The times., 1897-08-29
PART Nv.
JOSEPH CONRAD

with disTaay Ii was shiny, dripping; IL
humnfed hollow with the wind aad was
strewn with Shapeless wrecka.e like
half-t4d-. cavern in rocky and exposed
coast Many HAD lost all they mad III the
world, but most or the starboarn ~atCh
had preserved their chests. thin streams OF
water trickled out of them, however Ihey
dragged wet rags frons evii-smeIling cor
nCrs and, wringiRg the water out, rrcos-
nizs-i their property. Some smiled sthfly.
Otl.ersIoOFei round. blank and Tngte. here
were cries Of Joy over old waistooats and
eroans 9f sorrow over shapeless things
found among black splinters Of smashed
bed boards. Charley whimpered a little.
Knowles stuIaped here and there shifting,
examining dark places for salvage. He
poured dirty water out OF a boot, and
was concerned to find the owner. Those
who. over whelned by their losses, sat on
the fotepea k-hatch. remained, elbows on
knees, and with a fist against each cheek,
disdained 10 look upon. He pushed il under
their nos,-s. Here good boot. Yours?"
They snaTled, No, get out. .
A few Footaa aR2fouAy in flooded chests
for tobacco. They breatlied hard, dafn-
5red with heads down. Look at that,
Jacki Here. sam. Here's my shore
eaing lig spoilt forever The caJcame out
from somewhere. He had an ovation.
They snatched him froin hand TO hand,
carcssAd fdin in a murmur OF pet names.
Two men came in with Z bucket OF fresh
water and AL crowded round it, but Tom,
lean ana mewinE, came up with every
hair astir, and mad the first drink.
couple of nleI went aft for oil and bis
cults
r1.. ,f,sf.,
walls of mopping the deck, they crunclei
hard bread, arranging TO worry through
somehow" Mencl4ummedast asto beds Turns
were settled for wearing boots and hay-
ing the Use Of oilskiD coats. They called
one another odd man" and sonny" in
CHEEKY voices. Friendly sldps resounded-
Jokes were shouted. The boatswain put
his head through the door.
Relieve the wheel, one Of you. It's
six BIaTniu.- If that old Sullivan hasn't been
therenore 'nthirt yhours You area finelot."
lie slammed the door again.
Mates watch on deck said Someone.
-Hey, Donkin, it's your relefi'' shouted
three or four together. He had crawleSl
into an empty bunk and ON wet pianks lay
still. ''IJonkin, your wheel" He made
no sound. '-Don kin's dead guffawed
some one Sell is bIoomin' clothes -
shouted another. '-Donkin, if ye don't go to
the bIoonlin' wheel they VIII sell your
clothes d. 'ye hear?'' jeered third.
He groaned from this dark hole. He
Complained about pains in all his bones;
he whimpered dislnaIly-
He wont go" exclaimed contemptu-
ous voice: ''yoH turn Davies"
The Young seaman rose painfully, squar-
ing his shoulders. Donlsin 81 uck his head
out aid NJ appeared in the yellow light,
fragile and ghastly.
II viii Civ yef pound OF tobacccer,'
he whiDed in a oonciiating voice, so Soon
as / draw il from haft. viii -s'elpme--'
Davies swung his arm backhanGed and
the head vanished IN CO." he said,
'.but you VIII pay for it, lie walked
unsteady but resolute to the door. $50
viii" yelHed Donkin, popping oct behind
81 him. $50 / wil-s'elp me-a pound
three bob they chawrge."
Davies flung the door open. You VIII
pay my prioe-in fine weather. he shouted
over his shoulder.
One Of the men unbuttoned his Wet
coat rapidly. threw it at his head Here,
Taffy, take that, You thies!''
Thank your he cried from the dark
ness above the swish of rolling water.
lie could be heard splashing; a sea came
ON board with thump. Hes got his bath
already, - remarked a grim shellback. Aye,
aye!" eTUnted others.
There was a sound outside, and all TO-
gether turned their faces 20 the door Sui
livan stepped in, made two PAGES and stood
sWaying slightly He looked with b dream )
and puzzled stare, as though lie could not
distinguish the still men from their rest
less shadows. There were awesome muir
r.urs, Halo, hallol How does il look out
side new. Sullivan?'' Those who sat on the
lCtch lifted their eyes in silence, and the
next oldest seaman in the ship tthUse two
understood one another, though they hardly
eycl,anged three words in day. gazed up al
his friend attentively for a moment, then
taking a short clay pipe outof his mouth, Of
fered il without a word Sullivan put out
his arm toward it, missed, staggered and
suddenly fell forward, crashing down, stiff
auc headlong Ike au upro0ted tree. TheTt
was o swift rush Men pushed, crying
--He's done! Turn him overi Stand clear,
thtTer' Under d crowd of startled face,
benJtngover him he Law on his back, staria Z
urward III d Continuous and ntoIerablt
manner.
In the g.reathless silence OF a general
Tuur, Il am all right and olutched with
his hands. They helped him up. II e mum
tIed deSpondently. Il am getting old :
old"
Helped along, he reached his bunk.
There was in II a Shiny, soft heap oi
something that smelt like does at dead
low water muddy foreshore. 1t was his
soaked straw bed. With a convulsive ef
fort he pitch ed himself on it, and in TIE
darkness OF the narrow place could ID
heard growing angrily, like an irntatet
and sa avage animal uneasy in his den
"Rit OF breeze small thing can't stant
up-oldi''
He slept at last Men congersed abou
him in quiet. concerned whispers. "Thi:
will break i'm up. Strong as a horse
ave. But he amt what he used TO be-
In sad mnrnurs they gave him up. Yet al
midnight lie turned out to duty as il
nothing had been the natter, AMI answered
TO his name with a mournful rHereI
He brooGed alone more than ever in al
fInpeEetrable silence and with a saddened
face. For many years he had heard him
self called 'OId Sullivan and had Sc
renely accepted the qualification, takins
IL as tribute OF respect due 20 aman whe
through half a century had measured
his strength against the favors and tn
RACES OF tie sea. He looked upon tn,
immortal sea with the awakened and crop
ing perception OF it's heartless night ne 50 "