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suppose I'm getting nervous and fidgety myself； for I find myself
every now and then watching the officers and men； and listening to
the orders as if something were going to happen again。 I never
felt so before； I never used to have the least concern in what you
call 'the working of the ship；' and now〃her voice； which had been
half playful； half pettish； suddenly became grave；〃and nowlook
at the mate and those men forward。 There certainly is something
going on； or is going to happen。 What ARE they looking at？〃
The mate had clambered halfway up the main ratlines； and was
looking earnestly to windward。 Two or three of the crew on the
forecastle were gazing in the same direction。 The group of cabin…
passengers on the quarterdeck； following their eyes； saw what
appeared to be another low shore on the opposite bow。
〃Why； there's another coast there！〃 said Mrs。 Markham。
〃It's a fog…bank；〃 said Senor Perkins gravely。 He quickly crossed
the deck； exchanged a few words with the officer； and returned。
Miss Keene； who had felt a sense of relief； nevertheless questioned
his face as he again stood beside her。 But he had recovered his
beaming cheerfulness。 〃It's nothing to alarm you；〃 he said；
answering her glance； 〃but it may mean delay if we can't get out of
it。 You don't mind that； I know。〃
〃No；〃 replied the young girl； smiling。 〃Besides； it would be a new
experience。 We've had winds and calmswe only want fog now to
complete our adventures。 Unless it's going to make everybody
cross；〃 she continued； with a mischievous glance at Brace。
〃You'll find it won't improve the temper of the officers；〃 said
Crosby； who had joined the group。 〃There's nothing sailors hate
more than a fog。 They can go to sleep in a hurricane between the
rolls of a ship； but a fog keeps them awake。 It's the one thing
they can't shirk。 There's the skipper tumbled up； too！ The old
man looks wrathy； don't he？ But it's no use now； we're going slap
into it； and the wind's failing！〃
It was true。 In the last few moments all that vast glistening
surface of metallic blue which stretched so far to windward
appeared to be slowly eaten away as if by some dull； corroding
acid； the distant horizon line of sea and sky was still distinct
and sharply cut； but the whole water between them had grown gray；
as if some invisible shadow had passed in mid…air across it。 The
actual fog bank had suddenly lost its resemblance to the shore； had
lifted as a curtain； and now seemed suspended over the ship。
Gradually it descended； the top…gallant and top…sails were lost in
this mysterious vapor； yet the horizon line still glimmered
faintly。 Then another mist seemed to rise from the sea and meet
it； in another instant the deck whereon they stood shrank to the
appearance of a raft adrift in a faint gray sea。 With the complete
obliteration of all circumambient space； the wind fell。 Their
isolation was complete。
It was notable that the first and most peculiar effect of this
misty environment was the absolute silence。 The empty； invisible
sails above did not flap； the sheets and halyards hung limp； even
the faint creaking of an unseen block overhead was so startling as
to draw every eye upwards。 Muffled orders from viewless figures
forward were obeyed by phantoms that moved noiselessly through the
gray sea that seemed to have invaded the deck。 Even the passengers
spoke in whispers； or held their breath； in passive groups； as if
fearing to break a silence so replete with awe and anticipation。
It was next noticed that the vessel was subjected to some vague
motion； the resistance of the water had ceased； the waves no longer
hissed under her bows； or nestled and lapped under her counter； a
dreamy； irregular； and listless rocking had taken the place of the
regular undulations； at times； a faint and half delicious vertigo
seemed to overcome their senses； the ship was drifting。
Captain Bunker stood near the bitts； where his brief orders were
transmitted to the man at the almost useless wheel。 At his side
Senor Perkins beamed with unshaken serenity； and hopefully replied
to the captain's half surly； half anxious queries。
〃By the chart we should be well east of Los Lobos island； d'ye
see？〃 he said impatiently。 〃You don't happen to remember the
direction of the current off shore when you were running up here？〃
〃It's five years ago；〃 said the Senor modestly； 〃but I remember we
kept well to the west to weather Cape St。 Eugenio。 My impression
is that there was a strong northwesterly current setting north of
Ballenos Bay。〃
〃And we're in it now；〃 said Captain Bunker shortly。 〃How near St。
Roque does it set？〃
〃Within a mile or two。 I should keep away more to the west；〃 said
Senor Perkins； 〃and clear〃
〃I ain't asking you to run the ship；〃 interrupted Captain Bunker
sharply。 〃How's her head now； Mr。 Brooks？〃
The seamen standing near cast a rapid glance at Senor Perkins； but
not a muscle of his bland face moved or betrayed a consciousness of
the insult。 Whatever might have been the feeling towards him； at
that moment the sailorsafter their fashionadmired their
captain； strong； masterful； and imperious。 The danger that had
cleared his eye； throat； and brain； and left him once more the
daring and skillful navigator they knew； wiped out of their shallow
minds the vicious habit that had sunk him below their level。
It had now become perceptible to even the inexperienced eyes of the
passengers that the Excelsior was obeying some new and profound
impulse。 The vague drifting had ceased； and in its place had come
a mysterious but regular movement； in which the surrounding mist
seemed to participate； until fog and vessel moved together towards
some unseen but well…defined bourne。 In vain had the boats of the
Excelsior； manned by her crew； endeavored with a towing…line to
check or direct the inexplicable movement； in vain had Captain
Bunker struggled； with all the skilled weapons of seamanship；
against his invincible foe； wrapped in the impenetrable fog； the
ship moved ghost…like to what seemed to be her doom。
The anxiety of the officers had not as yet communicated itself to
the passengers； those who had been most nervous in the ordinary
onset of wind and wave looked upon the fog as a phenomenon whose
only disturbance might be delay。 To Miss Keene this conveyed no
annoyance； rather that placid envelopment of cloud soothed her
fancy； she submitted herself to its soft embraces； and to the
mysterious onward movement of the ship； as if it were part of a
youthful dream。 Once she thought of the ship of Sindbad； and that
fatal loadstone mountain； with an awe that was； however； half a
pleasure。
〃You are not frightened； Miss Keene？〃 said a voice near her。
She started slightly。 It was the voice of Mr。 Hurlstone。 So thick
was the fog that his face and figure appeared to come dimly out of
it； like a part of her