He jumped overboard at sea barely a week after the end of the inquiry, and less than three days after leaving port on his outward passage; as though on that exact spot in the midst of waters he had suddenly perceived the gates of the other world flung open wide for his reception.
'Yet it was not a sudden impulse.

His grey-headed mate, a first-rate sailor and a nice old chap with strangers, but in his relations with his commander the surliest chief officer I've ever seen, would tell the story with tears in his eyes.

It appears that when he came on deck in the morning Brierly had been writing in the chart-room.

"It was ten minutes to four," he said, "and the middle watch was not relieved yet of course.

He heard my voice on the bridge speaking to the second mate, and called me in.