All at once I imagined I saw shoal water ahead! The wave of coward agony that surged through me then came near dislocating every joint in me.

All my confidence in that crossing vanished.

I seized the bell-rope; dropped it, ashamed; seized it again; dropped it once more; clutched it tremblingly one again, and pulled it so feebly that I could hardly hear the stroke myself.

Captain and mate sang out instantly, and both together-- 'Starboard lead there! and quick about it!' This was another shock.

I began to climb the wheel like a squirrel; but I would hardly get the boat started to port before I would see new dangers on that side, and away I would spin to the other; only to find perils accumulating to starboard, and be crazy to get to port again.
Then came the leadsman's sepulchral cry-- 'D-e-e-p four!' Deep four in a bottomless crossing! The terror of it took my breath away.
'M-a-r-k three!...