The Devil and the Dark Water

Crauwels makes his way onto the deck, convinced that the storm has finally overtaken them. He finds Arent and asks him for help pumping water. Arent agrees but insists that he be allowed to free Sammy first, which Crauwels begrudgingly agrees to do.

Arent comes across Sara and Lia. They have changed their fine dresses for peasant clothes and insist that they can help. She heads below deck to help anyone who is sick.

Crauwels finds Haan standing on the poop deck, watching the storm as if it were “an enemy he couldn’t turn his back on” (296). They look out and see sailors tying themselves to railings as others are tossed overboard, and waves overtake the ship. He realizes that only three ships have stayed with the Saardam through the storm. He sees the first capsize, the crew thrown overboard, then watches in horror as another boat tears through it. He sees the final boat, the Leeuwarden, off in the distance.

Realizing that there are no more orders to be given, Crauwels simply waits to see if the Saardam can survive. He prays to God, then finds himself praying to Old Tom, thinking “So this is how men go to the devil” when “all their prayers [have] gone unanswered” (296).