The soft lights died away upon the hills, and with them the softer feelings which had crept in upon his heart.

Night settled down upon the outer world, and with it returned the gloomy thoughts that now for many days had made his mind their home.
It had occurred to him that the Brazilian would have it in his power to assist him in effecting his purpose, when they arrived in the harbour, and he had, therefore, found opportunities of rendering him indebted to him for many small services.

He lent him clothes now to appear among the other sailors when they were mustered before the authorities, who came on board immediately after the ship entered the harbour, and it thus escaped their notice that there was one over the number returned by the captain as his crew.
The harbour pilot, however--a consequential Mulatto in a Panama hat and red feather, and decorated with a badge and staff--was more sharp-sighted, and soon perceived, from the irritable tone in which the song at the capstan was sung again as they warped the vessel round to her anchorage in the Ilha das Cobras basin, that there was discontent prevailing on board; and it was no doubt owing to a hint from him that already the same evening there were "runners" waiting about near them on the quay.
Captain Beck was out of humour both with himself and with his crew.

Down in a warm climate he was always irritable, and now that he believed his authority weakened he had become a perfect tyrant.

The prospect of another voyage under his command was more than many of his crew could face, and preparations were made by many of them to leave the ship as soon as they should have received whatever portion of pay on account the captain proposed, as is customary when a vessel is in harbour, to distribute.