A silence reigned for a long time and the slight, very gentle rolling of the ship slipping before the N.E.

trade-wind seemed to be a soothing device for lulling to sleep the suspicions of men who trust themselves to the sea.
A deep sigh was heard followed by the mate's voice asking dismally if that was the way one would speak of a man to whom one wished well?
No better proof of something wrong was needed.

Therefore he hoped, as he vanished at last, that Mr.Powell would be on their side.

And this time Mr.Powell did not answer this hope with an embarrassed laugh.
That young officer was more and more surprised at the nature of the incongruous revelations coming to him in the surroundings and in the atmosphere of the open sea.

It is difficult for us to understand the extent, the completeness, the comprehensiveness of his inexperience, for us who didn't go to sea out of a small private school at the age of fourteen years and nine months.