Chapter 1

           TheNellie,acruisingyawl,swungtoheranchorwithoutaflutterofthesails,andwasatrest.Thefloodhadmade,thewindwasnearlycalm,andbeingbounddowntheriver,theonlythingforitwastocometoandwaitfortheturnofthetide.

           Thesea-reachoftheThamesstretchedbeforeuslikethebeginningofaninterminablewaterway.Intheoffingtheseaandtheskywereweldedtogetherwithoutajoint,andintheluminousspacethetannedsailsofthebargesdriftingupwiththetideseemedtostandstillinredclustersofcanvassharplypeaked,withgleamsofvarnishedsprits.Ahazerestedonthelowshoresthatranouttoseainvanishingflatness.TheairwasdarkaboveGravesend,andfartherbackstillseemedcondensedintoamournfulgloom,broodingmotionlessoverthebiggest,andthegreatest,townonearth.

           TheDirectorofCompanieswasourcaptainandourhost.Wefouraffectionatelywatchedhisbackashestoodinthebowslookingtoseaward.Onthewholerivertherewasnothingthatlookedhalfsonautical.Heresembledapilot,whichtoaseamanistrustworthinesspersonified.Itwasdifficulttorealizehisworkwasnotoutthereintheluminousestuary,butbehindhim,withinthebroodinggloom.

           Betweenustherewas,asIhavealreadysaidsomewhere,thebondofthesea.Besidesholdingourheartstogetherthroughlongperiodsofseparation,ithadtheeffectofmakingustolerantofeachother’syarns—andevenconvictions.