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As often happens after a grey daybreak the sun had risen in a warleaed

estuary Wisps of mist floated like trails of lu reflections of water and vapour, the shores had the murky semi-

transparent darkness of shadows cast mysteriously fro seaman's life, told me that it

was then, in a moment of entranced vision an hour or so after sunrise,

that the river was revealed to him for all time, like a fair face often

seen before, which is suddenly perceived to be the expression of an inner

and unsuspected beauty, of that so unique and only its ohich

rouses a passion of wonder and fidelity and an unappeasablehead to the eastward, caught

the light, her tall spars and rigging steeped in a bath of red-gold, froleaainst

the delicate expanse of the blue

"Time we had a mouthful to eat," said a voice at his side It was Mr

Franklin, the chief mate, with his head sunk between his shoulders, and

melancholy eyes "Let the men have their breakfast, bo'sun," he went on,

"and have the fire out in the galley in half an hour at the latest, so

that we can call these barges of explosives alongside Co

man I don't know your name Haven't seen the captain, to speak to,