disaster.

"I don't like this weather, Mr. Brandon. It's the worst that we could
have, especially just here."

"Why just here?"

"Why, we're opposite the Straits of Sunda, the worst place about these
parts."

"What for?"

"Pirates. The Malays, you know. We're not over well prepared to meet
them, I'm afraid. If they come we'll have to fight them the best way we
can; and these calms are the worst thing for us, because the Malay proas
can get along in the lightest wind, or with oars, when we can't move at
all."

"Are the Malays any worse than usual now?" asked Brandon.

"Well, no worse than they've been for the last ten years. Zangorri is
the worst of them all."

"Zangorri! I've heard of him."

"I should think you had. Why, there never was a pirate in these seas
that did so much damage. No mortal knows the ships that devil has
captured and burned."

"I hope you have arms for the seamen, at any rate."