Theship，afterapauseofcomparativesteadiness，starteduponaseriesofrolls，oneworsethantheother，andforatimeJukes，preservinghisequilibrium，wastoobusytoopenhismouth。Assoonastheviolentswinginghadquieteddownsomewhat，hesaid:
\"Thisisabittoomuchofagoodthing。WhetheranythingiscomingornotIthinksheoughttobeputheadontothatswell。
Theoldmanisjustgoneintoliedown。HangmeifIdon\'tspeaktohim。\"
Butwhenheopenedthedoorofthechart-roomhesawhiscaptainreadingabook。CaptainMacWhirrwasnotlyingdown:hewasstandingupwithonehandgraspingtheedgeofthebookshelfandtheotherholdingopenbeforehisfaceathickvolume。Thelampwriggledinthegimbals，theloosenedbookstoppledfromsidetosideontheshelf，thelongbarometerswunginjerkycircles，thetablealtereditsslanteverymoment。InthemidstofallthisstirandmovementCaptainMacWhirr，holdingon，showedhiseyesabovetheupperedge，andasked，\"What\'sthematter？\"
\"Swellgettingworse，sir。\"