"The men were looking for land at any moment this morning, and the vessel should be in by night; don't you think so ?" Her simple faith in the immediate future took me aback.

How could I explain to her the situation, the strange man who stalked the sea like Destiny, all that it had taken me months to learn?
But I answered honestly: "If it were any other captain except ours, I should say you would be ashore in Yokohama to-morrow.

But our captain is a strange man, and I beg of you to be prepared for anything--understand ?--for anything." "I--I confess I hardly do understand," she hesitated, a perturbed but not frightened expression in her eyes.

"Or is it a misconception of mine that shipwrecked people are always shown every consideration?
This is such a little thing, you know.

We are so close to land." "Candidly, I do not know," I strove to reassure her.