Межзвёздный скиталец

           ButIknewwhattoexpect,andIdidwait.Iknewthatifweescapedatall,itwouldbebythelongboat.Nomancouldswiminsofreezingasea.Andnoman,thinlyclad,couldlivelongintheopenboat.Also,Iknewjustabouthowlongitwouldtaketolaunchtheboat.

           So,bythelightofthewildlyswingingslush-lamp,tothetumultondeckandtocriesof“She’ssinking!”Iproceededtoransackmysea-chestforsuitablegarments.Also,sincetheywouldneverusethemagain,Iransackedtheseachestsofmyshipmates.Workingquicklybutcollectedly,Itooknothingbutthewarmestandstoutestofclothes.Iputonthefourbestwoollenshirtstheforecastleboasted,threepairsofpants,andthreepairsofthickwoollensocks.SolargeweremyfeetthusincasedthatIcouldnotputonmyowngoodboots.Instead,IthrustonNicholasWilton’snewboots,whichwerelargerandevenstouterthanmine.Also,IputonJeremyNalor’speajacketovermyown,and,outsideofboth,putonSethRichard’sthickcanvascoatwhichIrememberedhehadfresh-oiledonlyashortwhileprevious.

           Twopairsofheavymittens,JohnRobert’smufflerwhichhismotherhadknittedforhim,andJosephDawes’beavercapatopmyown,bothbearingear-andneck-flaps,completedmyoutfitting.Theshoutsthatthebrigwassinkingredoubled,butItookaminutelongertofillmypocketswithalltheplugtobaccoIcouldlayhandson.ThenIclimbedoutondeck,andnotamomenttoosoon.