Although the Captain remains stern before the crew, he is filled with doubt about their chances of survival. The dark sky, combined with the shadows from the hills of Koh-ring, make navigation very difficult, and the Captain wishes he had some kind of mark in the water by which to gauge his steering. Suddenly, he sees a white object in the water within a yard of the ship's side — he recognizes it as his hat, which he had given to Leggatt and which had fallen off his head when he began his swim to shore. The Captain uses this mark to help him steer the ship, which avoids being grounded and steers clear of any further danger. The Captain now feels in perfect command of the ship and his crew. As his ship sails on, he watches his hat disappear from view and thinks of Leggatt, "striking out for a new destiny."