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Thereisnoneedofgoingintoanextendedrecitalofoursufferinginthesmallboatduringthemanydaysweweredrivenanddrifted,hereandthere,willy-nilly,acrosstheocean.
Thehighwindblewfromthenorth-westfortwenty-fourhours,whenitfellcalm,andinthenightsprangupfromthesouth-west.
Thiswasdeadinourteeth,butItookinthesea-anchorandsetsail,haulingacourseonthewindwhichtookusinasouth-south-easterlydirection.
Itwasanevenchoicebetweenthisandthewest-north-westerlycoursewhichthewindpermitted;butthewarmairsofthesouthfannedmydesireforawarmerseaandswayedmydecision.
Inthreehours—itwasmidnight,Iwellremember,andasdarkasIhadeverseenitonthesea—thewind,stillblowingoutofthesouth-west,rosefuriously,andonceagainIwascompelledtosetthesea-anchor.
Daybrokeandfoundmewan-eyedandtheoceanlashedwhite,theboatpitching,almostonend,toitsdrag.
Wewereinimminentdangerofbeingswampedbythewhitecaps.
Asitwas,sprayandspumecameaboardinsuchquantitiesthatIbailedwithoutcessation.Theblanketsweresoaking.
EverythingwaswetexceptMaud,andshe,inoilskins,rubberboots,andsou’wester,wasdry,allbutherfaceandhandsandastraywispofhair.
Sherelievedmeatthebailing-holefromtimetotime,andbravelyshethrewoutthewaterandfacedthestorm.Allthingsarerelative.
Itwasnomorethanastiffblow,buttous,fightingforlifeinourfrailcraft,itwasindeedastorm.
Coldandcheerless,thewindbeatingonourfaces,thewhiteseasroaringby,westruggledthroughtheday.Nightcame,butneitherofusslept.
Daycame,andstillthewindbeatonourfacesandthewhiteseasroaredpast.
BythesecondnightMaudwasfallingasleepfromexhaustion.
Icoveredherwithoilskinsandatarpaulin.
Shewascomparativelydry,butshewasnumbwiththecold.
Ifearedgreatlythatshemightdieinthenight;butdaybroke,coldandcheerless,withthesamecloudedskyandbeatingwindandroaringseas.
Ihadhadnosleepforforty-eighthours.
Iwaswetandchilledtothemarrow,tillIfeltmoredeadthanalive.
Mybodywasstifffromexertionaswellasfromcold,andmyachingmusclesgavemetheseveresttorturewheneverIusedthem,andIusedthemcontinually.
Andallthetimewewerebeingdrivenoffintothenorth-east,directlyawayfromJapanandtowardbleakBeringSea.
Andstillwelived,andtheboatlived,andthewindblewunabated.
Infact,towardnightfallofthethirddayitincreasedatrifleandsomethingmore.
Theboat’sbowplungedunderacrest,andwecamethroughquarter-fullofwater.Ibailedlikeamadman.
Theliabilityofshippinganothersuchseawasenormouslyincreasedbythewaterthatweighedtheboatdownandrobbeditofitsbuoyancy.Andanothersuchseameanttheend.
WhenIhadtheboatemptyagainIwasforcedtotakeawaythetarpaulinwhichcoveredMaud,inorderthatImightlashitdownacrossthebow.
ItwaswellIdid,foritcoveredtheboatfullyathirdofthewayaft,andthreetimes,inthenextseveralhours,itflungoffthebulkofthedown-rushingwaterwhenthebowshovedundertheseas.
Maud’sconditionwaspitiable.Shesatcrouchedinthebottomoftheboat,herlipsblue,herfacegreyandplainlyshowingthepainshesuffered.
Buteverhereyeslookedbravelyatme,andeverherlipsutteredbravewords.
Theworstofthestormmusthaveblownthatnight,thoughlittleInoticedit.
IhadsuccumbedandsleptwhereIsatinthestern-sheets.
Themorningofthefourthdayfoundthewinddiminishedtoagentlewhisper,theseadyingdownandthesunshininguponus.Oh,theblessedsun!
Howwebathedourpoorbodiesinitsdeliciouswarmth,revivinglikebugsandcrawlingthingsafterastorm.
Wesmiledagain,saidamusingthings,andwaxedoptimisticoveroursituation.
Yetitwas,ifanything,worsethanever.
WewerefartherfromJapanthanthenightwelefttheGhost.
NorcouldImorethanroughlyguessourlatitudeandlongitude.
Atacalculationofatwo-miledriftperhour,duringtheseventyandoddhoursofthestorm,wehadbeendrivenatleastonehundredandfiftymilestothenorth-east.Butwassuchcalculateddriftcorrect?
ForallIknew,itmighthavebeenfourmilesperhourinsteadoftwo.
Inwhichcasewewereanotherhundredandfiftymilestothebad.
WherewewereIdidnotknow,thoughtherewasquitealikelihoodthatwewereinthevicinityoftheGhost.
Thereweresealsaboutus,andIwaspreparedtosightasealing-schooneratanytime.
Wedidsightone,intheafternoon,whenthenorth-westbreezehadsprungupfreshlyoncemore.
Butthestrangeschoonerlostitselfonthesky-lineandwealoneoccupiedthecircleofthesea.
Camedaysoffog,whenevenMaud’sspiritdroopedandtherewerenomerrywordsuponherlips;daysofcalm,whenwefloatedonthelonelyimmensityofsea,oppressedbyitsgreatnessandyetmarvellingatthemiracleoftinylife,forwestilllivedandstruggledtolive;daysofsleetandwindandsnow-squalls,whennothingcouldkeepuswarm;ordaysofdrizzlingrain,whenwefilledourwater-breakersfromthedripofthewetsail.
AndeverIlovedMaudwithanincreasinglove.
Shewassomany-sided,somany-mooded—“protean-mooded”Icalledher.
ButIcalledherthis,andotheranddearerthings,inmythoughtsonly.
Thoughthedeclarationofmyloveurgedandtrembledonmytongueathousandtimes,Iknewthatitwasnotimeforsuchadeclaration.
Iffornootherreason,itwasnotime,whenonewasprotectingandtryingtosaveawoman,toaskthatwomanforherlove.
Delicateaswasthesituation,notaloneinthisbutinotherways,IflatteredmyselfthatIwasabletodealdelicatelywithit;andalsoIflatteredmyselfthatbylookorsignIgavenoadvertisementoftheloveIfeltforher.
Wewerelikegoodcomrades,andwegrewbettercomradesasthedayswentby.
Onethingaboutherwhichsurprisedmewasherlackoftimidityandfear.
Theterriblesea,thefrailboat,thestorms,thesuffering,thestrangenessandisolationofthesituation,—allthatshouldhavefrightenedarobustwoman,—seemedtomakenoimpressionuponherwhohadknownlifeonlyinitsmostshelteredandconsummatelyartificialaspects,andwhowasherselfallfireanddewandmist,sublimatedspirit,allthatwassoftandtenderandclinginginwoman.AndyetIamwrong.
Shewastimidandafraid,butshepossessedcourage.
Thefleshandthequalmsofthefleshshewasheirto,butthefleshboreheavilyonlyontheflesh.
Andshewasspirit,firstandalwaysspirit,etherealizedessenceoflife,calmashercalmeyes,andsureofpermanenceinthechangingorderoftheuniverse.
Camedaysofstorm,daysandnightsofstorm,whentheoceanmenaceduswithitsroaringwhiteness,andthewindsmoteourstrugglingboatwithaTitan’sbuffets.
Andeverwewereflungoff,fartherandfarther,tothenorth-east.
Itwasinsuchastorm,andtheworstthatwehadexperienced,thatIcastawearyglancetoleeward,notinquestofanything,butmorefromthewearinessoffacingtheelementalstrife,andinmuteappeal,almost,tothewrathfulpowerstoceaseandletusbe.
WhatIsawIcouldnotatfirstbelieve.
Daysandnightsofsleeplessnessandanxietyhaddoubtlessturnedmyhead.
IlookedbackatMaud,toidentifymyself,asitwere,intimeandspace.
Thesightofherdearwetcheeks,herflyinghair,andherbravebrowneyesconvincedmethatmyvisionwasstillhealthy.
AgainIturnedmyfacetoleeward,andagainIsawthejuttingpromontory,blackandhighandnaked,theragingsurfthatbrokeaboutitsbaseandbeatitsfronthighupwithspoutingfountains,theblackandforbiddencoast-linerunningtowardthesouth-eastandfringedwithatremendousscarfofwhite.
“Maud,”Isaid.“Maud.”
Sheturnedherheadandbeheldthesight.
“ItcannotbeAlaska!”shecried.
“Alas,no,”Ianswered,andasked,“Canyouswim?”
Sheshookherhead.
“NeithercanI,”Isaid.“Sowemustgetashorewithoutswimming,insomeopeningbetweentherocksthroughwhichwecandrivetheboatandclamberout.Butwemustbequick,mostquick—andsure.”
IspokewithaconfidencesheknewIdidnotfeel,forshelookedatmewiththatunfalteringgazeofhersandsaid:
“Ihavenotthankedyouyetforallyouhavedoneformebut—”
Shehesitated,asifindoubthowbesttowordhergratitude.
“Well?”Isaid,brutally,forIwasnotquitepleasedwithherthankingme.
“Youmighthelpme,”shesmiled.
“Toacknowledgeyourobligationsbeforeyoudie?Notatall.Wearenotgoingtodie.Weshalllandonthatisland,andweshallbesnugandshelteredbeforethedayisdone.”
Ispokestoutly,butIdidnotbelieveaword.NorwasIpromptedtoliethroughfear.
Ifeltnofear,thoughIwassureofdeathinthatboilingsurgeamongsttherockswhichwasrapidlygrowingnearer.
Itwasimpossibletohoistsailandclawoffthatshore.
Thewindwouldinstantlycapsizetheboat;theseaswouldswampitthemomentitfellintothetrough;and,besides,thesail,lashedtothespareoars,draggedintheseaaheadofus.
AsIsay,Iwasnotafraidtomeetmyowndeath,there,afewhundredyardstoleeward;butIwasappalledatthethoughtthatMaudmustdie.
Mycursedimaginationsawherbeatenandmangledagainsttherocks,anditwastooterrible.
Istrovetocompelmyselftothinkwewouldmakethelandingsafely,andsoIspoke,notwhatIbelieved,butwhatIpreferredtobelieve.
Irecoiledbeforecontemplationofthatfrightfuldeath,andforamomentIentertainedthewildideaofseizingMaudinmyarmsandleapingoverboard.
ThenIresolvedtowait,andatthelastmoment,whenweenteredonthefinalstretch,totakeherinmyarmsandproclaimmylove,and,withherinmyembrace,tomakethedesperatestruggleanddie.
Instinctivelywedrewclosertogetherinthebottomoftheboat.
Ifelthermittenedhandcomeouttomine.
Andthus,withoutspeech,wewaitedtheend.
Wewerenotfaroffthelinethewindmadewiththewesternedgeofthepromontory,andIwatchedinthehopethatsomesetofthecurrentorsendoftheseawoulddriftuspastbeforewereachedthesurf.
“Weshallgoclear,”Isaid,withaconfidencewhichIknewdeceivedneitherofus.
“ByGod,wewillgoclear!”Icried,fiveminuteslater.
Theoathleftmylipsinmyexcitement—thefirst,Idobelieve,inmylife,unless“troubleit,”anexpletiveofmyyouth,beaccountedanoath.
“Ibegyourpardon,”Isaid.
“Youhaveconvincedmeofyoursincerity,”shesaid,withafaintsmile.“Idoknow,now,thatweshallgoclear.”
Ihadseenadistantheadlandpasttheextremeedgeofthepromontory,andaswelookedwecouldseegrowtheinterveningcoastlineofwhatwasevidentlyadeepcove.
Atthesametimetherebrokeuponourearsacontinuousandmightybellowing.
Itpartookofthemagnitudeandvolumeofdistantthunder,anditcametousdirectlyfromleeward,risingabovethecrashofthesurfandtravellingdirectlyintheteethofthestorm.
Aswepassedthepointthewholecoveburstuponourview,ahalf-moonofwhitesandybeachuponwhichbrokeahugesurf,andwhichwascoveredwithmyriadsofseals.
Itwasfromthemthatthegreatbellowingwentup.
“Arookery!”Icried.“Nowareweindeedsaved.Theremustbemenandcruiserstoprotectthemfromtheseal-hunters.Possiblythereisastationashore.”
ButasIstudiedthesurfwhichbeatuponthebeach,Isaid,“Stillbad,butnotsobad.
Andnow,ifthegodsbetrulykind,weshalldriftbythatnextheadlandandcomeuponaperfectlyshelteredbeach,wherewemaylandwithoutwettingourfeet.”
Andthegodswerekind.Thefirstandsecondheadlandsweredirectlyinlinewiththesouth-westwind;butoncearoundthesecond,—andwewentperilouslynear,—wepickedupthethirdheadland,stillinlinewiththewindandwiththeothertwo.Butthecovethatintervened!
Itpenetrateddeepintotheland,andthetide,settingin,driftedusundertheshelterofthepoint.
Heretheseawascalm,saveforaheavybutsmoothground-swell,andItookinthesea-anchorandbegantorow.
Fromthepointtheshorecurvedaway,moreandmoretothesouthandwest,untilatlastitdisclosedacovewithinthecove,alittleland-lockedharbour,thewaterlevelasapond,brokenonlybytinyrippleswherevagrantbreathsandwispsofthestormhurtleddownfromoverthefrowningwallofrockthatbackedthebeachahundredfeetinshore.
Herewerenosealswhatever.Theboat’ssterntouchedthehardshingle.
Isprangout,extendingmyhandtoMaud.Thenextmomentshewasbesideme.
Asmyfingersreleasedhers,sheclutchedformyarmhastily.
AtthesamemomentIswayed,asabouttofalltothesand.
Thiswasthestartlingeffectofthecessationofmotion.
Wehadbeensolonguponthemoving,rockingseathatthestablelandwasashocktous.
Weexpectedthebeachtoliftupthiswayandthat,andtherockywallstoswingbackandforthlikethesidesofaship;andwhenwebracedourselves,automatically,forthesevariousexpectedmovements,theirnon-occurrencequiteovercameourequilibrium.
“Ireallymustsitdown,”Maudsaid,withanervouslaughandadizzygesture,andforthwithshesatdownonthesand.
Iattendedtomakingtheboatsecureandjoinedher.ThuswelandedonEndeavourIsland,aswecametoit,land-sickfromlongcustomofthesea.
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