Белый корабль

           IamBasilElton,keeperoftheNorthPointlightthatmyfatherandgrandfatherkeptbeforeme. Farfromtheshorestandsthegraylighthouse,abovesunkenslimyrocksthatareseenwhenthetideislow,butunseenwhenthetideishigh. Pastthatbeaconforacenturyhavesweptthemajesticbarquesofthesevenseas. Inthedaysofmygrandfatherthereweremany;inthedaysofmyfathernotsomany;andnowtherearesofewthatIsometimesfeelstrangelyalone,asthoughIwerethelastmanonourplanet. 

           Fromfarshorescamethosewhite-sailedargosiesofold;fromfarEasternshoreswherewarmsunsshineandsweetodorslingeraboutstrangegardensandgaytemples. Theoldcaptainsoftheseacameoftentomygrandfatherandtoldhimofthesethingswhichinturnhetoldtomyfather,andmyfathertoldtomeinthelongautumneveningswhenthewindhowledeerilyfromtheEast. AndIhavereadmoreofthesethings,andofmanythingsbesides,inthebooksmengavemewhenIwasyoungandfilledwithwonder. 

           Butmorewonderfulthantheloreofoldmenandtheloreofbooksisthesecretloreofocean. Blue,green,gray,whiteorblack;smooth,ruffled,ormountainous;thatoceanisnotsilent. AllmydayshaveIwatcheditandlistenedtoit,andIknowitwell. Atfirstittoldtomeonlytheplainlittletalesofcalmbeachesandnearports,butwiththeyearsitgrewmorefriendlyandspokeofotherthings;ofthingsmorestrangeandmoredistantinspaceandtime.