ne could only do that by feeling with one's feet. In my cautious
progress I came against a man in whom I recognized Ransome. He possessed
an unimpaired physical solidity which was manifest to me at the contact.
He was leaning against the quarter-deck capstan and kept silent. It was
like a revelation. He was the collapsed figure sobbing for breath I had
noticed before we went on the poop.

"You have been helping with the mainsail!" I exclaimed in a low tone.

"Yes, sir," sounded his quiet voice.

"Man! What were you thinking of? You mustn't do that sort of thing."

After a pause he assented: "I suppose I mustn't." Then after another
short silence he added: "I am all right now," quickly, between the
tell-tale gasps.

I could neither hear nor see anybody else; but when I spoke up,
answering sad murmurs filled the quarter-deck, and its shadows seemed to
shift here and there. I ordered all the halyards laid down on deck clear
for running.

"I'll see to that, sir," volunteered Ransome in his natural, pleasant
tone, which comforted one and aroused one's compassion, too, somehow.

That man ought to have been in his bed, resting, and my plain duty was
to send him there. But perhaps he would not have obeyed me; I had not
the strength of mind to try. All I said was:

"Go about it quietly, Ransome."

Returning on the poop I approached Gambril. His face, set with hollow
shadows in the light, looked awful, finally silenced. I asked him how he
felt, but hardly expected an answer. Therefore, I was astonished at his
comparative loquacity.

"Them shakes leaves me as weak as a kitten, sir," he said, preserving
finely that air of unconsciousness as to anything but his business a
helmsman should never lose. "And before I can pick up my strength that
there hot fit comes along and knocks me over again."

He sighed. There was no reproach in his tone, but the bare words were
enough to give me a horrible pang of self-reproach. It held me dumb for
a time. When the tormenting sensation had passed off I asked:

"Do you feel strong enough to prevent the rudder taking charge if she
gets sternway on her? It wouldn't do to get something smashed about the
steering-gear now. We've enough difficulties to cope with as it is."

He answered with just a shade of weariness that he was strong enough to
hang on. He could promise me that she shouldn't take the wheel out of
his hands. More he couldn't say.

At that moment Ransome appeared quite clo