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the affliction was only temporary。 Surely God would
not rob his child of his power to help； and cast him
naked into a night without end。 He had caught at
every hope； and when the evidence of his misfortune
was stronger than hope； he tried not to believe the mani…
fest thing。
In vain。 In the steadily darkening universe a sinister
clearness fell upon his ideas。 In the illuminating mo…
ments of suffering he saw life； men； all things； the whole
earth with all her burden of created nature； as he had
never seen them before。
Sometimes he was seized with a sudden vertigo and an
overwhelming terror； and then the image of his daughter
appeared。 Her； too； he had never seen so clearly before。
Was it possible that he should ever be unable to do
anything whatever for her？ Nothing。 And not see
her any more？ Never。
Why？ The punishment was too great for a little pre…
sumption； for a little pride。 And at last he came to
cling to his deception with a fierce determination to carry
it out to the end； to save her money intact； and behold
her once more with his own eyes。 Afterwardswhat？
The idea of suicide was revolting to the vigor of his
manhood。 He had prayed for death till the prayers had
stuck in his throat。 All the days of his life he had
prayed for daily bread； and not to be led into tempta…
tion； in a childlike humility of spirit。 Did words mean
anything？ Whence did the gift of speech come？ The
violent beating of his heart reverberated in his head
seemed to shake his brain to pieces。
He sat down heavily in the deck…chair to keep the pre…
tense of his watch。 The night was dark。 All the nights
were dark now。
〃Serang；〃 he said； half aloud。
〃Ada； Tuan。 I am here。〃
〃There are clouds on the sky？〃
〃There are； Tuan。〃
〃Let her be steered straight。 North。〃
〃She is going north； Tuan。〃
The Serang stepped back。 Captain Whalley recog…
nized Massy's footfalls on the bridge。
The engineer walked over to port and returned； pass…
ing behind the chair several times。 Captain Whalley
detected an unusual character as of prudent care in this
prowling。 The near presence of that man brought with
it always a recrudescence of moral suffering for Captain
Whalley。 It was not remorse。 After all； he had done
nothing but good to the poor devil。 There was also
a sense of dangerthe necessity of a greater care。
Massy stopped and said
〃So you still say you must go？〃
〃I must indeed。〃
〃And you couldn't at least leave the money for a term
of years？〃
〃Impossible。〃
〃Can't trust it with me without your care； eh？〃
Captain Whalley remained silent。 Massy sighed
deeply over the back of the chair。
〃It would just do to save me；〃 he said in a tremulous
voice。
〃I've saved you once。〃
The chief engineer took off his coat with careful
movements； and proceeded to feel for the brass hook
screwed into the wooden stanchion。 For this purpose he
placed himself right in front of the binnacle； thus hid…
ing completely the compass…card from the quarter…
master at the wheel。 〃Tuan！〃 the lascar at last mur…
mured softly； meaning to let the white man know that
he could not see to steer。
Mr。 Massy had accomplished his purpose。 The coat
was hanging from the nail； within six inches of the
binnacle。 And directly he had stepped aside the quarter…
master； a middle…aged； pock…marked； Sumatra Malay；
almost as dark as a negro； perceived with amazement
that in that short time； in this smooth water； with no
wind at all； the ship had gone swinging far out of her
course。 He had never known her get away like this
before。 With a slight grunt of astonishment he turned
the wheel hastily to bring her head back north； which
was the course。 The grinding of the steering…chains；
the chiding murmurs of the Serang； who had come over
to the wheel； made a slight stir； which attracted Cap…
tain Whalley's anxious attention。 He said； 〃Take
better care。〃 Then everything settled to the usual quiet
on the bridge。 Mr。 Massy had disappeared。
But the iron in the pockets of the coat had done its
work； and the Sofala； heading north by the compass；
made untrue by this simple device； was no longer mak…
ing a safe course for Pangu Bay。
The hiss of water parted by her stem； the throb of her
engines； all the sounds of her faithful and laborious life；
went on uninterrupted in the great calm of the sea join…
ing on all sides the motionless layer of cloud over the
sky。 A gentle stillness as vast as the world seemed to
wait upon her path； enveloping her lovingly in a su…
preme caress。 Mr。 Massy thought there could be no
better night for an arranged shipwreck。
Run up high and dry on one of the reefs east of
Panguwait for daylighthole in the bottomout
boatsPangu Bay same evening。 That's about it。 As
soon as she touched he would hasten on the bridge； get
hold of the coat （nobody would notice in the dark）；
and shake it upside…down over the side； or even fling
it into the sea。 A detail。 Who could guess？ Coat been
seen hanging there from that hook hundreds of times。
Nevertheless； when he sat down on the lower step of the
bridge…ladder his knees knocked together a little。 The
waiting part was the worst of it。 At times he would
begin to pant quickly； as though he had been running；
and then breathe largely； swelling with the intimate
sense of a mastered fate。 Now and then he would hear
the shuffle of the Serang's bare feet up there： quiet； low
voices would exchange a few words； and lapse almost
at once into silence。 。 。 。
〃Tell me directly you see any land； Serang。〃
〃Yes； Tuan。 Not yet。〃
〃No； not yet；〃 Captain Whalley would agree。
The ship had been the best friend of his decline。 He
had sent all the money he had made by and in the
Sofala to his daughter。 His thought lingered on the
name。 How often he and his wife had talked over the
cot of the child in the big stern…cabin of the Condor； she
would grow up； she would marry； she would love them；
they would live near her and look at her happinessit
would go on without end。 Well； his wife was dead； to
the child he had given all he had to give； he wished he
could come near her； see her； see her face once； live in
the sound of her voice； that could make the