The Sea Wolf

I glanced up. The captain had thrust his head and shoulders out of the pilothouse and was staring intently into the fog as though by sheer force of willhe could... » 

I glanced up. The captain had thrust his head and shoulders out of the pilothouse and was staring intently into the fog as though by sheer force of willhe could penetrate it. His face was anxious as was the face of my companionwho had stumped over to the rail and was gazing with a like intentness in thedirection of the invisible danger. Then everything happened and withinconceivable rapidity. The fog seemed to break away as though split by awedge and the bow of a steamboat emerged trailing fogwreaths on either sidelike seaweed on the snout of Leviathan. I could see the pilothouse and awhitebearded man leaning partly out of it on his elbows. He was clad in ablue uniform and I remember noting how trim and quiet he was. His quietnessunder the circumstances was terrible. He accepted Destiny marched hand inhand with it and coolly measured the stroke. As he leaned there he ran a calmand speculative eye over us as though to determine the precise point of thecollision and took no notice whatever when our pilot white with rageshouted Now youve done it «