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。