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VIII
For a while after his second's answering hoot Massy
hung over the engine…room gloomily。 Captain Whal…
ley； who； by the power of five hundred pounds； had kept
his command for three years； might have been suspected
of never having seen that coast before。 He seemed un…
able to put down his glasses； as though they had been
glued under his contracted eyebrows。 This settled
frown gave to his face an air of invincible and just
severity； but his raised elbow trembled slightly； and
the perspiration poured from under his hat as if a
second sun had suddenly blazed up at the zenith by the
side of the ardent still globe already there； in whose
blinding white heat the earth whirled and shone like a
mote of dust。
From time to time； still holding up his glasses； he
raised his other hand to wipe his streaming face。 The
drops rolled down his cheeks； fell like rain upon the
white hairs of his beard； and brusquely； as if guided
by an uncontrollable and anxious impulse； his arm
reached out to the stand of the engine…room telegraph。
The gong clanged down below。 The balanced vibra…
tion of the dead…slow speed ceased together with every
sound and tremor in the ship； as if the great stillness
that reigned upon the coast had stolen in through her
sides of iron and taken possession of her innermost re…
cesses。 The illusion of perfect immobility seemed to
fall upon her from the luminous blue dome without a
stain arching over a flat sea without a stir。 The faint
breeze she had made for herself expired； as if all at
once the air had become too thick to budge； even the
slight hiss of the water on her stem died out。 The nar…
row； long hull； carrying its way without a ripple；
seemed to approach the shoal water of the bar by
stealth。 The plunge of the lead with the mournful；
mechanical cry of the lascar came at longer and longer
intervals； and the men on her bridge seemed to hold
their breath。 The Malay at the helm looked fixedly
at the compass card； the Captain and the Serang stared
at the coast。
Massy had left the skylight； and； walking flat…footed；
had returned softly to the very spot on the bridge he
had occupied before。 A slow； lingering grin exposed
his set of big white teeth： they gleamed evenly in the
shade of the awning like the keyboard of a piano in a
dusky room。
At last； pretending to talk to himself in excessive as…
tonishment； he said not very loud
〃Stop the engines now。 What next； I wonder？〃
He waited； stooping from the shoulders； his head
bowed； his glance oblique。 Then raising his voice a
shade
〃If I dared make an absurd remark I would say that
you haven't the stomach to 。 。 。〃
But a yelling spirit of excitement； like some frantic
soul wandering unsuspected in the vast stillness of the
coast； had seized upon the body of the lascar at the lead。
The languid monotony of his sing…song changed to a
swift； sharp clamor。 The weight flew after a single
whir； the line whistled； splash followed splash in haste。
The water had shoaled； and the man； instead of the
drowsy tale of fathoms； was calling out the soundings
in feet。
〃Fifteen feet。 Fifteen； fifteen！ Fourteen； four…
teen 。 。 。〃
Captain Whalley lowered the arm holding the glasses。
It descended slowly as if by its own weight； no other
part of his towering body stirred； and the swift cries
with their eager warning note passed him by as though
he had been deaf。
Massy； very still； and turning an attentive ear； had
fastened his eyes upon the silvery； close…cropped back
of the steady old head。 The ship herself seemed to be
arrested but for the gradual decrease of depth under
her keel。
〃Thirteen feet 。 。 。 Thirteen！ Twelve！〃 cried the
leadsman anxiously below the bridge。 And suddenly
the barefooted Serang stepped away noiselessly to steal
a glance over the side。
Narrow of shoulder； in a suit of faded blue cotton； an
old gray felt hat rammed down on his head； with a hollow
in the nape of his dark neck； and with his slender limbs；
he appeared from the back no bigger than a boy of
fourteen。 There was a childlike impulsiveness in the
curiosity with which he watched the spread of the
voluminous； yellowish convolutions rolling up from be…
low to the surface of the blue water like massive clouds
driving slowly upwards on the unfathomable sky。 He
was not startled at the sight in the least。 It was not
doubt； but the certitude that the keel of the Sofala must
be stirring the mud now； which made him peep over the
side。
His peering eyes； set aslant in a face of the Chinese
type； a little old face； immovable； as if carved in old
brown oak； had informed him long before that the ship
was not headed at the bar properly。 Paid off from
the Fair Maid； together with the rest of the crew； after
the completion of the sale； he had hung； in his faded
blue suit and floppy gray hat； about the doors of the
Harbor Office； till one day； seeing Captain Whalley
coming along to get a crew for the Sofala； he had put
himself quietly in the way； with his bare feet in the dust
and an upward mute glance。 The eyes of his old com…
mander had fallen on him favorablyit must have
been an auspicious dayand in less than half an hour
the white men in the 〃Ofiss〃 had written his name on
a document as Serang of the fire…ship Sofala。 Since
that time he had repeatedly looked at that estuary； upon
that coast； from this bridge and from this side of the
bar。 The record of the visual world fell through his
eyes upon his unspeculating mind as on a sensitized
plate through the lens of a camera。 His knowledge was
absolute and precise； nevertheless； had he been asked
his opinion； and especially if questioned in the down…
right； alarming manner of white men； he would have
displayed the hesitation of ignorance。 He was certain
of his factsbut such a certitude counted for little
against the doubt what answer would be pleasing。
Fifty years ago； in a jungle village； and before he was
a day old； his father （who died without ever seeing
a white face） had had his nativity cast by a man of
skill and wisdom in astrology； because in the arrange…
ment of the stars may be read the last word of human
destiny。 His destiny had been to thrive by the favor
of various white men on the sea。 He had swept the
decks of ships； had tended their helms； had minde