\"Isupposeyouthinkit’smydoing？\"heasked，sharply，withoutlookingup。
Cartersurveyedhimwithacandidlycuriousgaze。\"Well，Captain，Mrs。Traversdidletonabittomeaboutourchief—officer’sboat。You’vestoppedit，haven’tyou？HowshegottoknowGodonlyknows。Shewassorryshespoke，too，butitwasn’tsomuchofnewstomeasshethought。Icanputtwoandtwotogether，sometimes。Thoserockets，lastnight，eh？IwishedIhadbittenmytongueoutbeforeItoldyouaboutourfirstgig。ButIwastakenunawares。Wasn’tI？Iputittoyou：wasn’tI？AndsoI
toldherwhensheaskedmewhatpassedbetweenyouandmeonboardthisbrig，nottwenty—fourhoursago。Thingslookdifferentnow，allofasudden。Enoughtoscareawoman，butsheisthebestmanofthemallonboard。Theothersarefairlyoffthechumpbecauseit’sabitdarkandsomethinghashappenedtheyain’tusedto。Butshehassomethingonhermind。Ican’tmakeherout！\"Hepaused，wriggledhisshouldersslightly——\"NomorethanIcanmakeyouout，\"headded。
\"That’syourtrouble，isit？\"saidLingard，slowly。
\"Aye，Captain。Isitallcleartoyou？Stoppingboats，kidnappinggentlemen。That’sfuninaway，only——Iamayoungstertoyou——butisitallcleartoyou？OldRobinsonwasn’tparticular，youknow，andhe——\"
\"Clearerthandaylight，\"criedLingard，hotly。\"Ican’tgiveup——\"
Hecheckedhimself。Carterwaited。Theflarebearersstoodrigid，turningtheirfacesawayfromtheflame，andintheplayofgleamsatitsfootthemastnearby，likealoftycolumn，ascendedinthegreatdarkness。Alotofropesranupslantingintoadarkvoidandwerelosttosight，buthighaloftabraceblockgleamedwhite，theendofayard—armcouldbeseensuspendedintheairandasifglowingwithitsownlight。Theskyhadcloudedoverthebrigwithoutabreathofwind。
\"Giveup，\"repeatedCarterwithanuneasyshuffleoffeet。
\"Nobody，\"finishedLingard。\"Ican’t。It’sasclearasdaylight。
Ican’t！No！Nothing！\"
Hestaredstraightoutafar，andafterlookingathimCarterfeltmovedbyabitofyouthfulintuitiontomurmur，\"That’sbad，\"inatonethatalmostinspiteofhimselfhintedatthedawningofabefoggedcompassion。
Hehadasenseofconfusionwithinhim，thesenseofmysterywithout。HehadneverexperiencedanythinglikeitallthetimewhenservingwitholdRobinsonintheLy—e—moon。Andyethehadseenandtakenpartinsomequeerdoingsthatwerenotcleartohimatthetime。Theyweresecretbuttheysuggestedsomethingcomprehensible。Thisaffairdidnot。Ithadsomehowasubtletythataffectedhim。Hewasuneasyasiftherehadbeenabreathofmagiconeventsandmengivingtothiscomplicationofayachtingvoyageasignificanceimpossibletoperceive，butfeltinthewords，inthegestures，intheevents，whichmadethemallstrangely，obscurelystartling。
Hewasnotonewhocouldkeeptrackofhissensations，andbesideshehadnottheleisure。HehadtoanswerLingard’squestionsaboutthepeopleoftheyacht。No，hecouldn’tsayMrs。
Traverswaswhatyoumaycallfrightened。Sheseemedtohavesomethinginhermind。Oh，yes！Thechapswereinafunk。Wouldtheyfight？Anybodywouldfightwhendriventoit，funkornofunk。Thatwashisexperience。Naturallyonelikedtohavesomethingbetterthanahandspiketodoitwith。Still——InthepauseCarterseemedtoweighwithcomposurethechancesofmenwithhandspikes。
\"Whatdoyouwanttofightusfor？\"heasked，suddenly。
Lingardstarted。
\"Idon’t，\"hesaid；\"Iwouldn’tbeaskingyou。\"
\"There’snosayingwhatyouwoulddo，Captain，\"repliedCarter；
\"itisn’ttwenty—fourhourssinceyouwantedtoshootme。\"
\"IonlysaidIwould，ratherthanletyougoraisingtroubleforme，\"explainedLingard。
\"Onenightisn’tlikeanother，\"mumbledCarter，\"buthowamItoknow？Itseemstomeyouaremakingtroubleforyourselfasfastasyoucan。\"
\"Well，supposingIam，\"saidLingardwithsuddengloominess。
\"WouldyourmenfightifIarmedthemproperly？\"
\"What——foryouorforthemselves？\"askedCarter。
\"Forthewoman，\"burstoutLingard。\"Youforgetthere’sawomanonboard。Idon’tcareTHATfortheircarcases。\"
Carterponderedconscientiously。
\"Notto—night，\"hesaidatlast。\"There’soneortwogoodmenamongstthem，buttherestarestruckallofaheap。Notto—night。Givethemtimetogetsteadyabitifyouwantthemtofight。\"
Hegavefactsandopinionswithamixtureofloyaltyandmistrust。Hisownstatepuzzledhimexceedingly。Hecouldn’tmakeoutanything，hedidnotknowwhattobelieveandyethehadanimpulsivedesire，aninspireddesiretohelptheman。Attimesitappearedanecessity——atotherspolicy；betweenwhilesagreatfolly，whichperhapsdidnotmatterbecausehesuspectedhimselfofbeinghelplessanyway。Thenhehadmomentsofanger。Inthosemomentshewouldfeelinhispocketthebuttofaloadedpistol。
Hehadprovidedhimselfwiththeweapon，whendirectedbyMrs。
Traverstogoonboardthebrig。
\"Ifhewantstointerferewithme，I’llletdriveathimandtakemychanceofgettingaway，\"hehadexplainedhurriedly。
HerememberedhowstartledMrs。Traverslooked。Ofcourse，awomanlikethat——notusedtohearsuchtalk。Thereforeitwasnouselisteningtoher，exceptforgoodmanners’sake。Oncebittwiceshy。Hehadnomindtobekidnapped，nothe，norbulliedeither。
\"Ican’tlethimnabme，too。Youwillwantmenow，Mrs。
Travers，\"hehadsaid；\"andIpromiseyounottofireofftheoldthingunlesshejollywellforcesmeto。\"
Hewasyouthfullywiseinhisresolutionnottogivewaytoherentreaties，thoughherextraordinaryagitationdidstaggerhimforamoment。Whentheboatwasalreadyonitswaytothebrig，herememberedhercallingoutafterhim：
\"Youmustnot！Youdon’tunderstand。\"
Hervoicecomingfaintlyinthedarknessmovedhim，itresembledsomuchacryofdistress。
\"Giveway，boys，giveway，\"heurgedhismen。
Hewaswise，resolute，andhewasalsoyouthfulenoughtoalmostwishitshould\"cometoit。\"Andwithforesightheeveninstructedtheboat’screwtokeepthegigjustabaftthemainriggingofthebrig。
\"Whenyouseemedropintoherallofasudden，shoveoffandpullfordearlife。\"
Somehowjustthenhewasnotsoanxiousforashot，butheheldonwithadeterminedmentalgrasptohisfineresolution，lestitshouldslipawayfromhimandperishinaseaofdoubts。
\"Hadn’tIbettergetbacktotheyacht？\"heasked，gently。
Gettingnoanswerhewentonwithdeliberation：
\"Mrs。Traversorderedmetosaythatnomatterhowthiscameaboutsheisreadytotrustyou。Sheiswaitingforsomekindofanswer，Isuppose。\"
\"Readytotrustme，\"repeatedLingard。Hiseyeslitupfiercely。
Everyswayofflarestossedslightlytoandfrothemassyshadowsofthemaindeck，wherehereandtherethefigureofamancouldbeseenstandingverystillwithaduskyfaceandglitteringeyeballs。
Carterstolehishandwarilyintohisbreastpocket：
\"Well，Captain，\"hesaid。Hewasnotgoingtobebullied，lettheowner’swifetrustwhomsheliked。
\"Haveyougotanythinginwritingformethere？\"askedLingard，advancingapace，exultingly。
Carter，alert，steppedbacktokeephisdistance。Shawstaredfromtheside；hisrubicundcheeksquivered，hisroundeyesseemedstartingoutofhishead，andhismouthwasopenasthoughhehadbeenreadytochokewithpent—upcuriosity，amazement，andindignation。
\"No！Notinwriting，\"saidCarter，steadilyandlow。
Lingardhadtheairofbeingawakenedbyashout。Aheavyanddarkeningfrownseemedtofalloutofthenightuponhisforeheadandswiftlypassedintothenightagain，andwhenitdeparteditlefthimsocalm，hisglancesolucid，hismiensocomposedthatitwasdifficulttobelievetheman’shearthadundergonewithinthelastsecondthetrialofhumiliationandofdanger。Hesmiledsadly：
\"Well，youngman，\"heaskedwithakindofgood—humouredresignation，\"whatisityouhavethere？Aknifeorapistol？\"
\"Apistol，\"saidCarter。\"Areyousurprised，Captain？\"Hespokewithheatbecauseasenseofregretwasstealingslowlywithinhim，asstealthily，asirresistiblyastheflowingtide。\"Whobeganthesetricks？\"Hewithdrewhishand，empty，andraisedhisvoice。\"YouareuptosomethingIcan’tmakeout。You——youarenotstraight。\"
Theflaresheldonhighstreamedrightupwithoutswaying，andinthatinstantofprofoundcalmtheshadowsonthebrig’sdeckbecameasstillasthemen。
\"Youthinknot？\"saidLingard，thoughtfully。
Carternodded。Heresentedtheturnoftheincidentandthegrowingimpulsetosurrendertothatman。
\"Mrs。Traverstrustsmethough，\"wentonLingardwithgentletriumphasifadvancinganunanswerableargument。
\"Soshesays，\"gruntedCarter；\"Iwarnedher。She’sababy。
They’reallasinnocentasbabiesthere。Andyouknowit。AndI
knowit。I’veheardofyourkind。Youwoulddumpthelotofusoverboardifitservedyourturn。That’swhatIthink。\"
\"Andthat’sall。\"
Carternoddedslightlyandlookedaway。Therewasasilence。
Lingard’seyestravelledoverthebrig。Thelightedpartofthevesselappearedinbrightandwaveringdetailwalledandcanopiedbythenight。Hefeltalightbreathonhisface。Theairwasstirring，buttheShallows，silentandlostinthedarkness，gavenosoundoflife。
ThisstillnessoppressedLingard。Theworldofhisendeavoursandhishopesseemeddead，seemedgone。Hisdesireexistedhomelessintheobscuritythathaddevouredhiscornerofthesea，thisstretchofthecoast，hiscertitudeofsuccess。Andhereinthemidstofwhatwasthedomainofhisadventuroussoultherewasalostyoungsterreadytoshoothimonsuspicionofsomeextravaganttreachery。Camereadytoshoot！That’sgood，too！Hewastoowearytolaugh——andperhapstoosad。Alsothedangerofthepistol—shot，whichhebelievedreal——theyoungarerash——irritatedhim。Thenightandthespotwerefullofcontradictions。Itwasimpossibletosaywhointhisshadowywarfarewastobeanenemy，andwhoweretheallies。Soclosewerethecontactsissuingfromthiscomplicationofayachtingvoyage，thatheseemedtohavethemallwithinhisbreast。
\"Shootme！Heisquiteuptothattrick——damnhim。YetIwouldtrusthimsoonerthananymaninthatyacht。\"
SuchwerehisthoughtswhilehelookedatCarter，whowasbitinghislips，inthevexationofthelongsilence。Whentheyspokeagaintoeachothertheytalkedsoberly，withasenseofrelief，asiftheyhadcomeintocoolairfromanoverheatedroomandwhenCarter，dismissed，wentintohisboat，hehadpracticallyagreedtothelineofactiontracedbyLingardforthecrewoftheyacht。Hehadagreedasifinimplicitconfidence。Itwasoneoftheabsurditiesofthesituationwhichhadtobeacceptedandcouldneverbeunderstood。
\"DoItalkstraightnow？\"hadaskedLingard。
\"Itseemsstraightenough，\"assentedCarterwithanairofreserve；\"Iwillworkwithyousofaranyhow。\"
\"Mrs。Traverstrustsme，\"remarkedLingardagain。
\"BytheLordHarry！\"criedCarter，givingwaysuddenlytosomelatentconviction。\"Iwaswarningheragainstyou。Say，Captain，youareadevilofaman。Howdidyoumanageit？\"
\"Itrustedher，\"saidLingard。
\"Didyou？\"criedtheamazedCarter。\"When？How？Where——\"
\"Youknowtoomuchalready，\"retortedLingard，quietly。\"Wastenotime。Iwillbeafteryou。\"
Carterwhistledlow。
\"There’sapairofyouIcan’tmakeout，\"hecalledback，hurryingovertheside。
Shawtookthisopportunitytoapproach。Beginningwithhesitation：\"Awordwithyou，sir，\"thematewentontosayhewasarespectableman。Hedeliveredhimselfinaringing，unsteadyvoice。Hewasmarried，hehadchildren，heabhorredillegality。Thelightplayedabouthisobesefigure，hehadflunghismushroomhatonthedeck，hewasnotafraidtospeakthetruth。Thegreymoustachestoodoutaggressively，hisglanceswereuneasy；hepressedhishandstohisstomachconvulsively，openedhisthick，shortarmswide，wishedittobeunderstoodhehadbeenchief—officerofhomeships，withaspotlesscharacterandhehoped\"quiteuptohiswork。\"Hewasapeaceableman，nonemore；disposedtostretchapointwhenit\"cametoadifferencewithniggersofsomekind——theyhadtobetaughtmannersandreason\"andhewasnotaverseatapinchto——butherewerewhitepeople——gentlemen，ladies，nottospeakofthecrew。Hehadneverspokentoasuperiorlikethisbefore，andthiswasprudence，hisconviction，apointofview，apointofprinciple，aconscioussuperiorityandaburstofresentmenthoardedthroughyearsagainstallthesuccessiveandunsatisfactorycaptainsofhisexistence。Thereneverhadbeensuchanopportunitytoshowhecouldnotbeputupon。Hehadoneofthemonastringandhewasgoingtoleadhimadance。Therewascourage，too，init，sincehebelievedhimselffallenunawaresintotheclutchesofaparticularlydesperatemanandbeyondthereachoflaw。
Acertainsmallamountofcalculationenteredtheaudacityofhisremonstrance。Perhaps——itflasheduponhim——theyacht’sgentrywillhearIstoodupforthem。Thiscouldconceivablybeofadvantagetoamanwhowantedaliftintheworld。\"Ownerofayacht——badlyscared——agentleman——moneynothingtohim。\"
ThereuponShawdeclaredwithheatthathecouldn’tbeanaccessoryeitherafterorbeforethefact。Thosethatneverwenthome——whohadnothingtogotoperhaps——heinterjected，hurriedly，coulddoastheyliked。Hecouldn’t。Hehadawife，afamily，alittlehouse——paidfor——withdifficulty。Hefollowedthesearespectablyoutandhome，allregular，notvagabondinghereandthere，chummingwiththefirstniggerthatcamealongandlayingtrapsforhisbetters。
Oneofthetwoflarebearerssighedathiselbow，andshiftedhisweighttotheotherfoot。
Thesetwohadbeenkeepingsoperfectlystillthatthemovementwasasstartlingasifastatuehadchangeditspose。Afterlookingattheoffenderwithcoldmalevolence，Shawwentontospeakoflaw—courts，oftrials，andofthelibertyofthesubject；thenhepointedoutthecertitudeandtheinconvenienceofbeingfoundout，affectingforthemomentthedispassionatenessofwisdom。
\"Therewillbefifteenyearsingaolattheendofthisjobforeverybody，\"saidShaw，\"andIhaveaboythatdon’tknowhisfatheryet。Finethingsforhimtolearnwhenhegrowsup。Theinnocentaredeadcertainheretocatchitalongwithyou。Themissuswillbreakherheartunlessshestarvesfirst。Homesoldup。\"
Hesawamysteriousiniquityinadangerousrelationtohimselfandbegantolosehishead。Whathereallywantedwastohavehisexistenceleftintact，forhisowncherishingandpride。Itwasamoralaspiration，butinhisalarmthenativegrossnessofhisnaturecameclatteringoutlikeadeviloutofatrap。Hewouldblowthegaff，split，giveawaythewholeshow，hewouldbackuphonestpeople，kissthebook，saywhathethought，letalltheworldknow……andwhenhepausedtodrawbreath，allaroundhimwassilentandstill。BeforetheimpetusofthatrespectablepassionhiswordswerescatteredlikechaffdrivenbyagaleandrushedheadlongintothenightoftheShallows。Andinthegreatobscurity，imperturbable，itheardhimsayhe\"washedhishandsofeverything。\"
\"Andthebrig？\"askedLingard，suddenly。
Shawwaschecked。Forasecondtheseamaninhiminstinctivelyadmittedtheclaimoftheship。
\"Thebrig。Thebrig。She’srightenough，\"hemumbled。Hehadnothingtosayagainstthebrig——nothe。Shewasn’tlikethebigshipshewasusedto，butofherkindthebestcraftheever……Andwithabrusquereturnuponhimself，heprotestedthathehadbeendecoyedonboardunderfalsepretences。Itwasasbadasbeingshanghaiedwheninliquor。Itwas——uponhissoul。Andintoacraftnextthingtoapirate！ThatwasthenameforitorhisownnamewasnotShaw。Hesaidthisglaringowlishly。Lingard，perfectlystillandmute，boretheblowswithoutasign。
Thesillyfussofthatmansearedhisverysoul。Therewasnoendtothisplagueoffoolscomingtohimfromtheforgottenendsoftheearth。Afellowlikethatcouldnotbetold。Noonecouldbetold。Blindtheycameandblindtheywouldgoout。Headmittedreluctantly，butwithoutdoubt，thatasifpushedbyaforcefromoutsidehewouldhavetotryandsavetwoofthem。Tothisendheforesawtheprobableneedofleavinghisbrigforatime。Hewouldhavetoleaveherwiththatman。Themate。Hehadengagedhimhimself——tomakehisinsurancevalid——tobeablesometimestospeak——tohavenearhim。Whowouldhavebelievedsuchafool—mancouldexistonthefaceofthesea！Who？Leavethebrigwithhim。
Thebrig！
Eversincesunset，thebreezekeptoffbytheheatofthedayhadbeentryingtore—establishinthedarknessitsswayovertheShoals。Itsapproacheshadbeenheardinthenight，itspatientmurmurs，itsfoiledsighs；butnowasurprisinglyheavypuffcameinafreerushasif，farawaytheretothenorthward，thelastdefenceofthecalmhadbeenvictoriouslycarried。Theflamesbornedownstreamedbluishly，horizontalandnoisyattheendoftallsticks，likeflutteringpennants；andbehold，theshadowsonthedeckwentmadandjostledeachotherasiftryingtoescapefromadoomedcraft，thedarkness，heldupdome—likebythebrilliantglare，seemedtotumbleheadlonguponthebriginanoverwhelmingdownfall，themenstoodswayingasifreadytofallundertheruinsofablackandnoiselessdisaster。Theblurredoutlinesofthebrig，themasts，therigging，seemedtoshudderintheterrorofcomingextinction——andthenthedarknessleapedupwardagain，theshadowsreturnedtotheirplaces，themenwereseendistinct，swarthy，withcalmfaces，withglitteringeyeballs。Thedestructioninthebreathhadpassed，wasgone。
Adiscordofthreevoicesraisedtogetherinadrawlingwailtrailedonthesuddenimmobilityoftheair。
\"Brigahoy！Giveusarope！\"
Thefirstboat—loadfromtheyachtemergedfloatingslowlyintothepoolofpurplelightwaveringroundthebrigontheblackwater。Twomensqueezedinthebowspulleduncomfortably；inthemiddle，onaheapofseamen’scanvasbags，anothersat，insecure，proppedwithbotharms，stiff—legged，angularlyhelpless。Thelightfromthepoopbroughteverythingoutinluriddetail，andtheboatfloatingslowlytowardthebrighadasuspiciousandpitifulaspect。Theshabbyloadlumberingherlookedsomehowasifithadbeenstolenbythosemenwhoresembledcastaways。InthesternsheetsCarter，standingup，steeredwithhisleg。Hehadasmileofyouthfulsarcasm。
\"Heretheyare！\"hecriedtoLingard。\"You’vegotyourownway，Captain。IthoughtIhadbettercomemyselfwiththefirstpreciouslot——\"
\"Pullaroundthestern。Thebrig’sontheswing，\"interruptedLingard。
\"Aye，aye！We’lltrynottosmashthebrig。Wewouldbelostindeedif——fendoffthere，John；fendoff，oldreliable，ifyoucareapinforyoursaltyhide。Iliketheoldchap，\"hesaid，whenhestoodbyLingard’ssidelookingdownattheboatwhichwasbeingrapidlyclearedbywhitesandMalaysworkingshouldertoshoulderinsilence。\"Ilikehim。Hedon’tbelongtothatyachtingloteither。Theypickedhimupontheroadsomewhere。
Lookattheolddog——carvedoutofaship’stimber——astalkativeasafish——grimasaguttedwreck。That’sthemanforme。Alltheotherstherearemarried，orgoingtobe，oroughttobe，orsorrytheyain’t。Everymanjackofthemhasapetticoatintow——
dashme！Neverheardinallmytravelssuchajabberaboutwivesandkids。Hurryupwithyourdunnage——belowthere！Aye！Ihadnodifficultyingettingthemtoclearoutfromtheyacht。Theyneversawapairofgentsstolenbefore——youunderstand。Itupsetalltheirlittlenotionsofwhatastrandingmeans，hereabouts。
Notthatminearen’tmixedabit，too——andyetI’veseenathingortwo。\"
Hisexcitementwasrevealedinthisboyishimpulsetotalk。
\"Look，\"hesaid，pointingatthegrowingpileofbagsandbeddingonthebrig’squarter—deck。\"Look。Don’ttheymeantosleepsoft——anddreamofhome——maybe。Home。Thinkofthat，Captain。
Thesechapscan’tgetclearawayfromit。Itisn’tlikeyouandme——\"
Lingardmadeamovement。
\"Iranawaymyselfwhensohigh。Myoldman’saTrinitypilot。
That’sajobworthstayingathomefor。Motherwritessometimes，buttheycan’tmissmemuch。There’sfourteenofusaltogether——eightathomeyet。Nofearoftheoldcountryevergettingundermanned——letdiewhomust。Onlyletitbeafairgame，Captain。Let’shaveafairshow。\"
Lingardassuredhimbrieflyheshouldhaveit。Thatwastheveryreasonhewantedtheyacht’screwinthebrig，headded。ThenquietandgraveheinquiredwhetherthatpistolwasstillinCarter’spocket。
\"Nevermindthat，\"saidtheyoungman，hurriedly。\"Rememberwhobegan。Tobeshotatwouldn’trilemesomuch——it’sbeingthreatened，don’tyousee，thatwasheavyonmychest。Lastnightisveryfaroffthough——andIwillbehangedifIknowwhatI
meantexactlywhenItooktheoldthingfromitsnail。There。
MoreIcan’tsaytillall’ssettledonewayoranother。Willthatdo？\"
Flushingbrickred，hesuspendedhisjudgmentandstayedhishandwiththegenerosityofyouth……
ApparentlyitsuitedLingardtobereprievedinthatform。Hebowedhisheadslowly。Itwoulddo。Toleavehislifetothatyoungster’signoranceseemedtoredressthebalanceofhismindagainstalotofsecretintentions。Itwasdistastefulandbitterasanexpiationshouldbe。Healsoheldalifeinhishand；alife，andmanydeathsbesides，butthesewerelikeonesinglefeatherinthescalesofhisconscience。Thatheshouldfeelsowasunavoidablebecausehisstrengthwouldatnopricepermititselftobewasted。Itwouldnotbe——andtherewasanendofit。
Allhecoulddowastothrowinanotherriskintotheseaofrisks。Thuswasheenabledtorecognizethatadropofwaterintheoceanmakesagreatdifference。Hisverydesire，unconquered，butexiled，hadlefttheplacewherehecouldconstantlyhearitsvoice。Hesawit，hesawhimself，thepast，thefuture，hesawitall，shiftingandindistinctlikethoseshapesthestrainedeyeofawandereroutlinesindarkerstrokesuponthefaceofthenight。
X
WhenLingardwenttohisboattofollowCarter，whohadgonebacktotheyacht，Wasub，mastandsailonshoulder，precededhimdowntheladder。Theoldmanleapedinsmartlyandbusiedhimselfingettingthedinghyreadyforhiscommander。
InthatlittleboatLingardwasaccustomedtotraversetheShallowsalone。Shehadashortmastandalug—sail，carriedtwoeasily，floatedinafewinchesofwater。Inherhewasindependentofacrew，and，ifthewindfailed，couldmakehiswaywithapairofscullstakingshortcutsovershoalplaces。
Thereweresomanyisletsandsandbanksthatincaseofsuddenbadweathertherewasalwaysaleetobefound，andwhenhewishedtolandhecouldpullherupabeach，stridingahead，painterinhand，likeagiantchilddraggingatoyboat。WhenthebrigwasanchoredwithintheShallowsitwasinherthathevisitedthelagoon。Once，whencaughtbyasuddenfresheningofthesea—breeze，hehadwadedupashelvingbankcarryingheronhisheadandfortwodaystheyhadrestedtogetheronthesand，whilearoundthemtheshallowwatersragedlividly，andacrossthreemilesoffoamthebrigwouldtimeaftertimedissolveinthemistandre—appeardistinct，noddinghertallsparsthatseemedtotouchaweepingskyoflamentablegreyness。
Wheneverhecameintothelagoontuggingwithbarearms，Jorgenson，whowouldbewatchingtheentranceofthecreekeversinceamuffleddetonationofaguntoseawardhadwarnedhimofthebrig’sarrivalontheShoreofRefuge，wouldmuttertohimself——\"Here’sTomcominginhisnutshell。\"Andindeedshewasinshapesomewhatlikehalfanutshellandalsointhecolourofherdarkvarnishedplanks。Theman’sshouldersandheadrosehighabovehergunwales；loadedwithLingard’sheavyframeshewouldclimbsturdilythesteepridges，slidesquattingintothehollowsofthesea，or，nowandthen，takeasedateleapoverashortwave。Herbehaviourhadastouttrustworthinessaboutit，andsheremindedoneofasurefootedmountain—ponycarryingoverdifficultgroundaridermuchbiggerthanhimself。
Wasubwipedthethwarts，rangedthemastandsailalongtheside，shippedtherowlocks。Lingardlookeddownathisoldservant’sspareshouldersuponwhichthelightfromabovefellunsteadybutvivid。WasubworkedforthecomfortofhiscommanderandhissinglemindedabsorptioninthattaskflasheduponLingardtheconsolationofanactoffriendliness。TheelderlyMalayatlastliftedhisheadwithadeferentialmurmur；hiswrinkledoldfacewithhalfadozenwiryhairspendulousateachcornerofthedarklipsexpressedakindofwearysatisfaction，andtheslightlyobliqueworneyesstoleadiscreetupwardglancecontainingahintofsomeremotemeaning。Lingardfoundhimselfcompelledbythejusticeofthatobscureclaimtomurmurashesteppedintotheboat：
\"Thesearetimesofdanger。\"