Then the prau bore up to the southward: the light went out of the sail, and all at once the vessel itself disappeared, vanishing in the shadow of the steep headland that looked on, patient and lonely, watching over the empty sea.
Almayer never moved.

Round the little islet the air was full of the talk of the rippling water.

The crested wavelets ran up the beach audaciously, joyously, with the lightness of young life, and died quickly, unresistingly, and graciously, in the wide curves of transparent foam on the yellow sand.

Above, the white clouds sailed rapidly southwards as if intent upon overtaking something.

Ali seemed anxious.
"Master," he said timidly, "time to get house now.