"You’llsoongetused——"mutteredLingard，swinginginhisrapidwalkpasthismate。Thenheturnedround，cameback，andaskedsharply。
　　"Yousaidtherewasnothingafloatinsightbeforedark？Hey？"
　　"NotthatIcouldsee，sir。WhenItookthedeckagainateight，Iaskedthatserangwhethertherewasanythingabout；andI
　　understoodhimtosaytherewasnomoreaswhenIwentbelowatsix。Thisisalonelyseaattimes——ain’tit，sir？Now，onewouldthinkatthistimeoftheyearthehomeward—boundersfromChinawouldbeprettythickhere。"
　　"Yes，"saidLingard，"wehavemetveryfewshipssinceweleftPedraBrancaoverthestern。Yes；ithasbeenalonelysea。Butforallthat，Shaw，thissea，iflonely，isnotblind。Everyislandinitisaneye。Andnow，sinceoursquadronhasleftfortheChinawaters——"
　　Hedidnotfinishhissentence。Shawputhishandsinhispockets，andproppedhisbackagainstthesky—light，comfortably。
　　"TheysaythereisgoingtobeawarwithChina，"hesaidinagossipingtone，"andtheFrencharegoingalongwithusastheydidintheCrimeafiveyearsago。Itseemstomewe’regettingmightygoodfriendswiththeFrench。I’venotmuchofanopinionaboutthat。Whatdoyouthink，CaptainLingard？"
　　"Ihavemettheirmen—of—warinthePacific，"saidLingard，slowly。"Theshipswerefineandthefellowsinthemwerecivilenoughtome——andverycuriousaboutmybusiness，"headdedwithalaugh。"However，Iwasn’ttheretomakewaronthem。Ihadarottenoldcutterthen，fortrade，Shaw，"hewentonwithanimation。
　　"Hadyou，sir？"saidShawwithoutanyenthusiasm。"Nowgivemeabigship——aship，Isay，thatonemay——"
　　"Andlateron，someyearsago，"interruptedLingard，"IchummedwithaFrenchskipperinAmpanam——beingtheonlytwowhitemeninthewholeplace。Hewasagoodfellow，andfreewithhisredwine。HisEnglishwasdifficulttounderstand，buthecouldsingsongsinhisownlanguageaboutah—moor——Ah—moormeanslove，inFrench——Shaw。"
　　"Soitdoes，sir——soitdoes。WhenIwassecondmateofaSunderlandbarque，inforty—one，intheMediterranean，Icouldpayouttheirlingoaseasyasyouwouldafive—inchwarpoveraship’sside——"
　　"Yes，hewasaproperman，"pursuedLingard，meditatively，asifforhimselfonly。"Youcouldnotfindabetterfellowforcompanyashore。HehadanaffairwithaBaligirl，whooneeveningthrewaredblossomathimfromwithinadoorway，asweweregoingtogethertopayourrespectstotheRajah’snephew。Hewasagood—lookingFrenchman，hewas——butthegirlbelongedtotheRajah’snephew，anditwasaseriousmatter。TheoldRajahgotangryandsaidthegirlmustdie。Idon’tthinkthenephewcaredparticularlytohaveherkrissed；buttheoldfellowmadeagreatfussandsentoneofhisownchiefmentoseethethingdone——andthegirlhadenemies——herownrelationsapproved！Wecoulddonothing。Mind，Shaw，therewasabsolutelynothingelsebetweenthembutthatunluckyflowerwhichtheFrenchmanpinnedtohiscoat——andafterward，whenthegirlwasdead，woreunderhisshirt，hungroundhisneckinasmallbox。Isupposehehadnothingelsetoputitinto。"
　　"Wouldthosesavageskillawomanforthat？"askedShaw，incredulously。
　　"Aye！Theyareprettymoralthere。ThatwasthefirsttimeinmylifeInearlywenttowaronmyownaccount，Shaw。Wecouldn’ttalkthosefellowsover。Wecouldn’tbribethem，thoughtheFrenchmanofferedthebesthehad，andIwasreadytobackhimtothelastdollar，tothelastragofcotton，Shaw！Nouse——theywerethatblamedrespectable。So，saystheFrenchmantome：’Myfriend，iftheywon’ttakeourgunpowderforagiftletusburnittogivethemlead。’Iwasarmedasyouseenow；sixeight—poundersonthemaindeckandalongeighteenontheforecastle——andIwantedtotry’em。Youmaybelieveme！However，theFrenchmanhadnothingbutafewoldmuskets；andthebeggarsgottowindwardofusbyfairwords，tillonemorningaboat’screwfromtheFrenchman’sshipfoundthegirllyingdeadonthebeach。Thatputanendtoourplans。Shewasoutofhertroubleanyhow，andnoreasonablemanwillfightforadeadwoman。Iwasnevervengeful，Shaw，and——afterall——shedidn’tthrowthatfloweratme。ButitbroketheFrenchmanupaltogether。Hebegantomope，didnobusiness，andshortlyafterwardsailedaway。I
　　clearedagoodmanypenceoutofthattrip，Iremember。"
　　Withthesewordsheseemedtocometotheendofhismemoriesofthattrip。Shawstifledayawn。
　　"Womenarethecauseofalotoftrouble，"hesaid，dispassionately。"IntheMorayshire，Iremember，wehadonceapassenger——anoldgentleman——whowastellingusayarnaboutthemold—timeGreeksfightingfortenyearsaboutsomewoman。TheTurkskidnappedher，orsomething。Anyway，theyfoughtinTurkey；
　　whichImaywellbelieve。ThemGreeksandTurkswerealwaysfighting。Myfatherwasmaster’smateonboardoneofthethree—deckersatthebattleofNavarino——andthatwaswhenwewenttohelpthoseGreeks。Butthisaffairaboutawomanwaslongbeforethattime。"
　　"Ishouldthinkso，"mutteredLingard，hangingovertherail，andwatchingthefleetinggleamsthatpasseddeepdowninthewater，alongtheship’sbottom。
　　"Yes。Timesarechanged。Theywereunenlightenedinthoseolddays。Mygrandfatherwasapreacherand，thoughmyfatherservedinthenavy，Idon’tholdwithwar。Sinfultheoldgentlemancalledit——andIthinkso，too。UnlesswithChinamen，orniggers，orsuchpeopleasmustbekeptinorderandwon’tlistentoreason；havingnotsenseenoughtoknowwhat’sgoodforthem，whenit’sexplainedtothembytheirbetters——missionaries，andsuchlikeau—tho—ri—ties。Buttofighttenyears。Andforawoman！"
　　"Ihavereadthetaleinabook，"saidLingard，speakingdownoverthesideasifsettinghiswordsgentlyafloatuponthesea。
　　"Ihavereadthetale。Shewasverybeautiful。"
　　"Thatonlymakesitworse，sir——ifanything。Youmaydependonitshewasnogood。Thosepagantimeswillnevercomeback，thankGod。Tenyearsofmurderandunrighteousness！Andforawoman！
　　Wouldanybodydoitnow？Wouldyoudoit，sir？Wouldyou——"
　　ThesoundofabellstrucksharplyinterruptedShaw’sdiscourse。
　　Highaloft，somedryblocksentoutascreech，shortandlamentable，likeacryofpain。Itpiercedthequietnessofthenighttotheverycore，andseemedtodestroythereservewhichithadimposeduponthetonesofthetwomen，whospokenowloudly。
　　"Throwthecoveroverthebinnacle，"saidLingardinhisdutyvoice。"Thethingshineslikeafullmoon。Wemustn’tshowmorelightsthanwecanhelp，whenbecalmedatnightsoneartheland。
　　Nouseinbeingseenifyoucan’tseeyourself——isthere？Bearthatinmind，Mr。Shaw。Theremaybesomevagabondspryingabout——"
　　"Ithoughtallthiswasoveranddonefor，"saidShaw，busyinghimselfwiththecover，"sinceSirThomasCochranesweptalongtheBorneocoastwithhissquadronsomeyearsago。Hedidararelotoffighting——didn’the？WeheardaboutitfromthechapsofthesloopDianathatwasrefittinginCalcuttawhenIwasthereintheWarwickCastle。Theytooksomeking’stownupariverhereabouts。Thechapswerefullofit。"
　　"SirThomasdidgoodwork，"answeredLingard，"butitwillbealongtimebeforetheseseasareassafeastheEnglishChannelisinpeacetime。Ispokeaboutthatlightmoretogetyouinthewayofthingstobeattendedtointheseseasthanforanythingelse。Didyounoticehowfewnativecraftwe’vesightedforallthesedayswehavebeendriftingabout——onemaysay——inthissea？"
　　"Ican’tsayIhaveattachedanysignificancetothefact，sir。"
　　"It’sasignthatsomethingisup。Oncesetarumourafloatinthesewaters，anditwillmakeitswayfromislandtoisland，withoutanybreezetodriveitalong。"
　　"Beingmyselfadeep—watermansailingsteadilyoutofhomeportsnearlyallmylife，"saidShawwithgreatdeliberation，"Icannotpretendtoseethroughthepeculiaritiesofthemout—of—the—wayparts。ButIcankeepalookoutinanordinaryway，andIhavenoticedthatcraftofanykindseemedscarce，forthelastfewdays：consideringthatwehadlandaboardofus——onesideoranother——nearlyeveryday。"
　　"Youwillgettoknowthepeculiarities，asyoucallthem，ifyouremainanytimewithme，"remarkedLingard，negligently。
　　"IhopeIshallgivesatisfaction，whetherthetimebelongorshort！"saidShaw，accentuatingthemeaningofhiswordsbythedistinctnessofhisutterance。"Amanwhohasspentthirty—twoyearsofhislifeonsaltwatercansaynomore。IfbeinganofficerofhomeshipsforthelastfifteenyearsIdon’tunderstandtheheathenwaysofthemtheresavages，inmattersofseamanshipandduty，youwillfindmeallthere，CaptainLingard。"
　　"Except，judgingfromwhatyousaidalittlewhileago——exceptinthematteroffighting，"saidLingard，withashortlaugh。
　　"Fighting！Iamnotawarethatanybodywantstofightme。Iamapeaceableman，CaptainLingard，butwhenputtoit，Icouldfightaswellasanyofthemflat—nosedchapswehavetomakeshiftwith，insteadofapropercrewofdecentChristians。Fighting！"
　　hewentonwithunexpectedpugnacityoftone，"Fighting！Ifanybodycomestofightme，hewillfindmeallthere，Iswear！"
　　"That’sallright。That’sallright，"saidLingard，stretchinghisarmsabovehisheadandwrigglinghisshoulders。"Myword！I
　　dowishabreezewouldcometoletusgetawayfromhere。Iamratherinahurry，Shaw。"
　　"Indeed，sir！Well，Ineveryetmetathoroughseafaringmanwhowasnotinahurrywhenacon—demnedspellofcalmhadhimbytheheels。Whenabreezecomes……justlistentothis，sir！"
　　"Ihearit，"saidLingard。"Tide—rip，Shaw。"
　　"SoIpresume，sir。Butwhatafussitmakes。Seldomheardsucha——"
　　Onthesea，uponthefurthestlimitsofvision，appearedanadvancingstreakofseethingfoam，resemblinganarrowwhiteribbon，drawnrapidlyalongthelevelsurfaceofthewaterbyitstwoends，whichwerelostinthedarkness。Itreachedthebrig，passedunder，stretchingoutoneachside；andoneachsidethewaterbecamenoisy，breakingintonumerousandtinywavelets，amimicryofanimmenseagitation。Yetthevesselinthemidstofthissuddenandlouddisturbanceremainedasmotionlessandsteadyasifshehadbeensecurelymooredbetweenthestonewallsofasafedock。Inafewmomentsthelineoffoamandripplerunningswiftlynorthpassedatoncebeyondsightandearshot，leavingnotraceontheunconquerablecalm。
　　"Nowthisisverycurious——"beganShaw。
　　Lingardmadeagesturetocommandsilence。Heseemedtolistenyet，asifthewashoftheripplecouldhavehadanechowhichheexpectedtohear。Andaman’svoicethatwasheardforwardhadsomethingoftheimpersonalringofvoicesthrownbackfromhardandloftycliffsupontheemptydistancesofthesea。ItspokeinMalay——faintly。
　　"What？"hailedShaw。"Whatisit？"
　　Lingardputarestraininghandforamomentonhischiefofficer’sshoulder，andmovedforwardsmartly。Shawfollowed，puzzled。Therapidexchangeofincomprehensiblewordsthrownbackwardandforwardthroughtheshadowsofthebrig’smaindeckfromhiscaptaintothelookoutmanandbackagain，madehimfeelsadlyoutofit，somehow。
　　Lingardhadcalledoutsharply——"Whatdoyousee？"Theanswerdirectandquickwas——"Ihear，Tuan。Ihearoars。"
　　"Whereabouts？"
　　"Thenightisallaroundus。Ihearthemnear。"
　　"Portorstarboard？"
　　Therewasashortdelayinanswerthistime。Onthequarter—deck，underthepoop，barefeetshuffled。Somebodycoughed。Atlastthevoiceforwardsaiddoubtfully：
　　"Kanan。"
　　"Calltheserang，Mr。Shaw，"saidLingard，calmly，"andhavethehandsturnedup。Theyarealllyingaboutthedecks。Looksharpnow。There’ssomethingnearus。It’sannoyingtobecaughtlikethis，"headdedinavexedtone。
　　Hecrossedovertothestarboardside，andstoodlistening，onehandgraspingtheroyalback—stay，hisearturnedtothesea，buthecouldhearnothingfromthere。Thequarter—deckwasfilledwithsubduedsounds。Suddenly，along，shrillwhistlesoared，reverberatedloudlyamongsttheflatsurfacesofmotionlesssails，andgraduallygrewfaintasifthesoundhadescapedandgoneaway，runninguponthewater。HajiWasubwasondeckandreadytocarryoutthewhiteman’scommands。Thensilencefellagainonthebrig，untilShawspokequietly。
　　"Iamgoingforwardnow，sir，withthetindal。We’reallatstations。"
　　"Aye，Mr。Shaw。Verygood。Mindtheydon’tboardyou——butIcanhearnothing。Notasound。Itcan’tbemuch。"
　　"Thefellowhasbeendreaming，nodoubt。Ihavegoodears，too，and——"
　　Hewentforwardandtheendofhissentencewaslostinanindistinctgrowl。Lingardstoodattentive。Onebyonethethreeseacanniesoffdutyappearedonthepoopandbusiedthemselvesaroundabigchestthatstoodbythesideofthecabincompanion。
　　Arattleandclinkofsteelweaponsturnedoutonthedeckwasheard，butthemendidnotevenwhisper。Lingardpeeredsteadilyintothenight，thenshookhishead。
　　"Serang！"hecalled，halfaloud。
　　Thespareoldmanranuptheladdersosmartlythathisbonyfeetdidnotseemtotouchthesteps。Hestoodbyhiscommander，hishandsbehindhisback；afigureindistinctbutstraightasanarrow。
　　"Whowaslookingout？"askedLingard。
　　"Badroon，theBugis，"saidWasub，inhiscrisp，jerkymanner。
　　"Icanhearnothing。Badroonheardthenoiseinhismind。"
　　"Thenighthidestheboat。"
　　"Haveyouseenit？"
　　"Yes，Tuan。Smallboat。Beforesunset。Bytheland。Nowcominghere——near。Badroonheardhim。"
　　"Whydidn’tyoureportit，then？"askedLingard，sharply。
　　"Malimspoke。Hesaid：’Nothingthere，’whileIcouldsee。HowcouldIknowwhatwasinhismindoryours，Tuan？"
　　"Doyouhearanythingnow？"
　　"No。Theystoppednow。Perhapslosttheship——whoknows？Perhapsafraid——"
　　"Well！"mutteredLingard，movinghisfeetuneasily。"Ibelieveyoulie。Whatkindofboat？"
　　"Whitemen’sboat。Afour—menboat，Ithink。Small。Tuan，Ihearhimnow！There！"
　　Hestretchedhisarmstraightout，pointingabeamforatime，thenhisarmfellslowly。
　　"Comingthisway，"headdedwithdecision。
　　FromforwardShawcalledoutinastartledtone：
　　"Somethingonthewater，sir！Broadonthisbow！"
　　"Allright！"calledbackLingard。
　　Alumpofblackerdarknessfloatedintohisview。FromitcameoverthewaterEnglishwords——deliberate，reachinghimonebyone；asifeachhadmadeitsowndifficultwaythroughtheprofoundstillnessofthenight。
　　"What——ship——is——that——pray？"
　　"Englishbrig，"answeredLingard，afterashortmomentofhesitation。
　　"Abrig！Ithoughtyouweresomethingbigger，"wentonthevoicefromtheseawithatingeofdisappointmentinitsdeliberatetone。"Iamcomingalongside——if——you——please。"
　　"No！youdon’t！"calledLingardback，sharply。Theleisurelydrawloftheinvisiblespeakerseemedtohimoffensive，andwokeupahostilefeeling。"No！youdon’tifyoucareforyourboat。
　　Wheredoyouspringfrom？Whoareyou——anyhow？Howmanyofyouarethereinthatboat？"
　　Aftertheseemphaticquestionstherewasanintervalofsilence。
　　Duringthattimetheshapeoftheboatbecamealittlemoredistinct。Shemusthavecarriedsomewayonheryet，forsheloomedupbiggerandnearlyabreastofwhereLingardstood，beforetheself—possessedvoicewasheardagain：
　　"Iwillshowyou。"
　　Then，afteranothershortpause，thevoicesaid，lessloudbutveryplain：
　　"Strikeonthegunwale。Strikehard，John！"andsuddenlyabluelightblazedout，illuminatingwithalividflamearoundpatchinthenight。Inthesmokeandsplutterofthatghastlyhaloappearedawhite，four—oaredgigwithfivemensittinginherinarow。Theirheadswereturnedtowardthebrigwithastrongexpressionofcuriosityontheirfaces，which，inthisglare，brilliantandsinister，tookonadeathlikeaspectandresembledthefacesofinterestedcorpses。Thenthebowmandroppedintothewaterthelightheheldabovehisheadandthedarkness，rushingbackattheboat，swalloweditwithaloudandangryhiss。
　　"Fiveofus，"saidthecomposedvoiceoutofthenightthatseemednowdarkerthanbefore。"Fourhandsandmyself。Webelongtoayacht——aBritishyacht——"
　　"Comeonboard！"shoutedLingard。"Whydidn’tyouspeakatonce？
　　IthoughtyoumighthavebeensomemasqueradingDutchmenfromadodginggunboat。"
　　"DoIspeaklikeablamedDutchman？Pullastroke，boys——oars！
　　Tendbow，John。"
　　Theboatcamealongsidewithagentleknock，andaman’sshapebegantoclimbatonceupthebrig’ssidewithakindofponderousagility。Itpoiseditselfforamomentontherailtosaydownintotheboat——"Sheeroffalittle，boys，"thenjumpedondeckwithathud，andsaidtoShawwhowascomingaft："Goodevening……Captain，sir？"
　　"No。Onthepoop！"growledShaw。
　　"Comeuphere。Comeup，"calledLingard，impatiently。
　　TheMalayshadlefttheirstationsandstoodclusteredbythemainmastinasilentgroup。Notawordwasspokenonthebrig’sdecks，whilethestrangermadehiswaytothewaitingcaptain。
　　Lingardsawapproachinghimashort，dapperman，whotouchedhiscapandrepeatedhisgreetinginacooldrawl：
　　"Goodevening……Captain，sir？"
　　"Yes，Iamthemaster——what’sthematter？Adriftfromyourship？
　　Orwhat？"
　　"Adrift？No！Weleftherfourdaysago，andhavebeenpullingthatgiginacalm，nearlyeversince。Mymenaredone。Soisthewater。LuckythingIsightedyou。"
　　"Yousightedme！"exclaimedLingard。"When？Whattime？"
　　"Notinthedark，youmaybesure。We’vebeenknockingaboutamongstsomeislandstothesouthward，breakingourheartstuggingattheoarsinonechannel，theninanother——tryingtogetclear。Wegotroundanislet——abarrenthing，inshapelikealoafofsugar——andIcaughtsightofavesselalongwayoff。I
　　tookherbearinginahurryandwebuckledto；butanotherofthemcurrentsmusthavehadholdofus，foritwasalongtimebeforewemanagedtoclearthatislet。Isteeredbythestars，and，bytheLordHarry，IbegantothinkIhadmissedyousomehow——becauseitmusthavebeenyouIsaw。"
　　"Yes，itmusthavebeen。Wehadnothinginsightallday，"
　　assentedLingard。"Where’syourvessel？"heasked，eagerly。
　　"Hardandfastonmiddlingsoftmud——Ishouldthinkaboutsixtymilesfromhere。Wearethesecondboatsentoffforassistance。
　　WepartedcompanywiththeotheronTuesday。Shemusthavepassedtothenorthwardofyouto—day。ThechiefofficerisinherwithorderstomakeforSingapore。Iamsecond，andwassentofftowardtheStraitshereonthechanceoffallinginwithsomeship。Ihavealetterfromtheowner。Ourgentryaretiredofbeingstuckinthemudandwishforassistance。"
　　"Whatassistancedidyouexpecttofinddownhere？"
　　"Theletterwilltellyouthat。MayIask，Captain，foralittlewaterforthechapsinmyboat？AndImyselfwouldthankyouforadrink。Wehaven’thadamouthfulsincethisafternoon。Ourbreakerleakedoutsomehow。"
　　"Seetoit，Mr。Shaw，"saidLingard。"Comedownthecabin，Mr。——"
　　"Carterismyname。"
　　"Ah！Mr。Carter。Comedown，comedown，"wentonLingard，leadingthewaydownthecabinstairs。
　　Thestewardhadlightedtheswinginglamp，andhadputadecanterandbottlesonthetable。Thecuddylookedcheerful，paintedwhite，withgoldmouldingsroundthepanels。Oppositethecurtainedrecessofthesternwindowstherewasasideboardwithamarbletop，and，aboveit，alooking—glassinagiltframe。Thesemicircularcouchroundthesternhadcushionsofcrimsonplush。
　　ThetablewascoveredwithablackIndiantableclothembroideredinvividcolours。Betweenthebeamsofthepoop—deckwerefittedracksformuskets，thebarrelsofwhichglintedinthelight。
　　Thereweretwenty—fourofthembetweenthefourbeams。Asmanysword—bayonetsofanoldpatternencircledthepolishedteakwoodoftherudder—casingwithadoublebeltofbrassandsteel。Allthedoorsofthestate—roomshadbeentakenoffthehingesandonlycurtainsclosedthedoorways。TheyseemedtobemadeofyellowChinesesilk，andflutteredalltogether，thefourofthem，asthetwomenenteredthecuddy。
　　Cartertookinallataglance，buthiseyeswerearrestedbyacircularshieldhungslantingabovethebrasshiltsofthebayonets。Onitsredfield，inreliefandbrightlygilt，wasrepresentedasheafofconventionalthunderboltsdartingdownthemiddlebetweenthetwocapitalsT。L。Lingardexaminedhisguestcuriously。Hesawayoungman，butlookingstillmoreyouthful，withaboyishsmoothfacemuchsunburnt，twinklingblueeyes，fairhairandaslightmoustache。Henoticedhisarrestedgaze。
　　"Ah，you’relookingatthatthing。It’sapresentfromthebuilderofthisbrig。Thebestmanthateverlaunchedacraft。
　　It’ssupposedtobetheship’snamebetweenmyinitials——flashoflightning——d’yousee？Thebrig’snameisLightningandmineisLingard。"
　　"Veryprettythingthat：showsthecabinoffwell，"murmuredCarter，politely。
　　Theydrank，noddingateachother，andsatdown。
　　"Nowfortheletter，"saidLingard。
　　Carterpasseditoverthetableandlookedabout，whileLingardtooktheletteroutofanopenenvelope，addressedtothecommanderofanyBritishshipintheJavaSea。Thepaperwasthick，hadanembossedheading："Schooner—yachtHermit"andwasdatedfourdaysbefore。ThemessagesaidthatonahazynighttheyachthadgoneashoreuponsomeoutlyingshoalsoffthecoastofBorneo。Thelandwaslow。Theopinionofthesailing—masterwasthatthevesselhadgoneashoreatthetopofhighwater，springtides。Thecoastwascompletelydesertedtoallappearance。
　　Duringthefourdaystheyhadbeenstrandedtheretheyhadsightedinthedistancetwosmallnativevessels，whichdidnotapproach。Theownerconcludedbyaskinganycommanderofahomeward—boundshiptoreporttheyacht’spositioninAnjeronhiswaythroughSundaStraits——ortoanyBritishorDutchman—of—
　　warhemightmeet。Theletterendedbyanticipatorythanks，theoffertopayanyexpensesinconnectionwiththesendingofmessagesfromAnjer，andtheusualpoliteexpressions。
　　Foldingthepaperslowlyintheoldcreases，Lingardsaid——"IamnotgoingtoAnjer——noranywherenear。"
　　"Anyplacewilldo，Ifancy，"saidCarter。
　　"NottheplacewhereIamboundto，"answeredLingard，openingtheletteragainandglancingatituneasily。"Hedoesnotdescribeverywellthecoast，andhislatitudeisveryuncertain，"hewenton。"Iamnotclearinmymindwhereexactlyyouarestranded。AndyetIknoweveryinchofthatland——overthere。"
　　Carterclearedhisthroatandbegantotalkinhisslowdrawl。Heseemedtodoleoutfacts，todisclosewithsparingwordsthefeaturesofthecoast，buteverywordshowedtheminutenessofhisobservation，theclearvisionofaseamanabletomasterquicklytheaspectofastrangelandandofastrangesea。Hepresented，withconciselucidity，thepictureofthetangleofreefsandsandbanks，throughwhichtheyachthadmiraculouslyblunderedinthedarkbeforeshetooktheground。
　　"Theweatherseemsclearenoughatsea，"heobserved，finally，andstoppedtodrinkalongdraught。Lingard，bendingoverthetable，hadbeenlisteningwitheagerattention。Carterwentoninhiscurtanddeliberatemanner：
　　"InoticedsomehightreesonwhatItaketobethemainlandtothesouth——andwhoeverhasbusinessinthatbightwassmartenoughtowhitewashtwoofthem：oneonthepoint，andanotherfartherin。Landmarks，Iguess……What’sthematter，Captain？"
　　Lingardhadjumpedtohisfeet，butCarter’sexclamationcausedhimtositdownagain。