194 ALONGSHORE iv 



approaching, culminating, and dying away In the 

 distance, one after another; the very certainty 

 that at the time of year such fine weather could 

 not last long — all alike served to intensify the 

 utter peacefulness of a January dead-calm. Near 

 the southern horizon a winterly sun shone brightly, 

 but without warmth or glow, as if it were hung 

 there merely, and had no part In life on earth. 

 On the tall red cliffs it cast a faint mistiness — 

 hardly a mistiness so much as a haze of colour — 

 that, far from obscuring them, brought every 

 crack and pinnacle Into prominence against the 

 sky, and suggested only that there was sleep upon 

 the face of them — an infinite, world-wide repose. 



Notwithstanding which, the sky Itself was 

 fresh, clear, and deep, and In our nostrils the air 

 was keen. 



Benjie sat In the stern of the boat, a little 

 human spot aggressively alive In the midst of the 

 calm. 'Keep her In,' he urged, 'keep her in; so 

 close as you can hug wl'out knocking ashore. The 

 last of the flood must still be running up 'long. 

 Keep her In out o'it. Us'll get there all the 

 sooner. By sea, I tell 'ee, the longest way round 

 Is oftener'n not the shortest way there. An' so 

 'tis wl' people too, only they full-sail cracking-on 



