Dark!"

"Tempest? It is blowing half a gale of wind; that is all." "Half a gale! Ah, that is the way you always talk to us ladies. Oh, pray give me my light, and send me a clergyman!" Dodd took pity,



and let her have her light, with a midshipman to watch it. He even made her a hypocritical promise that, should there be one grain of danger, he would lie to; but said he must not make a foul wind of a fair one for a few lurches. The _Agra_ broke plenty of glass and crockery though with her fair wind and her lee lurches. Wind down at noon next day, and a dead calm. At two P.M. the weather cleared; the sun came out high in heaven's centre; and a balmy breeze from the west. At six twenty-five, the grand orb set calm and red, and the sea was gorgeous with miles and miles of great ruby dimples: it was the first glowing smile of southern latitude. The night stole on so soft, so clear, so balmy, all were loth to close their eyes on it: the passengers lingered long on deck, watching the Great Bear dip, and the Southern Cross rise, and overhead a whole heaven of glorious stars most of us have never seen, and never shall see in this world. No belching smoke obscured, no plunging paddles deafened; all was musical; the soft air sighing among the sails; the phosphorescent water bubbling from the ship's bows; the murmurs from little knots of men on deck subdued by the great calm: home seemed near, all danger far; Peace ruled the sea, the sky, the heart: the ship, making a track of white fire on the deep, glided gently yet swiftly homeward, urged by snowy sails piled up like alabaster towers against a violet sky, out of which looked a thousand eyes of holy tranquil fire. So melted the sweet night away. Now carmine streaks tinged the eastern sky at the water's edge: and that water blushed; now the streaks turned orange, and the waves below them sparkled. Thence splashes of living gold flew and settled on the ship's white sails, the deck, and the faces; and with no more prologue, being so near the line, up came majestically a huge, fiery, golden sun, and set the sea flaming liquid topaz. Instantly the lookout at the foretop-gallant-masthead hailed the deck below.

Previous: The Merchantman And The Pirate
Next: "strange Sail! Right Ahead!"

SHARE

ADD TO EBOOK