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looked as though they would start out of his head。 The
send of the sea was driving the boat's head round to
starboard。 If we struck the line of breakers fifty
yards to starboard of the gap we must sink。 It was a
great field of twisting； spouting waves。 Mahomed
planted his foot against the seat before him； and；
glancing at him I saw his brown toes spread out like a
hand with the weight he put upon them as he took the
strain of the tiller。 She came round a bit； but not
enough。 I roared to Job to back water； while I dragged
and labored at my oar。 She answered now； and none too
soon。
Heavens； we were in them！ And then followed a couple
of minutes of heartbreaking excitement such as I
cannot hope to describe。 All I remember is a shrieking
sea of foam； out of which the billows rose here；
there； and everywhere； like avenging ghosts from their
ocean grave。 Once we were turned right round； but
either by chance； or through Mahomed's skilful
steering； the boat's head came straight again before a
breaker filled us。 One morea monster。 We were
through it or over itmore through than overand
then； with a wild yell of exultation from the Arab； we
shot out into the comparatively smooth water of the
mouth of sea between the teeth like lines of gnashing
waves。
But we were half full of water again； and not more
than half a mile ahead was the second line of
breakers。 Again we set to and bailed furiously。
Fortunately the storm had now quite gone by； and the
moon shone brightly； revealing a rocky headland
running half a mile or more out into the sea； of which
this second line of breakers appeared to be a
continuation。 At any rate； they boiled around its
foot。 Probably the ridge that formed the headland ran
out into the ocean； only at a lower level； and made
the reef also。 This headland was terminated by a
curious peak that seemed not to be more than a mile
away from us。 Just as we got the boat pretty clear for
the second time； Leo； to my immense relief； opened his
eyes and remarked that the clothes had tumbled off the
bed； and that he supposed it was time to get up for
chapel。 I told him to shut his eyes and keep quiet；
which he did without in the slightest degree realizing
the position。 As for myself； his reference to chapel
made me reflect； with a sort of sick longing； on my
comfortable rooms at Cambridge。 Why had I been such a
fool as to leave them？ This is a reflection that has
several times recurred to me since； and with ever…
increasing force。
But now again we are drifting down on the breakers；
though with lessened speed； for the wind had fallen；
and only the current or the tide （it afterwards turned
out to be the tide） was driving us。
Another minute； and with a sort of howl to Allah from
the Arab； a pious ejaculation from myself； and
something that was not pious from Job； we were in
them。 And then the whole scene； down to our final
escape； repeated itself； only not quite so violently。
Mahomed's skilful steering and the air…tight
compartments saved our lives。 In five minutes we were
through； and driftingfor we were too exhausted to do
anything to help ourselves except keep her head
straightwith the most startling rapidity round the
headland which I have described。
Round we went with the tide； until we got well under
the lee of the point； and then suddenly the speed
slackened； we ceased to make way； and finally appeared
to be in dead water。 The storm had entirely passed；
leaving a clean…washed sky behind it； the headland
intercepted the heavy sea that had been occasioned by
the squall； and the tide； which had been running so
fiercely up the river （for we were now in the mouth of
a river）； was sluggish before it turned； so we floated
quietly； and before the moon went down managed to bail
out the boat thoroughly and get her a little ship…
shape。 Leo was sleeping profoundly； and on the whole I
thought it wise not to wake him。 It was true he was
sleeping in wet clothes； but the night was now so warm
that I thought （and so did Job） that they were not
likely to injure a man of his unusually vigorous
constitution。 Besides； we had no dry ones at hand。
Presently the moon went down； and left us floating on
the waters； now only heaving like some troubled
woman's breast； giving us leisure to reflect upon all
that we had gone through and all that we had escaped。
Job stationed himself at the bow； Mahomed kept his
post at the tiller； and I sat on a seat in the middle
of the boat close to where Leo was lying。
The moon went slowly down in chastened loveliness； she
departed like some sweet bride into her chamber； and
long； veil…like shadows crept up the sky through which
the stars peeped shyly out。 Soon； however； they too
began to pale before a splendor in the east； and then
the quivering footsteps of the dawn came rushing
across the new…born blue； and shook the planets from
their places。 Quieter and yet more quiet grew the sea；
quiet as the soft mist that brooded on her bosom； and
covered up her troubling； as the illusive wreaths of
sleep brood upon a pain…racked mind； causing it to
forget its sorrow。 From the east to the west sped the
angels of the dawn； from sea to sea； from mountain…top
to mountain…top； scattering light with both their
hands。 On they sped out of the darkness； perfect；
glorious； like spirits of the just breaking from the
tomb； on； over the quiet sea； over the low coast…line；
and the swamps beyond； and the mountains beyond them；
over those who slept in peace； and those who woke in
sorrow； over the evil and the good； over the living
and dead； over the wide world and all that breathes or
has breathed thereon。
It was a wonderfully beautiful sight； and yet sad；
perhaps from the very excess of its beauty。 The
arising sun； the setting sun！ There we have the symbol
and the type of humanity； and all things with which
humanity has to do。 The symbol and the type； yes； and
the earthly beginning； and the end also。
And on that morning this came home to me with a
peculiar force。 The sun that rose to…day for us had
set last night for eighteen of our fellow voyagers！
had set forever for eighteen whom we knew！
The dhow had gone down with them； they were tossing
about now among the rocks and seaweed； so much human
drift on the great ocean of death！ And we four were
saved。 But one day a sunrise will come when we shall
be among those who are lost； and then others will
watch those glorious rays； and grow sad in the midst
of beauty； and dream of Death in the full glow of
arising Life！
For this is the lot of man。
CHAPTER V
THE HEAD OF THE ETHIOPIAN
AT length the heralds and forerunners of the royal sun
had done their work； and； searching out the shadows；
caused them to flee away。 Then up he came in glory
from his ocean…bed； and flooded the earth with warmth
and I sat there in the boat listening to the gentle
lapping of the water and watched him rise； till
presently the slight drift of the boat brought the odd
shaped rock； or peak； at the end of the promontory
which we had weathered wit