WILLIAM LITHGOW 7 1 



yond this wet veil which wrapped us around. 



This was the world, the universe itself, its bounds 



so near one felt impelled to reach out both arms 



and push them back. It was impossble that the 



rest could be beyond these walls of grey. The 



rest was a dream, no more than the memory of 



a dream. 



Jack London. 



IV. STORM 



The Sorrowful Maister's Predicament <:> 



(From Rare Adventures) 



npHE sorrowful Maister, seeing nothing but 

 shipwrack tooke the Ilelme in hand, directing 

 his course to rush upon the face of a low Rocke, 

 whereupon the sea most fearefully broke. As wc 

 touched the Mariners contending who should first 

 leape out, some fell over-boord, and those that got 

 land were pulled backe by the reciprocating waves : 

 Neither in all this time durst I once move ; for 

 they had formerly sworne, if I pressed to escape, 

 before the rest were first forth, they would tluow 

 me headlong into the sea : So being two wayes in 

 danger of death, I patiently offered up my prayers 

 to God. 



At our first encounter with the Rocks, (our fore- 

 decks, and Boates gallery being broke, and a 



