Ough!“Quickjerksasofgalvanicshocksdisclosedundertheflatcoverlettheoutlinesofmeagreandagitatedlegs；heletgomyshoulderandreachedaftersomethingintheair；hisbodytrembledtenselylikeareleasedharp-string；
　　andwhileIlookeddown，thespectralhorrorinhimbrokethroughhisglassygaze。Instantlyhisfaceofanoldsoldier，withitsnobleandcalmoutlines，becamedecomposedbeforemyeyesbythecorruptionofstealthycunning，ofanabominablecautionandofdesperatefear。Herestrainedacry——“Ssh!
　　whataretheydoingnowdownthere？“heasked，pointingtothefloorwithfantasticprecautionsofvoiceandgesture，whosemeaning，borneuponmymindinaluridflash，mademeverysickofmycleverness。“Theyareallasleep，“Ianswered，watchinghimnarrowly。Thatwasit。That’swhathewantedtohear；theseweretheexactwordsthatcouldcalmhim。Hedrewalongbreath。“Ssh!Quiet，steady。Iamanoldstagerouthere。Iknowthembrutes。Bashintheheadofthefirstthatstirs。There’stoomanyofthem，andshewon’tswimmorethantenminutes。“Hepantedagain。“Hurryup，“heyelledsuddenly，andwentoninasteadyscream：“Theyareallawake——millionsofthem。Theyaretramplingonme!Wait!Oh，wait!I’llsmashtheminheapslikeflies。Waitforme!Help!H-e-lp!“Aninterminableandsustainedhowlcompletedmydiscomfiture。Isawinthedistancetheaccidentcaseraisedeplorablybothhishandstohisbandagedhead；adresser，apronedtotheshin，showedhimselfinthevistaoftheward，asifseeninthesmallendofatelescope。Iconfessedmyselffairlyrouted，andwithoutmoreado，steppingoutthroughoneofthelongwindows，escapedintotheoutsidegallery。Thehowlpursuedmelikeavengeance。Iturnedintoadesertedlanding，andsuddenlyallbecameverystillandquietaroundme，andIdescendedthebareandshinystaircaseinasilencethatenabledmetocomposemydistractedthoughts。DownbelowImetoneoftheresidentsurgeonswhowascrossingthecourtyardandstoppedme。“Beentoseeyourman，captain？Ithinkwemaylethimgoto-morrow。Thesefoolshavenonotionoftakingcareofthemselves，though。Isay，we’vegotthechiefengineerofthatpilgrimshiphere。Acuriouscase。D。T。’softheworstkind。HehasbeendrinkinghardinthatGreek’sorItalian’sgrog-shopforthreedays。Whatcanyouexpect？Fourbottlesofthatkindofbrandyaday，Iamtold。Wonderful，iftrue。Sheetedwithboiler-ironinside，Ishouldthink。Thehead，ah!thehead，ofcourse，gone，butthecuriouspartisthere’ssomesortofmethodinhisraving。Iamtryingtofindout。Mostunusual——thatthreadoflogicinsuchadelirium。Traditionallyheoughttoseesnakes，buthedoesn’t。Goodoldtradition’satadiscountnowadays。Eh!His——er——visionsarebatrachian。Ha!ha!No，seriously，I
　　neverrememberbeingsointerestedinacaseofjimjamsbefore。Heoughttobedead，don’tyouknow，aftersuchafestiveexperiment。Oh!heisatoughobject。Four-and-twentyyearsofthetropicstoo。Yououghtreallytotakeapeepathim。Noble-lookingoldboozer。MostextraordinarymanIevermet——medically，ofcourse。Won’tyou？“
　　`Ihadbeenallalongexhibitingtheusualpolitesignsofinterest，butnowassuminganairofregretImurmuredofwantoftime，andshookhandsinahurry。“Isay，“hecriedafterme，“hecan’tattendthatinquiry。
　　Ishisevidencematerial，youthink？“
　　“`Notintheleast，“Icalledbackfromthegateway。’
　　authoritieswereevidentlyofthesameopinion。
　　Theinquirywasnotadjourned。Itwasheldontheappointeddaytosatisfythelaw，anditwaswellattendedbecauseofitshumaninterest，nodoubt。
　　Therewasnoincertitudeastofacts——astotheonematerialfact，Imean。
　　HowthePatnacamebyherhurtitwasimpossibletofindout；thecourtdidnotexpecttofindout；andinthewholeaudiencetherewasnotamanwhocared。Yet，asI’vetoldyou，allthesailorsintheportattended，andthewatersidebusinesswasfullyrepresented。Whethertheyknewitornot，theinterestthatdrewthemtherewaspurelypsychological——theexpectationofsomeessentialdisclosureastothestrength，thepower，thehorror，ofhumanemotions。Naturallynothingofthekindcouldbedisclosed。
　　Theexaminationoftheonlymanableandwillingtofaceitwasbeatingfutilelyroundthewell-knownfact，andtheplayofquestionsuponitwasasinstructiveasthetappingwithahammeronanironbox，weretheobjecttofindoutwhat’sinside。However，anofficialinquirycouldnotbeanyotherthing。Itsobjectwasnotthefundamentalwhy，butthesuperficialhow，ofthisaffair。
　　`Theyoungchapcouldhavetoldthem，and，thoughthatverythingwasthethingthatinterestedtheaudience，thequestionsputtohimnecessarilyledhimawayfromwhattome，forinstance，wouldhavebeentheonlytruthworthknowing。Youcan’texpecttheconstitutedauthoritiestoinquireintothestateofaman’ssoul——orisitonlyofhisliver？Theirbusinesswastocomedownupontheconsequences，andfrankly，acasualpolicemagistrateandtwonauticalassessorsarenotmuchgoodforanythingelse。Idon’tmeantoimplythesefellowswerestupid。Themagistratewasverypatient。
　　Oneoftheassessorswasasailing-shipskipperwithareddishbeard，andofapiousdisposition。Brierlywastheother。BigBrierly。SomeofyoumusthaveheardofBigBrierly——thecaptainofthecrackshipoftheBlueStarline。That’stheman。
　　`Heseemedconsumedlyboredbythehonourthrustuponhim。Hehadneverinhislifemadeamistake，neverhadanaccident，neveramishap，neveracheckinhissteadyrise，andheseemedtobeoneofthoseluckyfellowswhoknownothingofindecision，muchlessofself-mistrust。Atthirty-twohehadoneofthebestcommandsgoingintheEasterntrade——and，what’smore，hethoughtalotofwhathehad。Therewasnothinglikeitintheworld，andIsupposeifyouhadaskedhimpoint-blankhewouldhaveconfessedthatinhisopiniontherewasnotsuchanothercommander。Thechoicehadfallenupontherightman。Therestofmankindthatdidnotcommandthesixteen-knotsteelsteamerOssawereratherpoorcreatures。Hehadsavedlivesatsea，hadrescuedshipsindistress，hadagoldchronometerpresentedtohimbytheunderwriters，andapairofbinocularswithasuitableinscriptionfromsomeforeignGovernment，incommemorationoftheseservices。
　　Hewasacutelyawareofhismeritsandofhisrewards。Ilikedhimwellenough，thoughsomeIknow——meek，friendlymenatthat——couldn’tstandhimatanyprice。Ihaven’ttheslightestdoubtheconsideredhimselfvastlymysuperior——indeed，youbeenEmperorofEastandWest，youcouldnothaveignoredyourinferiorityinhispresence——butIcouldn’tgetupanyrealsentimentofoffence。HedidnotdespisemeforanythingIcouldhelp，foranythingIwas——don’tyouknow？IwasanegligiblequantitysimplybecauseIwasnotthefortunatemanoftheearth，notMontagueBrierlyincommandoftheOssa，nottheownerofaninscribedgoldchronometerandofsilver-mountedbinocularstestifyingtotheexcellenceofmyseamanshipandtomyindomitablepluck；notpossessedofanacutesenseofmymeritsandofmyrewards，besidestheloveandworshipofablackretriever，themostwonderfulofitskind——forneverwassuchamanlovedthusbysuchadog。Nodoubt，tohaveallthisforceduponyouwasexasperatingenough；
　　butwhenIreflectedthatIwasassociatedinthesefataldisadvantageswithtwelvehundredmillionsofothermoreorlesshumanbeings，IfoundIcouldbearmyshareofhisgood-naturedandcontemptuouspityforthesakeofsomethingindefiniteandattractiveintheman。Ihaveneverdefinedtomyselfthisattraction，butthereweremomentswhenIenviedhim。Thestingoflifecoulddonomoretohiscomplacentsoulthanthescratchofapintothesmoothfaceofarock。Thiswasenviable。AsIlookedathimflankingononesidetheunassumingpalefacedmagistratewhopresidedattheinquiry，hisself-satisfactionpresentedtomeandtotheworldasurfaceashardasgranite。Hecommittedsuicideverysoonafter。
　　`NowonderJim’scaseboredhim，andwhileIthoughtwithsomethingakintofearoftheimmensityofhiscontemptfortheyoungmanunderexamination，hewasprobablyholdingsilentinquiryintohisowncase。Theverdictmusthavebeenofunmitigatedguilt，andhetookthesecretoftheevidencewithhiminthatleapintothesea。IfIunderstandanythingofmen，thematterwasnodoubtofthegravestimport，oneofthosetriflesthatawakenideas——startintolifesomethoughtwithwhichamanunusedtosuchcompanionshipfindsitimpossibletolive。Iaminapositiontoknowthatitwasn’tmoney，anditwasn’tdrink，anditwasn’twoman。Hejumpedoverboardatseabarelyaweekaftertheendoftheinquiry，andlessthanthreedaysafterleavingportonhisoutwardpassage；asthoughonthatexactspotinthemidstofwatershehadsuddenlyperceivedthegatesoftheotherworldflungopenwideforhisreception。
　　`Yetitwasnotasuddenimpulse。Hisgrey-headedmate，afirst-ratesailorandaniceoldchapwithstrangers，butinhisrelationswithhiscommanderthesurliestchiefofficerI’veeverseen，wouldtellthestorywithtearsinhiseyes。ItappearsthatwhenhecameondeckinthemorningBrierlyhadbeenwritinginthechart-room。“Itwastenminutestofour，“
　　hesaid，“andthemiddlewatchwasnotrelievedyetofcourse。Heheardmyvoiceonthebridgespeakingtothesecondmate，andcalledmein。I
　　wasloathtogo，andthat’sthetruth，CaptainMarlow——Icouldn’tstandpoorCaptainBrierly，Itellyouwithshame；weneverknowwhatamanismadeof。Hehadbeenpromotedovertoomanyheads，notcountingmyown，andhehadadamnabletrickofmakingyoufeelsmall，nothingbutbythewayhesaid`Goodmorning。’Ineveraddressedhim，sir，butonmattersofduty，andthenitwasasmuchasIcoulddotokeepaciviltongueinmyhead。“Heflatteredhimselfthere。IoftenwonderedhowBrierlycouldputupwithhismannersformorethanhalfavoyage。“I’veawifeandchildren，“hewenton，“andIhadtenyearsintheCompany，alwaysexpectingthenextcommand——morefoolI。Sayshe，justlikethis：`Comeinhere，Mr。Jones，’inthatswaggervoiceofhis——`Comeinhere，Mr。Jones。’InIwent。`We’lllaydownherposition，’hesays，stoopingoverthechart，apairofdividersinhand。Bythestandingorders，theofficergoingoffdutywouldhavedonethatattheendofhiswatch。However，Isaidnothing，andlookedonwhilehemarkedofftheship’spositionwithatinycrossandwrotethedateandtime。Icanseehimthismomentwritinghisneatfigures：seventeen，eight，fourA。M。Theyearwouldbewritteninredinkatthetopofthechart。Heneverusedhischartsmorethanayear，CaptainBrierlydidn’t。I’vethechartnow。Whenhehaddonehestandslookingdownatthemarkhehadmadeandsmilingtohimself，thenlooksupatme。`Thirty-twomilesmoreasshegoes，’sayshe，`andthenweshallbeclear，andyoumayalterthecoursetwentydegreestothesouthward。’
　　“`WewerepassingtothenorthoftheHectorBankthatvoyage。Isaid，`Allright，sir，’wonderingwhathewasfussingabout，sinceIhadtocallhimbeforealteringthecourseanyhow。Justtheneightbellswerestruck：
　　wecameoutonthebridge，andthesecondmatebeforegoingoffmentionsintheusualway——`Seventy-oneonthelog。’CaptainBrierlylooksatthecompassandthenallround。Itwasdarkandclear，andallthestarswereoutasplainasonafrostynightinhighlatitudes。Suddenlyhesayswithasortofalittlesigh：`Iamgoingaft，andshallsetthelogatzeroforyoumyself，sothattherecanbenomistake。Thirty-twomilesmoreonthiscourseandthenyouaresafe。Let’ssee——thecorrectiononthelogissixpercentadditive；say，then，thirtybythedialtorun，andyoumaycometwentydegreestostarboardatonce。Nouselosinganydistance——isthere？’Ihadneverheardhimtalksomuchatastretch，andtonopurposeasitseemedtome。Isaidnothing。Hewentdowntheladder，andthedog，thatwasalwaysathisheelswheneverhemoved，nightorday，slidingnosefirst，afterhim。Iheardhisboot-heelstap，tapontheafter-deck，thenhestoppedandspoketothedog——`Goback，Rover。Onthebridge，boy!Goon——get。’Thenhecallsouttomefromthedark，`Shutthatdogupinthechart-room，Mr。Jones——willyou？’
　　“`ThiswasthelasttimeIheardhisvoice，CaptainMarlow。Thesearethelastwordshespokeinthehearingofanylivinghumanbeing，sir。“
　　Atthispointtheoldchap’svoicegotquiteunsteady。“Hewasafraidthepoorbrutewouldjumpafterhim，don’tyousee？“hepursuedwithaquaver。
　　“Yes，CaptainMarlow。Hesetthelogforme；he——wouldyoubelieveit？——heputadropofoilinittoo。Therewastheoil-feederwhereheleftitnearby。Theboatswain’smategotthehosealongafttowashdownathalf-pastfive；byandbyheknocksoffandrunsuponthebridge——`Willyoupleasecomeaft，Mr。Jones，’hesays。`There’safunnything。Idon’tliketotouchit。’ItwasCaptainBrierly’sgoldchronometerwatchcarefullyhungundertherailbyitschain。
　　“`Assoonasmyeyesfellonitsomethingstruckme，andIknew，sir。
　　Mylegsgotsoftunderme。ItwasasifIhadseenhimgoover；andIcouldtellhowfarbehindhewaslefttoo。Thetaffrail-logmarkedeighteenmilesandthree-quarters，andfourironbelaying-pinsweremissingroundthemainmast。Puttheminhispocketstohelphimdown，Isuppose；but，Lord!
　　what’sfourironpinstoapowerfulmanlikeCaptainBrierly。Maybehisconfidenceinhimselfwasjustshookabitatthelast。That’stheonlysignofflusterhegaveinhiswholelife，Ishouldthink；butIamreadytoanswerforhim，thatonceoverhedidnottrytoswimastroke，thesameashewouldhavehadpluckenoughtokeepupalldaylongonthebarechancehadhefallenoverboardaccidentally。Yes，sir。Hewassecondtonone——ifhesaidsohimself，asIheardhimonce。Hehadwrittentwolettersinthemiddlewatch，onetotheCompanyandtheothertome。Hegavemealotofinstructionsastothepassage——Ihadbeeninthetradebeforehewasoutofhistime——andnoendofhintsastomyconductwithourpeopleinShanghai，sothatIshouldkeepthecommandoftheOssa。Hewrotelikeafatherwouldtoafavouriteson，CaptainMarlow，andIwasfive-and-twentyyearshisseniorandhadtastedsaltwaterbeforehewasfairlybreeched。
　　Inhislettertotheowners——itwasleftopenformetosee——hesaidthathehadalwaysdonehisdutybythem——uptothatmoment——andevennowhewasnotbetrayingtheirconfidence，sincehewasleavingtheshiptoascompetentaseamanascouldbefound——meaningme，sir，meaningme!Hetoldthemthatifthelastactofhislifedidn’ttakeawayallhiscreditwiththem，theywouldgiveweighttomyfaithfulserviceandtohiswarmrecommendation，whenabouttofillthevacancybyhisdeath。Andmuchmorelikethis，sir。
　　Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes。Itmademefeelqueerallover，“wentontheoldchapingreatperturbation，andsquashingsomethinginthecornerofhiseyewiththeendofathumbasbroadasaspatula。“Youwouldthink，sir，hehadjumpedoverboardonlytogiveanunluckymanalastshowtogeton。Whatwiththeshockofhimgoinginthisawfulrashway，andthinkingmyselfamademanbythatchance，Iwasnearlyoffmychumpforaweek。
　　Butnofear。ThecaptainofthePelionwasshiftedintotheOssa——cameaboardinShanghai——alittlepopinjay，sir，inagreychecksuit，withhishairpartedinthemiddle。`AW——Iam-aw-yournewcaptain，mister——mister——aw——Jones。’Hewasdrownedinscent——fairlystunkwithit，CaptainMarlow。IdaresayitwasthelookIgavehimthatmadehimstammer。Hemumbledsomethingaboutmynaturaldisappointment——IhadbetterknowatoncethathischiefofficergotthepromotiontothePelion——hehadnothingtodowithit，ofcourse——supposedtheofficeknewbest——sorry。