Morley Roberts

“ Next day they said that for certain the Captain could not live, and men went solemnly in the ship. But Black Tarvin hugged himself in dark places and chuckled villainously, for his time was at hand.
And one night when the vessel went plunging in golden fire, and shook ten thousand green stars in flame from the blown crest of a curving wave, he went out and slid down the dipping martingale, and sat to look up at the Dead that was a prophecy against one still living. But in the golden foam-flowers hissed many sea-snakes, and they swam swiftly in and out, weaving a sea-shroud for a sea-prince. ”

“ He found her there, and, escaping, took ship upon the sea, which he could not leave, for Moulmein. But the White Prince pursued him even there, and in the balmy-scented East the Captain spoke with him again.
Now neither any sound of tumbling water nor colour of close seas could delight him, and brown women were as white women, and white women as the dead. The surf under palms upon the shore was full of sea-snakes, such as hissed under the robes of the White Prince or thrust their jewelled and armed heads out of the curl of the sea under the vessel's forefoot ”

“ And as the man would not, Tarvin groaned and took more of his drug, and passed the middle watch below, sitting on his chest, wondering if the White Thing would be loosed to chase him when the Captain's body was cast into the sea. He heard how it laughed outside in the foam of a clean, fresh breeze after days of oily calm. Then suddenly he dropped upon his knees in terror, and he saw the bows open, and the huge figure unfold its arms and scoop up the sea in a great hand. ”

“ He laughed, and chuckled in his withered throat. "I will slay him day by day; and blast his life. This they taught me in the East. It is but wood for wax. I shall see him wither like a blighted leaf." ”

“ Tarvin crept over the bows when the south-east trade wind blew, and hung to the stays contemplating the White Prince, whose pure robes were stained here and there as with reddish rust. He muttered to himself, and at last spoke to the white fetish.
"You pale beast, how is it with you?" he asked jeering. "Do you feel the magic work? Split and rot and warp i' the sun; ache under your eyes and in your heart. Big beast, you are quiet ”