Theash-bucketsracketed，clankingupanddownthestokeholdventilators，andthistin-potclatterwarnedhimtheendofhiswatchwasnear。Hesighedwithcontent，withregretaswellathavingtopartfromthatserenitywhichfosteredtheadventurousfreedomofhisthoughts。Hewasalittlesleepy，too，andfeltapleasurablelanguorrunningthrougheverylimbasthoughallthebloodinhisbodyhadturnedtowarmmilk。Hisskipperhadcomeupnoiselessly，inpyjamasandwithhissleeping-jacketflungwideopen。Redofface，onlyhalfawake，thelefteyepartlyclosed，therightstaringstupidandglassy，hehunghisbigheadoverthechartandscratchedhisribssleepily。Therewassomethingobsceneinthesightofhisnakedflesh。Hisbaredbreastglistenedsoftandgreasyasthoughhehadsweatedouthisfatinhissleep。Hepronouncedaprofessionalremarkinavoiceharshanddead，resemblingtheraspingsoundofawood-fileontheedgeofaplank；thefoldofhisdoublechinhunglikeabagtricedupcloseunderthehingeofhisjaw。Jimstarted，andhisanswerwasfullofdeference；buttheodiousandfleshyfigure，asthoughseenforthefirsttimeinarevealingmoment，fixeditselfinhismemoryforeverastheincarnationofeverythingvileandbasethatlurksintheworldwelove：inourownheartswetrustforoursalvationinthementhatsurroundus，inthesightsthatfilloureyes，inthesoundsthatfillourears，andintheairthatfillsourlungs。
　　Thethingoldshavingofthemoonfloatingslowlydownwardshadlostitselfonthedarkenedsurfaceofthewaters，andtheeternitybeyondtheskyseemedtocomedownnearertotheearth，withtheaugmentedglitterofthestars，withthemoreprofoundsombrenessinthelustreofthehalf-transparentdomecoveringtheflatdiskofanopaquesea。Theshipmovedsosmoothlythatheronwardmotionwasimperceptibletothesensesofmen，asthoughshehadbeenacrowdedplanetspeedingthroughthedarkspacesofetherbehindtheswarmofsuns，intheappallingandcalmsolitudesawaitingthebreathoffuturecreations。`Hotisnonameforitdownbelow，’saidavoice。
　　Jimsmiledwithoutlookinground。Theskipperpresentedanunmovedbreadthofback：itwastherenegade’stricktoappearpointedlyunawareofyourexistenceunlessitsuitedhispurposetoturnatyouwithadevouringglarebeforeheletlooseatorrentoffoamy，abusivejargonthatcamelikeagushfromasewer。Nowheemittedonlyasulkygrunt；thesecondengineerattheheadofthebridge-ladder，kneadingwithdamppalmsadirtysweat-rag，unabashed，continuedthetaleofhiscomplaints。Thesailorshadagoodtimeofituphere，andwhatwastheuseofthemintheworldhewouldbeblowedifhecouldsee。Thepoordevilsofengineershadtogettheshipalonganyhow，andtheycouldverywelldotheresttoo；bygoshthey——`Shutup，’growledtheGermanstolidly。`Oh，yes!Shutup——andwhenanythinggoeswrongyouflytous，don’tyou？’wentontheother。
　　Hewasmorethanhalfcooked，heexpected；butanyway，now，hedidnotmindhowmuchhesinned，becausetheselastthreedayshehadpassedthroughafinecourseoftrainingfortheplacewherethebadboysgowhentheydie——b’gosh，hehad——besidesbeingmadejollywelldeafbytheblastedracketbelow。Thedurned，compound，surface-condensing，rottenscrap-heaprattledandbangeddowntherelikeanolddeck-winch，onlymoreso；andwhatmadehimriskhislifeeverynightanddaythatGodmadeamongsttherefuseofabreaking-upyardflyingroundatfifty-sevenrevolutions，wasmorethanhecouldtell。Hemusthavebeenbornreckless，b’gosh。
　　He……`Wheredidyougetdrink？’inquiredtheGerman，verysavage，butmotionlessinthelightofthebinnacle，likeaclumsyeffigyofamancutoutofablockoffat。Jimwentonsmilingattheretreatinghorizon；
　　hisheartwasfullofgenerousimpulses，andhisthoughtwascontemplatinghisownsuperiority。`Drink!’repeatedtheengineerwithamiablescorn：
　　hewashangingonwithbothhandstotherail，ashadowyfigurewithflexiblelegs。`Notfromyou，captain。You’refartoomean，b’gosh。Youwouldletagoodmandiesoonerthangivehimadropofshnaps。That’swhatyouGermanscalleconomy。Pennywise，poundfoolish。’Hebecamesentimental。Thechiefhadgivenhimafour-fingernipaboutteno’clock——`onlyone，s’elpme!’——goodoldchief；butastogettingtheoldfraudoutofhisbunk——afive-toncranecouldn’tdoit。Notit。Notto-nightanyhow。Hewassleepingsweetlylikealittlechild，withabottleofprimebrandyunderhispillow。FromthethickthroatofthecommanderofthePatnacamealowrumble，onwhichthesoundofthewordSchweinflutteredhighandlowlikeacapriciousfeatherinafaintstirofair。Heandthechiefengineerhadbeencroniesforagoodfewyears——servingthesamejovial，crafty，oldChinaman，withhorn-rimmedgogglesandstringsofredsilkplaitedintothevenerablegreyhairsofhispigtail。Thequay-sideopinioninthePatna’shome-portwasthatthesetwointhewayofbrazenpeculation`haddonetogetherprettywelleverythingyoucanthinkof。’Outwardlytheywerebadlymatched：onedull-eyed，malevolent，andofsoftfleshycurves；theotherlean，allhollows，withaheadlongandbonyliketheheadofanoldhorse，withsunkencheeks，withsunkentemples，withanindifferentglazedglanceofsunkeneyes。HehadbeenstrandedoutEastsomewhere——inCanton，inShanghai，orperhapsinYokohama；heprobablydidnotcaretorememberhimselftheexactlocality，noryetthecauseofhisshipwreck。Hehadbeen，inmercytohisyouth，kickedquietlyoutofhisshiptwentyyearsagoormore，anditmighthavebeensomuchworseforhimthatthememoryoftheepisodehadinithardlyatraceofmisfortune。
　　Then，steamnavigationexpandingintheseseasandmenofhiscraftbeingscarceatfirst，hehad`goton’afterasort。Hewaseagertoletstrangersknowinadismalmumblethathewas`anoldstagerouthere。’Whenhemovedaskeletonseemedtoswaylooseinhisclothes；hiswalkwasmerewandering，andhewasgiventowanderthusaroundtheengine-roomskylight，smoking，withoutrelish，doctoredtobaccoinabrassbowlattheendofacherrywoodstemfourfeetlong，withtheimbecilegravityofathinkerevolvingasystemofphilosophyfromthehazyglimpseofatruth。Hewasusuallyanythingbutfreewithhisprivatestoreofliquor；butonthatnighthehaddepartedfromhisprinciples，sothathissecond，aweak-headedchildofWapping，whatwiththeunexpectednessofthetreatandthestrengthofthestuff，hadbecomeveryhappy，cheeky，andtalkative。ThefuryoftheNewSouthWalesGermanwasextreme；hepuffedlikeanexhaust-pipe，andJim，faintlyamusedbythescene，wasimpatientforthetimewhenhecouldgetbelow：
　　thelasttenminutesofthewatchwereirritatinglikeagunthathangsfire；thosemendidnotbelongtotheworldofheroicadventure；theyweren’tbadchapsthough。Eventheskipperhimself……Hisgorgeroseatthemassofpantingfleshfromwhichissuedgurglingmutters，acloudytrickleoffilthyexpressions；buthewastoopleasurablylanguidtodislikeactivelythisoranyotherthing。Thequalityofthesemendidnotmatter；herubbedshoulderswiththem，buttheycouldnottouchhim；hesharedtheairtheybreathed，buthewasdifferent……Wouldtheskippergofortheengineer？
　　Thelifewaseasyandhewastoosureofhimself——toosureofhimselftoThelinedividinghismeditationfromasurreptitiousdozeonhisfeetwasthinnerthanathreadinaspider’sweb。
　　Thesecondengineerwascomingbyeasytransitionstotheconsiderationsofhisfinancesandofhiscourage。
　　`Who’sdrunk？I？No，no，captain!Thatwon’tdo。Yououghttoknowbythistimethechiefain’tfree-heartedenoughtomakeasparrowdrunk，b’gosh。I’veneverbeentheworseforliquorinmylife；thestuffain’tmadeyetthatwouldmakemedrunk。Icoulddrinkliquidfireagainstyourwhiskypegforpeg，b’gosh，andkeepascoolasacucumber。IfIthoughtIwasdrunkIwouldjumpoverboard——doawaywithmyself，b’gosh。Iwould!
　　Straight!AndIwon’tgooffthebridge。Wheredoyouexpectmetotaketheaironanightlikethis，eh？Ondeckamongstthatvermindownthere？
　　Likely——ain’tit!AndIamnotafraidofanythingyoucando。’
　　TheGermanliftedtwoheavyfiststoheavenandshookthemalittlewithoutaword。
　　`Idon’tknowwhatfearis，’pursuedtheengineer，withtheenthusiasmofsincereconviction。`Iamnotafraidofdoingallthebloomin’workinthisrottenhooker，b’gosh!Andajollygoodthingforyouthattherearesomeofusabouttheworldthataren’tafraidoftheirlives，orwherewouldyoube——youandthisoldthingherewithherplateslikebrownpaper——brownpaper，s’elpme？It’sallveryfineforyou——yougetapowerofpiecesoutofheronewayandanother；butwhataboutme——whatdoIget？Ameaslyhundredandfiftydollarsamonthandfindyourself。Iwishtoaskyourespectfully——respectfully，mind——whowouldn’tchuckadrattedjoblikethis？`Tain’tsafe，s’elpme，itain’t!OnlyIamoneofthemfearlessfellows……’
　　Heletgotherailandmadeamplegesturesasifdemonstratingintheairtheshapeandextentofhisvalour；histhinvoicedartedinprolongedsqueaksuponthesea，hetiptoedbackandforthforthebetteremphasisofutterance，andsuddenlypitcheddownhead-firstasthoughhehadbeenclubbedfrombehind。Hesaid`Damn!’ashetumbled；aninstantofsilencefolloweduponhisscreeching：Jimandtheskipperstaggeredforwardbycommonaccord，andcatchingthemselvesup，stoodverystiffandstillgazing，amazed，attheundisturbedlevelofthesea。Thentheylookedupwardsatthestars。
　　Whathadhappened？Thewheezythumpoftheengineswenton。Hadtheearthbeencheckedinhercourse？Theycouldnotunderstand；andsuddenlythecalmsea，theskywithoutacloud，appearedformidablyinsecureintheirimmobility，asifpoisedonthebrowofyawningdestruction。Theengineerreboundedverticallyfulllengthandcollapsedagainintoavagueheap。Thisheapsaid：`What’sthat？’inthemuffledaccentsofprofoundgrief。Afaintnoiseasofthunderinfinitelyremote，lessthanasound，hardlymorethanavibration，passedslowly，andtheshipquiveredinresponse，asifthethunderhadgrowleddeepinthewater。TheeyesofthetwoMalaysatthewheelglitteredtowardsthewhitemen，buttheirdarkhandsremainedclosedonthespokes。Thesharphulldrivingonitswayseemedtoriseafewinchesinsuccessionthroughitswholelength，asthoughithadbecomepliable，andsettleddownagainrigidlytoitsworkofcleavingthesmoothsurfaceofthesea。Itsquiveringstopped，andthefaintnoiseofthunderceasedallatonce，asthoughtheshiphadsteamedacrossanarrowbeltofvibratingwaterandofhummingair。
　　LordJim：Chapter4CHAPTERIVAMONTHorsoafterwards，whenJim，inanswertopointedquestions，triedtotellhonestlythetruthofthisexperience，hesaid，speakingoftheship：`Shewentoverwhateveritwasaseasyasasnakecrawlingoverastick。’Theillustrationwasgood：thequestionswereaimingatfacts，andtheofficialinquirywasbeingheldinthepolicecourtofanEasternport。Hestoodelevatedinthewitness-box，withburningcheeksinacoolloftyroom：thebigframeworkofpunkahsmovedgentlytoandfrohighabovehishead，andfrombelowmanyeyeswerelookingathimoutofdarkfaces，outofwhitefaces，outofredfaces，outoffacesattentive，spellbound，asifallthesepeoplesittinginorderlyrowsuponnarrowbencheshadbeenenslavedbythefascinationofhisvoice。Itwasveryloud，itrangstartlinginhisownears，itwastheonlysoundaudibleintheworld，fortheterriblydistinctquestionsthatextortedhisanswersseemedtoshapethemselvesinanguishandpainwithinhisbreast——cametohimpoignantandsilentliketheterriblequestioningofone’sconscience。
　　Outsidethecourtthesunblazed——withinwasthewindofgreatpunkahsthatmadeyoushiver，theshamethatmadeyouburn，theattentiveeyeswhoseglancestabbed。Thefaceofthepresidingmagistrate，cleanshavedandimpassible，lookedathimdeadlypalebetweentheredfacesofthetwonauticalassessors。Thelightofabroadwindowundertheceilingfellfromaboveontheheadsandshouldersofthethreemen，andtheywerefiercelydistinctinthehalf-lightofthebigcourt-roomwheretheaudienceseemedcomposedofstaringshadows。Theywantedfacts。Facts!Theydemandedfactsfromhim，asiffactscouldexplainanything!
　　`Afteryouhadconcludedyouhadcollidedwithsomethingfloatingawash，sayawater-loggedwreck，youwereorderedbyyourcaptaintogoforwardandascertainiftherewasanydamagedone。Didyouthinkitlikelyfromtheforceoftheblow？’askedtheassessorsittingtotheleft。Hehadathinhorseshoebeard，salientcheek-bonesandwithbothelbowsonthedeskclaspedhisruggedhandsbeforehisface，lookingatJimwiththoughtfulblueeyes；theother，aheavy，scornfulman，thrownbackinhisseat，hisleftarmextendedfulllength，drummeddelicatelywithhisfinger-tipsonablotting-pad：inthemiddlethemagistrateuprightintheroomyarm-chair，hisheadinclinedslightlyontheshoulder，hadhisarmscrossedonhisbreastandafewflowersinaglassvasebythesideofhisinkstand。