her return trip. I'll arrange with your captain in the morning . . .
and, . . . I say . . . did you hear me just now?'

"'I should think the whole bay heard you.'

"'I thought you were a shore-boat. Now, look here--this infernal lazy
scoundrel of a caretaker has gone to sleep again--curse him. The light
is out, and I nearly ran foul of the end of this damned jetty. This is
the third time he plays me this trick. Now, I ask you, can anybody stand
this kind of thing? It's enough to drive a man out of his mind. I'll
report him. . . . I'll get the Assistant Resident to give him the
sack, by . . . See--there's no light. It's out, isn't it? I take you to
witness the light's out. There should be a light, you know. A red light
on the--'

"'There was a light,' I said, mildly.

"'But it's out, man! What's the use of talking like this? You can see
for yourself it's out--don't you? If you had to take a valuable steamer
along this God-forsaken coast you would want a light too. I'll kick him
from end to end of his miserable wharf. You'll see if I don't. I will--'

"'So I may tell my captain you'll take us?' I broke in.

"'Yes, I'll take you. Good night,' he said, brusquely.

"I pulled back, made fast again to the jetty, and then went to sleep
at last. I had faced the silence of the East. I had heard some of its
languages. But when I opened my eyes again the silence was as complete
as though it had never been broken. I was lying in a flood of light, and