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I
Thetideofdarknessflowedonswiftly;andwithtropicalsuddennessaswarmofstarscameoutabovetheshadowyearth,whileIlingeredyet,myhandrestinglightlyonmyship’srailasifontheshoulderofatrustedfriend.But,withallthatmultitudeofcelestialbodiesstaringdownatone,thecomfortofquietcommunionwithherwasgoneforgood.Andtherewerealsodisturbingsoundsbythistime—voices,footstepsforward;thestewardflittedalongthemain-deck,abusilyministeringspirit;ahandbelltinkledurgentlyunderthepoopdeck....
Ifoundmytwoofficerswaitingformenearthesuppertable,inthelightedcuddy.Wesatdownatonce,andasIhelpedthechiefmate,Isaid:
“Areyouawarethatthereisashipanchoredinsidetheislands?Isawhermastheadsabovetheridgeasthesunwentdown.”
Heraisedsharplyhissimpleface,overchargedbyaterriblegrowthofwhisker,andemittedhisusualejaculations:“Blessmysoul,sir!Youdon’tsayso!”
Mysecondmatewasaround-cheeked,silentyoungman,gravebeyondhisyears,Ithought;butasoureyeshappenedtomeetIdetectedaslightquiveronhislips.Ilookeddownatonce.Itwasnotmyparttoencouragesneeringonboardmyship.Itmustbesaid,too,thatIknewverylittleofmyofficers.Inconsequenceofcertaineventsofnoparticularsignificance,excepttomyself,Ihadbeenappointedtothecommandonlyafortnightbefore.NeitherdidIknowmuchofthehandsforward.Allthesepeoplehadbeentogetherforeighteenmonthsorso,andmypositionwasthatoftheonlystrangeronboard.
