However, it cannot be concealed that, in that case, I must somehow have fallen overboard, or that there must have been wreck at last.

I too well remember a time--a long time--of cold, of danger, of contention.

To this hour, when I have the nightmare, it repeats the rush and saltness of briny waves in my throat, and their icy pressure on my lungs.

I even know there was a storm, and that not of one hour nor one day.

For many days and nights neither sun nor stars appeared; we cast with our own hands the tackling out of the ship; a heavy tempest lay on us; all hope that we should be saved was taken away.