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could come near her； see her； see her face once； live in
the sound of her voice； that could make the darkness of
the living grave ready for him supportable。 He had
been starved of love too long。 He imagined her tender…
ness。
The Serang had been peering forward； and now and
then glancing at the chair。 He fidgeted restlessly； and
suddenly burst out close to Captain Whalley
〃Tuan； do you see anything of the land？〃
The alarmed voice brought Captain Whalley to his feet
at once。 He！ See！ And at the question； the curse of
his blindness seemed to fall on him with a hundredfold
force。
〃What's the time？〃 he cried。
〃Half…past three； Tuan。〃
〃We are close。 You MUST see。 Look； I say。 Look。〃
Mr。 Massy； awakened by the sudden sound of talking
from a short doze on the lowest step； wondered why he
was there。 Ah！ A faintness came over him。 It is one
thing to sow the seed of an accident and another to see
the monstrous fruit hanging over your head ready to
fall in the sound of agitated voices。
〃There's no danger；〃 he muttered thickly。
The horror of incertitude had seized upon Captain
Whalley； the miserable mistrust of men； of thingsof
the very earth。 He had steered that very course thirty…
six times by the same compassif anything was certain
in this world it was its absolute； unerring correctness。
Then what had happened？ Did the Serang lie？ Why
lie？ Why？ Was he going blind too？
〃Is there a mist？ Look low on the water。 Low down；
I say。〃
〃Tuan； there's no mist。 See for yourself。〃
Captain Whalley steadied the trembling of his limbs
by an effort。 Should he stop the engines at once and
give himself away。 A gust of irresolution swayed all
sorts of bizarre notions in his mind。 The unusual had
come； and he was not fit to deal with it。 In this passage
of inexpressible anguish he saw her facethe face of
a young girlwith an amazing strength of illusion。
No； he must not give himself away after having gone
so far for her sake。 〃You steered the course？ You
made it？ Speak the truth。〃
〃Ya； Tuan。 On the course now。 Look。〃
Captain Whalley strode to the binnacle； which to him
made such a dim spot of light in an infinity of shape…
less shadow。 By bending his face right down to the
glass he had been able before 。 。 。
Having to stoop so low； he put out； instinctively； his
arm to where he knew there was a stanchion to steady
himself against。 His hand closed on something that
was not wood but cloth。 The slight pull adding to the
weight； the loop broke； and Mr。 Massy's coat falling；
struck the deck heavily with a dull thump； accompanied
by a lot of clicks。
〃What's this？〃
Captain Whalley fell on his knees； with groping hands
extended in a frank gesture of blindness。 They trem…
bled； these hands feeling for the truth。 He saw it。 Iron
near the compass。 Wrong course。 Wreck her！ His
ship。 Oh no。 Not that。
〃Jump and stop her！〃 he roared out in a voice not
his own。
He ran himselfhands forward； a blind man； and
while the clanging of the gong echoed still all over the
ship； she seemed to butt full tilt into the side of a
mountain。
It was low water along the north side of the strait。
Mr。 Massy had not reckoned on that。 Instead of run…
ning aground for half her length； the Sofala butted the
sheer ridge of a stone reef which would have been
awash at high water。 This made the shock absolutely
terrific。 Everybody in the ship that was standing was
thrown down headlong： the shaken rigging made a great
rattling to the very trucks。 All the lights went out：
several chain…guys； snapping； clattered against the
funnel： there were crashes； pings of parted wire…rope；
splintering sounds； loud cracks； the masthead lamp flew
over the bows； and all the doors about the deck began
to bang heavily。 Then； after having hit； she rebounded；
hit the second time the very same spot like a battering…
ram。 This completed the havoc： the funnel； with all
the guys gone； fell over with a hollow sound of thunder；
smashing the wheel to bits； crushing the frame of the
awnings； breaking the lockers； filling the bridge with
a mass of splinters； sticks； and broken wood。 Captain
Whalley picked himself up and stood knee…deep in
wreckage； torn； bleeding； knowing the nature of the
danger he had escaped mostly by the sound； and holding
Mr。 Massy's coat in his arms。
By this time Sterne （he had been flung out of his
bunk） had set the engines astern。 They worked for a
few turns； then a voice bawled out； 〃Get out of the
damned engine…room； Jack！〃and they stopped； but
the ship had gone clear of the reef and lay still； with a
heavy cloud of steam issuing from the broken deck…
pipes； and vanishing in wispy shapes into the night。
Notwithstanding the suddenness of the disaster there
was no shouting； as if the very violence of the shock
had half…stunned the shadowy lot of people swaying
here and there about her decks。 The voice of the Serang
pronounced distinctly above the confused murmurs
〃Eight fathom。〃 He had heaved the lead。
Mr。 Sterne cried out next in a strained pitch
〃Where the devil has she got to？ Where are we？〃
Captain Whalley replied in a calm bass
〃Amongst the reefs to the eastward。〃
〃You know it； sir？ Then she will never get out
again。〃
〃She will be sunk in five minutes。 Boats； Sterne。
Even one will save you all in this calm。〃
The Chinaman stokers went in a disorderly rush for
the port boats。 Nobody tried to check them。 The
Malays； after a moment of confusion； became quiet；
and Mr。 Sterne showed a good countenance。 Captain
Whalley had not moved。 His thoughts were darker
than this night in which he had lost his first ship。
〃He made me lose a ship。〃
Another tall figure standing before him amongst the
litter of the smash on the bridge whispered insanely
〃Say nothing of it。〃
Massy stumbled closer。 Captain Whalley heard the
chattering of his teeth。
〃I have the coat。〃
〃Throw it down and come along；〃 urged the chatter…
ing voice。 〃B…b…b…b…boat！〃
〃You will get fifteen years for this。〃
Mr。 Massy had lost his voice。 His speech was a mere
dry rustling in his throat。
〃Have mercy！〃