decided to
make another voyage first.

Then David said very gently that he did not desire to join them, for
he was a man of peace; and he told him of his lonely life, and how he
made a light to keep ships off the dangerous coast; and at that the
old man looked at him with a fixed air, and nodded his head as though
he had himself heard of the matter, or at least seen the light--all
this David told him, speaking slowly as to a child; but it seemed as
though every minute the remembrance of the language came more and more
back to the old man.

But at last the man shook his head, and said that he was sorry so
peaceful a life must come to an end. But, indeed, David must go with
them whether he would or no; and that they would be good comrades yet;
and he should have his share of whatever they got. And then he left
David and went on to the deck.

Then there fell a great despair upon David; and at the same time the
crew, excited by the drink they had taken, for they drained the jar,
began to dispute among themselves, and to struggle and fight; and one
of them espied David, and they gathered round and mocked him. They
mocked at his dress, his face, his hair, which had grown somewhat
long. And one of them in particular seemed most urgent, speaking long
to the others, and pointing at David from time to time, while the
others fell into a great laughter. Then they fell to plucking his
hair, and even to beating him--and they tried to force the spirit into
his mouth, but he kept his teeth clenched; and the very smell of the
fiery stuff made his brain sick. But he could not stir hand or foot;
and presently there came into his mind a great blackness of anger, so
that he seemed to be in the very grip of the evil one; and he knew in
his heart that if he had been unbound, he would have slain one or more
of them; for his heart beat thick, and there came a strange redness
into his sight, and he gnashed his teeth for rage; at which they
mocked him the more. But at last the old man came down into the cabin,
and when he saw what they were at, he spoke very angrily to them,
stamping his foot; and it seemed as though he alone had any authority,
for they left off ill-using David, and went from him one by one.

Then, after a while they began to nod in their places; one or two of
them cast themselves into beds made in the wall; others fell on the
floor, and slept like beasts; and at last they all slept; and last of
all the old man came in agai