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Youth

Joseph Conrad

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Youth

by Joseph Conrad

2ay, /003 4Etext #565

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director of co%panies, an accountant, a a!yer, 2aro!, and %ysef&The director had been a C9:'>Y boy, the accountant had ser"ed fouryears at sea, the a!yerNNa fine crusted Tory, -igh Church%an, thebest of od feo!s, the sou of honourNNhad been chief officer in theP& U 9& ser"ice in the good od days !hen %aiNboats !eresOuareNrigged at east on t!o %asts, and used to co%e do!n the China.ea before a fair %onsoon !ith stunMNsais set ao! and aoft& 'e a

began ife in the %erchant ser"ice& et!een the fi"e of us there !asthe strong bond of the sea, and aso the feo!ship of the craft,!hich no a%ount of enthusias% for yachting, cruising, and so on cangi"e, since one is ony the a%use%ent of ife and the other is ifeitsef&

2aro! @at east 1 thin that is ho! he spet his na%eA tod thestory, or rather the chronice, of a "oyage=

Yes, 1 ha"e seen a itte of the Eastern seas but !hat 1 re%e%berbest is %y first "oyage there& You feo!s no! there are those"oyages that see% ordered for the iustration of ife, that %ightstand for a sy%bo of existence& You fight, !or, s!eat, neary iyoursef, so%eti%es do i yoursef, trying to acco%pish so%ethingNNand you canMt& :ot fro% any faut of yours& You si%py can donothing, neither great nor itteNNnot a thing in the !ordNNnot e"en%arry an od %aid, or get a !retched 3??Nton cargo of coa to its portof destination&

1t !as atogether a %e%orabe affair& 1t !as %y first "oyage to theEast, and %y first "oyage as second %ate it !as aso %y sipperMsfirst co%%and& YouM ad%it it !as ti%e& -e !as sixty if a day aitte %an, !ith a broad, not "ery straight bac, !ith bo!ed shoudersand one eg %ore bandy than the other, he had that Oueer t!istedNaboutappearance you see so often in %en !ho !or in the fieds& -e had a

nutNcracer faceNNchin and nose trying to co%e together o"er a sunen%outhNNand it !as fra%ed in ironNgrey fuffy hair, that ooed ie achin strap of cottonN!oo sprined !ith coaNdust& >nd he had bueeyes in that od face of his, !hich !ere a%a8ingy ie a boyMs, !iththat candid expression so%e Ouite co%%on %en preser"e to the end oftheir days by a rare interna gift of si%picity of heart andrectitude of sou& 'hat induced hi% to accept %e !as a !onder& 1 hadco%e out of a crac >ustraian cipper, !here 1 had been thirdofficer, and he see%ed to ha"e a prejudice against crac cippers asaristocratic and highNtoned& -e said to %e, MYou no!, in this shipyou !i ha"e to !or&M 1 said 1 had to !or in e"ery ship 1 had e"erbeen in& M>h, but this is different, and you gente%en out of the%

big ships & & & but there$ 1 dare say you !i do& Join toN%orro!&M

1 joined toN%orro!& 1t !as t!entyNt!o years ago and 1 !as justt!enty& -o! ti%e passes$ 1t !as one of the happiest days of %y ife&)ancy$ .econd %ate for the first ti%eNNa reay responsibe officer$1 !oudnMt ha"e thro!n up %y ne! biet for a fortune& The %ateooed %e o"er carefuy& -e !as aso an od chap, but of anothersta%p& -e had a +o%an nose, a sno!N!hite, ong beard, and his na%e!as 2ahon, but he insisted that it shoud be pronounced 2ann& -e !as!e connected yet there !as so%ething !rong !ith his uc, and he

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had ne"er got on&

>s to the captain, he had been for years in coasters, then in the2editerranean, and ast in the 'est 1ndian trade& -e had ne"er beenround the Capes& -e coud just !rite a ind of setchy hand, anddidnMt care for !riting at a& oth !ere thorough good sea%en ofcourse, and bet!een those t!o od chaps 1 fet ie a s%a boy

bet!een t!o grandfathers&

The ship aso !as od& -er na%e !as the Judea& Queer na%e, isnMtitL .he beonged to a %an 'i%er, 'icoxNNso%e na%e ie that but hehas been banrupt and dead these t!enty years or %ore, and his na%edonMt %atter& .he had been aid up in .had!e basin for e"er soong& You %ay i%agine her state& .he !as a rust, dust, gri%eNNsootaoft, dirt on dec& To %e it !as ie co%ing out of a paace into aruined cottage& .he !as about ?? tons, had a pri%iti"e !indass,!ooden atches to the doors, not a bit of brass about her, and a bigsOuare stern& There !as on it, beo! her na%e in big etters, a otof scro !or, !ith the git off, and so%e sort of a coat of ar%s,!ith the %otto M(o or (ieM underneath& 1 re%e%ber it too %y fancyi%%ensey& There !as a touch of ro%ance in it, so%ething that %ade %eo"e the od thingNNso%ething that appeaed to %y youth$

'e eft t e"ery tu%be of theship you coud see "aguey in the di% ight %en faing do!n !ith agreat fourish of sho"es& 9ne of the shipMs boys @!e had t!oA,

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i%pressed by the !eirdness of the scene, !ept as if his heart !oudbrea& 'e coud hear hi% bubbering so%e!here in the shado!s&

9n the third day the gae died out, and byNandNby a northNcountry tugpiced us up& 'e too sixteen days in a to get fro% nd the socsL They !ant %ending,1 a% sure, and JohnMsNNCaptain eardMsNNthings are a in order no!& 1!oud be gad of so%ething to do&M ess the od !o%an$ .heo"erhaued %y outfit for %e, and %eanti%e 1 read for the first ti%e

.artor +esartus and urnabyMs +ide to Rhi"a& 1 didnMt understand%uch of the first then but 1 re%e%ber 1 preferred the sodier to thephiosopher at the ti%e a preference !hich ife has ony confir%ed&9ne !as a %an, and the other !as either %oreNNor ess& -o!e"er, theyare both dead, and 2rs& eard is dead, and youth, strength, genius,thoughts, achie"e%ents, si%pe heartsNNa dies & & & & :o %atter&

They oaded us at ast& 'e shipped a cre!& Eight abe sea%en andt!o boys& 'e haued off one e"ening to the buoys at the docNgates,ready to go out, and !ith a fair prospect of beginning the "oyage nextday& 2rs& eard !as to start for ho%e by a ate train& 'hen the ship!as fast !e !ent to tea& 'e sat rather sient through the %eaNN2ahon, the od coupe, and 1& 1 finished first, and sipped a!ay for

a s%oe, %y cabin being in a decNhouse just against the poop& 1t !ashigh !ater, bo!ing fresh !ith a dri88e the doube docNgates !ereopened, and the stea% coiers !ere going in and out in the darness!ith their ights burning bright, a great pashing of propeers,ratting of !inches, and a ot of haiing on the pierNheads& 1!atched the procession of headNights giding high and of green ightsgiding o! in the night, !hen suddeny a red gea% fashed at %e,"anished, ca%e into "ie! again, and re%ained& The foreNend of astea%er oo%ed up cose& 1 shouted do!n the cabin, MCo%e up, Ouic$Mand then heard a started "oice saying afar in the dar, M.top her,sir&M > be jinged& >nother "oice cried !arningy, M'e are goingright into that barOue, sir&M The ans!er to this !as a gruff M>

right,M and the next thing !as a hea"y crash as the stea%er struc agancing bo! !ith the buff of her bo! about our foreNrigging& There!as a %o%ent of confusion, yeing, and running about& .tea% roared&Then so%ebody !as heard saying, M> cear, sir&M & & & M>re you arightLM ased the gruff "oice& 1 had ju%ped for!ard to see theda%age, and haied bac, M1 thin so&M MEasy astern,M said the gruff"oice& > be jinged& M'hat stea%er is thatLM screa%ed 2ahon& ythat ti%e she !as no %ore to us than a buy shado! %aneu"ering aitte !ay off& They shouted at us so%e na%eNNa !o%anMs na%e, 2irandaor 2eissaNNor so%e such thing& MThis %eans another %onth in this

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beasty hoe,M said 2ahon to %e, as !e peered !ith a%ps about thespintered bu!ars and broen braces& Mut !hereMs the captainLM

'e had not heard or seen anything of hi% a that ti%e& 'e !ent aftto oo& > doefu "oice arose haiing so%e!here in the %idde of thedoc, MJudea ahoy$M& & & -o! the de"i did he get thereL & & &M-ao$M !e shouted& M1 a% adrift in our boat !ithout oars,M he

cried& > beated !ater%an offered his ser"ices, and 2ahon struc abargain !ith hi% for hafNaNcro!n to to! our sipper aongside but it!as 2rs& eard that ca%e up the adder first& They had been foatingabout the doc in that %i88y cod rain for neary an hour& 1 !asne"er so surprised in %y ife&

1t appears that !hen he heard %y shout MCo%e up,M he understood atonce !hat !as the %atter, caught up his !ife, ran on dec, and across,and do!n into our boat, !hich !as fast to the adder& :ot bad for asixtyNyearNod& Just i%agine that od feo! sa"ing heroicay in hisar%s that od !o%anNNthe !o%an of his ife& -e set her do!n on ath!art, and !as ready to ci%b bac on board !hen the painter ca%eadrift so%eho!, and a!ay they !ent together& 9f course in theconfusion !e did not hear hi% shouting& -e ooed abashed& .he saidcheerfuy, M1 suppose it does not %atter %y osing the train no!LMM:o, JennyNNyou go beo! and get !ar%,M he gro!ed& Then to us= M>saior has no business !ith a !ifeNN1 say& There 1 !as, out of theship& 'e, no har% done this ti%e& t the end of thatti%e, the captain being engaged !ith his agents, 1 carried 2rs&eardMs bag to the rai!ayNstation and put her a co%fy into athirdNcass carriage& .he o!ered the !indo! to say, MYou are a goodyoung %an& 1f you see JohnNNCaptain eardNN!ithout his %uffer at

night, just re%ind hi% fro% %e to eep his throat !e !rapped up&MMCertainy, 2rs& eard,M 1 said& MYou are a good young %an 1 noticedho! attenti"e you are to JohnNNto CaptainNNM The train pued outsuddeny 1 too %y cap off to the od !o%an= 1 ne"er sa! heragain & & & Pass the botte&

'e !ent to sea next day& 'hen !e %ade that start for ano !e hadbeen aready three %onths out of

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but an i%%ensity of great foa%ing !a"es rushing at us, under a sy o!enough to touch !ith the hand and dirty ie a s%oed ceiing& 1n thestor%y space surrounding us there !as as %uch fying spray as air& (ayafter day and night after night there !as nothing round the ship butthe ho! of the !ind, the tu%ut of the sea, the noise of !aterpouring o"er her dec& There !as no rest for her and no rest for us&.he tossed, she pitched, she stood on her head, she sat on her tai,

she roed, she groaned, and !e had to hod on !hie on dec and cingto our buns !hen beo!, in a constant effort of body and !orry of%ind&

9ne night 2ahon spoe through the s%a !indo! of %y berth& 1topened right into %y "ery bed, and 1 !as ying there seepess, in %yboots, feeing as though 1 had not sept for years, and coud not if 1tried& -e said excitedyNN

MYou got the soundingNrod in here, 2aro!L 1 canMt get the pu%ps tosuc& y God$ itMs no chidMs pay&M

1 ga"e hi% the soundingNrod and ay do!n again, trying to thin of"arious thingsNNbut 1 thought ony of the pu%ps& 'hen 1 ca%e on decthey !ere sti at it, and %y !atch reie"ed at the pu%ps& y theight of the antern brought on dec to exa%ine the soundingNrod 1caught a gi%pse of their !eary, serious faces& 'e pu%ped a the fourhours& 'e pu%ped a night, a day, a the !ee,NN!atch and !atch&.he !as !oring hersef oose, and eaed badyNNnot enough to dro!nus at once, but enough to i us !ith the !or at the pu%ps& >nd!hie !e pu%ped the ship !as going fro% us piece%ea= the bu!ars!ent, the stanchions !ere torn out, the "entiators s%ashed, thecabinNdoor burst in& There !as not a dry spot in the ship& .he !asbeing gutted bit by bit& The ongNboat changed, as if by %agic, into%atch!ood !here she stood in her gripes& 1 had ashed her %ysef, and

!as rather proud of %y handi!or, !hich had !ithstood so ong the%aice of the sea& >nd !e pu%ped& >nd there !as no brea in the!eather& The sea !as !hite ie a sheet of foa%, ie a cadron ofboiing %i there !as not a brea in the couds, noNNnot the si8e ofa %anMs handNNno, not for so %uch as ten seconds& There !as for us nosy, there !ere for us no stars, no sun, no uni"erseNNnothing butangry couds and an infuriated sea& 'e pu%ped !atch and !atch, fordear ife and it see%ed to ast for %onths, for years, for aeternity, as though !e had been dead and gone to a he for saiors&'e forgot the day of the !ee, the na%e of the %onth, !hat year it!as, and !hether !e had e"er been ashore& The sais be! a!ay, sheay broadside on under a !eatherNcoth, the ocean poured o"er her, and

!e did not care& 'e turned those handes, and had the eyes of idiots&>s soon as !e had cra!ed on dec 1 used to tae a round turn !ith arope about the %en, the pu%ps, and the %ain%ast, and !e turned, !eturned incessanty, !ith the !ater to our !aists, to our necs, o"erour heads& 1t !as a one& 'e had forgotten ho! it fet to be dry&

>nd there !as so%e!here in %e the thought= y Jo"e$ this is the deuceof an ad"entureNNso%ething you read about and it is %y first "oyageas second %ateNNand 1 a% ony t!entyNNand here 1 a% asting it out as!e as any of these %en, and eeping %y chaps up to the %ar& 1 !as

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peased& 1 !oud not ha"e gi"en up the experience for !ords& 1 had%o%ents of exutation& 'hene"er the od dis%anted craft pitchedhea"iy !ith her counter high in the air, she see%ed to %e to thro!up, ie an appea, ie a defiance, ie a cry to the couds !ithout%ercy, the !ords !ritten on her stern= MJudea, t first, being stupid !ith fatigue and thining ofnothing but the pu%ps, 1 did not understand !hat 1 had in %y hand&.uddeny it da!ned upon %e, and 1 shouted, Moys, the house on dec isgone& braha%Ms bun !as attached, re%ainedas if by a %irace& 'e groped in the ruins and ca%e upon this, andthere he !as, sitting in his bun, surrounded by foa% and !recage,

jabbering cheerfuy to hi%sef& -e !as out of his %ind co%peteyand for e"er %ad, !ith this sudden shoc co%ing upon the fagNend of

his endurance& 'e snatched hi% up, ugged hi% aft, and pitched hi%headNfirst do!n the cabin co%panion& You understand there !as no ti%eto carry hi% do!n !ith infinite precautions and !ait to see ho! he goton& Those beo! !oud pic hi% up at the botto% of the stairs aright& 'e !ere in a hurry to go bac to the pu%ps& That businesscoud not !ait& > bad ea is an inhu%an thing&

9ne !oud thin that the soe purpose of that fiendish gae had beento %ae a unatic of that poor de"i of a %uatto& 1t eased before%orning, and next day the sy ceared, and as the sea !ent do!n the

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ea too up& 'hen it ca%e to bending a fresh set of sais the cre!de%anded to put bacNNand reay there !as nothing ese to do& oatsgone, decs s!ept cean, cabin gutted, %en !ithout a stitch but !hatthey stood in, stores spoied, ship strained& 'e put her head forho%e, andNN!oud you beie"e itL The !ind ca%e east right in ourteeth& 1t be! fresh, it be! continuousy& 'e had to beat up e"eryinch of the !ay, but she did not ea so bady, the !ater eeping

co%parati"ey s%ooth& T!o hoursM pu%ping in e"ery four is no joeNNbut it ept her afoat as far as )a%outh&

The good peope there i"e on casuaties of the sea, and no doubt!ere gad to see us& > hungry cro!d of ship!rights sharpened theirchises at the sight of that carcass of a ship& >nd, by Jo"e$ theyhad pretty picings off us before they !ere done& 1 fancy the o!ner!as aready in a tight pace& There !ere deays& Then it !as decidedto tae part of the cargo out and ca her topsides& This !as done,the repairs finished, cargo reNshipped a ne! cre! ca%e on board, and!e !ent outNNfor ano& >t the end of a !ee !e !ere bac again& Thecre! said they !erenMt going to anoNNa hundred and fifty daysMpassageNNin a so%ething hooer that !anted pu%ping eight hours out ofthe t!entyNfour and the nautica papers inserted again the itteparagraph= MJudea& arOue& Tyne to ano coas put bac to)a%outh eay and !ith cre! refusing duty&M

There !ere %ore deaysNN%ore tinering& The o!ner ca%e do!n for aday, and said she !as as right as a itte fidde& Poor od Captaineard ooed ie the ghost of a Geordie sipperNNthrough the !orryand hu%iiation of it& +e%e%ber he !as sixty, and it !as his firstco%%and& 2ahon said it !as a fooish business, and !oud end bady& 1o"ed the ship %ore than e"er, and !anted a!fuy to get to ano& Toano$ 2agic na%e, bessed na%e& 2esopota%ia !asnMt a patch on it&+e%e%ber 1 !as t!enty, and it !as %y first second %ateMs biet, and

the East !as !aiting for %e&

'e !ent out and anchored in the outer roads !ith a fresh cre!NNthethird& .he eaed !orse than e"er& 1t !as as if those confoundedship!rights had actuay %ade a hoe in her& This ti%e !e did note"en go outside& The cre! si%py refused to %an the !indass&

They to!ed us bac to the inner harbour, and !e beca%e a fixture, afeature, an institution of the pace& Peope pointed us out to"isitors as MThat Mere bar thatMs going to anoNNhas been here six%onthsNNput bac three ti%es&M 9n hoidays the s%a boys puingabout in boats !oud hai, MJudea, ahoy$M and if a head sho!ed abo"e

the rai shouted, M'here you bound toLNNanoLM and jeered& 'e !ereony three on board& The poor od sipper %ooned in the cabin& 2ahonundertoo the cooing, and unexpectedy de"eoped a a )rench%anMsgenius for preparing nice itte %esses& 1 ooed anguidy after therigging& 'e beca%e citi8ens of )a%outh& E"ery shopeeper ne! us&

>t the barberMs or tobacconistMs they ased fa%iiary, M(o you thinyou !i e"er get to anoLM 2eanti%e the o!ner, the under!riters,and the charterers sOuabbed a%ongst the%se"es in

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1t !as horrid& 2oray it !as !orse than pu%ping for ife& 1tsee%ed as though !e had been forgotten by the !ord, beonged tonobody, !oud get no!here it see%ed that, as if be!itched, !e !oudha"e to i"e for e"er and e"er in that inner harbour, a derision and abyN!ord to generations of ongNshore oafers and dishonest boat%en& 1obtained three %onthsM pay and a fi"e daysM ea"e, and %ade a rush fornd after so%e %ore ta !e agreed that the !isdo% of rats had beengrossy o"errated, being in fact no greater than that of %en&

The story of the ship !as no!n, by this, a up the Channe fro%

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isNN!here yours isNNyou feo!s !ho isten to this yarn and !hatfriend !oud thro! your years and your !eariness in your faceL 'edidnMt gru%be at her& To us aft, at east, it see%ed as though !ehad been born in her, reared in her, had i"ed in her for ages, hadne"er no!n any other ship& 1 !oud just as soon ha"e abused the od"iage church at ho%e for not being a cathedra&

>nd for %e there !as aso %y youth to %ae %e patient& There !as athe East before %e, and a ife, and the thought that 1 had beentried in that ship and had co%e out pretty !e& >nd 1 thought of %enof od !ho, centuries ago, !ent that road in ships that saied nobetter, to the and of pa%s, and spices, and yeo! sands, and ofbro!n nations rued by ings %ore crue than :ero the +o%an and %orespendid than .oo%on the Je!& The od bar u%bered on, hea"y !ithher age and the burden of her cargo, !hie 1 i"ed the ife of youthin ignorance and hope& .he u%bered on through an inter%inabeprocession of days and the fresh giding fashed bac at the settingsun, see%ed to cry out o"er the darening sea the !ords painted on herstern, MJudea, s 1 did not!ish to scre! on the freshN!ater pu%p so ate, 1 !ent for!ard!histing, and !ith a ey in %y hand to unoc the forepea scutte,intending to ser"e the !ater out of a spare tan !e ept there&

The s%e do!n beo! !as as unexpected as it !as frightfu& 9ne!oud ha"e thought hundreds of paraffinNa%ps had been faring and

s%oing in that hoe for days& 1 !as gad to get out& The %an !ith%e coughed and said, M)unny s%e, sir&M 1 ans!ered negigenty,M1tMs good for the heath, they say,M and !aed aft&

The first thing 1 did !as to put %y head do!n the sOuare of the%idship "entiator& >s 1 ifted the id a "isibe breath, so%ethingie a thin fog, a puff of faint ha8e, rose fro% the opening& Theascending air !as hot, and had a hea"y, sooty, paraffiny s%e& 1ga"e one sniff, and put do!n the id genty& 1t !as no use choing%ysef& The cargo !as on fire&

:ext day she began to s%oe in earnest& You see it !as to be

expected, for though the coa !as of a safe ind, that cargo had beenso handed, so broen up !ith handing, that it ooed %ore ies%ithy coa than anything ese& Then it had been !ettedNN%ore thanonce& 1t rained a the ti%e !e !ere taing it bac fro% the hu, andno! !ith this ong passage it got heated, and there !as another caseof spontaneous co%bustion&

The captain caed us into the cabin& -e had a chart spread on thetabe, and ooed unhappy& -e said, MThe coast of 'est >ustraia isnear, but 1 %ean to proceed to our destination& 1t is the hurricane

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%onth too but !e !i just eep her head for ano, and fight thefire& :o %ore putting bac any!here, if !e a get roasted& 'e !itry first to stife this Mere da%ned co%bustion by !ant of air&M

'e tried& 'e battened do!n e"erything, and sti she s%oed& Thes%oe ept co%ing out through i%perceptibe cre"ices it forced itsefthrough buheads and co"ers it oo8ed here and there and e"ery!here

in sender threads, in an in"isibe fi%, in an inco%prehensibe%anner& 1t %ade its !ay into the cabin, into the forecaste itpoisoned the shetered paces on the dec, it coud be sniffed as highas the %ainyard& 1t !as cear that if the s%oe ca%e out the air ca%ein& This !as disheartening& This co%bustion refused to be stifed&

'e reso"ed to try !ater, and too the hatches off& Enor%ous "ou%esof s%oe, !hitish, yeo!ish, thic, greasy, %isty, choing, ascendedas high as the trucs& > hands ceared out aft& Then the poisonouscoud be! a!ay, and !e !ent bac to !or in a s%oe that !as nothicer no! than that of an ordinary factory chi%ney&

'e rigged the force pu%p, got the hose aong, and byNandNby it burst&'e, it !as as od as the shipNNa prehistoric hose, and past repair&Then !e pu%ped !ith the feebe headNpu%p, dre! !ater !ith bucets, andin this !ay %anaged in ti%e to pour ots of 1ndian 9cean into the %ainhatch& The bright strea% fashed in sunshine, fe into a ayer of!hite cra!ing s%oe, and "anished on the bac surface of coa& .tea%ascended %inging !ith the s%oe& 'e poured sat !ater as into abarre !ithout a botto%& 1t !as our fate to pu%p in that ship, topu%p out of her, to pu%p into her and after eeping !ater out of herto sa"e ourse"es fro% being dro!ned, !e franticay poured !ater intoher to sa"e ourse"es fro% being burnt&

>nd she cra!ed on, do or die, in the serene !eather& The sy !as a

%irace of purity, a %irace of a8ure& The sea !as poished, !as bue,!as peucid, !as sparing ie a precious stone, extending on asides, a round to the hori8onNNas if the !hoe terrestria gobe hadbeen one je!e, one coossa sapphire, a singe ge% fashioned into apanet& >nd on the uster of the great ca% !aters the Judea gidedi%perceptiby, en"eoped in anguid and uncean "apours, in a a8ycoud that drifted to ee!ard, ight and so!= a pestiferous couddefiing the spendour of sea and sy&

> this ti%e of course !e sa! no fire& The cargo s%odered at thebotto% so%e!here& 9nce 2ahon, as !e !ere !oring side by side, saidto %e !ith a Oueer s%ie= M:o!, if she ony !oud spring a tidy eaNN

ie that ti%e !hen !e first eft the ChanneNNit !oud put a stopperon this fire& 'oudnMt itLM 1 re%ared irree"anty, M(o youre%e%ber the ratsLM

'e fought the fire and saied the ship too as carefuy as thoughnothing had been the %atter& The ste!ard cooed and attended on us&9f the other t!e"e %en, eight !ored !hie four rested& E"eryonetoo his turn, captain incuded& There !as eOuaity, and if notexacty fraternity, then a dea of good feeing& .o%eti%es a %an, ashe dashed a bucetfu of !ater do!n the hatch!ay, !oud ye out,

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M-urrah for ano$M and the rest aughed& ut generay !e !eretaciturn and seriousNNand thirsty& 9h$ ho! thirsty$ >nd !e had to becarefu !ith the !ater& .trict ao!ance& The ship s%oed, the sunba8ed& & & & Pass the botte&

'e tried e"erything& 'e e"en %ade an atte%pt to dig do!n to thefire& :o good, of course& :o %an coud re%ain %ore than a %inute

beo!& 2ahon, !ho !ent first, fainted there, and the %an !ho !ent tofetch hi% out did ie!ise& 'e ugged the% out on dec& Then 1 eapeddo!n to sho! ho! easiy it coud be done& They had earned !isdo% bythat ti%e, and contented the%se"es by fishing for %e !ith achainNhoo tied to a broo%Nhande, 1 beie"e& 1 did not offer to goand fetch up %y sho"e, !hich !as eft do!n beo!&

Things began to oo bad& 'e put the ongNboat into the !ater& Thesecond boat !as ready to s!ing out& 'e had aso another, afourteenNfoot thing, on da"its aft, !here it !as Ouite safe&

Then behod, the s%oe suddeny decreased& 'e reNdoubed our effortsto food the botto% of the ship& 1n t!o days there !as no s%oe ata& E"erybody !as on the broad grin& This !as on a )riday& 9n.aturday no !or, but saiing the ship of course !as done& The %en!ashed their cothes and their faces for the first ti%e in afortnight, and had a specia dinner gi"en the%& They spoe ofspontaneous co%bustion !ith conte%pt, and i%pied they !ere the boysto put out co%bustions& .o%eho! !e a fet as though !e each hadinherited a arge fortune& ut a beasty s%e of burning hung aboutthe ship& Captain eard had hoo! eyes and sunen chees& 1 hadne"er noticed so %uch before ho! t!isted and bo!ed he !as& -e and2ahon pro!ed sobery about hatches and "entiators, sniffing& 1tstruc %e suddeny poor 2ahon !as a "ery, "ery od chap& >s to %e, 1!as as peased and proud as though 1 had heped to !in a great na"a

batte& 9$ Youth$

The night !as fine& 1n the %orning a ho%e!ardNbound ship passed ushu do!n,NNthe first !e had seen for %onths but !e !ere nearing theand at ast, Ja"a -ead being about /0? %ies off, and neary duenorth&

:ext day it !as %y !atch on dec fro% eight to t!e"e& >t breafastthe captain obser"ed, M1tMs !onderfu ho! that s%e hangs about thecabin&M >bout ten, the %ate being on the poop, 1 stepped do!n on the%ainNdec for a %o%ent& The carpenterMs bench stood abaft the%ain%ast= 1 eaned against it sucing at %y pipe, and the carpenter, a

young chap, ca%e to ta to %e& -e re%ared, M1 thin !e ha"e done"ery !e, ha"enMt !eLM and then 1 percei"ed !ith annoyance the foo!as trying to tit the bench& 1 said curty, M(onMt, Chips,M andi%%ediatey beca%e a!are of a Oueer sensation, of an absurddeusion,NN1 see%ed so%eho! to be in the air& 1 heard a round %eie a pentNup breath reeasedNNas if a thousand giants si%utaneousyhad said Phoo$NNand fet a du concussion !hich %ade %y ribs achesuddeny& :o doubt about itNN1 !as in the air, and %y body !asdescribing a short paraboa& ut short as it !as, 1 had the ti%e tothin se"era thoughts in, as far as 1 can re%e%ber, the foo!ing

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order= MThis canMt be the carpenterNN'hat is itLNN.o%e accidentNN.ub%arine "ocanoLNNCoas, gas$NNy Jo"e$ !e are being bo!n upNNE"erybodyMs deadNN1 a% faing into the afterNhatchNN1 see fire init&M

The coaNdust suspended in the air of the hod had go!ed duNred atthe %o%ent of the exposion& 1n the t!ining of an eye, in an

infinitesi%a fraction of a second since the first tit of the bench,1 !as spra!ing fu ength on the cargo& 1 piced %ysef up andscra%bed out& 1t !as Ouic ie a rebound& The dec !as a!iderness of s%ashed ti%ber, ying cross!ise ie trees in a !oodafter a hurricane an i%%ense curtain of soied rags !a"ed gentybefore %eNNit !as the %ainsai bo!n to strips& 1 thought, The %asts!i be topping o"er directy and to get out of the !ay boted onaNfours to!ards the poopNadder& The first person 1 sa! !as 2ahon,!ith eyes ie saucers, his %outh open, and the ong !hite hairstanding straight on end round his head ie a si"er hao& -e !as

just about to go do!n !hen the sight of the %ainNdec stirring,hea"ing up, and changing into spinters before his eyes, petrified hi%on the top step& 1 stared at hi% in unbeief, and he stared at %e!ith a Oueer ind of shoced curiosity& 1 did not no! that 1 had nohair, no eyebro!s, no eyeashes, that %y young %oustache !as burntoff, that %y face !as bac, one chee aid open, %y nose cut, and %ychin beeding& 1 had ost %y cap, one of %y sippers, and %y shirt!as torn to rags& 9f a this 1 !as not a!are& 1 !as a%a8ed to seethe ship sti afoat, the poopNdec !hoeNNand, %ost of a, to seeanybody ai"e& >so the peace of the sy and the serenity of the sea!ere distincty surprising& 1 suppose 1 expected to see the%con"used !ith horror & & & & Pass the botte&

There !as a "oice haiing the ship fro% so%e!hereNNin the air, in thesyNN1 coudnMt te& Presenty 1 sa! the captainNNand he !as %ad&

-e ased %e eagery, M'hereMs the cabinNtabeLM and to hear such aOuestion !as a frightfu shoc& 1 had just been bo!n up, youunderstand, and "ibrated !ith that experience,NN1 !asnMt Ouite sure!hether 1 !as ai"e& 2ahon began to sta%p !ith both feet and yeedat hi%, MGood God$ donMt you see the decMs bo!n out of herLM 1found %y "oice, and sta%%ered out as if conscious of so%e grossnegect of duty, M1 donMt no! !here the cabinNtabe is&M 1t !as iean absurd drea%&

(o you no! !hat he !anted nextL 'e, he !anted to tri% the yards&ery pacidy, and as if ost in thought, he insisted on ha"ing theforeyard sOuared& M1 donMt no! if thereMs anybody ai"e,M said 2ahon,

a%ost tearfuy& M.urey,M he said genty, Mthere !i be enougheft to sOuare the foreyard&M

The od chap, it see%s, !as in his o!n berth, !inding up thechrono%eters, !hen the shoc sent hi% spinning& 1%%ediatey itoccurred to hi%NNas he said after!ardsNNthat the ship had strucso%ething, and he ran out into the cabin& There, he sa!, thecabinNtabe had "anished so%e!here& The dec being bo!n up, it hadfaen do!n into the a8arette of course& 'here !e had our breafastthat %orning he sa! ony a great hoe in the foor& This appeared to

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hi% so a!fuy %ysterious, and i%pressed hi% so i%%ensey, that !hathe sa! and heard after he got on dec !ere %ere trifes in co%parison&

>nd, %ar, he noticed directy the !hee deserted and his barOue offher courseNNand his ony thought !as to get that %iserabe, stripped,undeced, s%oudering she of a ship bac again !ith her headpointing at her port of destination& ano$ ThatMs !hat he !asafter& 1 te you this Ouiet, bo!ed, bandyNegged, a%ost defor%ed

itte %an !as i%%ense in the singeness of his idea and in his pacidignorance of our agitation& -e %otioned us for!ard !ith a co%%andinggesture, and !ent to tae the !hee hi%sef&

Yes that !as the first thing !e didNNtri% the yards of that !rec$:o one !as ied, or e"en disabed, but e"eryone !as %ore or esshurt& You shoud ha"e seen the%$ .o%e !ere in rags, !ith bacfaces, ie coaNhea"ers, ie s!eeps, and had buet heads thatsee%ed cosey cropped, but !ere in fact singed to the sin& 9thers,of the !atch beo!, a!aened by being shot out fro% their coapsingbuns, shi"ered incessanty, and ept on groaning e"en as !e !entabout our !or& ut they a !ored& That cre! of h$ 'e$ !e stu%bed, !ecrept, !e fe, !e bared our shins on the !recage, !e haued& The%asts stood, but !e did not no! ho! %uch they %ight be charred do!nbeo!& 1t !as neary ca%, but a ong s!e ran fro% the !est and %adeher ro& They %ight go at any %o%ent& 'e ooed at the% !ithapprehension& 9ne coud not foresee !hich !ay they !oud fa&

Then !e retreated aft and ooed about us& The dec !as a tange ofpans on edge, of pans on end, of spinters, of ruined !ood!or&The %asts rose fro% that chaos ie big trees abo"e a %attedundergro!th& The interstices of that %ass of !recage !ere fu of

so%ething !hitish, suggish, stirringNNof so%ething that !as ie agreasy fog& The s%oe of the in"isibe fire !as co%ing up again, !astraiing, ie a poisonous thic %ist in so%e "aey choed !ith dead!ood& >ready a8y !isps !ere beginning to cur up!ards a%ongst the%ass of spinters& -ere and there a piece of ti%ber, stuc upright,rese%bed a post& -af of a fifeNrai had been shot through theforesai, and the sy %ade a patch of gorious bue in the ignobysoied can"as& > portion of se"era boards hoding together hadfaen across the rai, and one end protruded o"erboard, ie agang!ay eading upon nothing, ie a gang!ay eading o"er the deepsea, eading to deathNNas if in"iting us to !a the pan at once andbe done !ith our ridicuous troubes& >nd sti the air, the syNNa

ghost, so%ething in"isibe !as haiing the ship&

.o%eone had the sense to oo o"er, and there !as the he%s%an, !hohad i%pusi"ey ju%ped o"erboard, anxious to co%e bac& -e yeed ands!a% ustiy ie a %er%an, eeping up !ith the ship& 'e thre! hi% arope, and presenty he stood a%ongst us strea%ing !ith !ater and "erycrestfaen& The captain had surrendered the !hee, and apart, ebo!on rai and chin in hand, ga8ed at the sea !istfuy& 'e asedourse"es, 'hat nextL 1 thought, :o!, this is so%ething ie& This isgreat& 1 !onder !hat !i happen& 9 youth$

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.uddeny 2ahon sighted a stea%er far astern& Captain eard said, M'e%ay do so%ething !ith her yet&M 'e hoisted t!o fags, !hich said inthe internationa anguage of the sea, M9n fire& 'ant i%%ediateassistance&M The stea%er gre! bigger rapidy, and byNandNby spoe!ith t!o fags on her fore%ast, M1 a% co%ing to your assistance&M

1n haf an hour she !as abreast, to !ind!ard, !ithin hai, androing sighty, !ith her engines stopped& 'e ost our co%posure,and yeed a together !ith excite%ent, M'eM"e been bo!n up&M > %anin a !hite he%et, on the bridge, cried, MYes$ > right$ a right$Mand he nodded his head, and s%ied, and %ade soothing %otions !ith hishand as though at a ot of frightened chidren& 9ne of the boatsdropped in the !ater, and !aed to!ards us upon the sea !ith her ongoars& )our Caashes pued a s!inging stroe& This !as %y firstsight of 2aay sea%en& 1M"e no!n the% since, but !hat struc %e then!as their unconcern= they ca%e aongside, and e"en the bo!%an standingup and hoding to our %ainNchains !ith the boatNhoo did not deign toift his head for a gance& 1 thought peope !ho had been bo!n updeser"ed %ore attention&

> itte %an, dry ie a chip and agie ie a %oney, ca%bered up&1t !as the %ate of the stea%er& -e ga"e one oo, and cried,M9 boysNNyou had better Ouit&M

'e !ere sient& -e taed apart !ith the captain for a ti%e,NNsee%edto argue !ith hi%& Then they !ent a!ay together to the stea%er&

'hen our sipper ca%e bac !e earned that the stea%er !as the.o%%er"ie, Captain :ash, fro% 'est >ustraia to .ingapore "iaata"ia !ith %ais, and that the agree%ent !as she shoud to! us to

>njer or ata"ia, if possibe, !here !e coud extinguish the fire by

scutting, and then proceed on our "oyageNNto ano$ The od %ansee%ed excited& M'e !i do it yet,M he said to 2ahon, fiercey& -eshoo his fist at the sy& :obody ese said a !ord&

>t noon the stea%er began to to!& .he !ent ahead si% and high, and!hat !as eft of the Judea foo!ed at the end of se"enty fatho% ofto!Nrope,NNfoo!ed her s!ifty ie a coud of s%oe !ith %astheadsprotruding abo"e& 'e !ent aoft to fur the sais& 'e coughed on theyards, and !ere carefu about the bunts& (o you see the ot of usthere, putting a neat fur on the sais of that ship doo%ed to arri"eno!hereL There !as not a %an !ho didnMt thin that at any %o%ent the%asts !oud toppe o"er& )ro% aoft !e coud not see the ship for

s%oe, and they !ored carefuy, passing the gasets !ith e"en turns&M-arbour furNNaoft there$M cried 2ahon fro% beo!&

You understand thisL 1 donMt thin one of those chaps expected toget do!n in the usua !ay& 'hen !e did 1 heard the% saying to eachother, M'e, 1 thought !e !oud co%e do!n o"erboard, in a u%pNNstics and aNNba%e %e if 1 didnMt&M MThatMs !hat 1 !as thining to%ysef,M !oud ans!er !eariy another battered and bandaged scarecro!&

>nd, %ind, these !ere %en !ithout the driedNin habit of obedience&To an onooer they !oud be a ot of profane scay!ags !ithout a

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redee%ing point& 'hat %ade the% do itNN!hat %ade the% obey %e !hen 1,thining consciousy ho! fine it !as, %ade the% drop the bunt of theforesai t!ice to try and do it betterL 'hatL They had noprofessiona reputationNNno exa%pes, no praise& 1t !asnMt a sense ofduty they a ne! !e enough ho! to shir, and a8e, and dodgeNN!hen they had a %ind to itNNand %osty they had& 'as it the t!opounds ten a %onth that sent the% thereL They didnMt thin their pay

haf good enough& :o it !as so%ething in the%, so%ething inborn andsubte and e"erasting& 1 donMt say positi"ey that the cre! of a)rench or Ger%an %erchant%an !oudnMt ha"e done it, but 1 doubt!hether it !oud ha"e been done in the sa%e !ay& There !as aco%peteness in it, so%ething soid ie a principe, and %asterfuie an instinctNNa discosure of so%ething secretNNof that hiddenso%ething, that gift, of good or e"i that %aes racia difference,that shapes the fate of nations&

1t !as that night at ten that, for the first ti%e since !e had beenfighting it, !e sa! the fire& The speed of the to!ing had fanned thes%odering destruction& > bue gea% appeared for!ard, shining beo!the !rec of the dec& 1t !a"ered in patches, it see%ed to stir andcreep ie the ight of a go!!or%& 1 sa! it first, and tod 2ahon&MThen the ga%eMs up,M he said& M'e had better stop this to!ing, orshe !i burst out suddeny fore and aft before !e can cear out&M 'eset up a ye rang bes to attract their attention they to!ed on&

>t ast 2ahon and 1 had to cra! for!ard and cut the rope !ith an ax&There !as no ti%e to cast off the ashings& +ed tongues coud be seenicing the !iderness of spinters under our feet as !e %ade our !aybac to the poop&

9f course they "ery soon found out in the stea%er that the rope !asgone& .he ga"e a oud bast of her !histe, her ights !ere seens!eeping in a !ide circe, she ca%e up ranging cose aongside, and

stopped& 'e !ere a in a tight group on the poop ooing at her&E"ery %an had sa"ed a itte bunde or a bag& .uddeny a conicafa%e !ith a t!isted top shot up for!ard and thre! upon the bac seaa circe of ight, !ith the t!o "esses side by side and hea"inggenty in its center& Captain eard had been sitting on the gratingssti and %ute for hours, but no! he rose so!y and ad"anced in frontof us, to the %i88enNshrouds& Captain :ash haied= MCo%e aong$ nd

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then 1 ne! that 1 !oud see the East first as co%%ander of a s%aboat& 1 thought it fine and the fideity to the od ship !as fine&'e shoud see the ast of her& 9h the ga%our of youth$ 9h the fireof it, %ore da88ing than the fa%es of the burning ship, thro!ing a%agic ight on the !ide earth, eaping audaciousy to the sy,presenty to be Ouenched by ti%e, %ore crue, %ore pitiess, %orebitter than the seaNNand ie the fa%es of the burning ship

surrounded by an i%penetrabe night&

& & & & &

The od %an !arned us in his gente and infexibe !ay that it !aspart of our duty to sa"e for the underN!riters as %uch as !e coud ofthe shipMs gear& >ccording !e !ent to !or aft, !hie she ba8edfor!ard to gi"e us penty of ight& 'e ugged out a ot of rubbish&'hat didnMt !e sa"eL >n od baro%eter fixed !ith an absurd Ouantityof scre!s neary cost %e %y ife= a sudden rush of s%oe ca%e upon %e,and 1 just got a!ay in ti%e& There !ere "arious stores, bots ofcan"as, cois of rope the poop ooed ie a %arine ba8aar, and theboats !ere u%bered to the gun!aes& 9ne !oud ha"e thought the od%an !anted to tae as %uch as he coud of his first co%%and !ith hi%&-e !as "ery "ery Ouiet, but off his baance e"identy& 'oud youbeie"e itL -e !anted to tae a ength of od strea%Ncabe and aedgeNanchor !ith hi% in the ongNboat& 'e said, M>y, ay, sir,Mdeferentiay, and on the Ouiet et the thing sip o"erboard& Thehea"y %edicineNchest !ent that !ay, t!o bags of green coffee, tins ofpaintNNfancy, paint$NNa !hoe ot of things& Then 1 !as ordered !itht!o hands into the boats to %ae a sto!age and get the% ready againstthe ti%e it !oud be proper for us to ea"e the ship&

'e put e"erything straight, stepped the ongNboatMs %ast for oursipper, !ho !as in charge of her, and 1 !as not sorry to sit do!n fora %o%ent& 2y face fet ra!, e"ery i%b ached as if broen, 1 !asa!are of a %y ribs, and !oud ha"e s!orn to a t!ist in thebacNbone& The boats, fast astern, ay in a deep shado!, and aaround 1 coud see the circe of the sea ighted by the fire& >gigantic fa%e arose for!ard straight and cear& 1t fared there, !ithnoises ie the !hir of !ings, !ith ru%bes as of thunder& There !erecracs, detonations, and fro% the cone of fa%e the spars fe!up!ards, as %an is born to troube, to eay ships, and to ships thatburn&

'hat bothered %e !as that the ship, ying broadside to the s!e andto such !ind as there !asNNa %ere breathNNthe boats !oud not eepastern !here they !ere safe, but persisted, in a pigNheaded !ay boatsha"e, in getting under the counter and then s!inging aongside& They!ere nocing about dangerousy and co%ing near the fa%e, !hie theship roed on the%, and, of course, there !as a!ays the danger ofthe %asts going o"er the side at any %o%ent& 1 and %y t!oboatNeepers ept the% off as best !e coud !ith oars and boatNhoosbut to be constanty at it beca%e exasperating, since there !as noreason !hy !e shoud not ea"e at once& 'e coud not see those on

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board, nor coud !e i%agine !hat caused the deay& The boatNeepers!ere s!earing feeby, and 1 had not ony %y share of the !or, butaso had to eep at it t!o %en !ho sho!ed a constant incination toay the%se"es do!n and et things side&

>t ast 1 haied M9n dec there,M and so%eone ooed o"er& M'eMreready here,M 1 said& The head disappeared, and "ery soon popped up

again& MThe captain says, > right, sir, and to eep the boats !ecear of the ship&M

-af an hour passed& .uddeny there !as a frightfu racet, ratte,caning of chain, hiss of !ater, and %iions of spars fe! up intothe shi"ering cou%n of s%oe that stood eaning sighty abo"e theship& The catNheads had burned a!ay, and the t!o redNhot anchors hadgone to the botto%, tearing out after the% t!o hundred fatho% ofredNhot chain& The ship tre%bed, the %ass of fa%e s!ayed as ifready to coapse, and the fore topNgaantN%ast fe& 1t darted do!nie an arro! of fire, shot under, and instanty eaping up !ithin anoarMsNength of the boats, foated Ouiety, "ery bac on the u%inoussea& 1 haied the dec again& >fter so%e ti%e a %an in anunexpectedy cheerfu but aso %uffed tone, as though he had beentrying to spea !ith his %outh shut, infor%ed %e, MCo%ing directy,sir,M and "anished& )or a ong ti%e 1 heard nothing but the !hir androar of the fire& There !ere aso !histing sounds& The boats

ju%ped, tugged at the painters, ran at each other payfuy, nocedtheir sides together, or, do !hat !e !oud, s!ung in a bunch againstthe shipMs side& 1 coudnMt stand it any onger, and s!ar%ing up arope, ca%bered aboard o"er the stern&

1t !as as bright as day& Co%ing up ie this, the sheet of firefacing %e, !as a terrifying sight, and the heat see%ed hardy bearabeat first& 9n a settee cushion dragged out of the cabin, Captain

eard, !ith his egs dra!n up and one ar% under his head, sept !iththe ight paying on hi%& (o you no! !hat the rest !ere busy aboutLThey !ere sitting on dec right aft, round an open case, eating breadand cheese and drining botted stout&

9n the bacground of fa%es t!isting in fierce tongues abo"e theirheads they see%ed at ho%e ie saa%anders, and ooed ie a band ofdesperate pirates& The fire spared in the !hites of their eyes,gea%ed on patches of !hite sin seen through the torn shirts& Eachhad the %ars as of a batte about hi%NNbandaged heads, tiedNup ar%s,a strip of dirty rag round a neeNNand each %an had a botte bet!eenhis egs and a chun of cheese in his hand& 2ahon got up& 'ith his

handso%e and disreputabe head, his hooed profie, his ong !hitebeard, and !ith an uncored botte in his hand, he rese%bed one ofthose recess seaNrobbers of od %aing %erry a%idst "ioence anddisaster& MThe ast %ea on board,M he expained soe%ny& M'e hadnothing to eat a day, and it !as no use ea"ing a this&M -efourished the botte and indicated the seeping sipper& M-e said hecoudnMt s!ao! anything, so 1 got hi% to ie do!n,M he !ent on andas 1 stared, M1 donMt no! !hether you are a!are, young feo!, the%an had no seep to spea of for daysNNand there !i be da%M itteseep in the boats&M MThere !i be no boats byNandNby if you foo

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about %uch onger,M 1 said, indignanty& 1 !aed up to the sipperand shoo hi% by the shouder& >t ast he opened his eyes, but didnot %o"e& MTi%e to ea"e her, sir,M 1 said, Ouiety&

-e got up painfuy, ooed at the fa%es, at the sea sparing roundthe ship, and bac, bac as in farther a!ay he ooed at the starsshining di% through a thin "ei of s%oe in a sy bac, bac as

Erebus&

MYoungest first,M he said&

>nd the ordinary sea%an, !iping his %outh !ith the bac of his hand,got up, ca%bered o"er the taffrai, and "anished& 9thers foo!ed&9ne, on the point of going o"er, stopped short to drain his botte,and !ith a great s!ing of his ar% fung it at the fire& MTae this$Mhe cried&

The sipper ingered disconsoatey, and !e eft hi% to co%%une aonefor a!hie !ith his first co%%and& Then 1 !ent up again and broughthi% a!ay at ast& 1t !as ti%e& The iron!or on the poop !as hot tothe touch&

Then the painter of the ongNboat !as cut, and the three boats, tiedtogether, drifted cear of the ship& 1t !as just sixteen hours afterthe exposion !hen !e abandoned her& 2ahon had charge of the secondboat, and 1 had the s%aestNNthe /Nfoot thing& The ongNboat !oudha"e taen the ot of us but the sipper said !e %ust sa"e as %uchproperty as !e coudNNfor the underN!ritersNNand so 1 got %y firstco%%and& 1 had t!o %en !ith %e, a bag of biscuits, a fe! tins of%eat, and a breaer of !ater& 1 !as ordered to eep cose to theongNboat, that in case of bad !eather !e %ight be taen into her&

>nd do you no! !hat 1 thoughtL 1 thought 1 !oud part co%pany assoon as 1 coud& 1 !anted to ha"e %y first co%%and a to %ysef& 1!asnMt going to sai in a sOuadron if there !ere a chance forindependent cruising& 1 !oud %ae and by %ysef& 1 !oud beat theother boats& Youth$ > youth$ The siy, char%ing, beautifuyouth&

ut !e did not %ae a start at once& 'e %ust see the ast of theship& >nd so the boats drifted about that night, hea"ing and settingon the s!e& The %en do8ed, !aed, sighed, groaned& 1 ooed at theburning ship&

et!een the darness of earth and hea"en she !as burning fierceyupon a disc of purpe sea shot by the boodNred pay of gea%s upon adisc of !ater gittering and sinister& > high, cear fa%e, ani%%ense and oney fa%e, ascended fro% the ocean, and fro% its su%%itthe bac s%oe poured continuousy at the sy& .he burned furiousy,%ournfu and i%posing ie a funera pie inded in the night,surrounded by the sea, !atched o"er by the stars& > %agnificent deathhad co%e ie a grace, ie a gift, ie a re!ard to that od ship atthe end of her aborious days& The surrender of her !eary ghost tothe eeping of stars and sea !as stirring ie the sight of a gorious

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triu%ph& The %asts fe just before daybrea, and for a %o%ent there!as a burst and tur%oi of spars that see%ed to fi !ith fying firethe night patient and !atchfu, the "ast night ying sient upon thesea& >t dayight she !as ony a charred she, foating sti under acoud of s%oe and bearing a go!ing %ass of coa !ithin&

Then the oars !ere got out, and the boats for%ing in a ine %o"ed

round her re%ains as if in processionNNthe ongNboat eading& >s !epued across her stern a si% dart of fire shot out "iciousy at us,and suddeny she !ent do!n, head first, in a great hiss of stea%& Theunconsu%ed stern !as the ast to sin but the paint had gone, hadcraced, had peeed off, and there !ere no etters, there !as no !ord,no stubborn de"ice that !as ie her sou, to fash at the rising sunher creed and her na%e&

'e %ade our !ay north& > bree8e sprang up, and about noon a theboats ca%e together for the ast ti%e& 1 had no %ast or sai in %ine,but 1 %ade a %ast out of a spare oar and hoisted a boatNa!ning for asai, !ith a boatNhoo for a yard& .he !as certainy o"erN%asted, but1 had the satisfaction of no!ing that !ith the !ind aft 1 coud beatthe other t!o& 1 had to !ait for the%& Then !e a had a oo at thecaptainMs chart, and, after a sociabe %ea of hard bread and !ater,got our ast instructions& These !ere si%pe= steer north, and eeptogether as %uch as possibe& Me carefu !ith that jury rig,2aro!,M said the captain and 2ahon, as 1 saied proudy past hisboat, !rined his cur"ed nose and haied, MYou !i sai that ship ofyours under !ater, if you donMt oo out, young feo!&M -e !as a%aicious od %anNNand %ay the deep sea !here he seeps no! roc hi%genty, roc hi% tendery to the end of ti%e$

efore sunset a thic rainNsOua passed o"er the t!o boats, !hich!ere far astern, and that !as the ast 1 sa! of the% for a ti%e& :ext

day 1 sat steering %y coceNsheNN%y first co%%andNN!ith nothing but!ater and sy around %e& 1 did sight in the afternoon the upper saisof a ship far a!ay, but said nothing, and %y %en did not notice her&You see 1 !as afraid she %ight be ho%e!ard bound, and 1 had no %ind toturn bac fro% the portas of the East& 1 !as steering for Ja"aNNanother bessed na%eNNie ano, you no!& 1 steered %any days&

1 need not te you !hat it is to be nocing about in an open boat&1 re%e%ber nights and days of ca% !hen !e pued, !e pued, and theboat see%ed to stand sti, as if be!itched !ithin the circe of thesea hori8on& 1 re%e%ber the heat, the deuge of rainNsOuas thatept us baing for dear ife @but fied our !aterNcasA, and 1

re%e%ber sixteen hours on end !ith a %outh dry as a cinder and asteeringNoar o"er the stern to eep %y first co%%and head on to abreaing sea& 1 did not no! ho! good a %an 1 !as ti then& 1re%e%ber the dra!n faces, the dejected figures of %y t!o %en, and 1re%e%ber %y youth and the feeing that !i ne"er co%e bac any %oreNNthe feeing that 1 coud ast for e"er, outast the sea, the earth,and a %en the deceitfu feeing that ures us on to joys, toperis, to o"e, to "ain effortNNto death the triu%phant con"ictionof strength, the heat of ife in the handfu of dust, the go! in theheart that !ith e"ery year gro!s di%, gro!s cod, gro!s s%a, and

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expiresNNand expires, too soonNNbefore ife itsef&

>nd this is ho! 1 see the East& 1 ha"e seen its secret paces andha"e ooed into its "ery sou but no! 1 see it a!ays fro% a s%aboat, a high outine of %ountains, bue and afar in the %orning iefaint %ist at noon a jagged !a of purpe at sunset& 1 ha"e thefee of the oar in %y hand, the "ision of a scorching bue sea in %y

eyes& >nd 1 see a bay, a !ide bay, s%ooth as gass and poished ieice, shi%%ering in the dar& > red ight burns far off upon the goo%of the and, and the night is soft and !ar%& 'e drag at the oars !ithaching ar%s, and suddeny a puff of !ind, a puff faint and tepid andaden !ith strange odors of bosso%s, of aro%atic !ood, co%es out ofthe sti nightNNthe first sigh of the East on %y face& That 1 canne"er forget& 1t !as i%papabe and ensa"ing, ie a char%, ie a!hispered pro%ise of %ysterious deight&

'e had been puing this finishing spe for ee"en hours& T!opued, and he !hose turn it !as to rest sat at the tier& 'e had%ade out the red ight in that bay and steered for it, guessing it%ust %ar so%e s%a coasting port& 'e passed t!o "esses, outandishand highNsterned, seeping at anchor, and, approaching the ight, no!"ery di%, ran the boatMs nose against the end of a jutting !harf& 'e!ere bind !ith fatigue& 2y %en dropped the oars and fe off theth!arts as if dead& 1 %ade fast to a pie& > current ripped softy&The scented obscurity of the shore !as grouped into "ast %asses, adensity of coossa cu%ps of "egetation, probabyNN%ute and fantasticshapes& >nd at their foot the se%icirce of a beach gea%ed fainty,ie an iusion& There !as not a ight, not a stir, not a sound& The%ysterious East faced %e, perfu%ed ie a fo!er, sient ie death,dar ie a gra"e&

>nd 1 sat !eary beyond expression, exuting ie a conOueror,

seepess and entranced as if before a profound, a fatefu enig%a&

> spashing of oars, a %easured dip re"erberating on the e"e of!ater, intensified by the sience of the shore into oud caps, %ade%e ju%p up& > boat, a European boat, !as co%ing in& 1 in"oed thena%e of the dead 1 haied= Judea ahoy$ > thin shout ans!ered&

1t !as the captain& 1 had beaten the fagship by three hours, and 1!as gad to hear the od %anMs "oice, tre%uous and tired& M1s ityou, 2aro!LM M2ind the end of that jetty, sir,M 1 cried&

-e approached cautiousy, and brought up !ith the deepNsea eadNine

!hich !e had sa"edNNfor the underN!riters& 1 eased %y painter andfe aongside& -e sat, a broen figure at the stern, !et !ith de!,his hands casped in his ap& -is %en !ere aseep aready& M1 had aterribe ti%e of it,M he %ur%ured& M2ahon is behindNNnot "ery far&M'e con"ersed in !hispers, in o! !hispers, as if afraid to !ae up theand& Guns, thunder, earthOuaes !oud not ha"e a!aened the %en justthen&

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.he !as not passing, she !as entering, and she e"en ca%e cose andanchored& M1 !ish,M said the od %an, Myou !oud find out !hether sheis Engish& Perhaps they coud gi"e us a passage so%e!here&M -esee%ed ner"ousy anxious& .o by dint of punching and icing 1started one of %y %en into a state of so%na%buis%, and gi"ing hi% anoar, too another and pued to!ards the ights of the stea%er&

There !as a %ur%ur of "oices in her, %etaic hoo! cangs of theengineNroo%, footsteps on the dec& -er ports shone, round iediated eyes& .hapes %o"ed about, and there !as a shado!y %an high upon the bridge& -e heard %y oars&

>nd then, before 1 coud open %y ips, the East spoe to %e, but it!as in a 'estern "oice& > torrent of !ords !as poured into theenig%atica, the fatefu sience outandish, angry !ords, %ixed !ith!ords and e"en !hoe sentences of good Engish, ess strange but e"en%ore surprising& The "oice s!ore and cursed "ioenty it ridded thesoe%n peace of the bay by a "oey of abuse& 1t began by caing %ePig, and fro% that !ent crescendo into un%entionabe adjecti"esNNinEngish& The %an up there raged aoud in t!o anguages, and !ith asincerity in his fury that a%ost con"inced %e 1 had, in so%e !ay,sinned against the har%ony of the uni"erse& 1 coud hardy see hi%,but began to thin he !oud !or hi%sef into a fit&

.uddeny he ceased, and 1 coud hear hi% snorting and bo!ing ie aporpoise& 1 saidNN

M'hat stea%er is this, prayLM

MEhL 'hatMs thisL >nd !ho are youLM

MCasta!ay cre! of an Engish barOue burnt at sea& 'e ca%e here

toNnight& 1 a% the second %ate& The captain is in the ongNboat, and!ishes to no! if you !oud gi"e us a passage so%e!here&M

M9h, %y goodness$ 1 say & & & This is the Ceestia fro% .ingaporeon her return trip& 1M arrange !ith your captain in the%orning & & & and, & & & 1 say & & & did you hear %e just no!LM

M1 shoud thin the !hoe bay heard you&M

M1 thought you !ere a shoreNboat& :o!, oo hereNNthis inferna a8yscoundre of a caretaer has gone to seep againNNcurse hi%& Theight is out, and 1 neary ran fou of the end of this da%ned jetty&

This is the third ti%e he pays %e this tric& :o!, 1 as you, cananybody stand this ind of thingL 1tMs enough to dri"e a %an out ofhis %ind& 1M report hi%& & & & 1M get the >ssistant +esident togi"e hi% the sac, by & & & .eeNNthereMs no ight& 1tMs out, isnMtitL 1 tae you to !itness the ightMs out& There shoud be a ight,you no!& > red ight on theNNM

MThere !as a ight,M 1 said, %idy&

Mut itMs out, %an$ 'hatMs the use of taing ie thisL You can

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see for yoursef itMs outNNdonMt youL 1f you had to tae a "auabestea%er aong this GodNforsaen coast you !oud !ant a ight too& 1Mic hi% fro% end to end of his %iserabe !harf& YouM see if 1donMt& 1 !iNNM

M.o 1 %ay te %y captain youM tae usLM 1 broe in&

MYes, 1M tae you& Good night,M he said, brusOuey&

1 pued bac, %ade fast again to the jetty, and then !ent to seepat ast& 1 had faced the sience of the East& 1 had heard so%e ofits anguages& ut !hen 1 opened %y eyes again the sience !as asco%pete as though it had ne"er been broen& 1 !as ying in a foodof ight, and the sy had ne"er ooed so far, so high, before& 1opened %y eyes and ay !ithout %o"ing&

>nd then 1 sa! the %en of the EastNNthey !ere ooing at %e& The!hoe ength of the jetty !as fu of peope& 1 sa! bro!n, bron8e,yeo! faces, the bac eyes, the gitter, the coour of an Easterncro!d& >nd a these beings stared !ithout a %ur%ur, !ithout a sigh,!ithout a %o"e%ent& They stared do!n at the boats, at the seeping%en !ho at night had co%e to the% fro% the sea& :othing %o"ed& Thefronds of pa%s stood sti against the sy& :ot a branch stirredaong the shore, and the bro!n roofs of hidden houses peeped throughthe green foiage, through the big ea"es that hung shining and stiie ea"es forged of hea"y %eta& This !as the East of the ancientna"igators, so od, so %ysterious, respendent and so%ber, i"ing andunchanged, fu of danger and pro%ise& >nd these !ere the %en& 1 satup suddeny& > !a"e of %o"e%ent passed through the cro!d fro% end toend, passed aong the heads, s!ayed the bodies, ran aong the jettyie a rippe on the !ater, ie a breath of !ind on a fiedNNand a!as sti again& 1 see it no!NNthe !ide s!eep of the bay, the

gittering sands, the !eath of green infinite and "aried, the seabue ie the sea of a drea%, the cro!d of attenti"e faces, the ba8eof "i"id coourNNthe !ater refecting it a, the cur"e of the shore,the jetty, the highNsterned outandish craft foating sti, and thethree boats !ith tired %en fro% the 'est seeping unconscious of theand and the peope and of the "ioence of sunshine& They septthro!n across the th!arts, cured on botto%Nboards, in the careessattitudes of death& The head of the od sipper, eaning bac in thestern of the ongNboat, had faen on his breast, and he ooed asthough he !oud ne"er !ae& )arther out od 2ahonMs face !as upturnedto the sy, !ith the ong !hite beard spread out on his breast, asthough he had been shot !here he sat at the tier and a %an, a in

a heap in the bo!s of the boat, sept !ith both ar%s e%bracing theste%Nhead and !ith his chee aid on the gun!ae& The East ooed atthe% !ithout a sound&

1 ha"e no!n its fascination since= 1 ha"e seen the %ysteriousshores, the sti !ater, the ands of bro!n nations, !here a steathy:e%esis ies in !ait, pursues, o"ertaes so %any of the conOueringrace, !ho are proud of their !isdo%, of their no!edge, of theirstrength& ut for %e a the East is contained in that "ision of %yyouth& 1t is a in that %o%ent !hen 1 opened %y young eyes on it& 1

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ca%e upon it fro% a tusse !ith the seaNNand 1 !as youngNNand 1 sa! itooing at %e& >nd this is a that is eft of it$ 9ny a %o%ent a%o%ent of strength, of ro%ance, of ga%ourNNof youth$ & & & > ficof sunshine upon a strange shore, the ti%e to re%e%ber, the ti%e for asigh, andNNgoodNbye$NN:ightNNGoodNbye & & &$

-e dran&

>h$ The good od ti%eNNthe good od ti%e& Youth and the sea&Ga%our and the sea$ The good, strong sea, the sat, bitter sea, thatcoud !hisper to you and roar at you and noc your breath out ofyou&

-e dran again&

y a thatMs !onderfu, it is the sea, 1 beie"e, the sea itsefNNoris it youth aoneL 'ho can teL ut you hereNNyou a had so%ethingout of ife= %oney, o"eNN!hate"er one gets on shoreNNand, te %e,!asnMt that the best ti%e, that ti%e !hen !e !ere young at sea youngand had nothing, on the sea that gi"es nothing, except hard nocsNNand so%eti%es a chance to fee your strengthNNthat onyNN!hat you aregretL

>nd !e a nodded at hi%= the %an of finance, the %an of accounts, the%an of a!, !e a nodded at hi% o"er the poished tabe that ie asti sheet of bro!n !ater refected our faces, ined, !rined ourfaces %ared by toi, by deceptions, by success, by o"e our !earyeyes ooing sti, ooing a!ays, ooing anxiousy for so%ethingout of ife, that !hie it is expected is aready goneNNhas passedunseen, in a sigh, in a fashNNtogether !ith the youth, !ith thestrength, !ith the ro%ance of iusions&

End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Youth, by Joseph Conrad