VIII

           Forawhileafterhissecond’sansweringhootMassyhungovertheengine-roomgloomily.CaptainWhalley,who,bythepoweroffivehundredpounds,hadkepthiscommandforthreeyears,mighthavebeensuspectedofneverhavingseenthatcoastbefore.Heseemedunabletoputdownhisglasses,asthoughtheyhadbeengluedunderhiscontractedeyebrows.Thissettledfrowngavetohisfaceanairofinvincibleandjustseverity;buthisraisedelbowtrembledslightly,andtheperspirationpouredfromunderhishatasifasecondsunhadsuddenlyblazedupatthezenithbythesideoftheardentstillglobealreadythere,inwhoseblindingwhiteheattheearthwhirledandshonelikeamoteofdust.

           Fromtimetotime,stillholdinguphisglasses,heraisedhisotherhandtowipehisstreamingface.Thedropsrolleddownhischeeks,felllikerainuponthewhitehairsofhisbeard,andbrusquely,asifguidedbyanuncontrollableandanxiousimpulse,hisarmreachedouttothestandoftheengine-roomtelegraph.

           Thegongclangeddownbelow.Thebalancedvibrationofthedead-slowspeedceasedtogetherwitheverysoundandtremorintheship,asifthegreatstillnessthatreigneduponthecoasthadstoleninthroughhersidesofironandtakenpossessionofherinnermostrecesses.Theillusionofperfectimmobilityseemedtofalluponherfromtheluminousbluedomewithoutastainarchingoveraflatseawithoutastir.Thefaintbreezeshehadmadeforherselfexpired,asifallatoncetheairhadbecometoothicktobudge;eventheslighthissofthewateronherstemdiedout.