\"You’llsoongetused——\"mutteredLingard，swinginginhisrapidwalkpasthismate。Thenheturnedround，cameback，andaskedsharply。
\"Yousaidtherewasnothingafloatinsightbeforedark？Hey？\"
\"NotthatIcouldsee，sir。WhenItookthedeckagainateight，Iaskedthatserangwhethertherewasanythingabout；andI
understoodhimtosaytherewasnomoreaswhenIwentbelowatsix。Thisisalonelyseaattimes——ain’tit，sir？Now，onewouldthinkatthistimeoftheyearthehomeward—boundersfromChinawouldbeprettythickhere。\"
\"Yes，\"saidLingard，\"wehavemetveryfewshipssinceweleftPedraBrancaoverthestern。Yes；ithasbeenalonelysea。Butforallthat，Shaw，thissea，iflonely，isnotblind。Everyislandinitisaneye。Andnow，sinceoursquadronhasleftfortheChinawaters——\"