120 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



have no such knowledge. The other vessel may 

 suddenly alter her course, whether through the 

 look-out wakening up, or through the master per- 

 ceiving he has failed in his attempt to unlawfully 

 compel the sailing vessel or the overtaken vessel 

 to get out of his way, or through a too late 

 resolution to do what he ought to have done 

 earlier alter his own course. The master of the 

 threatened vessel feels he must " do something." 

 It seems impossible that he can escape if he holds 

 on his course : he alters his course, but does not 

 escape collision. He may be blamed under Art. 18, 

 or justified under Art. 19, but whether he be 

 blamed or whether he be justified, the other is 

 certainly culpable for breach of Art. 15 or Art. 17, 

 as the case may be. 



It is not an exceedingly rare incident for two 

 steamers on the wide ocean, in clear and moderate 

 weather, to be on such courses that they cannot 

 in the nature of things, escape collision otherwise 

 than by the fulfilment of Art. 16. How can a 

 man walking towards a mirror escape collision 

 with his own image ? Only by slowing and 



