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〃Well；〃 said Bickley； 〃he can't get to the liquor； except
through this saloon； as it is locked up forward with the other
stores。〃
〃That's nothing；〃 I replied； 〃as doubtless he has a supply of
his own； rum； I expect。 We must take our chance。〃
Bickley nodded； and suggested that we should go on deck to see
what was happening。 So we went。 Not a breath of wind was
stirring； and even the sea seemed to be settling down a little。
At least； so we judged from the motion； for we could not see
either it or the sky； everything was as black as pitch。 We heard
the sailors； however； engaged in rigging guide ropes fore and
aft； and battening down the hatches with extra tarpaulins by the
light of lanterns。 Also they were putting ropes round the boats
and doing something to the spars and topmasts。
Presently Bastin joined us； having； I suppose； finished his
devotions。
〃Really； it is quite pleasant here；〃 he said。 〃One never knows
how disagreeable so much wind is until it stops。〃
I lit my pipe； making no answer； and the match burned quite
steadily there in the open air。
〃What is that？〃 exclaimed Bickley； staring at something which
now I saw for the first time。 It looked like a line of white
approaching through the gloom。 With it came a hissing sound； and
although there was still no wind； the rigging began to moan
mysteriously like a thing in pain。 A big drop of water also fell
from the sides into my pipe and put it out。 Then one of the
sailors cried in a hoarse voice：
〃Get down below； governors； unless you want to go out to sea！〃
〃Why？〃 inquired Bastin。
〃Why？ Becos the 'urricane is coming； that's all。 Coming as
though the devil had kicked it out of 'ell。〃
Bastin seemed inclined to remonstrate at this sort of language；
but we pushed him down the companion and followed； propelling the
spaniel Tommy in front of us。 Next moment I heard the sailors
battening the hatch with hurried blows； and when this was done to
their satisfaction； heard their feet also as they ran into
shelter。
Another instant and we were all lying in a heap on the cabin
floor with poor Tommy on top of us。 The cyclone had struck the
ship！ Above the wash of water and the screaming of the gale we
heard other mysterious sounds； which doubtless were caused by the
yards hitting the seas； for the yacht was lying on her side。 I
thought that all was over； but presently there came a rending；
crashing noise。 The masts； or one of them； had gone； and by
degrees we righted。
〃Near thing！〃 said Bickley。 〃Good heavens； what's that？〃
I listened； for the electric light had temporarily gone out；
owing； I suppose； to the dynamo having stopped for a moment。 A
most unholy and hollow sound was rising from the cabin floor。 It
might have been caused by a bullock with its windpipe cut； trying
to get its breath and groaning。 Then the light came on again and
we saw Bastin lying at full length on the carpet。
〃He's broken his neck or something；〃 I said。
Bickley crept to him and having looked； sang out：
〃It's all right！ He's only sea…sick。 I thought it would come to
that if he drank so much tea。〃
〃Sea…sick；〃 I said faintly〃sea…sick？〃
〃That's all；〃 said Bickley。 〃The nerves of the stomach acting
on the brain or vice…versathat is； if Bastin has a brain；〃 he
added sotto voce。
〃Oh！〃 groaned the prostrate clergyman。 〃I wish that I were
dead！〃
〃Don't trouble about that；〃 answered Bickley。 〃I expect you
soon will be。 Here； drink some whisky； you donkey。〃
Bastin sat up and obeyed； out of the bottle； for it was
impossible to pour anything into a glass； with results too
dreadful to narrate。
〃I call that a dirty trick；〃 he said presently； in a feeble
voice； glowering at Bickley。
〃I expect I shall have to play you a dirtier before long； for
you are a pretty bad case； old fellow。〃
As a matter of fact he had； for once Bastin had begun really we
thought that he was going to die。 Somehow we got him into his
cabin； which opened off the saloon； and as he could drink nothing
more； Bickley managed to inject morphia or some other compound
into him； which made him insensible for a long while。
〃He must be in a poor way；〃 he said； 〃for the needle went more
than a quarter of an inch into him； and he never cried out or
stirred。 Couldn't help it in that rolling。〃
But now I could hear the engines working； and I think that the
bow of the vessel was got head on to the seas； for instead of
rolling we pitched； or rather the ship stood first upon one end
and then upon the other。 This continued for a while until the
first burst of the cyclone had gone by。 Then suddenly the engines
stopped； I suppose that they had broken down； but I never
learned； and we seemed to veer about； nearly sinking in the
process； and to run before the hurricane at terrific speed。
〃I wonder where we are going to？〃 I said to Bickley。 〃To the
land of sleep； Humphrey； I imagine；〃 he replied in a more gentle
voice than I had often heard him use； adding： 〃Good…bye； old boy；
we have been real friends； haven't we； notwithstanding my
peculiarities？ I only wish that I could think that there was
anything in Bastin's views。 But I can't； I can't。 It's good night
for us poor creatures！〃
Chapter VI
Land
At last the electric light really went out。 I had looked at my
watch just before this happened and wound it up； which； Bickley
remarked； was superfluous and a waste of energy。 It then marked
3。20 in the morning。 We had wedged Bastin； who was now snoring
comfortably； into his berth； with pillows； and managed to tie a
cord over himno； it was a large bath towel； fixing one end of
it to the little rack over his bed and the other to its
framework。 As for ourselves； we lay down on the floor between the
table legs； which； of course； were screwed； and the settee；
protecting ourselves as best we were able by help of the
cushions； etc。； between two of which we thrust the terrified
Tommy who had been sliding up and down the cabin floor。 Thus we
remained； expecting death every moment till the light of day； a
very dim light； struggling through a port…hole of which the iron
cover had somehow been wrenched off。 Or perhaps it was never
shut； I do not remember。
About this time there came a lull in the hellish； howling
hurricane； the fact being； I suppose； that we had reached the
centre of the cyclone。 I suggested that we should try to go on
deck and see what was happening。 So we started； only to find the
entrance to the companion so faithfully secured that we could not
by any means get out。 We knocked and shouted； but no one
answered。 My belief is that at this time everyone on the yacht
except ourselves had been washed away and drowned。
Then we returned to the saloon； which； except for a little
water trickling about the floor； was marvelously dry； and； being
hungry； retrieved some bits of food and biscuit from its corners
and ate。 At this moment the cyclone began to blow again worse
than ever； but it seemed to us； from another direction； and
before it sped our poor derelict barque。 It blew all day till for
my part I grew utterly weary and even longed for the inevitable
end。 If my views were not quite those of Bastin； certainly they
were not those of Bickley。 I had believed from my youth up that
the individuality of man； the ego； so to speak； does not die when
life goes out of his poor body； and this faith did not desert me
then。 Therefore； I wished to have it over and learn what there
might be upon the other side。
We could not speak much because of the howling of the wind； but
Bickley did manage to shout to me something to the effect that
his partners would； in his opinion； make an end of their great
practice within two years； which； he added； was a pity。 I nodded
my head； not caring twopence what happened to Bickley's partners
or their business； or to my own property； or to anything else。
When death is at hand most of us do not think much of such things
because then we realise how small they are。 Indeed I was
wondering whether within a few minutes or hours I should or
should not see Natalie again； and if this were the end to which
she had seemed to beckon me in that dream。
On we sped； and on。 About four in the afternoon we heard sounds
from Bastin's cabin which faintly reminded me of some tune。 I
crept to the door and listened。 Evidently he had awakened and was
singing or trying to sing； for music was not one of his strong
points； 〃For those in peril on the sea。〃 Devoutly did I wish that
it might be heard。 Presently it ceased； so I suppose he went to
sleep again。
The darkness gathered once more。 Then of a sudden something
fearful happened。 There were stupendous noises of a kind I had
never heard； there were convulsions。 It seemed to us that the
ship was flung right up into the air a hundred feet or more。