Some, very few and seen there but seldom, led mysterious lives, had preserved an undefaced energy with the temper of buccaneers and the eyes of dreamers.

They appeared to live in a crazy maze of plans, hopes, dangers, enterprises, ahead of civilisation, in the dark places of the sea; and their death was the only event of their fantastic existence that seemed to have a reasonable certitude of achievement.

The majority were men who, like himself, thrown there by some accident, had remained as officers of country ships.

They had now a horror of the home service, with its harder conditions, severer view of duty, and the hazard of stormy oceans.

They were attuned to the eternal peace of Eastern sky and sea.