andwitheverywordmyheart，searchedbythelightofhisabsurdity，wasgrowingheavierinmybreast。Ihadnomindtolaugh，andlestIshouldsmileImadeformyselfastolidface。Hegavesignsofirritation。
“`Itisalwaystheunexpectedthathappens，“Isaidinapropitiatorytone。Myobtusenessprovokedhimintoacontemptuous“Pshaw!“Isupposehemeantthattheunexpectedcouldn’ttouchhim；nothinglessthantheunconceivableitselfcouldgetoverhisperfectstateofpreparation。Hehadbeentakenunawares——andhewhisperedtohimselfamale-dictionuponthewatersandthefirmament，upontheship，uponthemen。Everythinghadbetrayedhim!Hehadbeentrickedintothatsortofhigh-mindedresignationwhichpreventedhimliftingasmuchashislittlefinger，whiletheseotherswhohadaveryclearperceptionoftheactualnecessityweretumblingagainsteachotherandsweatingdesperatelyoverthatboatbusiness。Somethinghadgonewrongthereatthelastmoment。Itappearsthatintheirflurrytheyhadcontrivedinsomemysteriouswaytogettheslidingboltoftheforemostboat-chockjammedtight，andforthwithhadgoneoutoftheremnantsoftheirmindsoverthedeadlynatureofthataccident。Itmusthavebeenaprettysight，thefierceindustryofthesebeggarstoilingonamotionlessshipthatfloatedquietlyinthesilenceofaworldasleep，fightingagainsttimeforthefreeingofthatboat，grovellingonallfours，standingupindespair，tugging，pushing，snarlingateachothervenomously，readytokill，readytoweep，andonlykeptfromflyingateachother’sthroatsbythefearofdeaththatstoodsilentbehindthemlikeaninflexibleandcold-eyedtaskmaster。Oh，yes!Itmusthavebeenaprettysight。Hesawitall，hecouldtalkaboutitwithscornandbitterness；hehadaminuteknowledgeofitbymeansofsomesixthsense，Iconclude，becausehesworetomehehadremainedapartwithoutaglanceatthemandattheboat——withoutonesingleglance。AndIbelievehim。Ishouldthinkhewastoobusywatchingthethreateningslantoftheship，thesuspendedmenacediscoveredinthemidstofthemostperfectsecurity——fascinatedbytheswordhangingbyahairoverhisimaginativehead。
`Nothingintheworldmovedbeforehiseyes，andhecoulddepicttohimselfwithouthindrancethesuddenswingupwardsofthedarksky-line，thesuddentiltupofthevastplainofthesea，theswiftstillrise，thebrutalfling，thegraspoftheabyss，thestrugglewithouthope，thestarlightclosingoverhisheadforeverlikethevaultofatomb——therevoltofhisyounglife——theblackend。Hecould!ByJove!whocouldn’t？
Andyoumustrememberhewasafinishedartistinthatpeculiarway，hewasagiftedpoordevilwiththefacultyofswiftandforestallingvision。
Thesightsitshowedhimhadturnedhimintocoldstonefromthesolesofhisfeettothenapeofhisneck；buttherewasahotdanceofthoughtsinhishead，adanceoflame，blind，mutethoughts——awhirlofawfulcripples。