HoraceGreeleygaveanotherwallow，andfindinghimselffree，disappearedinthedarknessamidalatheroffoam。Thecarriage，nowwelloutinthechannel，driftedwiththecurrent。”Don’tcry，Pashy！”saidtheCaptain，endeavoringtocheerhissobbingcompanion，”weain’tsharkbaityit。Asthesongusedtosay:”’We’reafloat，we’reafloat，Andtheroverisfree。’”I’veshippedaboardof’mosteverykindofcraft，”headded，”butblessedifIeverexpectedtobeskipperofacarryall！”
ButMissPatience，shutupinthebackpartofthecarriagelikeawaternymphinhercave，stillwepthysterically。SoCaptainPerezcontinuedhisdismalattemptatfacetiousness。”Themainthing，”hesaid，”istokeepheronanevenkeel。Ifsheteeterstooneside，youteetertot’other。Dratthatfox！”heejaculated。”IthoughtwhenWeb’splaceburnedwe’dhadfireenoughtolastforonespell，butitneverrainsbutitpours。””Oh，dear！”sobbedthelady。”Noweverything’llburnup，andthey’llblamemeforit。Well，I’llbedrowndedanyway，soI
shan’tbetheretohear’em。Oh，dear！dear！””Oh，don’ttalkthatway。We’redriftin’somewheres，butwe’respinnin’’roundsoIcan’ttellwhichway。Judas！”heexclaimed，moresoberly，”Iremember，now；itain’tbutalittlepastseveno’clock，andthetide’sgoin’out。””Ofcourseitis，”resignedly，”andwe’lldriftintothebreakersinthebay，andthat’llbetheend。””No，no，Iguessnot。Weain’tdeadyit。IfIhadanoarorsomethin’tosteerthisclipperwith，maybewecouldgitintoshoalwater。As’tis，we’llhavetomanageherthewayOteWixonusedtomanagehiswife，bylettin’herhaveherownway。”
Theyfloatedinsilenceforafewmoments。ThenMissPatience，whohadbravelytriedtostiflehersobs，saidwithchatteringteeth，”Perez，I’mprettynighfrozetodeath。”
ItwillberememberedthattheCaptainhadspokenoftheweatherasbeingalmostaswarmassummer。Thiswasaslightexaggeration。