THE INDIAN OCEAN. 59 



My glasses were constantly clouding over with a 

 fine coating of water drops ; exposed metal rusted 

 overnight ; the folds in garments accumulated 

 mildew in an astonishingly brief period of time. 

 There was never even the suggestion of chill in 

 this dampness. It clung and enveloped like a 

 grateful garment ; and seemed only to lack 

 sweet perfume. 



At this time, by good fortune, it happened 

 that the moon came full. We had enjoyed its 

 waxing during our voyage down the Red Sea ; 

 but now it had reached its greatest phase, and 

 hung over the slumbering tropic ocean like a 

 lantern. The lazy sea stirred beneath it, and the 

 ship glided on, its lights fairly subdued by the 

 splendour of the waters. Under the awnings the 

 ship's company lounged in lazy attitudes or prom- 

 enaded slowly, talking low voiced, cigars glowing 

 in the splendid dusk. Overside, in the furrow 

 of the disturbed waters, the phosphorescence 

 flashed perpetually beneath the shadow of the 

 ship. 



The days passed by languidly and all alike. 

 On the chart outside the smoking-room door the 

 procession of tiny German flags on pins marched 

 steadily, an inch at a time, towards the south. 

 Otherwise we might as well have imagined our- 



