Theshallowseathatfoamsandmurmursontheshoresofthethousandislands，bigandlittle，whichmakeuptheMalayArchipelagohasbeenforcenturiesthesceneofadventurousundertakings。Thevicesandthevirtuesoffournationshavebeendisplayedintheconquestofthatregionthateventothisdayhasnotbeenrobbedofallthemysteryandromanceofitspast——andtheraceofmenwhohadfoughtagainstthePortuguese，theSpaniards，theDutchandtheEnglish，hasnotbeenchangedbytheunavoidabledefeat。Theyhavekepttothisdaytheirloveofliberty，theirfanaticaldevotiontotheirchiefs，theirblindfidelityinfriendshipandhate——alltheirlawfulandunlawfulinstincts。Theircountryoflandandwater——fortheseawasasmuchtheircountryastheearthoftheirislands——hasfallenapreytothewesternrace——therewardofsuperiorstrengthifnotofsuperiorvirtue。To—morrowtheadvancingcivilizationwillobliteratethemarksofalongstruggleintheaccomplishmentofitsinevitablevictory。
Theadventurerswhobeganthatstrugglehaveleftnodescendants。
Theideasoftheworldchangedtooquicklyforthat。Butevenfarintothepresentcenturytheyhavehadsuccessors。Almostinourowndaywehaveseenoneofthem——atrueadventurerinhisdevotiontohisimpulse——amanofhighmindandofpureheart，laythefoundationofaflourishingstateontheideasofpityandjustice。Herecognizedchivalrouslytheclaimsoftheconquered；hewasadisinterestedadventurer，andtherewardofhisnobleinstinctsisinthevenerationwithwhichastrangeandfaithfulracecherishhismemory。
Misunderstoodandtraducedinlife，thegloryofhisachievementhasvindicatedthepurityofhismotives。Hebelongstohistory。
Buttherewereothers——obscureadventurerswhohadnothisadvantagesofbirth，position，andintelligence；whohadonlyhissympathywiththepeopleofforestsandseaheunderstoodandlovedsowell。Theycannotbesaidtobeforgottensincetheyhavenotbeenknownatall。Theywerelostinthecommoncrowdofseamen—tradersoftheArchipelago，andiftheyemergedfromtheirobscurityitwasonlytobecondemnedaslaw—breakers。Theirliveswerethrownawayforacausethathadnorighttoexistinthefaceofanirresistibleandorderlyprogress——theirthoughtlesslivesguidedbyasimplefeeling。
Butthewastedlives，forthefewwhoknow，havetingedwithromancetheregionofshallowwatersandforest—cladislands，thatliesfareast，andstillmysteriousbetweenthedeepwatersoftwooceans。
I
OutofthelevelblueofashallowseaCarimataraisesaloftybarrennessofgreyandyellowtints，thedrabeminenceofitsaridheights。Separatedbyanarrowstripofwater，Suroeton，tothewest，showsacurvedandridgedoutlineresemblingthebackboneofastoopinggiant。Andtotheeastwardatroopofinsignificantisletsstandeffaced，indistinct，withvaguefeaturesthatseemtomeltintothegatheringshadows。Thenightfollowingfromtheeastwardtheretreatofthesettingsunadvancedslowly，swallowingthelandandthesea；thelandbroken，tormentedandabrupt；theseasmoothandinvitingwithitseasypolishofcontinuoussurfacetowanderingsfacileandendless。
Therewasnowind，andasmallbrigthathadlainalltheafternoonafewmilestothenorthwardandwestwardofCarimatahadhardlyaltereditspositionhalfamileduringallthesehours。Thecalmwasabsolute，adead，flatcalm，thestillnessofadeadseaandofadeadatmosphere。Asfarastheeyecouldreachtherewasnothingbutanimpressiveimmobility。Nothingmovedonearth，onthewaters，andabovethemintheunbrokenlustreofthesky。Ontheunruffledsurfaceofthestraitsthebrigfloatedtranquilanduprightasifboltedsolidly，keeltokeel，withitsownimagereflectedintheunframedandimmensemirrorofthesea。Tothesouthandeastthedoubleislandswatchedsilentlythedoubleshipthatseemedfixedamongstthemforever，ahopelesscaptiveofthecalm，ahelplessprisoneroftheshallowsea。
Sincemidday，whenthelightandcapriciousairsoftheseseashadabandonedthelittlebrigtoitslingeringfate，herheadhadswungslowlytothewestwardandtheendofherslenderandpolishedjib—boom，projectingboldlybeyondthegracefulcurveofthebow，pointedatthesettingsun，likeaspearpoisedhighinthehandofanenemy。RightaftbythewheeltheMalayquartermasterstoodwithhisbare，brownfeetfirmlyplantedonthewheel—grating，andholdingthespokesatrightangles，inasolidgrasp，asthoughtheshiphadbeenrunningbeforeagale。
Hestoodthereperfectlymotionless，asifpetrifiedbutreadytotendthehelmassoonasfatewouldpermitthebrigtogatherwaythroughtheoilysea。
Theonlyotherhumanbeingthenvisibleonthebrig’sdeckwasthepersonincharge：awhitemanoflowstature，thick—set，withshavencheeks，agrizzledmoustache，andafacetintedascarlethuebytheburningsunsandbythesharpsaltbreezesoftheseas。Hehadthrownoffhislightjacket，andcladonlyinwhitetrousersandathincottonsinglet，withhisstoutarmscrossedonhisbreast——uponwhichtheyshowedliketwothicklumpsofrawflesh——heprowledaboutfromsidetosideofthehalf—poop。Onhisbarefeetheworeapairofstrawsandals，andhisheadwasprotectedbyanenormouspithhat——oncewhitebutnowverydirty——whichgavetothewholemantheaspectofaphenomenalandanimatedmushroom。Attimeshewouldinterrupthisuneasyshuffleathwartthebreakofthepoop，andstandmotionlesswithavaguegazefixedontheimageofthebriginthecalmwater。Hecouldalsoseedowntherehisownheadandshouldersleaningoutovertherailandhewouldstandlong，asifinterestedbyhisownfeatures，andmuttervaguecursesonthecalmwhichlayupontheshiplikeanimmovableburden，immenseandburning。
Atlast，hesighedprofoundly，nervedhimselfforagreateffort，andmakingastartawayfromtherailmanagedtodraghisslippersasfarasthebinnacle。Therehestoppedagain，exhaustedandbored。Fromundertheliftedglasspanesofthecabinskylightnearbycamethefeeblechirpofacanary，whichappearedtogivehimsomesatisfaction。Helistened，smiledfaintlymuttered"Dicky，poorDick——"andfellbackintotheimmensesilenceoftheworld。Hiseyesclosed，hisheadhunglowoverthehotbrassofthebinnacletop。Suddenlyhestoodupwithajerkandsaidsharplyinahoarsevoice：
"You’vebeensleeping——you。Shiftthehelm。Shehasgotsternwayonher。"
TheMalay，withouttheleastflinchoffeatureorpose，asifhehadbeenaninanimateobjectcalledsuddenlyintolifebysomehiddenmagicofthewords，spunthewheelrapidly，lettingthespokespassthroughhishands；andwhenthemotionhadstoppedwithagrindingnoise，caughtholdagainandheldongrimly。
Afterawhile，however，heturnedhisheadslowlyoverhisshoulder，glancedatthesea，andsaidinanobstinatetone：
"Nocatchwind——nogetway。"
"Nocatch——nocatch——that’sallyouknowaboutit，"growledthered—facedseaman。"ByandbycatchAli——"hewentonwithsuddencondescension。"Byandbycatch，andthenthehelmwillbetherightway。See？"
Thestolidseacannieappearedtosee，andforthatmattertohear，nothing。ThewhitemanlookedattheimpassiveMalaywithdisgust，thenglancedaroundthehorizon——thenagainatthehelmsmanandorderedcurtly：
"Shiftthehelmbackagain。Don’tyoufeeltheairfromaft？Youarelikeadummystandingthere。"
TheMalayrevolvedthespokesagainwithdisdainfulobedience，andthered—facedmanwasmovingforwardgruntingtohimself，whenthroughtheopenskylightthehail"Ondeckthere！"arrestedhimshort，attentive，andwithasuddenchangetoamiabilityintheexpressionofhisface。
"Yes，sir，"hesaid，bendinghiseartowardtheopening。"What’sthematterupthere？"askedadeepvoicefrombelow。
Thered—facedmaninatoneofsurprisesaid：
"Sir？"
"Ihearthatruddergrindinghardupandharddown。Whatareyouupto，Shaw？Anywind？"
"Ye—es，"drawledShaw，puttinghisheaddowntheskylightandspeakingintothegloomofthecabin。"Ithoughttherewasalightair，and——butit’sgonenow。Notabreathanywhereundertheheavens。"
Hewithdrewhisheadandwaitedawhilebytheskylight，butheardonlythechirpingoftheindefatigablecanary，afeebletwitteringthatseemedtooozethroughthedroopingredblossomsofgeraniumsgrowinginflower—potsundertheglasspanes。Hestrolledawayasteportwobeforethevoicefromdownbelowcalledhurriedly：
"Hey，Shaw？Areyouthere？"
"Yes，CaptainLingard，"heanswered，steppingback。"Havewedriftedanythingthisafternoon？"
"Notaninch，sir，notaninch。Wemightaswellhavebeenatanchor。"
"It’salwaysso，"saidtheinvisibleLingard。Hisvoicechangeditstoneashemovedinthecabin，anddirectlyafterwardburstoutwithaclearintonationwhilehisheadappearedabovetheslideofthecabinentrance：
"Alwaysso！Thecurrentsdon’tbegintillit’sdark，whenamancan’tseeagainstwhatconfoundedthingheisbeingdrifted，andthenthebreezewillcome。Deadonend，too，Idon’tdoubt。"
Shawmovedhisshouldersslightly。TheMalayatthewheel，aftermakingadivetoseethetimebythecabinclockthroughtheskylight，rangadoublestrokeonthesmallbellaft。Directlyforward，onthemaindeck，ashrillwhistlearoselongdrawn，modulated，dyingawaysoftly。Themasterofthebrigsteppedoutofthecompanionuponthedeckofhisvessel，glancedaloftattheyardslaiddeadsquare；then，fromthedoor—step，tookalong，lingeringlookroundthehorizon。
Hewasaboutthirty—five，erectandsupple。Hemovedfreely，morelikeamanaccustomedtostrideoverplainsandhills，thanlikeonewhofromhisearliestyouthhadbeenusedtocounteractbysuddenswayingsofhisbodytheriseandrollofcrampeddecksofsmallcraft，tossedbythecapriceofangryorplayfulseas。
Heworeagreyflannelshirt，andhiswhitetrouserswereheldbyabluesilkscarfwoundtightlyroundhisnarrowwaist。Hehadcomeuponlyforamoment，butfindingthepoopshadedbythemain—topsailheremainedondeckbareheaded。Thelightchestnuthaircurledcloseabouthiswell—shapedhead，andtheclippedbeardglintedvividlywhenhepassedacrossanarrowstripofsunlight，asifeveryhairinithadbeenawavyandattenuatedgoldwire。Hismouthwaslostintheheavymoustache；hisnosewasstraight，short，slightlybluntedattheend；abroadbandofdeeperredstretchedundertheeyes，clungtothecheekbones。
Theeyesgavethefaceitsremarkableexpression。Theeyebrows，darkerthanthehair，pencilledastraightlinebelowthewideandunwrinkledbrowmuchwhiterthanthesunburntface。Theeyes，asifglowingwiththelightofahiddenfire，hadaredglintintheirgreynessthatgaveascrutinizingardourtothesteadinessoftheirgaze。
Thatman，oncesowellknown，andnowsocompletelyforgottenamongstthecharmingandheartlessshoresoftheshallowsea，hadamongsthisfellowsthenicknameof"Red—EyedTom。"Hewasproudofhisluckbutnotofhisgoodsense。Hewasproudofhisbrig，ofthespeedofhiscraft，whichwasreckonedtheswiftestcountryvesselinthoseseas，andproudofwhatsherepresented。
SherepresentedarunofluckontheVictoriangoldfields；hissagaciousmoderation；longdaysofplanning，oflovingcareinbuilding；thegreatjoyofhisyouth，theincomparablefreedomoftheseas；aperfectbecauseawanderinghome；hisindependence，hislove——andhisanxiety。HehadoftenheardmensaythatTomLingardcaredfornothingonearthbutforhisbrig——andinhisthoughtshewouldsmilinglycorrectthestatementbyaddingthathecaredfornothingLIVINGbutthebrig。
Tohimshewasasfulloflifeasthegreatworld。Hefeltherliveineverymotion，ineveryroll，ineveryswayofhertaperingmasts，ofthosemastswhosepaintedtrucksmoveforever，toaseaman’seye，againstthecloudsoragainstthestars。Tohimshewasalwaysprecious——likeoldlove；alwaysdesirable——likeastrangewoman；alwaystender——likeamother；
alwaysfaithful——likethefavouritedaughterofaman’sheart。
Forhourshewouldstandelbowonrail，hisheadinhishandandlisten——andlistenindreamystillnesstothecajolingandpromisingwhisperofthesea，thatslippedpastinvanishingbubblesalongthesmoothblack—paintedsidesofhiscraft。WhatpassedinsuchmomentsofthoughtfulsolitudethroughthemindofthatchildofgenerationsoffishermenfromthecoastofDevon，wholikemostofhisclasswasdeadtothesubtlevoices，andblindtothemysteriousaspectsoftheworld——themanreadyfortheobvious，nomatterhowstartling，howterribleormenacing，yetdefencelessasachildbeforetheshadowyimpulsesofhisownheart；whatcouldhavebeenthethoughtsofsuchaman，whenoncesurrenderedtoadreamymood，itisdifficulttosay。
Nodoubthe，likemostofus，wouldbeupliftedattimesbytheawakenedlyrismofhisheartintoregionscharming，empty，anddangerous。Butalso，likemostofus，hewasunawareofhisbarrenjourneysabovetheinterestingcaresofthisearth。Yetfromthese，nodoubtabsurdandwastedmoments，thereremainedontheman’sdailylifeatingeasthatofaglowingandserenehalf—light。Itsoftenedtheoutlinesofhisruggednature；andthesemomentskeptclosethebondbetweenhimandhisbrig。
Hewasawarethathislittlevesselcouldgivehimsomethingnottobehadfromanybodyoranythingintheworld；somethingspeciallyhisown。Thedependenceofthatsolidmanofboneandmuscleonthatobedientthingofwoodandiron，acquiredfromthatfeelingthemysteriousdignityoflove。She——thecraft——hadallthequalitiesofalivingthing：speed，obedience，trustworthiness，endurance，beauty，capacitytodoandtosuffer——allbutlife。He——theman——wastheinspirerofthatthingthattohimseemedthemostperfectofitskind。Hiswillwasitswill，histhoughtwasitsimpulse，hisbreathwasthebreathofitsexistence。Hefeltallthisconfusedly，withoutevershapingthisfeelingintothesoundlessformulasofthought。Tohimshewasuniqueanddear，thisbrigofthreehundredandfourteentonsregister——akingdom！
Andnow，bareheadedandburly，hewalkedthedeckofhiskingdomwitharegularstride。Hesteppedoutfromthehip，swinginghisarmswiththefreemotionofamanstartingoutforafifteen—milewalkintoopencountry；yetateverytwelfthstridehehadtoturnaboutsharplyandpacebackthedistancetothetaffrail。
Shaw，withhishandsstuckinhiswaistband，hadhookedhimselfwithbothelbowstotherail，andgazedapparentlyatthedeckbetweenhisfeet。Inrealityhewascontemplatingalittlehousewithatinyfrontgarden，lostinamazeofriversidestreetsintheeastendofLondon。Thecircumstancethathehadnot，asyet，beenabletomaketheacquaintanceofhisson——nowagedeighteenmonths——worriedhimslightly，andwasthecauseofthatflightofhisfancyintothemurkyatmosphereofhishome。Butitwasaplacidflightfollowedbyaquickreturn。Inlessthantwominuteshewasbackinthebrig。"Allthere，"ashissayingwas。
Hewasproudofbeingalways"allthere。"
Hewasabruptinmannerandgrumpyinspeechwiththeseamen。Tohissuccessivecaptains，hewasoutwardlyasdeferentialasheknewhow，andasaruleinwardlyhostile——soveryfewseemedtohimofthe"allthere"kind。OfLingard，withwhomhehadonlybeenashorttime——havingbeenpickedupinMadrasRoadsoutofahomeship，whichhehadtoleaveafterathumpingrowwiththemaster——hegenerallyapproved，althoughherecognizedwithregretthatthisman，likemostothers，hadsomeabsurdfads；hedefinedthemas"bottom—upwardsnotions。"
Hewasaman——asthereweremany——ofnoparticularvaluetoanybodybuthimself，andofnoaccountbutasthechiefmateofthebrig，andtheonlywhitemanonboardofherbesidesthecaptain。HefelthimselfimmeasurablysuperiortotheMalayseamenwhomhehadtohandle，andtreatedthemwithloftytoleration，notwithstandinghisopinionthatatapinchthosechapswouldbefoundemphatically"notthere。"
Assoonashismindcamebackfromhishomeleave，hedetachedhimselffromtherailand，walkingforward，stoodbythebreakofthepoop，lookingalongtheportsideofthemaindeck。Lingardonhisownsidestoppedinhiswalkandalsogazedabsentmindedlybeforehim。Inthewaistofthebrig，inthenarrowsparsthatwerelashedoneachsideofthehatchway，hecouldseeagroupofmensquattinginacirclearoundawoodentraypiledupwithrice，whichstoodonthejustsweptdeck。Thedark—faced，soft—eyedsilentmen，squattingontheirhams，feddecorouslywithanearnestnessthatdidnotexcludereserve。
Ofthelot，onlyoneortwoworesarongs，theothershavingsubmitted——atleastatsea——totheindignityofEuropeantrousers。Onlytwosatonthespars。One，amanwithachildlike，lightyellowface，smilingwithfatuousimbecilityunderthewispsofstraightcoarsehairdyedamahoganytint，wasthetindalofthecrew——akindofboatswain’sorserang’smate。Theother，sittingbesidehimonthebooms，wasamannearlyblack，notmuchbiggerthanalargeape，andwearingonhiswrinkledfacethatlookofcomicaltruculencewhichisoftencharacteristicofmenfromthesouthwesterncoastofSumatra。
Thiswasthekassaborstore—keeper，theholderofapositionofdignityandease。Thekassabwastheonlyoneofthecrewtakingtheireveningmealwhonoticedthepresenceondeckoftheircommander。Hemutteredsomethingtothetindalwhodirectlycockedhisoldhatononeside，whichsenselessactioninvestedhimwithanaltogetherfoolishappearance。Theothersheard，butwentonsomnolentlyfeedingwithspiderymovementsoftheirleanarms。
Thesunwasnomorethanadegreeorsoabovethehorizon，andfromtheheatedsurfaceofthewatersaslightlowmistbegantorise；amistthin，invisibletothehumaneye；yetstrongenoughtochangethesunintoamereglowingreddisc，adiscverticalandhot，rollingdowntotheedgeofthehorizontalandcold—lookingdiscoftheshiningsea。Thentheedgestouchedandthecircularexpanseofwatertookonsuddenlyatint，sombre，likeafrown；deep，likethebroodingmeditationofevil。
Thefallingsunseemedtobearrestedforamomentinhisdescentbythesleepingwaters，whilefromit，tothemotionlessbrig，shotoutonthepolishedanddarksurfaceoftheseaatrackoflight，straightandshining，resplendentanddirect；apathofgoldandcrimsonandpurple，apaththatseemedtoleaddazzlingandterriblefromtheearthstraightintoheaventhroughtheportalsofagloriousdeath。Itfadedslowly。Theseavanquishedthelight。Atlastonlyavestigeofthesunremained，faroff，likearedsparkfloatingonthewater。Itlingered，andallatonce——withoutwarning——wentoutasifextinguishedbyatreacheroushand。
"Gone，"criedLingard，whohadwatchedintentlyyetmissedthelastmoment。"Gone！Lookatthecabinclock，Shaw！"
"Nearlyright，Ithink，sir。Threeminutespastsix。"
Thehelmsmanstruckfourbellssharply。Anotherbarefootedseacannieglidedonthefarsideofthepooptorelievethewheel，andtheserangofthebrigcameuptheladdertotakechargeofthedeckfromShaw。Hecameuptothecompass，andstoodwaitingsilently。
"Thecourseissouthbyeastwhenyougetthewind，serang，"saidShaw，distinctly。
"Sou’byeas’，"repeatedtheelderlyMalaywithgraveearnestness。
"Letmeknowwhenshebeginstosteer，"addedLingard。
"Ya，Tuan，"answeredtheman，glancingrapidlyatthesky。"Windcoming，"hemuttered。
"Ithinkso，too，"whisperedLingardasiftohimself。
Theshadowsweregatheringrapidlyroundthebrig。Amulattoputhisheadoutofthecompanionandcalledout：
"Ready，sir。"
"Let’sgetamouthfulofsomethingtoeat，Shaw，"saidLingard。
"Isay，justtakealookaroundbeforecomingbelow。Itwillbedarkwhenwecomeupagain。"
"Certainly，sir，"saidShaw，takingupalongglassandputtingittohiseyes。"Blessedthing，"hewentoninsnatcheswhileheworkedthetubesinandout，"Ican’t——neversomehow——Ah！I’vegotitrightatlast！"
Herevolvedslowlyonhisheels，keepingtheendofthetubeonthesky—line。Thenheshuttheinstrumentwithaclick，andsaiddecisively：
"Nothinginsight，sir。"
Hefollowedhiscaptaindownbelowrubbinghishandscheerfully。
Foragoodwhiletherewasnosoundonthepoopofthebrig。Thentheseacannieatthewheelspokedreamily：
"Didthemalimsaytherewasnooneonthesea？"
"Yes，"gruntedtheserangwithoutlookingatthemanbehindhim。
"Betweentheislandstherewasaboat，"pronouncedthemanverysoftly。
Theserang，hishandsbehindhisback，hisfeetslightlyapart，stoodverystraightandstiffbythesideofthecompassstand。
Hisface，nowhardlyvisible，wasasinexpressiveasthedoorofasafe。
"Now，listentome，"insistedthehelmsmaninagentletone。
Themaninauthoritydidnotbudgeahair’sbreadth。Theseacanniebentdownalittlefromtheheightofthewheelgrating。
"Isawaboat，"hemurmuredwithsomethingofthetenderobstinacyofaloverbeggingforafavour。"Isawaboat，OHajiWasub！Ya！HajiWasub！"
Theseranghadbeentwiceapilgrim，andwasnotinsensibletothesoundofhisrightfultitle。Therewasagrimsmileonhisface。
"Yousawafloatingtree，OSali，"hesaid，ironically。
"IamSali，andmyeyesarebetterthanthebewitchedbrassthingthatpullsouttoagreatlength，"saidthepertinacioushelmsman。"Therewasaboat，justclearoftheeasternmostisland。Therewasaboat，andtheyinhercouldseetheshiponthelightofthewest——unlesstheyareblindmenlostonthesea。
Ihaveseenher。Haveyouseenher，too，OHajiWasub？"
"AmIafatwhiteman？"snappedtheserang。"Iwasamanoftheseabeforeyouwereborn，OSali！Theorderistokeepsilenceandmindtherudder，lestevilbefalltheship。"
Afterthesewordsheresumedhisrigidaloofness。Hestood，hislegsslightlyapart，verystiffandstraight，alittleononesideofthecompassstand。Hiseyestravelledincessantlyfromtheilluminatedcardtotheshadowysailsofthebrigandbackagain，whilehisbodywasmotionlessasifmadeofwoodandbuiltintotheship’sframe。Thus，withaforcedandtensewatchfulness，HajiWasub，serangofthebrigLightning，keptthecaptain’swatchunweariedandwakeful，aslavetoduty。
Inhalfanhouraftersunsetthedarknesshadtakencompletepossessionofearthandheavens。Theislandshadmeltedintothenight。AndonthesmoothwateroftheStraits，thelittlebriglyingsostill，seemedtosleepprofoundly，wrappedupinascentedmantleofstarlightandsilence。
II
Itwashalf—pasteighto’clockbeforeLingardcameondeckagain。
Shaw——nowwithacoaton——trottedupanddownthepoopleavingbehindhimasmelloftobaccosmoke。Anirregularlyglowingsparkseemedtorunbyitselfinthedarknessbeforetheroundedformofhishead。Abovethemastsofthebrigthedomeoftheclearheavenwasfulloflightsthatflickered，asifsomemightybreathingshighuptherehadbeenswayingabouttheflameofthestars。Therewasnosoundalongthebrig’sdecks，andtheheavyshadowsthatlayonithadtheaspect，inthatsilence，ofsecretplacesconcealingcrouchingformsthatwaitedinperfectstillnessforsomedecisiveevent。Lingardstruckamatchtolighthischeroot，andhispowerfulfacewithnarrowedeyesstoodoutforamomentinthenightandvanishedsuddenly。Thentwoshadowyformsandtworedsparksmovedbackwardandforwardonthepoop。Alarger，butapalerandovalpatchoflightfromthecompasslampslayonthebrassesofthewheelandonthebreastoftheMalaystandingbythehelm。Lingard’svoice，asifunablealtogethertomastertheenormoussilenceofthesea，soundedmuffled，verycalm——withouttheusualdeepringinit。
"Notmuchchange，Shaw，"hesaid。
"No，sir，notmuch。Icanjustseetheisland——thebigone——stillinthesameplace。Itstrikesme，sir，that，forcalms，thishereseaisadevilofloc—ality。"
Hecut"locality"intwowithanemphaticpause。Itwasagoodword。Hewaspleasedwithhimselfforthinkingofit。Hewentonagain：
"Now——sincenoon，thisbigisland——"
"Carimata，Shaw，"interruptedLingard。
"Aye，sir；Carimata——Imean。Imustsay——beingastrangerhereabouts——Ihaven’tgottherunofthose——"
Hewasgoingtosay"names"butcheckedhimselfandsaid，"appellations，"instead，soundingeverysyllablelovingly。
"Havingfortheselastfifteenyears，"hecontinued，"sailedregularlyfromLondoninEast—Indiamen，Iammoreathomeoverthere——intheBay。"
HepointedintothenighttowardthenorthwestandstaredasifhecouldseefromwherehestoodthatBayofBengalwhere——asheaffirmed——hewouldbesomuchmoreathome。