthestreetwerereadytoyawnopenandswallowallthatpleasurebeforeitcouldbeexpressed。
Behindthemthehighglassdoorswerekeptontheswing。Peoplecouldn"tpass，menstoodasidewaitingpatiently，andLydiawasabsorbedinpokingtheendofherparasolbetweenthestoneflags。Mrs。MacWhirrtalkedrapidly。
"Thankyouverymuch。He"snotcominghomeyet。Ofcourseit"sverysadtohavehimaway，butit"ssuchacomforttoknowhekeepssowell。"Mrs。MacWhirrdrewbreath。"Theclimatethereagreeswithhim，"sheadded，beamingly，asifpoorMacWhirrhadbeenawaytouringinChinaforthesakeofhishealth。
Neitherwasthechiefengineercominghomeyet。Mr。Routknewtoowellthevalueofagoodbillet。
"Solomonsayswonderswillnevercease，"criedMrs。Routjoyouslyattheoldladyinherarmchairbythefire。Mr。Rout"smothermovedslightly，herwitheredhandslyinginblackhalf-mittensonherlap。
Theeyesoftheengineer"swifefairlydancedonthepaper。
"Thatcaptainoftheshipheisin——arathersimpleman，youremember，mother？——hasdonesomethingratherclever，Solomonsays。"
"Yes，mydear，"saidtheoldwomanmeekly，sittingwithbowedsilveryhead，andthatairofinwardstillnesscharacteristicofveryoldpeoplewhoseemlostinwatchingthelastflickersoflife。"IthinkIremember。"
SolomonRout，OldSol，FatherSol，theChief，"Rout，goodman"——
Mr。Rout，thecondescendingandpaternalfriendofyouth，hadbeenthebabyofhermanychildren——alldeadbythistime。Andsherememberedhimbestasaboyoften——longbeforehewentawaytoservehisapprenticeshipinsomegreatengineeringworksintheNorth。Shehadseensolittleofhimsince，shehadgonethroughsomanyyears，thatshehadnowtoretraceherstepsveryfarbacktorecognizehimplainlyinthemistoftime。Sometimesitseemedthatherdaughter-in-lawwastalkingofsomestrangeman。
Mrs。Routjuniorwasdisappointed。"H"m。H"m。"Sheturnedthepage。"Howprovoking!Hedoesn"tsaywhatitis。SaysI
couldn"tunderstandhowmuchtherewasinit。Fancy!Whatcoulditbesoveryclever？Whatawretchedmannottotellus!"
Shereadonwithoutfurtherremarksoberly，andatlastsatlookingintothefire。Thechiefwrotejustawordortwoofthetyphoon；butsomethinghadmovedhimtoexpressanincreasedlongingforthecompanionshipofthejollywoman。"Ifithadn"tbeenthatmothermustbelookedafter，Iwouldsendyouyourpassage-moneyto-day。Youcouldsetupasmallhouseouthere。
Iwouldhaveachancetoseeyousometimesthen。Wearenotgrowingyounger……"
"He"swell，mother，"sighedMrs。Rout，rousingherself。
"Healwayswasastronghealthyboy，"saidtheoldwoman，placidly。
ButMr。Jukes"accountwasreallyanimatedandveryfull。HisfriendintheWesternOceantradeimparteditfreelytotheotherofficersofhisliner。"AchapIknowwritestomeaboutanextraordinaryaffairthathappenedonboardhisshipinthattyphoon——youknow——thatwereadofinthepaperstwomonthsago。It"sthefunniestthing!Justseeforyourselfwhathesays。I"llshowyouhisletter。"
Therewerephrasesinitcalculatedtogivetheimpressionoflight-hearted，indomitableresolution。Jukeshadwrittenthemingoodfaith，forhefeltthuswhenhewrote。Hedescribedwithlurideffectthescenesinthe"tween-deck。"……ItstruckmeinaflashthatthoseconfoundedChinamencouldn"ttellweweren"tadesperatekindofrobbers。"Tisn"tgoodtoparttheChinamanfromhismoneyifheisthestrongerparty。Weneedhavebeendesperateindeedtogothievinginsuchweather，butwhatcouldthesebeggarsknowofus？So，withoutthinkingofittwice，Igotthehandsawayinajiffy。Ourworkwasdone——thattheoldmanhadsethishearton。Weclearedoutwithoutstayingtoinquirehowtheyfelt。Iamconvincedthatiftheyhadnotbeensounmercifullyshaken，andafraid——eachindividualoneofthem——tostandup，wewouldhavebeentorntopieces。Oh!Itwasprettycomplete，Icantellyou；andyoumayruntoandfroacrossthePondtotheendoftimebeforeyoufindyourselfwithsuchajobonyourhands。"
Afterthishealludedprofessionallytothedamagedonetotheship，andwentonthus:
"Itwaswhentheweatherquieteddownthatthesituationbecameconfoundedlydelicate。Itwasn"tmadeanybetterbyushavingbeenlatelytransferredtotheSiameseflag；thoughtheskippercan"tseethatitmakesanydifference——"aslongasweareonboard"-hesays。Therearefeelingsthatthismansimplyhasn"tgot——andthere"sanendofit。Youmightjustaswelltrytomakeabedpostunderstand。ButapartfromthisitisaninfernallylonelystateforashiptobegoingabouttheChinaseaswithnoproperconsuls，notevenagunboatofherownanywhere，norabodytogotoincaseofsometrouble。
"MynotionwastokeeptheseJohnniesunderhatchesforanotherfifteenhoursorso；asweweren"tmuchfartherthanthatfromFu-chau。Wewouldfindthere，mostlikely，somesortofaman-of-war，andonceunderhergunsweweresafeenough；forsurelyanyskipperofaman-of-war——English，FrenchorDutch-wouldseewhitementhroughasfarasrowonboardgoes。WecouldgetridofthemandtheirmoneyafterwardsbydeliveringthemtotheirMandarinorTaotai，orwhatevertheycallthesechapsingogglesyouseebeingcarriedaboutinsedan-chairsthroughtheirstinkingstreets。
"Theoldmanwouldn"tseeitsomehow。Hewantedtokeepthematterquiet。Hegotthatnotionintohishead，andasteamwindlasscouldn"tdragitoutofhim。Hewantedaslittlefussmadeaspossible，forthesakeoftheship"snameandforthesakeoftheowners——"forthesakeofallconcerned，"sayshe，lookingatmeveryhard。
Itmademeangryhot。Ofcourseyoucouldn"tkeepathinglikethatquiet；butthechestshadbeensecuredintheusualmannerandweresafeenoughforanyearthlygale，whilethishadbeenanaltogetherfiendishbusinessIcouldn"tgiveyouevenanideaof。
"Meantime，Icouldhardlykeeponmyfeet。Noneofushadaspellofanysortfornearlythirtyhours，andtheretheoldmansatrubbinghischin，rubbingthetopofhishead，andsobotheredhedidn"teventhinkofpullinghislongbootsoff。
""Ihope，sir，"saysI，"youwon"tbelettingthemoutondeckbeforewemakereadyfortheminsomeshapeorother。"Not，mindyou，thatIfeltverysanguineaboutcontrollingthesebeggarsiftheymeanttotakecharge。AtroublewithacargoofChinamenisnochild"splay。Iwasdam"tired，too。"Iwish，"saidI，"youwouldletusthrowthewholelotofthesedollarsdowntothemandleavethemtofightitoutamongstthemselves，whilewegetarest。"
""Nowyoutalkwild，Jukes，"sayshe，lookingupinhisslowwaythatmakesyouacheallover，somehow。"Wemustplanoutsomethingthatwouldbefairtoallparties。"
"Ihadnoendofworkonhand，asyoumayimagine，soIsetthehandsgoing，andthenIthoughtIwouldturninabit。Ihadn"tbeenasleepinmybunktenminuteswheninrushesthestewardandbeginstopullatmyleg。
""ForGod"ssake，Mr。Jukes，comeout!Comeondeckquick，sir。
Oh，docomeout!"
"Thefellowscaredallthesenseoutofme。Ididn"tknowwhathadhappened:anotherhurricane——orwhat。Couldhearnowind。
""TheCaptain"slettingthemout。Oh，heislettingthemout!
Jumpondeck，sir，andsaveus。Thechiefengineerhasjustrunbelowforhisrevolver。"
"That"swhatIunderstoodthefooltosay。However，FatherRoutswearshewentinthereonlytogetacleanpocket-handkerchief。
Anyhow，Imadeonejumpintomytrousersandflewondeckaft。
Therewascertainlyagooddealofnoisegoingonforwardofthebridge。Fourofthehandswiththeboss"nwereatworkabaft。I
passeduptothemsomeoftheriflesalltheshipsontheChinacoastcarryinthecabin，andledthemonthebridge。OnthewayIranagainstOldSol，lookingstartledandsuckingatanunlightedcigar。
""Comealong，"Ishoutedtohim。
"Wecharged，thesevenofus，uptothechart-room。Allwasover。
Therestoodtheoldmanwithhissea-bootsstilldrawnuptothehipsandinshirt-sleeves-gotwarmthinkingitout，Isuppose。
BunHin"sdandyclerkathiselbow，asdirtyasasweep，wasstillgreenintheface。IcouldseedirectlyIwasinforsomething。
""Whatthedevilarethesemonkeytricks，Mr。Jukes？"askstheoldman，asangryaseverhecouldbe。Itellyoufranklyitmademelosemytongue。"ForGod"ssake，Mr。Jukes，"sayshe，"dotakeawaytheseriflesfromthemen。Somebody"ssuretogethurtbeforelongifyoudon"t。Damme，ifthisshipisn"tworsethanBedlam!Looksharpnow。IwantyouupheretohelpmeandBunHin"sChinamantocountthatmoney。Youwouldn"tmindlendingahand，too，Mr。Rout，nowyouarehere。Themoreofusthebetter。"
"HehadsettleditallinhismindwhileIwashavingasnooze。
HadwebeenanEnglishship，oronlygoingtolandourcargoofcooliesinanEnglishport，likeHong-Kong，forinstance，therewouldhavebeennoendofinquiriesandbother，claimsfordamagesandsoon。ButtheseChinamenknowtheirofficialsbetterthanwedo。
"Thehatcheshadbeentakenoffalready，andtheywereallondeckafteranightandadaydownbelow。Itmadeyoufeelqueertoseesomanygaunt，wildfacestogether。Thebeggarsstaredaboutatthesky，atthesea，attheship，asthoughtheyhadexpectedthewholethingtohavebeenblowntopieces。Andnowonder!Theyhadhadadoingthatwouldhaveshakenthesouloutofawhiteman。ButthentheysayaChinamanhasnosoul。Hehas，though，somethingabouthimthatisdeucedtough。Therewasafellow(amongstothersofthebadlyhurt)whohadhadhiseyeallbutknockedout。Itstoodoutofhisheadthesizeofhalfahen"segg。Thiswouldhavelaidoutawhitemanonhisbackforamonth:andyettherewasthatchapelbowinghereandthereinthecrowdandtalkingtotheothersasifnothinghadbeenthematter。Theymadeagreathubbubamongstthemselves，andwhenevertheoldmanshowedhisbaldheadontheforesideofthebridge，theywouldallleaveoffjawingandlookathimfrombelow。
"ItseemsthatafterhehaddonehisthinkinghemadethatBunHin"sfellowgodownandexplaintothemtheonlywaytheycouldgettheirmoneyback。Hetoldmeafterwardsthat，allthecoolieshavingworkedinthesameplaceandforthesamelengthoftime，hereckonedhewouldbedoingthefairthingbythemasnearaspossibleifhesharedallthecashwehadpickedupequallyamongthelot。Youcouldn"ttelloneman"sdollarsfromanother"s，hesaid，andifyouaskedeachmanhowmuchmoneyhebroughtonboardhewasafraidtheywouldlie，andhewouldfindhimselfalongwayshort。Ithinkhewasrightthere。AstogivingupthemoneytoanyChineseofficialhecouldscareupinFu-chau，hesaidhemightjustaswellputthelotinhisownpocketatonceforallthegooditwouldbetothem。Isupposetheythoughtso，too。
"Wefinishedthedistributionbeforedark。Itwasratherasight:thesearunninghigh，theshipawrecktolookat，theseChinamenstaggeringuponthebridgeonebyonefortheirshare，andtheoldmanstillbooted，andinhisshirt-sleeves，busypayingoutatthechartroomdoor，perspiringlikeanything，andnowandthencomingdownsharponmyselforFatherRoutaboutonethingoranothernotquitetohismind。HetooktheshareofthosewhoweredisabledhimselftothemontheNo。2hatch。
Therewerethreedollarsleftover，andthesewenttothethreemostdamagedcoolies，onetoeach。Weturned-toafterwards，andshovelledoutondeckheapsofwetrags，allsortsoffragmentsofthingswithoutshape，andthatyoucouldn"tgiveanameto，andletthemsettletheownershipthemselves。
"Thiscertainlyiscomingasnearascanbetokeepingthethingquietforthebenefitofallconcerned。What"syouropinion，youpamperedmail-boatswell？Theoldchiefsaysthatthiswasplainlytheonlythingthatcouldbedone。Theskipperremarkedtometheotherday，"Therearethingsyoufindnothingaboutinbooks。"Ithinkthathegotoutofitverywellforsuchastupidman。"