Captain Kaufman is not a man given to superstition or believing in old sailors' tales. This is the fastest way to the shipping lanes, free of sharp rocks, dangerous reefs and/or Naval authorities, and by god, there is no legitimate reason they oughtn't take it.
But the quiet sets his teeth on edge and makes him feel like something is constantly creeping up his spine, and he doesn't like it. His orders to the crew become increasingly sharper, shorter and angrier as they drift through the utter lack of life.