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insanity as any man who has not actually gone over the border。
That gesture restrained me； so to speak。
The mate with the terrific whiskers was now putting the ship
on the other tack。 In the moment of profound silence
which follows upon the hands going to their stations I heard
on the poop his raised voice： 〃Hard alee！〃 and the distant
shout of the order repeated on the main…deck。 The sails；
in that light breeze； made but a faint fluttering noise。
It ceased。 The ship was coming round slowly： I held my breath
in the renewed stillness of expectation； one wouldn't have
thought that there was a single living soul on her decks。
A sudden brisk shout； 〃Mainsail haul！〃 broke the spell；
and in the noisy cries and rush overhead of the men running away
with the main brace we two； down in my cabin； came together
in our usual position by the bed place。
He did not wait for my question。 〃I heard him fumbling here and just
managed to squat myself down in the bath；〃 he whispered to me。
〃The fellow only opened the door and put his arm in to hang the coat up。
All the same〃
〃I never thought of that；〃 I whispered back； even more appalled
than before at the closeness of the shave； and marveling at
that something unyielding in his character which was carrying
him through so finely。 There was no agitation in his whisper。
Whoever was being driven distracted； it was not he。 He was sane。
And the proof of his sanity was continued when he took up
the whispering again。
〃It would never do for me to come to life again。〃
It was something that a ghost might have said。 But what he was alluding
to was his old captain's reluctant admission of the theory of suicide。
It would obviously serve his turnif I had understood at all the view
which seemed to govern the unalterable purpose of his action。
〃You must maroon me as soon as ever you can get amongst these islands
off the Cambodge shore；〃 he went on。
〃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。〃