Directlyhecouldwalkwithoutastick，hedescendedintothetowntolookforsomeopportunitytogethome。Nothingofferedjustthen，and，whilewaiting，heassociatednaturallywiththemenofhiscallingintheport。Thesewereoftwokinds。Some，veryfewandseentherebutseldom，ledmysteriouslives，hadpreservedanundefacedenergywiththetemperofbuccaneersandtheeyesofdreamers。Theyappearedtoliveinacrazymazeofplans，hopes，dangers，enterprises，aheadofcivilization，inthedarkplacesofthesea；andtheirdeathwastheonlyeventoftheirfantasticexistencethatseemedtohaveareasonablecertitudeofachievement。Themajorityweremenwho，likehimself，throwntherebysomeaccident，hadremainedasofficersofcountryships。Theyhadnowahorrorofthehomeservice，withitsharderconditions，severerviewofduty，andthehazardofstormyoceans。TheywereattunedtotheeternalpeaceofEasternskyandsea。Theylovedshortpassages，gooddeck-chairs，largenativecrews，andthedistinctionofbeingwhite。Theyshudderedatthethoughtofhardwork，andledprecariouslyeasylives，alwaysonthevergeofdismissal，alwaysonthevergeofengagement，servingChinamen，Arabs，half-castes——wouldhaveservedthedevilhimselfhadhemadeiteasyenough。Theytalkedeverlastinglyofturnsofluck：howSo-and-sogotchargeofaboatonthecoastofChina——asoftthing；howthisonehadaneasybilletinJapansomewhere，andthatonewasdoingwellintheSiamesenavy；andinalltheysaid——intheiractions，intheirlooks，intheirpersons——couldbedetectedthesoftspot，theplaceofdecay，thedeterminationtoloungesafelythroughexistence。
　　ToJimthatgossipingcrowd，viewedasseamen，seemedatfirstmoreunsubstantialthansomanyshadows。Butatlengthhefoundafascinationinthesightofthosemen，intheirappearanceofdoingsowellonsuchasmallallowanceofdangerandtoil。Intime，besidetheoriginaldisdaintheregrewupslowlyanothersentiment；andsuddenly，givinguptheideaofgoinghome，hetookaberthaschiefmateofthePatna。
　　ThePatnawasalocalsteamerasoldasthehills，leanlikeagreyhound，andeatenupwithrustworsethanacondemnedwater-tank。
　　ShewasownedbyaChinaman，charteredbyanArab，andcommandedbyasortofrenegadeNewSouthWalesGerman，veryanxioustocursepubliclyhisnativecountry，butwho，apparentlyonthestrengthofBismarck’svictoriouspolicy，brutalizedallthosehewasnotafraidof，andworea`blood-and-iron’
　　air，combinedwithapurplenoseandaredmoustache。Aftershehadbeenpaintedoutsideandwhitewashedinside，eighthundredpilgrimsmoreorlessweredrivenonboardofherasshelaywithsteamupalongsideawoodenjetty。
　　Theystreamedaboardoverthreegangways，theystreamedinurgedbyfaithandthehopeofparadise，theystreamedinwithacontinuoustrampandshuffleofbarefeet，withoutaword，amurmur，oralookback；andwhenclearofconfiningrailsspreadonallsidesoverthedeck，flowedforwardandaft，overfloweddowntheyawninghatchways，filledtheinnerrecessesoftheship——likewaterfillingacistern，likewaterflowingintocrevicesandcrannies，likewaterrisingsilentlyevenwiththerim。
　　Eighthundredmenandwomenwithfaithandhopes，withaffectionsandmemories，theyhadcollectedthere，comingfromnorthandsouthandfromtheoutskirtsoftheEast，aftertreadingthejunglepaths，descendingtherivers，coastinginprausalongtheshallows，crossinginsmallcanoesfromislandtoisland，passingthroughsuffering，meetingstrangesights，besetbystrangefears，upheldbyonedesire。Theycamefromsolitaryhutsinthewilderness，frompopulouscampongs，fromvillagesbythesea。Atthecallofanideatheyhadlefttheirforests，theirclearings，theprotectionoftheirrulers，theirprosperity，theirpoverty，thesurroundingsoftheiryouthandthegravesoftheirfathers。Theycamecoveredwithdust，withsweat，withgrime，withrags——thestrongmenattheheadoffamilyparties，theleanoldmenpressingforwardwithouthopeofreturn；youngboyswithfearlesseyesglancingcuriously，shylittlegirlswithtumbledlonghair；
　　thetimidwomenmuffledupandclaspingtotheirbreasts，wrappedinlooseendsofsoiledhead-cloths，theirsleepingbabies，theunconsciouspilgrimsofanexactingbelief。
　　`Lookatdesecattle，’saidtheGermanskippertohisnewchiefmate。
　　AnArab，theleaderofthatpiousvoyage，camelast。Hewalkedslowlyaboard，handsomeandgraveinhiswhitegownandlargeturban。Astringofservantsfollowed，loadedwithhisluggage；thePatnacastoffandbackedawayfromthewharf。
　　Shewasheadedbetweentwosmallislets，crossedobliquelytheanchoring-groundofsailing-ships，swungthroughhalfacircleintheshadowofahill，thenrangedclosetoaledgeoffoamingreefs。TheArab，standingupaft，recitedaloudtheprayeroftravellersbysea。HeinvokedthefavouroftheMostHighuponthatjourney，imploredHisblessingonmen’stoilandonthesecretpurposesoftheirhearts；thesteamerpoundedintheduskthecalmwateroftheStrait；andfarasternofthepilgrimshipascrew-pilelighthouse，plantedbyunbelieversonatreacherousshoal，seemedtowinkatheritseyeofflame，asifinderisionofhererrandoffaith。
　　SheclearedtheStrait，crossedthebay，continuedonherwaythroughthe`One-degree’passage。SheheldonstraightfortheRedSeaunderaserenesky，underaskyscorchingandunclouded，envelopedinafulgorofsunshinethatkilledallthought，oppressedtheheart，witheredallimpulsesofstrengthandenergy。Andunderthesinistersplendourofthatskythesea，blueandprofound，remainedstill，withoutastir，withoutaripple，withoutawrinkle——viscous，stagnant，dead。ThePatna，withaslighthiss，passedoverthatplainluminousandsmooth，unrolledablackribbonofsmokeacrossthesky，leftbehindheronthewaterawhiteribbonoffoamthatvanishedatonce，likethephantomofatrackdrawnuponalifelessseabythephantomofasteamer。
　　Everymorningthesun，asifkeepingpaceinhisrevolutionswiththeprogressofthepilgrimage，emergedwithasilentburstoflightexactlyatthesamedistanceasternoftheship，caughtupwithheratnoon，pouringtheconcentratedfireofhisraysonthepiouspurposesofthemen，glidedpastonhisdescent，andsankmysteriouslyintotheseaeveningafterevening，preservingthesamedistanceaheadofheradvancingbows。Thefivewhitesonboardlivedamidships，isolatedfromthehumancargo。Theawningscoveredthedeckwithawhiterooffromstemtostern，andafainthum，alowmurmurofsadvoices，alonerevealedthepresenceofacrowdofpeopleuponthegreatblazeoftheocean。Suchwerethedays，still，hot，heavy，disappearingonebyoneintothepast，asiffallingintoanabyssforeveropeninthewakeoftheship；andtheship，lonelyunderawispofsmoke，heldonhersteadfastwayblackandsmoulderinginaluminousimmensity，asifscorchedbyaflameflickedatherfromaheavenwithoutpity。
　　Thenightsdescendedonherlikeabenediction。
　　LordJim：Chapter3CHAPTERIIIAMARVELLOUSstillnesspervadedtheworld，andthestars，togetherwiththeserenityoftheirrays，seemedtoshedupontheearththeassuranceofeverlastingsecurity。Theyoungmoon，recurved，andshininglowinthewest，waslikeaslendershavingthrownupfromabarofgold，andtheArabianSea，smoothandcooltotheeyelikeasheetofice，extendeditsperfectleveltotheperfectcircleofadarkhorizon。
　　Thepropellerturnedwithoutacheck，asthoughitsbeathadbeenpartoftheschemeofasafeuniverse；andoneachsideofthePatnatwodeepfoldsofwater，permanentandsombreontheunwrinkledshimmer，enclosedwithintheirstraightanddivergingridgesafewwhiteswirlsoffoamburstinginalowhiss，afewwavelets，afewripples，afewundulationsthat，leftbehind，agitatedthesurfaceoftheseaforaninstantafterthepassageoftheship，subsidedsplashinggently，calmeddownatlastintothecircularstillnessofwaterandskywiththeblackspeckofthemovinghullremainingeverlastinglyinitscentre。
　　Jimonthebridgewaspenetratedbythegreatcertitudeofunboundedsafetyandpeacethatcouldbereadonthesilentaspectofnaturelikethecertitudeoffosteringloveupontheplacidtendernessofamother’sface。Belowtheroofofawnings，surrenderedtothewisdomofwhitemenandtotheircourage，trustingthepoweroftheirunbeliefandtheironshelloftheirfire-ship，thepilgrimsofanexactingfaithsleptonmats，onblankets，onbareplanks，oneverydeck，inallthedarkcorners，wrappedindyedcloths，muffledinsoiledrags，withtheirheadsrestingonsmallbundles，withtheirfacespressedtobentfore-arms：themen，thewomen，thechildren；theoldwiththeyoung，thedecrepitwiththelusty——allequalbeforesleep，death’sbrother。
　　Adraughtofair，fannedfromforwardbythespeedoftheship，passedsteadilythroughthelonggloombetweenthehighbulwarks，sweptovertherowsofpronebodies；afewdimflamesinglobe-lampswerehungshorthereandthereundertheridgepoles，andintheblurredcirclesoflightthrowndownandtremblingslightlytotheunceasingvibrationoftheshipappearedachinupturned，twoclosedeyelids，adarkhandwithsilverrings，ameagrelimbdrapedinatorncovering，aheadbentback，anakedfoot，athroatbaredandstretchedasifofferingitselftotheknife。Thewell-to-dohadmadefortheirfamiliesshelterswithheavyboxesanddustymats；thepoorreposedsidebysidewithalltheyhadonearthtiedupinaragundertheirheads；theloneoldmenslept，withdrawn-uplegs，upontheirprayer-carpets，withtheirhandsovertheirearsandoneelbowoneachsideoftheface；
　　afather，hisshouldersupandhiskneesunderhisforehead，dozeddejectedlybyaboywhosleptonhisbackwithtousledhairandonearmcommandinglyextended；awomancoveredfromheadtofoot，likeacorpse，withapieceofwhitesheeting，hadanakedchildinthehollowofeacharm；theArab’sbelongings，piledrightaft，madeaheavymoundofbrokenoutlines，withacargo-lampswungabove，andagreatconfusionofvagueformsbehind：
　　gleamsofpaunchybrasspots，thefoot-restofadeck-chair，bladesofspears，thestraightscabbardofanoldswordleaningagainstaheapofpillows，thespoutofatincoffee-pot。Thepatentlogonthetaffrailperiodicallyrangasingletinklingstrokeforeverymiletraversedonanerrandoffaith。Abovethemassofsleepersafaintandpatientsighattimesfloated，theexhalationofatroubleddream；andshortmetallicclangsburstingoutsuddenlyinthedepthsoftheship，theharshscrapeofashovel，theviolentslamofafurnace-door，explodedbrutally，asifthemenhandlingthemysteriousthingsbelowhadtheirbreastsfulloffierceanger：whiletheslimhighhullofthesteamerwentonevenlyahead，withoutaswayofherbaremasts，cleavingcontinuouslythegreatcalmofthewatersundertheinaccessibleserenityofthesky。
　　Jimpacedathwart，andhisfootstepsinthevastsilencewereloudtohisownears，asifechoedbythewatchfulstars：hiseyesroamingaboutthelineofthehorizon，seemedtogazehungrilyintotheunattainable，anddidnotseetheshadowofthecomingevent。Theonlyshadowontheseawastheshadowoftheblacksmokepouringheavilyfromthefunnelitsimmensestreamer，whoseendwasconstantlydissolvingintheair。TwoMalays，silentandalmostmotionless，steered，oneoneachsideofthewheel，whosebrassrimshonefragmentarilyintheovaloflightthrownoutbythebinnacle。
　　Nowandthenahand，withblackfingersalternatelylettinggoandcatchingholdofrevolvingspokes，appearedintheilluminedpart；thelinksofwheel-chainsgroundheavilyinthegroovesofthebarrel。Jimwouldglanceatthecompass，wouldglancearoundtheunattainablehorizon，wouldstretchhimselftillhisjointscrackedwithaleisurelytwistofthebody，intheveryexcessofwell-being；and，asifmadeaudaciousbytheinvincibleaspectofthepeace，hefelthecaredfornothingthatcouldhappentohimtotheendofhisdays。Fromtimetotimeheglancedidlyatachartpeggedoutwithfourdrawing-pinsonalowthree-leggedtableabaftthesteering-gearcase。Thesheetofpaperportrayingthedepthsoftheseapresentedashinysurfaceunderthelightofabull’s-eyelamplashedtoastanchion，asurfaceaslevelandsmoothastheglimmeringsurfaceofthewaters。Parallelrulerswithapairofdividersreposedonit；theship’spositionatlastnoonwasmarkedwithasmallblackcross，andthestraightpencil-linedrawnfirmlyasfarasPerimfiguredthecourseoftheship——thepathofsoulstowardstheholyplace，thepromiseofsalvation，therewardofeternallife——whilethepencilwithitssharpendtouchingtheSomalicoastlayroundandstilllikeanakedship’ssparfloatinginthepoolofasheltereddock。`Howsteadyshegoes，’thoughtJimwithwonder，withsomethinglikegratitudeforthishighpeaceofseaandsky。
　　Atsuchtimeshisthoughtswouldbefullofvalorousdeeds：helovedthesedreamsandthesuccessofhisimaginaryachievements。Theywerethebestpartsoflife，itssecrettruth，itshiddenreality。Theyhadagorgeousvirility，thecharmofvagueness，theypassedbeforehimwithaheroictread；theycarriedhissoulawaywiththemandmadeitdrunkwiththedivinephiltreofanunboundedconfidenceinitself。Therewasnothinghecouldnotface。Hewassopleasedwiththeideathathesmiled，keepingperfunctorilyhiseyesahead；andwhenhehappenedtoglancebackhesawthewhitestreakofthewakedrawnasstraightbytheship’skeelupontheseaastheblacklinedrawnbythepenciluponthechart。