From a large brig lying near also came the music of the sailors as they worked at getting the anchor up in order to be ready for the wind.

Altogether it was a perfect night, such a night as you sometimes get in Southern Africa, and it threw a garment of peace over everybody as the moon threw a garment of silver over everything.

Even the great bulldog, belonging to a sporting passenger, seemed to yield to its gentle influences, and forgetting his yearning to come to close quarters with the baboon in a cage on the foc'sle, snored happily at the door of the cabin, dreaming no doubt that he had finished him, and happy in his dream.
We three--that is, Sir Henry Curtis, Captain Good, and myself--went and sat by the wheel, and were quiet for a while.
"Well, Mr.Quatermain," said Sir Henry presently, "have you been thinking about my proposals ?" "Ay," echoed Captain Good, "what do you think of them, Mr.Quatermain?
I hope that you are going to give us the pleasure of your company so far as Solomon's Mines, or wherever the gentleman you knew as Neville may have got to." I rose and knocked out my pipe before I answered.

I had not made up my mind, and wanted an additional moment to decide.

Before the burning tobacco had fallen into the sea I had decided; just that little extra second did the trick.