"Nothing，nothing……Tellme，howmanymenhaveyouinthatyacht？"
　　"Twenty—three，besidesthegentry，theowner，hiswifeandaSpanishgentleman——afriendtheypickedupinManila。"
　　"SoyouwerecomingfromManila？"
　　"Aye。BoundforBatavia。TheownerwishestostudytheDutchcolonialsystem。Wantstoexposeit，hesays。Onecan’thelphearingalotwhenkeepingwatchaft——youknowhowitis。ThenwearegoingtoCeylontomeetthemail—boatthere。Theownerisgoinghomeashecameout，overlandthroughEgypt。TheyachtwouldreturnroundtheCape，ofcourse。"
　　"Alady？"saidLingard。"Yousaythereisaladyonboard。Areyouarmed？"
　　"Notmuch，"repliedCarter，negligently。"Thereareafewmusketsandtwosportinggunsaft；that’saboutall——Ifancyit’stoomuch，ornotenough，"headdedwithafaintsmile。
　　Lingardlookedathimnarrowly。
　　"Didyoucomeoutfromhomeinthatcraft？"heasked。
　　"NotI！Iamnotoneofthemregularyachthands。IcameoutofthehospitalinHongkong。I’vebeentwoyearsontheChinacoast。"
　　Hestopped，thenaddedinanexplanatorymurmur：
　　"Opiumclippers——youknow。Nothingofbrassbuttonsaboutme。Myshipleftmebehind，andIwasinwantofwork。ItookthisjobbutIdidn’twanttogohomeparticularly。It’sslowworkaftersailingwitholdRobinsonintheLy—e—moon。Thatwasmyship。
　　Heardofher，Captain？"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidLingard，hastily。"Lookhere，Mr。Carter，whichwaywasyourchiefofficertryingforSingapore？ThroughtheStraitsofRhio？"
　　"Isupposeso，"answeredCarterinaslightlysurprisedtone；
　　"whydoyouask？"
　　"Justtoknow……Whatisit，Mr。Shaw？"
　　"There’sablackcloudrisingtothenorthward，sir，andweshallgetabreezedirectly，"saidShawfromthedoorway。
　　Helingeredtherewithhiseyesfixedonthedecanters。
　　"Willyouhaveaglass？"saidLingard，leavinghisseat。"Iwillgoupandhavealook。"
　　Hewentondeck。Shawapproachedthetableandbegantohelphimself，handlingthebottlesinprofoundsilenceandwithexaggeratedcaution，asifhehadbeenmeasuringoutoffragilevesselsadoseofsomedeadlypoison。Carter，hishandsinhispockets，andleaningback，examinedhimfromheadtofootwithacoolstare。Themateofthebrigraisedtheglasstohislips，andglaringabovetherimatthestranger，drainedthecontentsslowly。
　　"Youhaveafinenoseforfindingshipsinthedark，Mister，"hesaid，distinctly，puttingtheglassonthetablewithextremegentleness。
　　"Eh？What’sthat？Isightedyoujustaftersunset。"
　　"Andyouknewwheretolook，too，"saidShaw，staringhard。
　　"Ilookedtothewestwardwheretherewasstillsomelight，asanysensiblemanwoulddo，"retortedtheotheralittleimpatiently。"Whatareyoutryingtogetat？"
　　"Andyouhaveareadytonguetoblowaboutyourself——haven’tyou？"
　　"Neversawsuchamaninmylife，"declaredCarter，withareturnofhisnonchalantmanner。"Youseemtobetroubledaboutsomething。"
　　"Idon’tlikeboatstocomesneakingupfromnowhereinparticular，alongsideashipwhenIaminchargeofthedeck。I
　　cankeepalookoutaswellasanymanoutofhomeports，butI
　　hatetobecircumventedbymuffledoarsandsuchungentlemanliketricks。Yachtofficer——indeed。Theseseasmustbefullofsuchyachtsmen。Iconsideryouplayedameantrickonme。Itoldmyoldmantherewasnothinginsightatsunset——andnomoretherewas。Ibelieveyoublundereduponusbychance——forallyourboastingaboutsunsetsandbearings。Gammon！Iknowyoucameonblindlyontopofus，andwithmuffledoars，too。D’yecallthatdecent？"
　　"IfIdidmuffletheoarsitwasforagoodreason。Iwantedtoslippastacovewheresomenativecraftweremoored。Thatwascommonprudenceinsuchasmallboat，andnotarmed——asIam。I
　　sawyourightenough，butIhadnointentiontostartleanybody。
　　Takemywordforit。"
　　"Iwishyouhadgonesomewhereelse，"growledShaw。"Ihatetobeputinthewrongthroughaccidentanduntruthfulness——there！
　　Here’smyoldmancallingme——"
　　HeleftthecabinhurriedlyandsoonafterwardLingardcamedown，andsatagainfacingCarteracrossthetable。Hisfacewasgravebutresolute。
　　"Weshallgetthebreezedirectly，"hesaid。
　　"Then，sir，"saidCarter，gettingup，"ifyouwillgivemebackthatletterIshallgooncruisingaboutheretospeaksomeothership。Itrustyouwillreportuswhereveryouaregoing。"
　　"IamgoingtotheyachtandIshallkeeptheletter，"answeredLingardwithdecision。"Iknowexactlywheresheis，andImustgototherescueofthosepeople。It’smostfortunateyou’vefalleninwithme，Mr。Carter。Fortunateforthemandfortunateforme，"headdedinalowertone。
　　"Yes，"drawledCarter，reflectively。"Theremaybeatidybitofsalvagemoneyifyoushouldgetthevesseloff，butIdon’tthinkyoucandomuch。Ihadbetterstayouthereandtrytospeaksomegunboat——"
　　"Youmustcomebacktoyourshipwithme，"saidLingard，authoritatively。"Nevermindthegunboats。"
　　"Thatwouldn’tbecarryingoutmyorders，"arguedCarter。"I’vegottospeakahomeward—boundshiporaman—of—war——that’splainenough。Iamnotanxioustoknockaboutfordaysinanopenboat，but——letmefillmyfresh—waterbreaker，Captain，andIwillbeoff。"
　　"Nonsense，"saidLingard，sharply。"You’vegottocomewithmetoshowtheplaceand——andhelp。I’lltakeyourboatintow。"
　　Carterdidnotseemconvinced。Lingardlaidaheavyhandonhisshoulder。
　　"Lookhere，youngfellow。IamTomLingardandthere’snotawhitemanamongtheseislands，andveryfewnatives，thathavenotheardofme。Myluckbroughtyouintomyship——andnowI’vegotyou，youmuststay。Youmust！"
　　Thelast"must"burstoutloudandsharplikeapistol—shot。
　　Cartersteppedback。
　　"Doyoumeanyouwouldkeepmebyforce？"heasked，startled。
　　"Force，"repeatedLingard。"Itrestswithyou。Icannotletyouspeakanyvessel。Youryachthasgoneashoreinamostinconvenientplace——forme；andwithyourboatssentoffhereandthere，youwouldbringeveryinfernalgunboatbuzzingtoaspotthatwasasquietandretiredastheheartofmancouldwish。Youstrandingjustonthatspotofthewholecoastwasmybadluck。
　　AndthatIcouldnothelp。Youcominguponmelikethisismygoodluck。AndthatIhold！"
　　Hedroppedhisclenchedfist，bigandmuscular，inthelightofthelampontheblackcloth，amongsttheglitterofglasses，withthestrongfingersclosedtightuponthefirmfleshofthepalm。
　　HeleftitthereforamomentasifshowingCarterthatluckhewasgoingtohold。Andhewenton：
　　"Doyouknowintowhathornet’snestyourstupidpeoplehaveblundered？Howmuchd’yethinktheirlivesareworth，justnow？
　　Notabrassfarthingifthebreezefailsmeforanothertwenty—fourhours。Youmaywellopenyoureyes。Itisso！Anditmaybetoolatenow，whileIamarguingwithyouhere。"
　　Hetappedthetablewithhisknuckles，andtheglasses，wakingup，jingledathin，plaintivefinaletohisspeech。Carterstoodleaningagainstthesideboard。Hewasamazedbytheunexpectedturnoftheconversation；hisjawdroppedslightlyandhiseyesneverswervedforamomentfromLingard’sface。Thesilenceinthecabinlastedonlyafewseconds，buttoCarter，whowaitedbreathlessly，itseemedverylong。Andallatonceheheardinit，forthefirsttime，thecabinclocktickdistinctly，inpulsatingbeats，asthoughalittleheartofmetalbehindthedialhadbeenstartedintosuddenpalpitation。
　　"Agunboat！"shoutedLingard，suddenly，asifhehadseenonlyinthatmoment，bythelightofsomevividflashofthought，allthedifficultiesofthesituation。"Ifyoudon’tgobackwithmetherewillbenothingleftforyoutogobackto——verysoon。Yourgunboatwon’tfindasingleship’sriborasinglecorpseleftforalandmark。Thatshewon’t。Itisn’tagunboatskipperyouwant。Iamthemanyouwant。Youdon’tknowyourluckwhenyouseeit，butIknowmine，Ido——and——lookhere——"
　　HetouchedCarter’schestwithhisforefinger，andsaidwithasuddengentlenessoftone：
　　"Iamawhitemaninsideandout；Iwon’tletinoffensivepeople—
　　—andawoman，too——cometoharmifIcanhelpit。AndifIcan’thelp，nobodycan。Youunderstand——nobody！There’snotimeforit。
　　ButIamlikeanyothermanthatisworthhissalt：Iwon’tlettheendofanundertakinggobytheboardwhilethereisachancetoholdon——andit’slikethis——"
　　Hisvoicewaspersuasive——almostcaressing；hehadholdnowofacoatbuttonandtuggedatitslightlyashewentoninaconfidentialmanner：
　　"Asitturnsout，Mr。Carter，Iwould——inamannerofspeaking——I
　　wouldassoonshootyouwhereyoustandasletyougotoraiseanalarmalloverthisseaaboutyourconfoundedyacht。Ihaveotherlivestoconsider——andfriends——andpromises——and——andmyself，too。Ishallkeepyou，"heconcluded，sharply。
　　Carterdrewalongbreath。Onthedeckabove，thetwomencouldhearsoftfootfalls，shortmurmurs，indistinctwordsspokenneartheskylight。Shaw’svoicerangoutloudlyingrowlingtones：
　　"Furltheroyals，youtindal！"
　　"It’sthequeerestoldgo，"mutteredCarter，lookingdownontothefloor。"Youareastrangeman。IsupposeImustbelievewhatyousay——unlessyouandthatfatmateofyoursareacoupleofescapedlunaticsthatgotholdofabrigbysomemeans。Why，thatchapuptherewantedtopickaquarrelwithmeforcomingaboard，andnowyouthreatentoshootmeratherthanletmego。NotthatIcaremuchaboutthat；forsometimeorotheryouwouldgethangedforit；andyoudon’tlooklikeamanthatwillendthatway。Ifwhatyousayisonlyhalftrue，IoughttogetbacktotheyachtasquickaseverIcan。Itstrikesmethatyourcomingtothemwillbeonlyasmallmercy，anyhow——andImaybeofsomeuse——Butthisisthequeerest……MayIgoinmyboat？"
　　"Asyoulike，"saidLingard。"There’sarainsquallcoming。"
　　"Iaminchargeandwillgetwetalongofmychaps。Giveusagoodlongline，Captain。"
　　"It’sdonealready，"saidLingard。"Youseemasensiblesailormanandcanseethatitwouldbeuselesstotryandgivemetheslip。"
　　"Foramansoreadytoshoot，youseemverytrustful，"drawledCarter。"IfIcutadriftinasquall，Istandaprettyfairchancenottoseeyouagain。"
　　"Youjusttry，"saidLingard，drily。"Ihaveeyesinthisbrig，youngman，thatwillseeyourboatwhenyoucouldn’tseetheship。YouareofthekindIlike，butifyoumonkeywithmeI
　　willfindyou——andwhenIfindyouIwillrunyoudownassurelyasIstandhere。"
　　Carterslappedhisthighandhiseyestwinkled。
　　"BytheLordHarry！"hecried。"Ifitwasn’tforthemenwithme，Iwouldtryforsport。Youaresococksureaboutthelotyoucando，Captain。Youwouldaggravateasaintintoopenmutiny。"
　　Hiseasygoodhumourhadreturned；butafterashortburstoflaughter，hebecameserious。
　　"Neverfear，"hesaid，"Iwon’tslipaway。Ifthereistobeanythroat—cutting——asyouseemtohint——minewillbethere，too，I
　　promiseyou，and……"
　　Hestretchedhisarmsout，glancedatthem，shookthemalittle。
　　"Andthispairofarmstotakecareofit，"headded，inhisold，carelessdrawl。
　　utthemasterofthebrigsittingwithbothhiselbowsonthetable，hisfaceinhishands，hadfallenunexpectedlyintoameditationsoconcentratedandsoprofoundthatheseemedneithertohear，see，norbreathe。Thesightofthatman’scompleteabsorptioninthoughtwastoCarteralmostmoresurprisingthananyotheroccurrenceofthatnight。Hadhisstrangehostvanishedsuddenlyfrombeforehiseyes，itcouldnothavemadehimfeelmoreuncomfortablyaloneinthatcabinwherethepertinaciousclockkepttickingofftheuselessminutesofthecalmbeforeitwould，withthesamesteadybeat，begintomeasuretheaimlessdisturbanceofthestorm。
　　III
　　Afterwaitingamoment，Carterwentondeck。Thesky，thesea，thebrigitselfhaddisappearedinadarknessthathadbecomeimpenetrable，palpable，andstifling。Animmensecloudhadcomeuprunningovertheheavens，asiflookingforthelittlecraft，andnowhungoverit，arrested。Tothesouththerewasalividtremblinggleam，faintandsad，likeavanishingmemoryofdestroyedstarlight。Tothenorth，asiftoprovetheimpossible，anincrediblyblackerpatchoutlinedonthetremendousblacknessoftheskytheheartofthecomingsquall。Theglimmersinthewaterhadgoneoutandtheinvisibleseaallaroundlaymuteandstillasifithaddiedsuddenlyoffright。
　　Cartercouldseenothing。Hefeltabouthimpeoplemoving；heheardtheminthedarknesswhisperingfaintlyasiftheyhadbeenexchangingsecretsimportantorinfamous。Thenighteffacedevenwords，anditsmysteryhadcapturedeverythingandeverysound——
　　hadleftnothingfreebuttheunexpectedthatseemedtohoveraboutone，readytostretchoutitsstealthyhandinatouchsudden，familiar，andappalling。Eventhecarelessdispositionoftheyoungex—officerofanopium—clipperwasaffectedbytheominousaspectofthehour。Whatwasthisvessel？Whatwerethosepeople？Whatwouldhappento—morrow？Totheyacht？Tohimself？Hefeltsuddenlywithoutanyadditionalreasonbutthedarknessthatitwasapoorshow，anyhow，adashedpoorshowforallhands。Theirrationalconvictionmadehimfalterforasecondwherehestoodandhegrippedtheslideofthecompanionwayhard。
　　Shaw’svoicerightclosetohisearrelievedandclearedhistroubledthoughts。
　　"Oh！it’syou，Mister。Comeupatlast，"saidthemateofthebrigslowly。"Itappearswe’vegottogiveyouatownow。Ofalltherumin—cidents，thisbeatsall。Aboatsneaksupfromnowhereandturnsouttobealong—expectedfriend！Foryouareoneofthemfriendstheskipperwasgoingtomeetsomewherehere。Ain’tyounow？Come！Iknowmorethanyoumaythink。Areweoffto——youmayjustaswelltell——offto——h’mha……youknow？"
　　"Yes。Iknow。Don’tyou？"articulatedCarter，innocently。
　　Shawremainedveryquietforaminute。
　　"Where’smyskipper？"heaskedatlast。
　　"Ilefthimdownbelowinakindoftrance。Where’smyboat？"
　　"Yourboatishangingastern。AndmyopinionisthatyouareasuncivilasI’veprovedyoutobeuntruthful。Egzz—actly。"
　　Carterstumbledtowardthetaffrailandinthefirststephemadecamefullagainstsomebodywhoglidedaway。Itseemedtohimthatsuchanightbringsmentoalowerlevel。Hethoughtthathemighthavebeenknockedontheheadbyanybodystrongenoughtoliftacrow—bar。Hefeltstrangelyirritated。Hesaidloudly，aiminghiswordsatShawwhomhesupposedsomewherenear：
　　"Andmyopinionisthatyouandyourskipperwillcometoasuddenbadendbefore——"
　　"Ithoughtyouwereinyourboat。Haveyouchangedyourmind？"
　　askedLingardinhisdeepvoiceclosetoCarter’selbow。
　　Carterfelthiswayalongtherail，tillhishandfoundalinethatseemed，inthecalm，tostreamoutofitsownaccordintothedarkness。Hehailedhisboat，anddirectlyheardthewashofwateragainstherbowsasshewashauledquicklyunderthecounter。Thenheloomedupshapelessontherail，andthenextmomentdisappearedasifhehadfallenoutoftheuniverse。
　　Lingardheardhimsay：
　　"Catchholdofmyleg，John。"Therewerehollowsoundsintheboat；avoicegrowled，"Allright。"
　　"Keepclearofthecounter，"saidLingard，speakinginquietwarningtonesintothenight。"Thebrigmaygetalotofsternwayonhershouldthissquallnotstrikeherfairly。"
　　"Aye，aye。Iwillmind，"wasthemutteredanswerfromthewater。
　　Lingardcrossedovertotheportside，andlookedsteadilyatthesootymassofapproachingvapours。Afteramomenthesaidcurtly，"Braceupfortheporttack，Mr。Shaw，"andremainedsilent，withhisfacetothesea。Asound，sorrowfulandstartlinglikethesighofsomeimmensecreature，travellingacrossthestarlessspace，passedabovetheverticalandloftysparsofthemotionlessbrig。
　　Itgrewlouder，thensuddenlyceasedforamoment，andthetautriggingofthebrigwasheardvibratingitsanswerinasingingnotetothisthreateningmurmurofthewinds。Alongandslowundulationliftedthelevelofthewaters，asiftheseahaddrawnadeepbreathofanxioussuspense。Thenextminuteanimmensedisturbanceleapedoutofthedarknessuponthesea，kindlinguponitalividclearnessoffoam，andthefirstgustofthesquallboardedthebriginastingingflickofrainandspray。Asifoverwhelmedbythesuddennessofthefierceonset，thevesselremainedforaseconduprightwhereshefloated，shakingwithtremendousjerksfromtruckstokeel；whilehighupinthenighttheinvisiblecanvaswasheardrattlingandbeatingaboutviolently。
　　Then，withaquickdoublereport，asofheavyguns，bothtopsailsfilledatonceandthebrigfelloverswiftlyonherside。Shawwasthrownheadlongagainsttheskylight，andLingard，whohadencircledtheweatherrailwithhisarm，feltthevesselunderhisfeetdartforwardsmoothly，andthedeckbecomelessslanting——thespeedofthebrigrunningoffalittlenow，easingtheoverturningstrainofthewinduponthedistendedsurfacesofthesails。Itwasonlythefinenessofthelittlevessel’slinesandtheperfectshapeofherhullthatsavedthecanvas，andperhapsthespars，byenablingthereadycrafttogetwayuponherselfwithsuchlightning—likerapidity。LingarddrewalongbreathandyelledjubilantlyatShawwhowasstrugglingupagainstwindandraintohiscommander’sside。
　　"She’lldo。Holdoneverything。"
　　Shawtriedtospeak。Heswallowedgreatmouthfulsoftepidwaterwhichthewinddrovedownhisthroat。Thebrigseemedtosailthroughundulatingwavesthatpassedswishingbetweenthemastsandsweptoverthedeckswiththefiercerushandnoiseofacataract。Fromeverysparandeveryropearaggedsheetofwaterstreamedflickingtoleeward。Theoverpoweringdelugeseemedtolastforanage；becameunbearable——and，allatonce，stopped。Inacoupleofminutestheshowerhadrunitslengthoverthebrigandnowcouldbeseenlikeastraightgreywall，goingawayintothenightunderthefiercewhisperingofdissolvingclouds。Thewindeased。Tothenorthward，lowdowninthedarkness，threestarsappearedinarow，leapinginandoutbetweenthecrestsofwaveslikethedistantheadsofswimmersinarunningsurf；andtheretreatingedgeofthecloud，perfectlystraightfromeasttowest，slippedalongthedomeoftheskylikeanimmensehemispheric，ironshutterpivotingdownsmoothlyasifoperatedbysomemightyengine。Aninspiringandpenetratingfreshnessflowedtogetherwiththeshimmeroflight，throughtheaugmentedgloryoftheheaven，agloryexalted，undimmed，andstrangelystartlingasifanewworldhadbeencreatedduringtheshortflightofthestormycloud。Itwasareturntolife，areturntospace；theearthcomingoutfromunderapalltotakeitsplaceintherenewedandimmensescintillationoftheuniverse。
　　Thebrig，heryardsslightlycheckedin，ranwithaneasymotionunderthetopsails，jibanddriver，pushingcontemptuouslyasidetheturbulentcrowdofnoisyandagitatedwaves。Asthecraftwentswiftlyaheadsheunrolledbehindherovertheuneasydarknessoftheseaabroadribbonofseethingfoamshotwithwispygleamsofdarkdiscsescapingfromundertherudder。Farawayastern，attheendofalinenothickerthanablackthread，whichdippednowandthenitslongcurveintheburstingfroth，atoy—likeobjectcouldbemadeout，elongatedanddark，racingafterthebrigoverthesnowywhitenessofherwake。
　　Lingardwalkedaft，and，withbothhishandsonthetaffrail，lookedeagerlyforCarter’sboat。Thefirstglancesatisfiedhimthattheyacht’sgigwastowingeasilyattheendofthelongscopeofline，andheturnedawaytolookaheadandtoleewardwithasteadygaze。ItwasthenhalfanhourpastmidnightandShaw，relievedbyWasub，hadgonebelow。Beforehewent，hesaidtoLingard，"Iwillbeoff，sir，ifyou’renotgoingtomakemoresailyet。""Notyetforawhile，"hadansweredLingardinapreoccupiedmanner；andShawdepartedaggrievedatsuchaneglectofmakingthebestofagoodbreeze。
　　Onthemaindeckdark—skinnedmen，whoseclothingclungtotheirshiveringlimbsasiftheyhadbeenoverboard，hadfinishedrecoilingthebraces，andclearingthegear。Thekassab，afterhavinghungthefore—topsailhalyardsinthebecket，struttedintothewaisttowardarowofmenwhostoodidlywiththeirshouldersagainstthesideofthelongboatamidships。Hepassedalonglookingupcloseatthestolidfaces。Roomwasmadeforhim，andhetookhisplaceattheend。
　　"Itwasagreatrainandamightywind，Omen，"hesaid，dogmatically，"butnowindcaneverhurtthisship。ThatIknewwhileIstoodmindingthesailwhichisundermycare。"
　　Adullandinexpressivemurmurwasheardfromthemen。Overthehighweatherrail，atoppingwaveflungintotheireyesahandfulofheavydropsthatstunglikehail。Therewerelowgroansofindignation。Amansighed。Anotheremittedaspasmodiclaughthroughhischatteringteeth。Noonemovedaway。Thelittlekassabwipedhisfaceandwentoninhiscrackedvoice，totheaccompanimentoftheswishingsoundsmadebytheseasthatsweptregularlyasternalongtheship’sside。
　　"Haveyouheardhimshoutatthewind——louderthanthewind？I
　　haveheard，beingfarforward。Andbefore，too，inthemanyyearsIservedthiswhitemanIhaveheardhimoftencrymagicwordsthatmakeallsafe。Ya—wa！Thisistruth。AskWasubwhoisaHaji，evenasIam。"
　　"Ihaveseenwhitemen’sshipswiththeirmastsbroken——alsowreckedlikeourownpraus，"remarkedsadlyalean，lankfellowwhoshiveredbesidethekassab，hanginghisheadandtryingtograsphisshoulderblades。
　　"True，"admittedthekassab。"TheyareallthechildrenofSatanbuttosomemorefavourisshown。Toobeysuchmenontheseaorinafightisgood。Isawhimwhoismasterherefightwithwildmenwhoeattheirenemies——farawaytotheeastward——andIdealtblowsbyhissidewithoutfear；forthecharmshe，nodoubt，possessesprotecthisservantsalso。IamabelieverandtheStonedOnecannottouchmyforehead。Yettherewardofvictorycomesfromtheaccursed。ForsixyearshaveIsailedwiththatwhiteman；firstasonewhomindstherudder，forIamamanofthesea，borninaprau，andamskilledinsuchwork。Andnow，becauseofmygreatknowledgeofhisdesires，Ihavethecareofallthingsinthisship。"
　　Severalvoicesmuttered，"True。True。"Theyremainedapatheticandpatient，intherushofwind，undertherepeatedshortflightsofsprays。Theslightrolloftheshipbalancedthemstifflyalltogetherwheretheystoodproppedagainstthebigboat。Thebreezehummingbetweentheinclinedmastsenvelopedtheirdarkandsilentfiguresintheunceasingresonanceofitsbreath。
　　Thebrig’sheadhadbeenlaidsoastopassalittletowindwardofthesmallislandsoftheCarimatagroup。Theyhadbeentillthenhiddeninthenight，butnowbothmenonthelookoutreportedlandaheadinonelongcry。Lingard，standingtoleewardabreastofthewheel，watchedtheisletfirstseen。Whenitwasnearlyabeamofthebrighegavehisorders，andWasubhurriedofftothemaindeck。Thehelmwasputdown，theyardsonthemaincameslowlysquareandthewetcanvasofthemain—topsailclungsuddenlytothemastafterasingleheavyflap。Thedazzlingstreakoftheship’swakevanished。Thevessellostherwayandbegantodipherbowsintothequicksuccessionoftherunningheadseas。Andateveryslowplungeofthecraft，thesongofthewindwouldswelllouderamongstthewavingspars，withawildandmournfulnote。
　　Justasthebrig’sboathadbeenswungout，readyforlowering，theyacht’sgighauledupbyitslineappearedtossingandsplashingontheleequarter。Carterstoodupinthesternsheetsbalancinghimselfcleverlytothedisorderedmotionofhiscockleshell。Hehailedthebrigtwicetoknowwhatwasthematter，notbeingablefrombelowandinthedarknesstomakeoutwhatthatconfusedgroupofmenonthepoopwereabout。Hegotnoanswer，thoughhecouldseetheshapeofamanstandingbyhimselfaft，andapparentlywatchinghim。Hewasgoingtorepeathishailforthethirdtimewhenheheardtherattlingoftacklesfollowedbyaheavysplash，aburstofvoices，scramblinghollowsounds——andadarkmassdetachingitselffromthebrig’ssidesweptpasthimonthecrestofapassingwave。Forlessthanasecondhecouldseeontheshimmerofthenightskytheshapeofaboat，theheadsofmen，thebladesofoarspointingupwardwhilebeinggotouthurriedly。Thenallthissankoutofsight，reappearedoncemorefaroffandhardlydiscernible，beforevanishingforgood。
　　"Why，they’veloweredaboat！"exclaimedCarter，fallingbackinhisseat。Herememberedthathehadseenonlyafewhoursagothreenativeprauslurkingamongstthoseveryislands。Foramomenthehadtheideaofcastingofftogoinchaseofthatboat，soastofindout……Findoutwhat？Hegaveuphisideaatonce。Whatcouldhedo？