dared not contemplate the prospect of many such days and nights; I
simply dared not let myself think. I tried to sleep, but was too cold. A
breeze sprang up at about midnight, and the buoy rocked more noticeably;
again, I dared not picture my discomfort should the weather change. I
called it discomfort; I didn't know then, I hadn't yet begun to learn.

"Two days passed like that. Two whole days. Have you ever tried to spend
two days, or even one day, or even twelve hours, doing absolutely and
literally nothing? If not, try it, especially if you happen to be an
active man. I could only sit there, my knees drawn up and my hands
either clasped round my knees or hanging between them. I was confronted
all the time by the thought of what the end was to be. Starvation and
death from thirst? I could see very little other prospect. For the first
day I had been comparatively sanguine that a ship would come along, but
hourly this hope dwindled, till there was no real hope left, but only
the old obscure and unreasoning human obstinacy. So on the second day I
suffered from my thoughts; I hadn't, as yet, undergone any real physical
suffering.

"The morning of the third day broke with dark clouds over a grey sea. It
was indescribably dreary. All that water, all that mass of grey water!
I huddled my knees up against my chest for warmth. A shower fell, and I
minded that because it meant more water, not only because it chilled me;
don't think I exaggerate: the quantity and the monotony of so much water
was getting on my nerves. They were in a pretty bad state by then, so
bad that the dread of ultimate madness had already crossed my mind. I
was weakened, too, by insufficient food, for I knew I must economise my
resources. Once or twice steamers passed, a very long way off. I shouted
till my throat was hoarse, but quite in vain. Each time they passed out
of sight, I sobbed. Forgive me.

"The wind held, driving the masses of low clouds across the sky, and
chopping the sea into little waves, white-topped amongst the grey, which
tumbled and tossed the buoy till I was sickened and wearied. I fancied
that the pulp of my brain was being shaken to and fro inside my head; it
felt like that. I prayed for the wind to go down, but it only gained in
strength. I felt I should go mad; I was so impotent, you see. And the
bell clanged above my head--I was condemned to unceasing movement and
unceasing noise."

He stared round him with tormented eyes, as