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〃Maroon you！ We are not living in a boy's adventure tale；〃 I protested。
His scornful whispering took me up。
〃We aren't indeed！ There's nothing of a boy's tale in this。
But there's nothing else for it。 I want no more。
You don't suppose I am afraid of what can be done to me？
Prison or gallows or whatever they may please。
But you don't see me coming back to explain such things
to an old fellow in a wig and twelve respectable tradesmen；
do you？ What can they know whether I am guilty or not
or of WHAT I am guilty； either？ That's my affair。
What does the Bible say？ ‘Driven off the face of the earth。'
Very well； I am off the face of the earth now。 As I came
at night so I shall go。〃
〃Impossible！〃 I murmured。 〃You can't。〃
〃Can't？ 。 。 。 Not naked like a soul on the Day of Judgment。
I shall freeze on to this sleeping suit。 The Last Day is not yet
and 。 。 。 you have understood thoroughly。 Didn't you？〃
I felt suddenly ashamed of myself。 I may say truly that I understood
and my hesitation in letting that man swim away from my ship's side
had been a mere sham sentiment； a sort of cowardice。
〃It can't be done now till next night；〃 I breathed out。
〃The ship is on the off…shore tack and the wind may fail us。〃
〃As long as I know that you understand；〃 he whispered。
〃But of course you do。 It's a great satisfaction to have got
somebody to understand。 You seem to have been there on purpose。〃
And in the same whisper； as if we two whenever we talked had to say
things to each other which were not fit for the world to hear；
he added； 〃It's very wonderful。〃
We remained side by side talking in our secret way
but sometimes silent or just exchanging a whispered word or two
at long intervals。 And as usual he stared through the port。
A breath of wind came now and again into our faces。
The ship might have been moored in dock； so gently and on an
even keel she slipped through the water； that did not murmur
even at our passage； shadowy and silent like a phantom sea。
At midnight I went on deck； and to my mate's great
surprise put the ship round on the other tack。
His terrible whiskers flitted round me in silent criticism。
I certainly should not have done it if it had been only a question
of getting out of that sleepy gulf as quickly as possible。
I believe he told the second mate； who relieved him；
that it was a great want of judgment。 The other only yawned。
That intolerable cub shuffled about so sleepily and lolled
against the rails in such a slack； improper fashion that I
came down on him sharply。
〃Aren't you properly awake yet？〃
〃Yes； sir！ I am awake。〃
〃Well； then； be good enough to hold yourself as if you were。
And keep a lookout。 If there's any current we'll be closing
with some islands before daylight。〃
The east side of the gulf is fringed with islands； some solitary；
others in groups。 One the blue background of the high coast they
seem to float on silvery patches of calm water； arid and gray；
or dark green and rounded like clumps of evergreen bushes；
with the larger ones； a mile or two long； showing the outlines
of ridges； ribs of gray rock under the dark mantle of matted leafage。
Unknown to trade； to travel； almost to geography； the manner
of life they harbor is an unsolved secret。 There must be villages
settlements of fishermen at leaston the largest of them； and some
communication with the world is probably kept up by native craft。
But all that forenoon； as we headed for them； fanned along by
the faintest of breezes； I saw no sign of man or canoe in the field
of the telescope I kept on pointing at the scattered group。
At noon I have no orders for a change of course； and the mate's
whiskers became much concerned and seemed to be offering themselves
unduly to my notice。 At last I said：
〃I am going to stand right in。 Quite inas far as I can take her。〃
The stare of extreme surprise imparted an air of ferocity also to his eyes；
and he looked truly terrific for a moment。
〃We're not doing well in the middle of the gulf；〃 I continued； casually。
〃I am going to look for the land breezes tonight。〃
〃Bless my soul！ Do you mean； sir； in the dark amongst the lot of all them
islands and reefs and shoals？〃
〃Wellif there are any regular land breezes at all on this coast
one must get close inshore to find them； mustn't one？〃
〃Bless my soul！〃 he exclaimed again under his breath。
All that afternoon he wore a dreamy； contemplative appearance
which in him was a mark of perplexity。 After dinner I
went into my stateroom as if I meant to take some rest。
There we two bent our dark heads over a half…unrolled chart
lying on my bed。
〃There；〃 I said。 〃It's got to be Koh…ring。 I've been looking
at it ever since sunrise。 It has got two hills and a low point。
It must be inhabited。 And on the coast opposite there is what looks
like the mouth of a biggish riverwith some towns； no doubt； not far up。
It's the best chance for you that I can see。〃
〃Anything。 Koh…ring let it be。〃
He looked thoughtfully at the chart as if surveying chances and
distances from a lofty heightand following with his eyes his own
figure wandering on the blank land of Cochin…China； and then passing
off that piece of paper clean out of sight into uncharted regions。
And it was as if the ship had two captains to plan her course for her。
I had been so worried and restless running up and down that I
had not had the patience to dress that day。 I had remained
in my sleeping suit； with straw slippers and a soft floppy hat。
The closeness of the heat in the gulf had been most oppressive；
and the crew were used to seeing me wandering in that airy attire。
〃She will clear the south point as she heads now；〃 I whispered into his ear。
〃Goodness only knows when； though； but certainly after dark。
I'll edge her in to half a mile； as far as I may be able to judge
in the dark〃
〃Be careful；〃 he murmured； warninglyand I realized suddenly
that all my future； the only future for which I was fit；
would perhaps go irretrievably to pieces in any mishap
to my first command。
I could not stop a moment longer in the room。 I motioned him to get out
of sight and made my way on the poop。 That unplayful cub had the watch。
I walked up and down for a while thinking things out； then beckoned him over。
〃Send a couple of hands to open the two quarter…deck ports；〃
I said； mildly。
He actually had the impudence； or else so forgot himself in his wonder
at such an incomprehensible order； as to repeat：
〃Open the quarter…deck ports！ What for； sir？〃
〃The only reason you need concern yourself about is because I tell you
to do so。 Have them open wide and fastened properly。〃
He reddened and went off； but I believe made some jeering remark
to the carpenter as to the sensible practice of ventilating
a ship's quarter…deck。 I know he popped into the mate's cabin
to impart the fact to him because the whiskers came on deck；
as it were by chance； and stole glances at me from below
for signs of lunacy or drunkenness； I suppose。
A little before supper； feeling more restless than ever； I rejoined；
for a moment； my second self。 And to find him sitting so quietly
was surprising； like something against nature； inhuman。
I developed my plan in a hurried whisper。
〃I shall stand in as close as I dare and then put her round。
I will presently find means to smuggle you out of here
into the sail locker； which communicates with the lobby。
But there is an opening； a sort of square for hauling the sails out；
which gives straight on the quarter…deck and which is never
closed in fine weather； so as to give air to the sails。
When the ship's way is deadened in stays and all the hands
are aft at the main braces you will have a clear road to slip
out and get overboard through the open quarter…deck port。
I've had them both fastened up。 Use a ro