Jimmywastobeburiedatfive，anditwasalongdaytillthen——adayofmentaldisquietandevenofphysicaldisturbance。Wetooknointerestinourworkand，veryproperly，wererebukedforit。This，inourconstantstateofhungryirritation，wasexasperating。Donkinworkedwithhisbrowboundinadirtyrag，andlookedsoghastlythatMr。Bakerwastouchedwithcompassionatthesightofthispluckysuffering。——‘Ough！
You，Donkin！Putdownyourworkandgolay—upthiswatch。Youlookill。’
——‘Hiham，sir——inmy’ead，’hesaidinasubduedvoice，andvanishedspeedily。Thisannoyedmany，andtheythoughtthemate‘bloomin’softto—day。’CaptainAllistouncouldbeseenonthepoopwatchingtheskycloudoverfromthesouth—west，anditsoongottobeknownaboutthedecksthatthebarometerhadbeguntofallinthenightandthatabreezemightbeexpectedbeforelong。This，byasubtleassociationofideas，ledtoviolentquarrellingastotheexactmomentofJimmy’sdeath。Wasitbeforeorafter‘that’ereglassstarteddown’？Itwasimpossibletoknowanditcausedmuchcontemptuousgrowlingatoneanother。Allofasuddentherewasagreattumultforward。
PacificKnowlesandgood—temperedDavieshadcometoblowsoverit。Thewatchbelowinterferedwithspirit，andfortenminutestherewasanoisyscrimmageroundthehatch，where，inthebalancingshadeofthesails，Jimmy’sbody，wrappedPage117
upinawhiteblanket，waswatchedoverbythesorrowfulBelfast，who，inhisdesolation，disdainedthefray。Whenthenoisehadceased，andthepassionshadcalmedintosurlysilence，hestoodupattheheadoftheswathedbody，andliftingbotharmsonhigh，criedwithpainedindignation：
——‘Yououghttobeashamedofyour—selves！……’Wewere。
Belfasttookhisbereavementveryhard。Hegaveproofsofunextinguishabledevotion。Itwashe，andnootherman，whowouldhelpthesailmakertopreparewhatwasleftofJimmyforasolemnsurrendertotheinsatiablesea。Hearrangedtheweightscarefullyatthefeet;twoholystones，anoldanchor—shacklewithoutitspin，somebrokenlinksofaworn—outstreamcable。Hearrangedthemthisway，thenthat。‘Blessmysoul！youaren’tafraidhewillchafehisheel？’saidthesailmaker，whohatedthejob。Hepushedtheneedle，puffingfuriously，withhisheadinacloudoftobaccosmoke;heturnedtheflapsover，pulledatthestitches，stretchedthecanvas。——‘Lifthisshoulders……Pulltoyouabit……So——o——o——。Steady。’Belfastobeyed，pulled，lifted，overcomewithsorrow，droppingtearsonthetarredtwine。——‘Don’tyoudragthecanvastootautoverhispoorface，Sails，’heentreatedtearfully。——‘Whatareyoufashingyourselffor？Hewillbecomfortableenough，’assuredthesailmaker，cuttingthethreadafterthelaststitch，thatcameaboutthemiddleofJimmy’sforehead。
Herolleduptheremainingcanvas，putawaytheneedles。‘Whatmakesyoutakeonso？’heasked。Belfastlookeddownatthelongpackageofgreysailcloth。——‘Ipulledhimout，’hewhispered，‘andhedidnotwanttogo。IfIhadsatupwithhimlastnighthewouldhavekeptaliveforme……butsomethingmademetired。’
Thesailmakertookvigorousdrawsathispipeandmumbled：——‘WhenI……WestIndiaStation……IntheBlanchefrigate……YellowJack……sewedintwentymenaday……Portsmouth——Devonportmen——townies——knewtheirfathers，mothers——sisters——thewholeboilingof’em。Thoughtnothingofit。Andtheseniggerslikethisone——youdon’tknowwhereitcomesfrom。Gotnobody。Nousetonobody。Whowillmisshim？’——‘I
do——Ipulledhimout，’mournedBelfastdismally。
Ontwoplanksnailedtogether，andapparentlyresignedandstillunderthefoldsoftheUnionJackwithawhiteborder，JamesWait，carriedaftbyfourmen，wasdepositedslowly，withhisfeetpointingatanopenport。Aswellhadsetinfromthewestward，andfollowingontherolloftheship，theredensign，athalf—mast，dartedoutandcollapsedagainonthegreysky，likeatongueofflickeringfire;Charleytolledthebell;andateveryswingtostarboardthewholevastsemi—circleofsteelywatersvisibleonthatsideseemedtocomeupwitharushtotheedgeoftheport，asifimpatienttogetatourJimmy。EveryonewastherebutDonkin，whowastooilltocome;theCaptainandMr。Creightonstoodbareheadedonthebreakofthepoop;Mr。Baker，directedbythemaster，whohadsaidtohimgravely：——‘YouknowmoreabouttheprayerbookthanIdo，’cameoutofthecabindoorquicklyandalittleembarrassed。Allthecapswentoff。Hebegantoreadinalowtone，andwithhisusualharmlesslymenacingutterance，asthoughhehadbeenforthelasttimereprovingconfidentiallythatdeadseamanathisfeet。Themenlistenedinscatteredgroups;theyleanedonthefiferail，gazingonthedeck;theyheldtheirchinsintheirhandsthoughtfully，or，withcrossedarmsandonekneeslightlybent，hungtheirheadsinanattitudeofuprightmeditation。Wamibodreamed。Mr。Bakerreadon，gruntingreverentlyattheturnofeverypage。Thewords，missingtheunsteadyheartsofmen，rolledouttowanderwithoutahomeupontheheartlesssea;andJamesWait，silencedforever，layuncriticalandpassiveunderthehoarsemurmurofdespairandhopes。
Twomenmadereadyandwaitedforthosewordsthatsendsomanyofourbrotherstotheirlastplunge。Mr。Bakerbeganthelastpassage。‘Standby。’mutteredtheboatswain。Mr。Bakerreadout：‘Tothedeep，’andpaused。Themenliftedtheinboardendoftheplanks，theboatswainsnatchedofftheUnionJack，andJamesWaitdidnotmove。——‘Higher，’mutteredtheboatswainangrily。Alltheheadswereraised;everymanstirreduneasily，butJamesWaitgavenosignofgoing。Indeathandswathedupforalleternity，heyetseemedtohangontotheshipwiththegripofanundyingfear。
‘Higher！Lift！’whisperedtheboatswainfiercely。——
‘Hewon’tgo，’stammeredoneofthemenshakily，andbothappearedreadytodropeverything。Mr。Bakerwaited，buryinghisfaceinthebook，andshufflinghisfeetnervously。Allthemenlookedprofoundlydisturbed，fromtheirmidstafainthummingnoisespreadout——
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growinglouder……‘Jimmy！’criedBelfastinawailingtone，andtherewasasecondofshudderingdismay。
‘Jimmy，beaman！’heshriekedpassionately。
Everymouthwaswideopen，notaneyelidwinked。Hestaredwildly，twitchingallover;hebenthisbodyforwardlikeamanpeeringatanhorror。‘Go，Jimmy！——Jimmy，go！Go！’Hisfingerstouchedtheheadofthebodyandthegreypackagestartedreluctantlyto，allatonce，whizzofftheliftedplankswiththesuddennessofaflashoflightning。Thecrowdsteppedforwardlikeoneman;adeepAh——h——h！cameoutvibratingfromthebroadchests。Theshiprolledasifrelievedofanunfairburden;thesailsflapped。Belfast，supportedbyArchie，gaspedhysterically;andCharley，whoanxioustoseeJimmy’slastdive，leapedheadlongontherail，wastoolatetoseeanythingbutthefaintcircleofavanishingripple。
Mr。Baker，perspiringabundantly，readoutthelastprayerinadeeprumourofexcitedmenandflutteringsails。‘Amen！’
hesaidinanunsteadygrowl，andclosedthebook。
‘Squaretheyards！’thunderedavoiceabovehishead。Allhandsgaveajump;oneortwodroppedtheircaps;Mr。
Bakerlookedupsurprised。Themaster，standingonthebreakofthepoop，pointedtothewestward。‘Breezecoming，’hesaid，‘squaretheyards。Lookalive，men！’Mr。Bakercrammedthebookhurriedlyintohispocket。——‘Forwardthere——letgotheforetack！’hehailedjoyfullybareheadedandbrisk;‘Squaretheforeyard，youport—watch！’——‘Fairwind——fairwind，’mutteredthemengoingtothebraces。——‘WhatdidItellyou？’mumbledoldSingleton，flingingdowncoilaftercoilwithhastyenergy;‘Iknowedit！——he’sgone，andhereitcomes。’
Itcamewiththesoundofaloftyandpowerfulsigh。Thesailsfilled，theshipgatheredway，andthewakingseabegantomurmursleepilyofhometotheearsofmen。
Thatnight，whiletheshiprushedfoamingtotheNorthwardbeforeafresheninggale，theboatswainunbosomedhimselftothepettyofficers’berth：——‘Thechapwasnothingbuttrouble，’
hesaid，‘fromthemomenthecameaboard——d’yeremember——
thatnightinBombay？Beenbullyingallthatsoftycrowd——cheekedtheoldman——wehadtogofoolingalloverahalf—drownedshiptosavePage120
him。Dam’nighamutinyallforhim——andnowthemateabusedmelikeapickpocketforforgettingtodabalumpofgreaseonthemplanks。SoIdid，butyououghttohaveknownbettertoo，thantoleaveanailstickingup——hey，Chips？’‘Andyououghttohaveknownbetterthantochuckallmytoolsoverboardfor’im，likeaskearygreenhorn，’
retortedthemorosecarpenter。‘Well——he’sgoneafter’emnow，’
headdedinanunforgivingtone。‘OntheChinaStation，Irememberonce，theAdmiralhesaystome……’beganthesailmaker。
AweekafterwardstheNarcissusenteredthechopsoftheChannel。
Underwhitewingssheskimmedlowoverthebluesealikeagreattiredbirdspeedingtoitsnest。Thecloudsracedwithhermastheads;
theyroseasternenormousandwhite，soaredtothezenith，flewpast，andfallingdownthewidecurveoftheskyseemedtodashheadlongintothesea——thecloudsswifterthantheship，morefree，butwithoutahome。
Thecoasttowelcomehersteppedoutofspaceintothesunshine。Theloftyheadlandstrodmasterfullyintothesea;thewidebayssmiledinthelight;
theshadowsofhomelesscloudsranalongthesunnyplains，leapedovervalleys，withoutacheckdartedupthehills，rolleddowntheslopes;andthesunshinepursuedthemwithpatchesofrunningbrightness。Onthebrowsofdarkcliffswhitelighthousesshoneinpillarsoflight。TheChannelglitteredlikeabluemantleshotwithgoldandstarredbythesilverofthecappingseas。TheNarcissusrushedpasttheheadlandsandthebays。Outward—boundvesselscrossedhertrack，lyingover，andwiththeirmastsstrippedforasloggingfightwiththehardsou’wester。And，inshore，astringofsmokingsteamboatswaddled，huggingthecoast，likemigratingandamphibiousmonsters，distrustfuloftherestlesswaves。
Atnighttheheadlandsretreated，thebaysadvancedintooneunbrokenlineofgloom。Thelightsoftheearthmingledwiththelightsofheaven;andabovethetossinglanternsofatrawlingfleetagreatlighthouseshonesteadily，suchasanenormousridinglightburningaboveavesseloffabulousdimensionsBelowitssteadyglow，thecoast，stretchingawaystraightandblack，resembledthehighsideofanindestructiblecraftridingmotionlessupontheimmortalandunrestingsea。ThedarklandlayaloneinthemidstPage121
ofwaters，likeamightyshipbestarredwithvigilantlights——ashipcarryingtheburdenofmillionsoflives——ashipfreightedwithdrossandwithjewels，withgoldandwithsteel。Shetoweredupimmenseandstrong，guardingpricelesstraditionsanduntoldsuffering，shelteringgloriousmemoriesandbaseforgetfulness，ignoblevirtuesandsplendidtransgressions。
Agreatship！Forageshadtheoceanbatteredinvainherenduringsides;
shewastherewhenthewasvasteranddarker，whentheseawasgreatandmysterious，andreadytosurrendertheprizeoffametoaudaciousmen。
Ashipmotheroffleetsandnations！Thegreatflagshipoftherace;strongerthanthestorms！andanchoredintheopensea。
TheNarcissus，heelingovertooff—shoregusts，roundedtheSouthForeland，passedthroughtheDowns，and，intow，enteredtheriver。Shornofthegloryofherwhitewings，shewoundobedientlyafterthetugthroughthemazeofinvisiblechannels。Asshepassedthemthered—paintedlight—vessels，swungattheirmooringsseemedforaninstanttosailwithgreatspeedintherushoftide，andthenextmomentwerelefthopelesslybehind。Thebigbuoysonthetailsofbanksslippedpasthersidesverylow，and，droppinginherwake，tuggedattheirchainslikefiercewatch—dogs。Thereachnarrowed;frombothsidesthelandapproachedtheship。Shewentsteadilyuptheriver。Ontheriversideslopesthehousesappearedingroups——seemedtostreamdownthedeclivitiesataruntoseeherpass，and，checkedbythemudoftheforeshore，crowdedonthebanks。Furtheron，thetallfactorychimneysappearedininsolentbandsandwatchedhergoby，likeastragglingcrowdofslimgiantsswaggeringanduprightundertheblackplummetsofsmokecavalierlyaslant。Shesweptroundthebends;animpurebreezeshriekedawelcomebetweenherstrippedspars;andtheland，closingin，steppedbetweentheshipandthesea。
Alowcloudhungbeforeher——agreatopalescentandtremulouscloud，thatseemedtorisefromthesteamingbrowsofmillionsofmen。
Longdriftsofsmokyvapourssoileditwithlividtrails;itthrobbedtothebeatofmillionsofhearts，andfromitcameanimmenseandlamentablemurmur——themurmurofmillionsoflipspraying，cursing，sighing，jeering——theundyingmurmuroffolly，regret，andhopeexhaledbythecrowdsoftheanxiousearth。TheNarcissusenteredthecloud;theshadowsdeepened;onallsidesPage122
therewastheclangofiron，thesoundofmightyblows，shrieks，yells。
Blackbargesdriftedstealthilyonthemurkystream。Amadjumbleofbegrimedwallsloomedupvaguelyinthesmoke，bewilderingandmournful，likeavisionofdisaster。Thetugs，pantingfuriously，backedandfilledinthestream，toholdtheshipsteadyatthedock—gates;fromherbowstwolineswentthroughtheairwhistling，andstruckatthelandviciously，likeapairofsnakes。Abridgebrokeintwobeforeher，asifbyenchantment;
bighydrauliccapstansbegantoturnallbythemselves，asthoughanimatedbyamysteriousandunholyspell。Shemovedthroughanarrowlaneofwaterbetweentwolowwallsofgranite，andmenwithcheck—ropesintheirhandskeptpacewithher，walkingonthebroadflagstones。Agroupwaitedimpatientlyoneachsideofthevanishedbridge：roughheavymenincaps;sallow—facedmeninhighhats;twobareheadedwomen;raggedchildren，fascinatedandwithwideeyes。Acartcomingatajerkytrotpulledupsharply。Oneofthewomenscreamedatthesilentship——‘Hallo，Jack！’
withoutlookingatanyoneinparticular，andallhandslookedatherfromtheforecastlehead。——‘Standclear！Standclearofthatrope！’
criedthedockmen，bendingoverstoneposts。Thecrowdmurmured，stampedwheretheystood。——‘Letgoyourquarter—checks！Letgo！sangoutaruddy—facedoldmanonthequay。Theropessplashedheavilyfallinginthewater，andtheNarcissusenteredthedock。
Thestonyshoresranawayrightandleftinstraightlines，enclosingasombreandrectangularpool。brickwallsrosehighabovethewater——soullesswalls，staringthroughhundredsofwindowsastroubledanddullastheeyesofover—fedbrutes。Attheirbasemonstrousironcranescrouched，withchainshangingfromtheirlongnecks，balancingcruel—lookinghooksoverthedecksoflifelessships。Anoiseofwheelsrollingoverstones，thethumpofheavythingsfalling，theracketoffeverishwinches，thegrindingofstrainedchains，floatedontheair。Betweenhighbuildingsthedustofallthecontinentssoaredinshortflights;andapenetratingsmellofperfumesanddirt，ofspicesandhides，ofthingscostlyandofthingsfilthy，pervadedthespace，madeforitanatmospherepreciousanddisgusting。TheNarcissuscamegentlyintoherberth;theshadowsofsoullesswallsfelluponher，thedustofallthecontinentsPage123
leapeduponherdeck，andaswarmofstrangemen，clamberinguphersides，tookpossessionofherinthenameofthesordidearth。Shehadceasedtolive。
Atoffinablackcoatandhighhatscrambledwithagility，cameuptothesecondmate，shookhands，andsaid：——‘Hallo，Herbert。’Itwashisbrother。Aladyappearedsuddenly。Areallady，inablackdressandwithaparasol。Shelookedextremelyelegantinthemidstofus，andasstrangeasifshehadfallentherefromthesky。Mr。Bakertouchedhiscaptoher。Itwasthemaster’swife。AndverysoontheCaptain，dressedverysmartlyandinawhiteshirt，wentwithherovertheside。Wedidn’trecognisehimatalltill，turningonthequay，hecalledtoMr。Baker：——‘Remembertowindupthechronometersto—morrowmorning。’Anunderhandlotofseedy—lookingchapswithshiftyeyeswanderedinandoutoftheforecastlelookingforajob——
theysaid——‘Morelikelyforsomethingtosteal，’
commentedKnowlescheerfully。Poorbeggars。Whocared？Weren’twehome！
ButMr。Bakerwentforoneofthemwhohadgivenhimsomecheek，andweweredelighted。Everythingwasdelightful——‘I’vefinishedaft，sir，’calledoutMr。Creighton。——‘Nowaterinthewell，sir，’reportedforthelasttimethecarpenter，sounding—rodinhand。Mr。Bakerglancedalongthedecksattheexpectantgroupsofmen，glancedaloftattheyards。——‘Ough！Thatwilldo，men。’
hegrunted。Thegroupsbrokeup。Thevoyagewasended。
Rolled—upbedswentflyingovertherail;lashedchestswentslidingalongthegangway——mightyfewofbothatthat。‘TherestishavingacruiseofftheCape，’explainedKnowlesenigmaticallytoadock—loaferwithwhomhehadstruckasuddenfriendship。Menran，callingtooneanother，hailingutterstrangersto‘lendahandwiththedunnage，’thensuddendecorumapproachedthematetoshakehandsbeforegoingashore。——‘Good—bye，sir，’
theyrepeatedinvarioustones。Mr。Bakergraspedhardpalms，gruntedinafriendlymannerateveryone，hiseyestwinkled。——‘Takecareofyourmoney，Knowles。Ough！Soongetanicewifeifyoudo。’
Thelamemanwasdelighted。——‘Good—bye，sir，’saidBelfastwithemotion，wringingthemate’shand，andlookedupwithswimmingeyes。‘IthoughtIwouldtake’imashorewithme，’
hewentonplaintively。Mr。Bakerdidnotunderstand，butsaidPage124
kindly：——‘Takecareofyourself，Craik，’andthebereavedBelfastwentovertherailmourningandalone。
Mr。Bakerinthesuddenpeaceoftheshipmovedaboutsolitaryandgrunting，tryingdoorhandlespeeringintodarkplaces，neverdone——amodelchiefmate！Noonewaitedforhimashore。Motherdead;fatherandtwobrothers，Yarmouthfishermen，drownedtogetherontheDoggerBank;
sistermarriedandunfriendly。Quitealady。Marriedtotheleadingtailorofalittletown，anditsleadingpolitician，whodidnotthinkhissailorbrother—in—lawquiterespectableenoughforhim。Quitealady，quitealady，hethought，sittingdownforamoment’srestonthequarter—hatch。
Timeenoughtogoashoreandgetabite，andsup，andabedsomewhere。
Hedidn’tliketopartwiththeship。Noonetothinkaboutthen。Thedarknessofamistyeveningfell，coldanddamp，uponthedeserteddeck;andMr。
Bakersatsmoking，thinkingofallthesuccessiveshipstowhomthroughmanyyearshehadgiventhebestofaseaman’scare。Andneveracommandinsight。Notonce！——‘Ihaven’tsomehowthecutofaskipperaboutme，’hemeditatedplacidly，whiletheshipkeeper（whohadtakenpossessionofthegalley），awizenedoldmanwithblearedeyes，cursedhim，inwhispersfor‘hangingaboutso。’——‘NowCreighton，’hepursuedtheunenvioustrainofthought。‘quiteagentleman……swellfriends……willgeton。Fineyoungfellow……alittlemoreexperience。’Hegotupandshookhimself。‘I’llbebackfirstthingto—morrowmorningforthehatches。Don’tyouletthemtouchanythingbeforeIcome，shipkeeper，’hecalledout。Then，atlast，healsowentashore——amodelchiefmate！
Themenscatteredbythedissolvingcontractofthelandcametogetheroncemoreintheshippingoffice。——‘TheNarcissuspaysoff，’shoutedoutsideaglazeddoorabrass—boundoldfellowwithacrownandthecapitalsB。T。onhiscap。Alottroopedinatoncebutmanywerelate。Theroomwaslarge，white—washed，andbare;acountersurmountedbyabrass—wiregratingfencedoffathirdofthedustyspace，andbehindthegratingapasty—facedclerk，withhishairpartedinthemiddle，hadthequick，glitteringeyesandthevivacious，jerkymovementsofacagedbird。PoorCaptainAllistounalsointhere，andsittingbeforealittletablewithpilesofgoldandnotesonit，appearedsubduedbyhiscaptivity。AnotherBoardofPage125
Tradebirdwasperchingonahighstoolnearthedoor;anoldbirdthatdidnotmindthechaffofelatedsailors。ThecrewoftheNarcissus，brokenupintoknots，pushedinthecorners。Theyhadnewshoretogs，smartjacketsthatlookedasiftheyhadbeenshapedwithanaxe，glossytrousersthatseemedmadeofcrumpledsheet—iron，collarlessflannelshirts，shinynewboots。Theytappedonshoulders，button—holedoneanother，slappedtheirthighs，stamped，withburstsofsubduedlaughter。Mosthadcleanradiantfaces;onlyoneortwoweredishevelledandsad;thetwoyoungNorwegianslookedtidy，meek，andaltogetherofapromisingmaterialforthekindladiesthatpatronizetheScandinavianHome。Wamibo，stillinhisworkingclothes，dreamed，uprightandburlyinthemiddleoftheroom，and，whenArchiecamein，wokeupforasmile。Butthewide—awakeclerkcalledoutaname，andthepaying—offbusinessbegan。
Onebyonetheycameuptothepay—tabletogetthewagesoftheirgloriousandobscuretoil。Theysweptthemoneywithcareintobroadpalms，rammedittrustfullyintotrouserspockets，or，turningtheirbacksonthetable，reckonedwithdifficultyinthehollowoftheirstiffhands。——‘Moneyright？Signtherelease。There——there，’
repeatedtheclerk，impatiently。‘Howstupidthosesailorsare！’
hethought。Singletoncameup，venerable——anduncertainastodaylight;
browndropsoftobaccojuicemaculatedhiswhitebeard;hishands，thatneverhesitatedinthegreatlightoftheopensea，couldhardlyfindthesmallpileofgoldintheprofounddarknessoftheshore。‘Can’twrite？’saidtheclerk，shocked。‘Makeamark，then。’
Singletonpainfullysketchedinaheavycross，blottedthepage。‘Whatadisgustingoldbrute，’mutteredtheclerk。Somebodyopenedthedoorforhim，andthepatriarchalseamanpassedthroughunsteadily，withoutasmuchasaglanceatanyofus。
Archiehadapocket—book。hewaschaffed。Belfast，wholookedwild，asthoughhehadalreadyluffedupthroughapublic—houseortwo，gavesignsofemotionandwantedtospeaktoCaptainprivately。
Themasterwassurprised。Theyspokethroughthewires，andwecouldheartheCaptainsaying：——‘I’vegivenituptotheBoardofTrade。’
‘Ishould’velikedtogetsomethingofhis，’mumbledBelfast。‘Butyoucan’t，myman。It’sgivenup，lockedandsealed，totheMarineOffice，’expostulatedthemaster;andBelfaststoodback，withdroopingmouthandtroubledeyes。Inapauseofthebusinessweheardthemasterandtheclerktalking。Wecaught‘JamesWait——deceased——foundnopapersofanykind——norelations——notrace——theofficemustholdhiswagesthen。’Donkinentered。Heseemedoutofbreath，wasgrave，fullofbusiness。Hewentstraighttothedesk，talkedwithanimationtotheclerk，whothoughthimanintelligentman。
Theydiscussedtheaccount，droppingh’sagainstoneanotherasifforawager——veryfriendly。CaptainAllistounpaid。‘Igiveyouabaddischarge，’hesaid，quietly。Donkinraisedhisvoice：
——‘Idon’twantyourbloomin’discharge——keepit。I’mgoin’
ter’aveajobhashore。’Heturnedtous。‘Nomorebloomin’seafurme，’hesaid，aloud。Alllookedathim。Hehadbetterclothes，hadaneasyair，appearedmoreathomethananyofus;
hestaredwithassurance，enjoyingtheeffectofhisdeclaration。‘Yuss。
I’avefriendswellhoff。That’smore’nyergot。ButIhamaman。Yershipmatesforallthat。Who’scomin’furadrink？’
Noonemoved。Therewasasilence;asilenceofblankfacesandstonylooks。Hewaitedamoment，smiledbitterly，andwenttothedoor。
Therehefacedroundoncemore。‘Yerwon’t？Yerbloomin’lotof’ypocrites。No？What’aveIdonetoyer？DidIbullyyer？DidIhurtyer？DidI？……Yerwon’tdrink？……No！……Thenmayyerdieofthirst，heverymother’ssonofyer！Notoneofyer’asthesperritofabug。Ye’rethescumoftheworld。Workandstarve！’
Hewentout，andslammedthedoorwithsuchviolencethattheoldBoardofTradebirdnearlyfelloffhisperch。
‘He’smad，’saidArchie。‘No！
No！He’sdrunk，’insistedBelfast，lurchingabout，andinamaudlintone。CaptainAllistounsatsmilingthoughtfullyattheclearedpay—table。
Outside，onTowerHill，theyblinked，hesitatedclumsily，asifblindedbythestrangequalityofthehazylight，asifdiscomposedbytheviewofsomanymen;andtheywhocouldhearoneanotherinthehowlofgalesseemeddeafenedanddistractedbythedullroarofthebusyearth。——‘TotheBlackHorse！TotheBlackHorse！’
criedsome。‘Letushaveadrinktogetherbeforewepart。’
Theycrossedtheroad，clingingtooneanother。OnlyCharlieandBelfastPage127
wanderedoffalone。AsIcameupIsawared—faced，blowsywoman，inagreyshawl，andwithdusty，fluffyhair，fallonCharley’sneck。Itwashismother。Sheslobberedoverhim：——‘O，myboy！Myboy！’
——‘Leggoofme，’saidCharley，‘Leggo，mother！’
Iwaspassinghimatthetime，andovertheuntidyheadoftheblubberingwomanhegavemeahumoroussmileandaglanceironic，courageous，andprofound，thatseemedtoputallmyknowledgeoflifetoshame。Inoddedandpassedon，butheardhimsayagain，good—naturedly：——‘Ifyouleggoofmethisminyt——yeshall’aveabobforadrinkoutofmypay。’InthenextfewstepsIcameuponBelfast。Hecaughtmyarmwithtremulousenthusiasm。——‘Icouldn’tgowi’’em，’
hestammered，indicatingbyanodournoisycrowd，thatdriftedslowlyalongtheothersidewalk。‘WhenIthinkofJimmy……PoorJim！
WhenIthinkofhimIhavenoheartfordrink。Youwerehischum，too……butIpulledhimout……didn’tI？Shortwoolhehad……Yes。AndIstolethebloomingpie……Hewouldn’tgo……Hewouldn’tgofornobody。’
Heburstintotears。‘Inevertouchedhim——never——never——
’hesobbed。‘Hewentformelike……like……alamb。’
Idisengagedmyselfgently。Belfast’scryingfitsgenerallyendedinafightwithsomeone，andIwasn’tanxioustostandthebruntofhisinconsolablesorrow。Moreover，twobulkypolicemenstoodnearby，lookingatuswithadisapprovingandincorruptiblegaze。——‘Solong！’Isaid，andwentoff。
ButatthecornerIstoppedtotakemylastlookatthecrewoftheNarcissus。Theywereswaying，irresoluteandnoisyonthebroadflagstonesbeforetheMint。TheywereboundfortheBlackHorse，wheremen，infurcaps，withbrutalfacesandinshirtsleeves，dispenseoutofvarnishedbarrelstheillusionsofstrength，mirth，happiness;theillusionofsplendourandpoetryoflife，tothepaid—offcrewsofsouthern—goingships。FromafarIsawthemdiscoursing，withjovialeyesandclumsygestures，whiletheseaoflifethunderedintotheirearsceaselessandunheeded。
Andswayingaboutthereonthewhitestones，surroundedbythehurryandclamourofmen，theyappearedtobecreaturesofanotherkind——lost，alone，forgetful，anddoomed;theywerelikecastaways，likerecklessandjoyouscastaways，likemadcastawaysmakingmerryinthestormanduponaninsecureledgeofatreacherousrock。
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Theroarofthetownresembledtheroaroftoppingbreakers，mercilessandstrong，withaloudvoiceandcruelpurpose;butoverheadthecloudsbroke;afloodofsunshinestreameddownthewallsofgrimyhouses。Thedarkknotofseamendriftedinsunshine。TotheleftofthemthetreesinTowerGardenssighed，thestonesoftheTowergleaming，seemedtostirintheplayoflight，asifrememberingsuddenlyallthegreatjoysandsorrowsofthepast，thefightingprototypesofthesemen;press—gangs;
mutinouscries;thewailingofwomenbytheriverside，andtheshoutsofmenwelcomingvictories。Thesunshineofheavenfelllikeagiftofgraceonthemudoftheearth，ontherememberingandmutestones，ongreed，selfishness;ontheanxiousfacesofforgetfulmen。AndtotherightofthedarkgroupthestainedfrontoftheMint，cleansedbythefloodoflight，stoodoutforamoment，dazzlingandwhitelikeamarblepalaceinafairytale。ThecrewoftheNarcissusdriftedoutofsight。
Ineversawthemagain。Theseatooksome，thesteamerstookothers，thegraveyardsoftheearthwillaccountfortherest。Singletonhasnodoubttakenwithhimthelongrecordofhisfaithfulworkintothepeacefuldepthsofanhospitablesea。AndDonkin，whoneverdidadecentday’sworkinhislife，nodoubtearnshislivingbydiscoursingwithfilthyeloquenceupontherightoflabourtolive。Sobeit！Lettheearthandtheseaeachhaveitsown。
Agoneshipmate，likeanyotherman，isgoneforever;
andIneversawoneofthemagain。Butattimesthespring—floodofmemorysetswithforceupthedarkRiveroftheNineBends。Thenonthewatersoftheforlornstreamdriftsaship——ashadowyshipmannedbyacrewofShades。Theypassandmakeasign，inashadowyhall。Haven’twe，togetherandupontheimmortalsea，wrungoutameaningfromoursinfullives？Good—byebrothers！Youwereagoodcrowd。Asgoodacrowdaseverfistedwithwildcriesthebeatingcanvasofaheavyforesail;ortossingaloft，invisibleinthenight，gavebackyellforyelltoawesterlygale。