The Unknown Sea

tried his strength against his world, and the victory inclined to him. For a week he had been baited hard and cut off, as Giles had forewarned; and t

a few now would be fain to take their chance with him. For Giles's consolation he had not rejected all advances, yet as often as not he still went alone, declining another hand. Thrift

inty, and he had not given his mind to it then. Dark, he kn

plunged his spirit, and walked the sea's mysteries in vain imaginings. Mechanically he set the boat crawling while he handled the guys. A trail of weed swam dim below; it entangled. His wits sai

He paused before out-sorting to resolve an importunate doubt: was this more than mere luck to his nets? It was not the first time he had had occasion to debat

ealt with him so kindly. Yet of the contrary elements of that strange encounter the foul stood unchanged, but the fair had suffered blight, because from the small return demanded of him his mother'

e where he lay. Under a faint breath from the south he h

oolness and peace, and splendid shade

delicate blue veil, that no eye could distinguish from the melting blue of

sailed. It swooped low with a wild note,

The drifting fleet had vanished; he

ed away after the white wings. Yet he chafed, angry and indignant against so unwarrantable an imposition on his good faith. Go he must, but

fe; no less than t

loath mind and anxious. Now he wou

image at her feet, of all things under heaven, gave her dearest encouragement. Her boulder shelved into a hollow good for enthronement, draped and cushioned with a shag of weed. There she

She casts off that drapery. Through the gorge

h, well pleased, his stature and comely proportions; and as he neared, his ruddy tan, his singular fair hair

till only the breadth of wa

ne, Diadyomene" su

direct meeting his could not reconcile him to the sight of such beauty bare and unshrinking. He dropped self-con

you no s

tion escaped him that surprised and stung the young witch. He stood

nd winged me through the reef

no summons,'

ts: she meant to tell him that he lied. Confounded, he knew not how to justify himself to her. There, below his downcast eyes, her reflected face waited, quite emotionless. Suddenly her eyes met h

one trespass, you

unhappily, only as I believe

added: 'You would say now

ed, ashamed for hi

, 'and see if the gull that guided you here without

ecognised, and answere

hardly say a word in defence without e

ere? For far from you was any des

nt, that the faint vibration in her voic

-but for one thing,' he sa

d t

ave the truth in

o see the colou

broke into charmin

now yet?'

verdeep for a woman, an

er, then,

with her arms upon her knee, propping it that a hand might cover irrepressible smiles. Her beautiful eyes she opened wid

water. They were bright with happy mirth; they were sweetly serious; they were intent on a deep inquiry into h

r?' she asked quietly, bringing him t

ir colo

are you no

not

e tr

n, lay behind while

low as a whisper: 'Looking at your eyes, I wondered i

to reflect upon her transparent eyes stricken with the tragedy of death. From so gen

e certain knowledge. Gratify me, and so shall

ce of the cave. There upon a boulder she leaned, and pointed him up to the r

your ha

es

does i

e had addressed that legend

w that you ar

refrained from him, a

t judge. Hear th

ce fell, troubled, an

They? Who i

lmighty, Maker of

not ma

He

ou please: I speak for myself

Lord, who suffered and died

e exclaimed, and then a

!' said Chris

, but not I. Pass on.

Ghost the

eirs? yours? not min

lost soul, God have mer

so? and why should you speak it low? Am I to be pitied-and pitied of you, w

bo

instantly, recalled to the

there is more-"At yo

ou

,' she said coldly; 'nor of

tprints I had seen-yours,-and pledged myself by

ea

intimate to her how he had considered that a woman

simple end by

u pledged yourself so sacredly to my service, you cam

etrating gaze

dly; yes-I think so-in spite of incu

ad I wished to see th

enance. Quite kindly she asked, 'What now hav

ng him why he should expound that. He went on to the definite ills that h

dmitted nothing, else you fa

d, I could not den

y n

ve been true,' h

ned her eyes w

powers of speech only

id, indignan

se truth, with foul or with fair, or som

ed you had not summone

isfaction; for you have not the wit to weigh my word with mo

rplexed and amazed at

eeve this tangle you are in. Ther

levelled

r!' she said, and astonis

She is mot

rst is that between her and me your secret stands a bar to perfect con

tell

can

sec

some day I migh

heedless reservation that, after all, he wa

be absolutely safe; and if

her, nor come back well charged for convincing me of what you may be ple

a minute. Then Christi

o say first. I have

-a mes

the name of the Father, and of

return to that. "Suffered and

was bent on entangling him. A long hour he laboured with the story of the Redemption, she questioning to his bewilderment, involving him in contradiction, worst

h down his clear sense; that the lifting of night-black hair in the light wind, the curve of a neck, the slow play of idle

atures of flesh and blood to worship, as highest excellence conceivable, a joyless life, a degraded death. For o

deep flashed into visible embodiment in her. The perfect woman, possessed by the spirit of the sea, unawares took worship of the boy's heart. To seal he

d sweetness she began, with a face a

d only. When stormy terrors fall with black night on you above, with me below is a brooding blank of light and sound, and a darkness that can be felt lulls every sense. From that deep calm I float, I rise, to feel the upper pulses of the sea; to meet strong currents that in the very

-to her I yearn. My heart, my love, my life, rise large and buoyant in worship of her. To her fair face you have never looked up as I, at poise, with earth far below and the air fathoms above. Ah, so large and near and gracious she lies! In the faint swell of a calm she shrinks and expands, as though she breathed with me-with the sea; a ripple of wind

rom age to age; and drink milky fire that hangs where nebulous sea-stars cluster that night may never prevail. Inmost wait vacant shrines to gratify worship of sleep and dreams-pure amber one, great crystals one, and rainbo

fear. The frailest shape afloat, that fears a shadow, into my palms drops from the waves; and uncouth herds leave browsing to hustle their finned heads under my hands. And the terrible breeds, the restive, I catch by the mane and school, against their resistance driving sharp ivory hard between the joints of their mail. How they wrestle and course, as pride of their strength is mine, and joy of their speed is mine-ah

t beats slow the waters boil; he lifts an eyelid, and the waves far, far above are lit with phosphor light. Runs a tremor because of his dreams, I sink to the weed

entering the reserves of the sea, with intimacy and dominion like mine. No-no-stand off! content you with the earth and air. Never-never shall you l

d great undertones uttered a voluble, soft chorus on that strange monologue. He came to himself to know that he offered outrageous offence to virgin pri

definite sight of her, and got no answer till he came to the great cavern. No witch she looked beside the jasper mirr

me all that is in your mind. Call me dumb

sive countenance s

ide high. It is in my mind to put you in a way

ed, instant on her investigation of his eyes. Humbled and exalted at one fi

d the landward walls of this Isle. So will you evade the worst races of

y that of her grace he ha

ough but once,' she sai

ice-once e

ummons,' she exp

that I have

d not

is he repeated, 'Do y

think

or laughter, when the face of Christian lent ample occasion; for, as a fis

de bird's. Refraction gave her limbs a lovely distortion, and pearly soft they were through the beryl wash. Behind her merged head the level just rocked and quivered; cleft by hi

et, and sank, and walked the under-floor of rock, entering a deep gallery

e. 'There is another way to the same en

ridge, an intricate, retiring way, till

aid, 'no hurt

repugnant to his nerves;

perate temerity, 'you do not fo

in there. Her answer was n

sire-ever to

esire never to see me again?'

her arms, and poise. She delivered

n. I will convince you: for y

hristian; leapt, and dropped with stra

dyomene leaned over the dark, and called 'Farewell.' The word was echoed ba

eeping before my face.' Then laughter possessed her, and away

sea-bred are, and thei