Mate says we must be past the Straits of Dover, as in a moment of fog lifting he saw North Foreland, just as he heard the man cry out. If so we are now off in the North Sea, and only God can guide us in the fog, which seems to move with us, and God seems to have deserted us.

3 August. At midnight I went to relieve the man at the wheel and when I got to it found no one there. The wind was steady, and as we ran before it there was no yawing. I dared not leave it, so shouted for the mate. After a few seconds, he rushed up on deck in his pajamas. He looked wild-eyed and haggard, and I greatly fear his reason has given way. He came close to me and whispered hoarsely, with his mouth to my ear, as though fearing the very air might hear.

'It is here. I know it now. On the watch last night I saw It, like a man, tall and thin, and ghastly pale. It was in the bows, and looking out. I crept behind It, and gave it my knife, but the knife went through It, empty as the air.' And as he spoke he took the knife and drove it savagely into space.

Vocabulary:

Straits: Land close on each side of the sea
Deserted: Abandoned, left without help
Relieve: Take over from someone at work
Yaw: Uncontrolled move from side to side
Pajamas: Sleeping clothes
Haggard: Tired and stressed
Hoarse: With the throat under strain
Ghastly: Horrible like a ghost