cabin, "the ship is going down."

"Very well, Mr. Spoker," said the Captain; "but that is no reason
for going about half-shaved. Exercise your mind a moment, Mr.
Spoker, and you will see that to the philosophic eye there is
nothing new in our position: the ship (if she is to go down at all)
may be said to have been going down since she was launched."

"She is settling fast," said the first lieutenant, as he returned
from shaving.

"Fast, Mr. Spoker?" asked the Captain. "The expression is a
strange one, for time (if you will think of it) is only relative."

"Sir," said the lieutenant, "I think it is scarcely worth while to
embark in such a discussion when we shall all be in Davy Jones's
Locker in ten minutes."

"By parity of reasoning," returned the Captain gently, "it would
never be worth while to begin any inquiry of importance; the odds
are always overwhelming that we must die before we shall have
brought it to an end. You have not considered, Mr. Spoker, the
situation of man," said the Captain, smiling, and shaking his head.

"I am much more engaged in considering the position of the ship,"
said Mr. Spoker.

"Spoken like a good officer," replied the Captain, laying his hand
on the lieutenant's shoulder.