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Updated: May 23, 2025
She would have found it recorded there that between 4 and 6 A. M. on December 25th, Captain MacWhirr did actually think that his ship could not possibly live another hour in such a sea, and that he would never see his wife and children again.
He had indeed been making his confession of faith, had he only known it; and its effect was to make Jukes, on the other side of the door, stand scratching his head for a good while. Captain MacWhirr opened his eyes. He thought he must have been asleep. What was that loud noise? Wind? Why had he not been called?
Captain MacWhirr ceased for a moment, then said, "It's your watch below, Mr. Jukes?" Jukes came to himself with a start. "Yes, sir." "Leave orders to call me at the slightest change," said the Captain. He reached up to put the book away, and tucked his legs upon the couch. "Shut the door so that it don't fly open, will you? I can't stand a door banging.
Even up here I feel exactly as if I had my head tied up in a woollen blanket." Captain MacWhirr looked up. "D'ye mean to say, Mr. Jukes, you ever had your head tied up in a blanket? What was that for?" "It's a manner of speaking, sir," said Jukes, stolidly. "Some of you fellows do go on! What's that about saints swearing? I wish you wouldn't talk so wild.
As soon as his mate had gone Captain MacWhirr, left alone on the bridge, sidled and staggered as far as the wheelhouse. Its door being hinged forward, he had to fight the gale for admittance, and when at last he managed to enter, it was with an instantaneous clatter and a bang, as though he had been fired through the wood. He stood within, holding on to the handle.
"They can't keep up steam," he added, rapidly, and made a grab at the rail against the coming lurch. Captain MacWhirr, unprepared, took a run and brought himself up with a jerk by an awning stanchion. "A profane man," he said, obstinately. "If this goes on, I'll have to get rid of him the first chance." "It's the heat," said Jukes. "The weather's awful. It would make a saint swear.
And on this dazzling sheet, spread under the blackness of the clouds and emitting a bluish glow, Captain MacWhirr could catch a desolate glimpse of a few tiny specks black as ebony, the tops of the hatches, the battened companions, the heads of the covered winches, the foot of a mast. This was all he could see of his ship.
MacWhirr surveyed her with fond pride. "Go and get your hat," she said after a while. "I am going out to do some shopping. There is a sale at Linom's." "Oh, how jolly!" uttered the child, impressively, in unexpectedly grave vibrating tones, and bounded out of the room. It was a fine afternoon, with a gray sky and dry sidewalks. Outside the draper's Mrs.
That boss'n's worse than no good, I always said. Thought I would have had to go myself and haul out one of them by the neck." "Ah, well," muttered the Captain. He stood watchful by Jukes' side. "The second mate's in there, too, holding his head. Is he hurt, sir?" "No crazy," said Captain MacWhirr, curtly. "Looks as if he had a tumble, though." "I had to give him a push," explained the Captain.
Jukes gave an impatient sigh. "It will come very sudden," said Captain MacWhirr, "and from over there, I fancy. God only knows though. These books are only good to muddle your head and make you jumpy. It will be bad, and there's an end. If we only can steam her round in time to meet it. . . ." A minute passed. Some of the stars winked rapidly and vanished.
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