The Wreck of the Golden Mary | Page 9

so tired of darkness, and troubled by
darkness, that I could have gone to sleep best in the midst of a million
of flaming gas-lights. That was the last thought I had before I went off,
except the prevailing thought that I should not be able to get to sleep at
all.
I dreamed that I was back at Penrith again, and was trying to get round
the church, which had altered its shape very much since I last saw it,
and was cloven all down the middle of the steeple in a most singular
manner. Why I wanted to get round the church I don't know; but I was
as anxious to do it as if my life depended on it. Indeed, I believe it did
in the dream. For all that, I could not get round the church. I was still
trying, when I came against it with a violent shock, and was flung out
of my cot against the ship's side. Shrieks and a terrific outcry struck me
far harder than the bruising timbers, and amidst sounds of grinding and
crashing, and a heavy rushing and breaking of water--sounds I

understood too well--I made my way on deck. It was not an easy thing
to do, for the ship heeled over frightfully, and was beating in a furious
manner.
I could not see the men as I went forward, but I could hear that they
were hauling in sail, in disorder. I had my trumpet in my hand, and,
after directing and encouraging them in this till it was done, I hailed
first John Steadiman, and then my second mate, Mr. William Rames.
Both answered clearly and steadily. Now, I had practised them and all
my crew, as I have ever made it a custom to practise all who sail with
me, to take certain stations and wait my orders, in case of any
unexpected crisis. When my voice was heard hailing, and their voices
were heard answering, I was aware, through all the noises of the ship
and sea, and all the crying of the passengers below, that there was a
pause. "Are you ready, Rames?"-- "Ay, ay, sir!"--"Then light up, for
God's sake!" In a moment he and another were burning blue-lights, and
the ship and all on board seemed to be enclosed in a mist of light, under
a great black dome.
The light shone up so high that I could see the huge Iceberg upon
which we had struck, cloven at the top and down the middle, exactly
like Penrith Church in my dream. At the same moment I could see the
watch last relieved, crowding up and down on deck; I could see Mrs.
Atherfield and Miss Coleshaw thrown about on the top of the
companion as they struggled to bring the child up from below; I could
see that the masts were going with the shock and the beating of the ship;
I could see the frightful breach stove in on the starboard side, half the
length of the vessel, and the sheathing and timbers spirting up; I could
see that the Cutter was disabled, in a wreck of broken fragments; and I
could see every eye turned upon me. It is my belief that if there had
been ten thousand eyes there, I should have seen them all, with their
different looks. And all this in a moment. But you must consider what a
moment.
I saw the men, as they looked at me, fall towards their appointed
stations, like good men and true. If she had not righted, they could have
done very little there or anywhere but die--not that it is little for a man

to die at his post--I mean they could have done nothing to save the
passengers and themselves. Happily, however, the violence of the
shock with which we had so determinedly borne down direct on that
fatal Iceberg, as if it had been our destination instead of our destruction,
had so smashed and pounded the ship that she got off in this same
instant and righted. I did not want the carpenter to tell me she was
filling and going down; I could see and hear that. I gave Rames the
word to lower the Long-boat and the Surf-boat, and I myself told off
the men for each duty. Not one hung back, or came before the other. I
now whispered to John Steadiman, "John, I stand at the gangway here,
to see every soul on board safe over the side. You shall have the next
post of honour, and shall be the last but one to leave the ship. Bring up
the passengers, and range them behind me; and put what provision and
water you can got at, in the boats. Cast your eye for'ard,