heasked，withpainedanxiety。——‘Who——split？’hissedBelfast，comingbackastep。‘IwouldsplityournosethisminytifIhadn’tJimmytolookafter！Whod’yethinkweare？’DonkinroseandwatchedBelfast’sbacklurchthroughthedoorway。Onallsidesmenslept，breathingcalmly。Heseemedtodrawcourageandfuryfromthepeacearoundhim。Venomousandthin—faced，heglaredfromtheamplemisfitofborrowedclothesasiflookingforsomethinghecouldsmash。Hisheartleapedwildlyinhisnarrowchest。Theyslept！Hewantedtowringnecks，gougeeyes，spitonfaces。Heshookadirtypairofmeagrefistsatthesmokinglights。‘Ye’renomen！’hecried，inadeadenedtone。Noonemoved。‘Yer’aven’tthepluckofamouse！’
Hisvoicerosetoahuskyscreech。Wamiboblinked，uncomprehendingbutinterested。Donkinsatdownheavily;heblewwithforcethroughquiveringnostrils，hegroundandsnappedhisteeth，and，withthechinpressedhardagainstthebreast，heseemedbusygnawinghiswaythroughit，asiftogetattheheartwithin……
Inthemorningtheship，beginninganotherdayofherwanderinglife，hadanaspectofsumptuousfreshness，likethespring—timeoftheearth。Thewasheddecksglistenedinalongclearstretch;theobliquesunlightstrucktheyellowbrassesindazzlingsplashes，dartedoverthepolishedrodsinlinesofgold，andthesingledropsofsaltwaterforgottenhereandtherealongtherailwereaslimpidasdropsofdew，andsparkledmorethanscattereddiamonds。Thesailsslepthushedbyagentlebreeze。
Thesun，risinglonelyandsplendidinthebluesky，sawasolitaryshipglidingclose—hauledonthebluesea。
Themenpressedthreedeepabreastofthemainmastandoppositethecabin—door。Theyshuffled，pushed，hadanirresolutemienandstolidfaces。AteveryslightmovementKnowleslurchedheavilyonhisshortleg。Donkinglidedbehindbacks，restlessandanxious，likeamanlookingforanambush。CaptainAllistouncameoutsuddenly。Hewalkedtoandfrobeforethefront。Hewasgrey，slight，alert，shabbyinthesunshine，andashardasadamant。Hehadhisrighthandintheside—pocketofhisjacket，andalsosomethingheavyintherethatmadefoldsalldownthatside。Oneoftheseamenclearedhisthroatominously。——‘Ihaven’ttillnowfoundfaultwithyoumen，’saidthemaster，stoppingshort。Hefacedthemwithhisworn，steelygaze，thatbyanuniversalillusionlookedstraightintoeveryindividualpairofthetwentypairsofeyesbeforehisface。Athisback，Mr。baker，bloomyandbull—necked，gruntedlow;Mr。Creighton，freshaspaint，hadrosycheeksandaready，resolutebearing。‘AndIdon’tnow，’continuedthemaster;‘butIamheretodrivethisshipandkeepeveryman—jackaboardofheruptothemark。IfyouknewyourworkaswellasIdomine，therewouldbenotrouble。You’vebeenbrayinginthedarkabout\"Seeto—morrowmorning！\"