CHAPTERIV——
THESQUALL
HowdifferentisthescenethatIhavenowtotellfromthatwhichhasjustbeentold！Gonearethequietcollegerooms，gonethewind-swayedEnglishelmsandcawingrooks，andthefamiliarvolumesontheshelves，andintheirplacethererisesavisionofthegreatcalmoceangleaminginshadedsilverlightsbeneaththebeamsofthefullAfricanmoon。Agentlebreezefillsthehugesailsofourdhow，anddrawsusthroughthewaterthatripplesmusicallyagainstoursides。
Mostofthemenaresleepingforward，foritisnearmidnight，butastout，swarthyArab，Mahomedbyname，standsatthetiller，lazilysteeringbythestars。
Threemilesormoretoourstarboardisalowdimline。ItistheeasternshoreofCentralAfrica。Wearerunningtothesouthward，beforethenortheastmonsoon，betweenthemainlandandthereefthatforhundredsofmilesfringesthatperilouscoast。Thenightisquiet，soquietthatawhispercanbeheardforeandaftthedhow;soquietthatafaintboomingsoundrollsacrossthewatertousfromthedistantland。