When things were changing for the better and the ship had been steered through, a terrible thing happened. The old Mariner took his crass-bow and shot the albatross. It was a terrible thing as the bird had proved lucky for them. It had brought a good south wind with it. Why did the old Mariner do it? It is rather difficult to comprehend. It might be a rush of blood or a fit of madness that caused him act like this.