TheNan-Shanhadanathwartshipcoal-bunker，which，beingattimesusedascargospace，communicatedbyanirondoorwiththefore\'tween-deck。Itwasemptythen，anditsmanholewastheforemostoneinthealleyway。Theboatswaincouldgetin，therefore，withoutcomingoutondeckatall；buttohisgreatsurprisehefoundhecouldinducenoonetohelphimintakingoffthemanholecover。Hegropedforitallthesame，butoneofthecrewlyinginhiswayrefusedtobudge。
\"Why，Ionlywanttogetyouthatblamedlightyouarecryingfor，\"heexpostulated，almostpitifully。
Somebodytoldhimtogoandputhisheadinabag。Heregrettedhecouldnotrecognizethevoice，andthatitwastoodarktosee，otherwise，ashesaid，hewouldhaveputaheadonthatsonofasea-cook，anyway，sinkorswim。Nevertheless，hehadmadeuphismindtoshowthemhecouldgetalight，ifheweretodieforit。
Throughtheviolenceoftheship\'srolling，everymovementwasdangerous。Tobelyingdownseemedlabourenough。Henearlybrokehisneckdroppingintothebunker。Hefellonhisback，andwassentshootinghelplesslyfromsidetosideinthedangerouscompanyofaheavyironbar——acoal-trimmer\'ssliceprobably——leftdowntherebysomebody。Thisthingmadehimasnervousasthoughithadbeenawildbeast。Hecouldnotseeit，theinsideofthebunkercoatedwithcoal-dustbeingperfectlyandimpenetrablyblack；buthehearditslidingandclattering，andstrikinghereandthere，alwaysintheneighbourhoodofhishead。Itseemedtomakeanextraordinarynoise，too——togiveheavythumpsasthoughithadbeenasbigasabridgegirder。
Thiswasremarkableenoughforhimtonoticewhilehewasflungfromporttostarboardandbackagain，andclawingdesperatelythesmoothsidesofthebunkerintheendeavourtostophimself。
Thedoorintothe\'tween-decknotfittingquitetrue，hesawathreadofdimlightatthebottom。
Beingasailor，andastillactiveman，hedidnotwantmuchofachancetoregainhisfeet；andasluckwouldhaveit，inscramblingupheputhishandontheironslice，pickingitupasherose。Otherwisehewouldhavebeenafraidofthethingbreakinghislegs，oratleastknockinghimdownagain。Atfirsthestoodstill。Hefeltunsafeinthisdarknessthatseemedtomaketheship\'smotionunfamiliar，unforeseen，anddifficulttocounteract。Hefeltsomuchshakenforamomentthathedarednotmoveforfearof\"takingchargeagain。\"Hehadnomindtogetbatteredtopiecesinthatbunker。
Hehadstruckhisheadtwice；hewasdazedalittle。Heseemedtohearyetsoplainlytheclatterandbangsoftheironsliceflyingabouthisearsthathetightenedhisgriptoprovetohimselfhehadittheresafelyinhishand。Hewasvaguelyamazedattheplainnesswithwhichdowntherehecouldhearthegaleraging。Itshowlsandshrieksseemedtotakeon，intheemptinessofthebunker，somethingofthehumancharacter，ofhumanrageandpain——beingnotvastbutinfinitelypoignant。
Andtherewere，witheveryroll，thumps，too——profound，ponderousthumps，asifabulkyobjectoffive-tonweightorsohadgotplayinthehold。Buttherewasnosuchthinginthecargo。Somethingondeck？Impossible。Oralongside？Couldn\'tbe。
Hethoughtallthisquickly，clearly，competently，likeaseaman，andintheendremainedpuzzled。Thisnoise，though，camedeadenedfromoutside，togetherwiththewashingandpouringofwaterondeckabovehishead。Wasitthewind？Mustbe。Itmadedowntherearowliketheshoutingofabiglotofcrazedmen。Andhediscoveredinhimselfadesireforalight，too-ifonlytogetdrownedby——andanervousanxietytogetoutofthatbunkerasquicklyaspossible。
Hepulledbackthebolt:theheavyironplateturnedonitshinges；anditwasasthoughhehadopenedthedoortothesoundsofthetempest。Agustofhoarseyellingmethim:theairwasstill；andtherushingofwateroverheadwascoveredbyatumultofstrangled，throatyshrieksthatproducedaneffectofdesperateconfusion。Hestraddledhislegsthewholewidthofthedoorwayandstretchedhisneck。Andatfirstheperceivedonlywhathehadcometoseek:sixsmallyellowflamesswingingviolentlyonthegreatbodyofthedusk。
Itwasstayedlikethegalleryofamine，witharowofstanchionsinthemiddle，andcross-beamsoverhead，penetratingintothegloomahead——indefinitely。Andtoportthereloomed，likethecavinginofoneofthesides，abulkymasswithaslantingoutline。Thewholeplace，withtheshadowsandtheshapes，movedallthetime。Theboatswainglared:theshiplurchedtostarboard，andagreathowlcamefromthatmassthathadtheslantoffallenearth。
Piecesofwoodwhizzedpast。Planks，hethought，inexpressiblystartled，andflingingbackhishead。Athisfeetamanwentslidingover，open-eyed，onhisback，strainingwithupliftedarmsfornothing:andanothercameboundinglikeadetachedstonewithhisheadbetweenhislegsandhishandsclenched。His58
pigtailwhippedintheair；hemadeagrabattheboatswain\'slegs，andfromhisopenedhandabrightwhitediscrolledagainsttheboatswain\'sfoot。Herecognizedasilverdollar，andyelledatitwithastonishment。Withaprecipitatedsoundoftramplingandshufflingofbarefeet，andwithgutturalcries，themoundofwrithingbodiespileduptoportdetacheditselffromtheship\'ssideandsliding，inertandstruggling，shiftedtostarboard，withadull，brutalthump。Thecriesceased。Theboatswainheardalongmoanthroughtheroarandwhistlingofthewind；hesawaninextricableconfusionofheadsandshoulders，nakedsoleskickingupwards，fistsraised，tumblingbacks，legs，pigtails，faces。
\"GoodLord!\"hecried，horrified，andbanged-totheirondooruponthisvision。
Thiswaswhathehadcomeonthebridgetotell。Hecouldnotkeepittohimself；andonboardshipthereisonlyonemantowhomitisworthwhiletounburdenyourself。Onhispassagebackthehandsinthealleywaysworeathimforafool。Whydidn\'thebringthatlamp？Whatthedevildidthecooliesmattertoanybody？Andwhenhecameout，theextremityoftheshipmadewhatwentoninsideofherappearoflittlemoment。
Atfirsthethoughthehadleftthealleywayintheverymomentofhersinking。Thebridgeladdershadbeenwashedaway，butanenormousseafillingtheafter-deckfloatedhimup。Afterthathehadtolieonhisstomachforsometime，holdingtoaring-bolt，gettinghisbreathnowandthen，andswallowingsaltwater。Hestruggledfartheronhishandsandknees，toofrightenedanddistractedtoturnback。Inthiswayhereachedtheafter-partofthewheelhouse。Inthatcomparativelyshelteredspothefoundthesecondmate。
Theboatswainwaspleasantlysurprised——hisimpressionbeingthateverybodyondeckmusthavebeenwashedawayalongtimeago。HeaskedeagerlywheretheCaptainwas。
Thesecondmatewaslyinglow，likeamalignantlittleanimalunderahedge。
\"Captain？Goneoverboard，aftergettingusintothismess。\"Themate，too，forallhekneworcared。Anotherfool。Didn\'tmatter。Everybodywasgoingby-and-by。
Theboatswaincrawledoutagainintothestrengthofthewind；
notbecausehemuchexpectedtofindanybody，hesaid，butjusttogetawayfrom\"thatman。\"Hecrawledoutasoutcastsgotofaceaninclementworld。HencehisgreatjoyatfindingJukesandtheCaptain。Butwhatwasgoingoninthe\'tween-deckwastohimaminormatterbythattime。Besides，itwasdifficulttomakeyourselfheard。ButhemanagedtoconveytheideathattheChinamanhadbrokenadrifttogetherwiththeirboxes，andthathehadcomeuponpurposetoreportthis。Astothehands，theywereallright。Then，appeased，hesubsidedonthedeckinasittingposture，huggingwithhisarmsandlegsthestandoftheengine-roomtelegraph——anironcastingasthickasapost。
Whenthatwent，why，heexpectedhewouldgo，too。Hegavenomorethoughttothecoolies。
CaptainMacWhirrhadmadeJukesunderstandthathewantedhimtogodownbelow——tosee。
\"WhatamItodothen，sir？\"AndthetremblingofhiswholewetbodycausedJukes\'voicetosoundlikebleating。
\"Seefirst……Boss\'n……says……adrift。\"
\"Thatboss\'nisaconfoundedfool，\"howledJukes，shakily。
TheabsurdityofthedemandmadeuponhimrevoltedJukes。Hewasasunwillingtogoasifthemomenthehadleftthedecktheshipweresuretosink。
\"Imustknow……can\'tleave……\"
\"They\'llsettle，sir。\"
\"Fight……boss\'nsaystheyfight……Why？Can\'thave……
fighting……boardship……Muchratherkeepyouhere……
case……Ishould……washedoverboardmyself……Stopit……someway。Youseeandtellme……throughengine-roomtube。Don\'twantyou……comeuphere……toooften。
Dangerous……movingabout……deck。\"
Jukes，heldwithhisheadinchancery，hadtolistentowhatseemedhorriblesuggestions。
\"Don\'twant……yougetlost……solong……shipisn\'t……Rout……Goodman……Ship……may……throughthis……allrightyet。\"
AllatonceJukesunderstoodhewouldhavetogo。
\"Doyouthinkshemay？\"hescreamed。
Butthewinddevouredthereply，outofwhichJukesheardonlytheoneword，pronouncedwithgreatenergy\"……Always……\"
CaptainMacWhirrreleasedJukes，andbendingovertheboatswain，yelled，\"Getbackwiththemate。\"Jukesonlyknewthatthearmwasgoneoffhisshoulders。Hewasdismissedwithhisorders——
todowhat？Hewasexasperatedintolettinggohisholdcarelessly，andontheinstantwasblownaway。Itseemedtohimthatnothingcouldstophimfrombeingblownrightoverthestern。Heflunghimselfdownhastily，andtheboatswain，whowasfollowing，fellonhim。
\"Don\'tyougetupyet，sir，\"criedtheboatswain。\"Nohurry!\"
Aseasweptover。Jukesunderstoodtheboatswaintosplutterthatthebridgeladdersweregone。\"I\'llloweryoudown，sir，byyourhands，\"hescreamed。Heshoutedalsosomethingaboutthesmoke-stackbeingaslikelytogooverboardasnot。Jukesthoughtitverypossible，andimaginedthefiresout，theshiphelpless……Theboatswainbyhissidekeptonyelling。
\"What？Whatisit？\"Jukescrieddistressfully；andtheotherrepeated，\"Whatwouldmyoldwomansayifshesawmenow？\"
Inthealleyway，wherealotofwaterhadgotinandsplashedinthedark，themenwerestillasdeath，tillJukesstumbledagainstoneofthemandcursedhimsavagelyforbeingintheway。
Twoorthreevoicesthenasked，eagerandweak，\"Anychanceforus，sir？\"
\"What\'sthematterwithyoufools？\"hesaidbrutally。Hefeltasthoughhecouldthrowhimselfdownamongstthemandnevermoveanymore。Buttheyseemedcheered；andinthemidstofobsequiouswarnings，\"Lookout!Mindthatmanholelid，sir，\"
theyloweredhimintothebunker。Theboatswaintumbleddownafterhim，andassoonashehadpickedhimselfupheremarked，\"Shewouldsay，\'Serveyouright，youoldfool，forgoingtosea。\'\"
Theboatswainhadsomemeans，andmadeapointofalludingtothemfrequently。Hiswife——afatwoman——andtwogrown-updaughterskeptagreengrocer\'sshopintheEast-endofLondon。
Inthedark，Jukes，unsteadyonhislegs，listenedtoafaintthunderouspatter。Adeadenedscreamingwentonsteadilyathiselbow，asitwere；andfromabovetheloudertumultofthestormdescendeduponthesenearsounds。Hisheadswam。Tohim，too，inthatbunker，themotionoftheshipseemednovelandmenacing，sappinghisresolutionasthoughhehadneverbeenafloatbefore。
Hehadhalfamindtoscrambleoutagain；buttheremembranceofCaptainMacWhirr\'svoicemadethisimpossible。Hisordersweretogoandsee。Whatwasthegoodofit，hewantedtoknow。
Enraged，hetoldhimselfhewouldsee——ofcourse。Buttheboatswain，staggeringclumsily，warnedhimtobecarefulhowheopenedthatdoor；therewasablamedfightgoingon。AndJukes，asifingreatbodilypain，desiredirritablytoknowwhatthedeviltheywerefightingfor。
\"Dollars!Dollars，sir。Alltheirrottenchestsgotburstopen。
Blamedmoneyskippingallovertheplace，andtheyaretumblingafteritheadoverheels——tearingandbitinglikeanything。A
regularlittlehellinthere。\"
Jukesconvulsivelyopenedthedoor。Theshortboatswainpeeredunderhisarm。
Oneofthelampshadgoneout，brokenperhaps。Rancorous，gutturalcriesburstoutloudlyontheirears，andastrangepantingsound，theworkingofallthesestrainingbreasts。A
hardblowhitthesideoftheship:waterfellabovewithastunningshock，andintheforefrontofthegloom，wheretheairwasreddishandthick，Jukessawaheadbangthedeckviolently，twothickcalveswavingonhigh，musculararmstwinedroundanakedbody，ayellow-face，open-mouthedandwithasetwildstare，lookupandslideaway。Anemptychestclatteredturningover；amanfellheadfirstwithajump，asifliftedbyakick；
andfartheroff，indistinct，othersstreamedlikeamassofrollingstonesdownabank，thumpingthedeckwiththeirfeetandflourishingtheirarmswildly。Thehatchwayladderwasloadedwithcooliesswarmingonitlikebeesonabranch。Theyhungonthestepsinacrawling，stirringcluster，beatingmadlywiththeirfiststheundersideofthebattenedhatch，andtheheadlongrushofthewaterabovewasheardintheintervalsoftheiryelling。Theshipheeledovermore，andtheybegantodropoff:
firstone，thentwo，thenalltherestwentawaytogether，fallingstraightoffwithagreatcry。
Jukeswasconfounded。Theboatswain，withgruffanxiety，beggedhim，\"Don\'tyougointhere，sir。\"
Thewholeplaceseemedtotwistuponitself，jumpingincessantlythewhile；andwhentheshiprosetoaseaJukesfanciedthatallthesemenwouldbeshotuponhiminabody。Hebackedout，swungthedoorto，andwithtremblinghandspushedatthebolt……
AssoonashismatehadgoneCaptainMacWhirr，leftaloneonthebridge，sidledandstaggeredasfarasthewheelhouse。Itsdoorbeinghingedforward，hehadtofightthegaleforadmittance，andwhenatlasthemanagedtoenter，itwaswithaninstantaneousclatterandabang，asthoughhehadbeenfiredthroughthewood。Hestoodwithin，holdingontothehandle。
Thesteering-gearleakedsteam，andintheconfinedspacetheglassofthebinnaclemadeashinyovaloflightinathinwhitefog。Thewindhowled，hummed，whistled，withsuddenboomingguststhatrattledthedoorsandshuttersintheviciouspatterofsprays。Twocoilsoflead-lineandasmallcanvasbaghungonalonglanyard，swungwideoff，andcamebackclingingtothebulkheads。Thegratingsunderfootwerenearlyafloat；witheverysweepingblowofasea，watersquirtedviolentlythroughthecracksallroundthedoor，andthemanatthehelmhadflungdownhiscap，hiscoat，andstoodproppedagainstthegear-casinginastripedcottonshirtopenonhisbreast。Thelittlebrasswheelinhishandshadtheappearanceofabrightandfragiletoy。Thecordsofhisneckstoodhardandlean，adarkpatchlayinthehollowofhisthroat，andhisfacewasstillandsunkenasindeath。
CaptainMacWhirrwipedhiseyes。Theseathathadnearlytakenhimoverboardhad，tohisgreatannoyance，washedhissou\'-westerhatoffhisbaldhead。Thefluffy，fairhair，soakedanddarkened，resembledameanskeinofcottonthreadsfestoonedroundhisbareskull。Hisface，glisteningwithsea-water，hadbeenmadecrimsonwiththewind，withthestingofsprays。Helookedasthoughhehadcomeoffsweatingfrombeforeafurnace。
\"Youhere？\"hemuttered，heavily。
Thesecondmatehadfoundhiswayintothewheelhousesometimebefore。Hehadfixedhimselfinacornerwithhiskneesup，afistpressedagainsteachtemple；andthisattitudesuggestedrage，sorrow，resignation，surrender，withasortofconcentratedunforgiveness。Hesaidmournfullyanddefiantly，\"Well，it\'smywatchbelownow:ain\'tit？\"
Thesteamgearclattered，stopped，clatteredagain；andthehelmsman\'seyeballsseemedtoprojectoutofahungryfaceasifthecompasscardbehindthebinnacleglasshadbeenmeat。Godknowshowlonghehadbeenlefttheretosteer，asifforgottenbyallhisshipmates。Thebellshadnotbeenstruck；therehadbeennoreliefs；theship\'sroutinehadgonedownwind；buthewastryingtokeepherheadnorth-north-east。Theruddermighthavebeengoneforallheknew，thefiresout，theenginesbrokendown，theshipreadytorolloverlikeacorpse。Hewasanxiousnottogetmuddledandlosecontrolofherhead，becausethecompass-cardswungfarbothways，wrigglingonthepivot，andsometimesseemedtowhirlrightround。Hesufferedfrommentalstress。Hewashorriblyafraid，also，ofthewheelhousegoing。
Mountainsofwaterkeptontumblingagainstit。Whentheshiptookoneofherdesperatedivesthecornersofhislipstwitched。
CaptainMacWhirrlookedupatthewheelhouseclock。Screwedtothebulk-head，ithadawhitefaceonwhichtheblackhandsappearedtostandquitestill。Itwashalf-pastoneinthemorning。
\"Anotherday，\"hemutteredtohimself。
Thesecondmateheardhim，andliftinghisheadasonegrievingamongstruins，\"Youwon\'tseeitbreak，\"heexclaimed。Hiswristsandhiskneescouldbeseentoshakeviolently。\"No，byGod!Youwon\'t……\"
Hetookhisfaceagainbetweenhisfists。
Thebodyofthehelmsmanhadmovedslightly，buthisheaddidn\'tbudgeonhisneck，——likeastoneheadfixedtolookonewayfromacolumn。Duringarollthatallbuttookhisbootedlegsfromunderhim，andintheverystaggertosavehimself，CaptainMacWhirrsaidausterely，\"Don\'tyoupayanyattentiontowhatthatmansays。\"Andthen，withanindefinablechangeoftone，verygrave，headded，\"Heisn\'tonduty。\"
Thesailorsaidnothing。
Thehurricaneboomed，shakingthelittleplace，whichseemedair-tight；andthelightofthebinnacleflickeredallthetime。
\"Youhaven\'tbeenrelieved，\"CaptainMacWhirrwenton，lookingdown。\"Iwantyoutosticktothehelm，though，aslongasyoucan。You\'vegotthehangofher。Anothermancomingheremightmakeamessofit。Wouldn\'tdo。Nochild\'splay。Andthehandsareprobablybusywithajobdownbelow……Thinkyoucan？\"
Thesteering-gearleapedintoanabruptshortclatter，stoppedsmoulderinglikeanember；andthestillman，withamotionlessgaze，burstout，asifallthepassioninhimhadgoneintohislips:\"ByHeavens，sir!Icansteerforeverifnobodytalkstome。\"
\"Oh!aye!Allright……\"TheCaptainliftedhiseyesforthefirsttimetotheman，\"……Hackett。\"
Andheseemedtodismissthismatterfromhismind。Hestoopedtotheengine-roomspeaking-tube，blewin，andbenthishead。Mr。
Routbelowanswered，andatonceCaptainMacWhirrputhislipstothemouthpiece。
Withtheuproarofthegalearoundhimheappliedalternatelyhislipsandhisear，andtheengineer\'svoicemountedtohim，harshandasifoutoftheheatofanengagement。Oneofthestokerswasdisabled，theothershadgivenin，thesecondengineerandthedonkey-manwerefiring-up。Thethirdengineerwasstandingbythesteam-valve。Theengineswerebeingtendedbyhand。Howwasitabove？
\"Badenough。Itmostlyrestswithyou，\"saidCaptainMacWhirr。
Wasthematedownthereyet？No？Well，hewouldbepresently。
WouldMr。Routlethimtalkthroughthespeaking-tube？——throughthedeckspeaking-tube，becausehe——theCaptain——wasgoingoutagainonthebridgedirectly。TherewassometroubleamongsttheChinamen。Theywerefighting，itseemed。Couldn\'tallowfightinganyhow……
Mr。Routhadgoneaway，andCaptainMacWhirrcouldfeelagainsthisearthepulsationoftheengines，likethebeatoftheship\'sheart。Mr。Rout\'svoicedownthereshoutedsomethingdistantly。
Theshippitchedheadlong，thepulsationleapedwithahissingtumult，andstoppeddead。CaptainMacWhirr\'sfacewasimpassive，andhiseyeswerefixedaimlesslyonthecrouchingshapeofthesecondmate。AgainMr。Rout\'svoicecriedoutinthedepths，andthepulsatingbeatsrecommenced，withslowstrokes——growingswifter。
Mr。Routhadreturnedtothetube。\"Itdon\'tmattermuchwhattheydo，\"hesaid，hastily；andthen，withirritation，\"Shetakesthesedivesasifshenevermeanttocomeupagain。\"
\"Awfulsea，\"saidtheCaptain\'svoicefromabove。
\"Don\'tletmedriveherunder，\"barkedSolomonRoutupthepipe。
\"Darkandrain。Can\'tseewhat\'scoming，\"utteredthevoice。
\"Must——keep——her——moving——enoughtosteer——andchanceit，\"itwentontostatedistinctly。
\"IamdoingasmuchasIdare。\"
\"Weare——getting——smashedup——agooddealuphere，\"
proceededthevoicemildly。\"Doing——fairlywell——though。Ofcourse，ifthewheelhouseshouldgo……\"
Mr。Rout，bendinganattentiveear，mutteredpeevishlysomethingunderhisbreath。
Butthedeliberatevoiceuptherebecameanimatedtoask:\"Jukesturnedupyet？\"Then，afterashortwait，\"Iwishhewouldbearahand。Iwanthimtobedoneandcomeuphereincaseofanything。Tolookaftertheship。Iamallalone。Thesecondmate\'slost……\"
\"What？\"shoutedMr。Routintotheengine-room，takinghisheadaway。Thenupthetubehecried，\"Goneoverboard？\"andclappedhisearto。
\"Losthisnerve，\"thevoicefromabovecontinuedinamatter-of-facttone。\"Damnedawkwardcircumstance。\"
Mr。Rout，listeningwithbowedneck，openedhiseyeswideatthis。However，heheardsomethinglikethesoundsofascuffleandbrokenexclamationscomingdowntohim。Hestrainedhishearing；andallthetimeBeale，thethirdengineer，withhisarmsuplifted，heldbetweenthepalmsofhishandstherimofalittleblackwheelprojectingatthesideofabigcopperpipe。
Heseemedtobepoisingitabovehishead，asthoughitwereacorrectattitudeinsomesortofgame。
Tosteadyhimself，hepressedhisshoulderagainstthewhitebulkhead，onekneebent，andasweat-ragtuckedinhisbelthangingonhiship。Hissmoothcheekwasbegrimedandflushed，andthecoaldustonhiseyelids，liketheblackpencillingofamake-up，enhancedtheliquidbrillianceofthewhites，givingtohisyouthfulfacesomethingofafeminine，exoticandfascinatingaspect。Whentheshippitchedhewouldwithhastymovementsofhishandsscrewhardatthelittlewheel。
\"Gonecrazy，\"begantheCaptain\'svoicesuddenlyinthetube。
\"Rushedatme……Justnow。Hadtoknockhimdown……
Thisminute。Youheard，Mr。Rout？\"
\"Thedevil!\"mutteredMr。Rout。\"Lookout，Beale!\"
Hisshoutrangoutliketheblastofawarningtrumpet，betweentheironwallsoftheengine-room。Paintedwhite，theyrosehighintotheduskoftheskylight，slopinglikearoof；andthewholeloftyspaceresembledtheinteriorofamonument，dividedbyfloorsofirongrating，withlightsflickeringatdifferentlevels，andamassofgloomlingeringinthemiddle，withinthecolumnarstirofmachineryunderthemotionlessswellingofthecylinders。Aloudandwildresonance，madeupofallthenoisesofthehurricane，dweltinthestillwarmthoftheair。Therewasinitthesmellofhotmetal，ofoil，andaslightmistofsteam。Theblowsoftheseaseemedtotraverseitinanunringing，stunningshock，fromsidetoside。
Gleams，likepalelongflames，trembleduponthepolishofmetal；
fromtheflooringbelowtheenormouscrank-headsemergedintheirturnswithaflashofbrassandsteel——goingover；whiletheconnecting-rods，big-jointed，likeskeletonlimbs，seemedtothrustthemdownandpullthemupagainwithanirresistibleprecision。Anddeepinthehalf-lightotherrodsdodgeddeliberatelytoandfro，crossheadsnodded，discsofmetalrubbedsmoothlyagainsteachother，slowandgentle，inacomminglingofshadowsandgleams。
Sometimesallthosepowerfulandunerringmovementswouldslowdownsimultaneously，asiftheyhadbeenthefunctionsofalivingorganism，strickensuddenlybytheblightoflanguor；andMr。Rout\'seyeswouldblazedarkerinhislongsallowface。Hewasfightingthisfightinapairofcarpetslippers。Ashortshinyjacketbarelycoveredhisloins，andhiswhitewristsprotrudedfaroutofthetightsleeves，asthoughtheemergencyhadaddedtohisstature，hadlengthenedhislimbs，augmentedhispallor，hollowedhiseyes。
Hemoved，climbinghighup，disappearinglowdown，witharestless，purposefulindustry，andwhenhestoodstill，holdingtheguard-railinfrontofthestarting-gear，hewouldkeepglancingtotherightatthesteam-gauge，atthewater-gauge，fixeduponthewhitewallinthelightofaswayinglamp。Themouthsoftwospeakingtubesgapedstupidlyathiselbow，andthedialoftheengine-roomtelegraphresembledaclockoflargediameter，bearingonitsfacecurtwordsinsteadoffigures。Thegroupedlettersstoodoutheavilyblack，aroundthepivot-headoftheindicator，emphaticallysymbolicofloudexclamations:AHEAD，ASTERN，SLOW，Half，STANDBY；andthefatblackhandpointeddownwardstothewordFULL，which，thussingledout，capturedtheeyeasasharpcrysecuresattention。
Thewood-encasedbulkofthelow-pressurecylinder，frowningportlyfromabove，emittedafaintwheezeateverythrust，andexceptforthatlowhisstheenginesworkedtheirsteellimbsheadlongorslowwithasilent，determinedsmoothness。Andallthis，thewhitewalls，themovingsteel，thefloorplatesunderSolomonRout\'sfeet，thefloorsofirongratingabovehishead，theduskandthegleams，uproseandsankcontinuously，withoneaccord，upontheharshwashofthewavesagainsttheship\'sside。
Thewholeloftinessoftheplace，boominghollowtothegreatvoiceofthewind，swayedatthetoplikeatree，wouldgooverbodily，asifbornedownthiswayandthatbythetremendousblasts。
\"You\'vegottohurryup，\"shoutedMr。Rout，assoonashesawJukesappearinthestokeholddoorway。
Jukes\'glancewaswanderingandtipsy；hisredfacewaspuffy，asthoughhehadoverslepthimself。Hehadhadanarduousroad，andhadtravelledoveritwithimmensevivacity，theagitationofhismindcorrespondingtotheexertionsofhisbody。Hehadrushedupoutofthebunker，stumblinginthedarkalleywayamongstalotofbewilderedmenwho，trodupon，asked\"What\'sup，sir？\"inawedmuttersallroundhim；——downthestokeholdladder，missingmanyironrungsinhishurry，downintoaplacedeepasawell，blackasTophet，tippingoverbackandforthlikeasee-saw。Thewaterinthebilgesthunderedateachroll，andlumpsofcoalskippedtoandfro，fromendtoend，rattlinglikeanavalancheofpebblesonaslopeofiron。
Somebodyintheremoanedwithpain，andsomebodyelsecouldbeseencrouchingoverwhatseemedthepronebodyofadeadman；alustyvoiceblasphemed；andtheglowundereachfire-doorwaslikeapoolofflamingbloodradiatingquietlyinavelvetyblackness。
AgustofwindstruckuponthenapeofJukes\'neckandnextmomenthefeltitstreamingabouthiswetankles。Thestokeholdventilatorshummed:infrontofthesixfire-doorstwowildfigures，strippedtothewaist，staggeredandstooped，wrestlingwithtwoshovels。
\"Hallo!Plentyofdraughtnow，\"yelledthesecondengineeratonce，asthoughhehadbeenallthetimelookingoutforJukes。
Thedonkeyman，adapperlittlechapwithadazzlingfairskinandatiny，gingerymoustache，workedinasortofmutetransport。
Theywerekeepingafullheadofsteam，andaprofoundrumbling，asofanemptyfurniturevantrottingoverabridge，madeasustainedbasstoalltheothernoisesoftheplace。
\"Blowingoffallthetime，\"wentonyellingthesecond。Withasoundasofahundredscouredsaucepans，theorificeofaventilatorspatuponhisshoulderasuddengushofsaltwater，andhevolleyedastreamofcursesuponallthingsonearthincludinghisownsoul，rippingandraving，andallthetimeattendingtohisbusiness。Withasharpclashofmetaltheardentpaleglareofthefireopeneduponhisbullethead，showinghissplutteringlips，hisinsolentface，andwithanotherclangclosedlikethewhite-hotwinkofanironeye。
\"Where\'sthebloomingship？Canyoutellme？blastmyeyes!
Underwater——orwhat？It\'scomingdownhereintons。ArethecondemnedcowlsgonetoHades？Hey？Don\'tyouknowanything——
youjollysailor-manyou……？\"
Jukes，afterabewilderedmoment，hadbeenhelpedbyarolltodartthrough；andassoonashiseyestookinthecomparativevastness，peaceandbrillianceoftheengine-room，theship，settinghersternheavilyinthewater，senthimchargingheaddownuponMr。Rout。
Thechief\'sarm，longlikeatentacle，andstraighteningasifworkedbyaspring，wentouttomeethim，anddeflectedhisrushintoaspintowardsthespeaking-tubes。AtthesametimeMr。
Routrepeatedearnestly:
\"You\'vegottohurryup，whateveritis。\"
Jukesyelled\"Areyouthere，sir？\"andlistened。Nothing。
Suddenlytheroarofthewindfellstraightintohisear，butpresentlyasmallvoiceshovedasidetheshoutinghurricanequietly。
\"You，Jukes？——Well？\"
Jukeswasreadytotalk:itwasonlytimethatseemedtobewanting。Itwaseasyenoughtoaccountforeverything。Hecouldperfectlyimaginethecooliesbatteneddowninthereeking\'tween-deck，lyingsickandscaredbetweentherowsofchests。
Thenoneofthesechests——orperhapsseveralatonce——
breakinglooseinaroll，knockingoutothers，sidessplitting，lidsflyingopen，andalltheseclumsyChinamenrisingupinabodytosavetheirproperty。Afterwardseveryflingoftheshipwouldhurlthattramping，yellingmobhereandthere，fromsidetoside，inawhirlofsmashedwood，tornclothing，rollingdollars。Astruggleoncestarted，theywouldbeunabletostopthemselves。Nothingcouldstopthemnowexceptmainforce。Itwasadisaster。Hehadseenit，andthatwasallhecouldsay。
Someofthemmustbedead，hebelieved。Therestwouldgoonfighting……
Hesentuphiswords，trippingovereachother，crowdingthenarrowtube。Theymountedasifintoasilenceofanenlightenedcomprehensiondwellingaloneuptherewithastorm。AndJukeswantedtobedismissedfromthefaceofthatodioustroubleintrudingonthegreatneedoftheship。
V
HEWAITED。Beforehiseyestheenginesturnedwithslowlabour，thatinthemomentofgoingoffintoamadflingwouldstopdeadatMr。Rout\'sshout，\"Lookout，Beale!\"Theypausedinanintelligentimmobility，stilledinmid-stroke，aheavycrankarrestedonthecant，asifconsciousofdangerandthepassageoftime。Then，witha\"Now，then!\"fromthechief，andthesoundofabreathexpelledthroughclenchedteeth，theywouldaccomplishtheinterruptedrevolutionandbeginanother。
Therewastheprudentsagacityofwisdomandthedeliberationofenormousstrengthintheirmovements。Thiswastheirwork——thispatientcoaxingofadistractedshipoverthefuryofthewavesandintotheveryeyeofthewind。AttimesMr。Rout\'schinwouldsinkonhisbreast，andhewatchedthemwithknittedeyebrowsasiflostinthought。
ThevoicethatkeptthehurricaneoutofJukes\'earbegan:\"Takethehandswithyou……，\"andleftoffunexpectedly。
\"WhatcouldIdowiththem，sir？\"
Aharsh，abrupt，imperiousclangexplodedsuddenly。ThethreepairsofeyesflewuptothetelegraphdialtoseethehandjumpfromFULLtoSTOP，asifsnatchedbyadevil。Andthenthesethreemenintheengineroomhadtheintimatesensationofacheckupontheship，ofastrangeshrinking，asifshehadgatheredherselfforadesperateleap。
\"Stopher!\"bellowedMr。Rout。
Nobody——notevenCaptainMacWhirr，whoaloneondeckhadcaughtsightofawhitelineoffoamcomingonatsuchaheightthathecouldn\'tbelievehiseyes-nobodywastoknowthesteepnessofthatseaandtheawfuldepthofthehollowthehurricanehadscoopedoutbehindtherunningwallofwater。
Itracedtomeettheship，and，withapause，asofgirdingtheloins，theNan-Shanliftedherbowsandleaped。Theflamesinallthelampssank，darkeningtheengine-room。Onewentout。
Withatearingcrashandaswirling，ravingtumult，tonsofwaterfelluponthedeck，asthoughtheshiphaddartedunderthefootofacataract。
Downtheretheylookedateachother，stunned。
\"Sweptfromendtoend，byGod!\"bawledJukes。
Shedippedintothehollowstraightdown，asifgoingovertheedgeoftheworld。Theengine-roomtoppledforwardmenacingly，liketheinsideofatowernoddinginanearthquake。Anawfulracket，ofironthingsfalling，camefromthestokehold。ShehungonthisappallingslantlongenoughforBealetodroponhishandsandkneesandbegintocrawlasifhemeanttoflyonallfoursoutoftheengine-room，andforMr。Routtoturnhisheadslowly，rigid，cavernous，withthelowerjawdropping。Jukeshadshuthiseyes，andhisfaceinamomentbecamehopelesslyblankandgentle，likethefaceofablindman。
Atlastsheroseslowly，staggering，asifshehadtoliftamountainwithherbows。
Mr。Routshuthismouth；Jukesblinked；andlittleBealestooduphastily。
\"Anotheronelikethis，andthat\'sthelastofher，\"criedthechief。
HeandJukeslookedateachother，andthesamethoughtcameintotheirheads。TheCaptain!Everythingmusthavebeensweptaway。
Steering-geargone——shiplikealog。Alloverdirectly。
\"Rush!\"ejaculatedMr。Routthickly，glaringwithenlarged，doubtfuleyesatJukes，whoansweredhimbyanirresoluteglance。
Theclangofthetelegraphgongsoothedtheminstantly。TheblackhanddroppedinaflashfromSTOPtoFULL。
\"Nowthen，Beale!\"criedMr。Rout。
Thesteamhissedlow。Thepiston-rodsslidinandout。Jukesputhiseartothetube。Thevoicewasreadyforhim。Itsaid:
\"Pickupallthemoney。Bearahandnow。I\'llwantyouuphere。\"
Andthatwasall。
\"Sir？\"calledupJukes。Therewasnoanswer。
Hestaggeredawaylikeadefeatedmanfromthefieldofbattle。
Hehadgot，insomewayorother，acutabovehislefteyebrow——
acuttothebone。Hewasnotawareofitintheleast:
quantitiesoftheChinaSea，largeenoughtobreakhisneckforhim，hadgoneoverhishead，hadcleaned，washed，andsaltedthatwound。Itdidnotbleed，butonlygapedred；andthisgashovertheeye，hisdishevelledhair，thedisorderofhisclothes，gavehimtheaspectofamanworstedinafightwithfists。
\"Gottopickupthedollars。\"HeappealedtoMr。Rout，smilingpitifullyatrandom。
\"What\'sthat？\"askedMr。Rout，wildly。\"Pickup……？Idon\'tcare……\"Then，quiveringineverymuscle，butwithanexaggerationofpaternaltone，\"Goawaynow，forGod\'ssake。Youdeckpeople\'lldrivemesilly。There\'sthatsecondmatebeengoingfortheoldman。Don\'tyouknow？Youfellowsaregoingwrongforwantofsomethingtodo……\"
AtthesewordsJukesdiscoveredinhimselfthebeginningsofanger。Wantofsomethingtodo——indeed……Fullofhotscornagainstthechief，heturnedtogothewayhehadcome。Inthestokeholdtheplumpdonkeymantoiledwithhisshovelmutely，asifhistonguehadbeencutout；butthesecondwascarryingonlikeanoisy，undauntedmaniac，whohadpreservedhisskillintheartofstokingunderamarineboiler。
\"Hallo，youwanderingofficer!Hey!Can\'tyougetsomeofyourslush-slingerstowindupafewofthemashes？Iamgettingchokedwiththemhere。Curseit!Hallo!Hey!Rememberthearticles:Sailorsandfirementoassisteachother。Hey!D\'yehear？\"
Jukeswasclimbingoutfrantically，andtheother，liftinguphisfaceafterhim，howled，\"Can\'tyouspeak？Whatareyoupokingaboutherefor？What\'syourgame，anyhow？\"
AfrenzypossessedJukes。Bythetimehewasbackamongstthemeninthedarknessofthealleyway，hefeltreadytowringalltheirnecksattheslightestsignofhangingback。Theverythoughtofitexasperatedhim。Hecouldn\'thangback。Theyshouldn\'t。
Theimpetuositywithwhichhecameamongstthemcarriedthemalong。Theyhadalreadybeenexcitedandstartledatallhiscomingsandgoings——bythefiercenessandrapidityofhismovements；andmorefeltthanseeninhisrushes，heappearedformidable-busiedwithmattersoflifeanddeaththatbrookednodelay。Athisfirstwordheheardthemdropintothebunkeroneafteranotherobediently，withheavythumps。
Theywerenotclearastowhatwouldhavetobedone。\"Whatisit？Whatisit？\"theywereaskingeachother。Theboatswaintriedtoexplain；thesoundsofagreatscufflesurprisedthem:
andthemightyshocks，reverberatingawfullyintheblackbunker，kepttheminmindoftheirdanger。Whentheboatswainthrewopenthedooritseemedthataneddyofthehurricane，stealingthroughtheironsidesoftheship，hadsetallthesebodieswhirlinglikedust:therecametothemaconfuseduproar，atempestuoustumult，afiercemutter，gustsofscreamsdyingaway，andthetrampingoffeetminglingwiththeblowsofthesea。
Foramomenttheyglaredamazed，blockingthedoorway。Jukespushedthroughthembrutally。Hesaidnothing，andsimplydartedin。Anotherlotofcooliesontheladder，strugglingsuicidallytobreakthroughthebattenedhatchtoaswampeddeck，felloffasbefore，andhedisappearedunderthemlikeamanovertakenbyalandslide。
Theboatswainyelledexcitedly:\"Comealong。Getthemateout。
He\'llbetrampledtodeath。Comeon。\"
Theychargedin，stampingonbreasts，onfingers，onfaces，catchingtheirfeetinheapsofclothing，kickingbrokenwood；
butbeforetheycouldgetholdofhimJukesemergedwaistdeepinamultitudeofclawinghands。Intheinstanthehadbeenlosttoview，allthebuttonsofhisjackethadgone，itsbackhadgotsplituptothecollar，hiswaistcoathadbeentornopen。ThecentralstrugglingmassofChinamenwentovertotheroll，dark，indistinct，helpless，withawildgleamofmanyeyesinthedimlightofthelamps。
\"Leavemealone——damnyou。Iamallright，\"screechedJukes。
\"Drivethemforward。Watchyourchancewhenshepitches。
Forwardwith\'em。Drivethemagainstthebulkhead。Jam\'emup。\"
Therushofthesailorsintotheseething\'tween-deckwaslikeasplashofcoldwaterintoaboilingcauldron。Thecommotionsankforamoment。
ThebulkofChinamenwerelockedinsuchacompactscrimmagethat，linkingtheirarmsandaidedbyanappallingdiveoftheship，theseamensentitforwardinonegreatshove，likeasolidblock。Behindtheirbackssmallclustersandloosebodiestumbledfromsidetoside。
Theboatswainperformedprodigiousfeatsofstrength。Withhislongarmsopen，andeachgreatpawclutchingatastanchion，hestoppedtherushofsevenentwinedChinamenrollinglikeaboulder。Hisjointscracked；hesaid，\"Ha!\"andtheyflewapart。
Butthecarpentershowedthegreaterintelligence。Withoutsayingawordtoanybodyhewentbackintothealleyway，tofetchseveralcoilsofcargogearhehadseenthere——chainandrope。
Withtheselife-lineswererigged。
Therewasreallynoresistance。Thestruggle，howeveritbegan，hadturnedintoascrambleofblindpanic。Ifthecoolieshadstartedupaftertheirscattereddollarstheywerebythattimefightingonlyfortheirfooting。Theytookeachotherbythethroatmerelytosavethemselvesfrombeinghurledabout。
Whoevergotaholdanywherewouldkickattheotherswhocaughtathislegsandhungon，tillarollsentthemflyingtogetheracrossthedeck。
Thecomingofthewhitedevilswasaterror。Hadtheycometokill？Theindividualstornoutoftheruckbecameverylimpintheseamen\'shands:some，draggedasidebytheheels，werepassive，likedeadbodies，withopen，fixedeyes。Hereandthereacooliewouldfallonhiskneesasifbeggingformercy；
several，whomtheexcessoffearmadeunruly，werehitwithhardfistsbetweentheeyes，andcowered；whilethosewhowerehurtsubmittedtoroughhandling，blinkingrapidlywithoutaplaint。
Facesstreamedwithblood；therewererawplacesontheshavenheads，scratches，bruises，tornwounds，gashes。Thebrokenporcelainoutofthechestswasmostlyresponsibleforthelatter。HereandthereaChinaman，wild-eyed，withhistailunplaited，nursedableedingsole。