they werenot that he had plotted it , but the captain knewat the roundingsoon the howling beganhowling and sucking wind and a thumping and thrashing of the ship , things flying overboard , a sailor lost from the crows nest , salt water dripping through everything , mere cups of pure water rationed into drops ... in the eyes of the men he sees father death peeking , at first the fear of death , then the recognition of death , then the presence of death ... all were dead menthe captain most dead of all : lashing and binding himself to the post next to the wheel ... never leaving , day or nightwilling to go down with his ship .