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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: steward flitted along the maindeck, a busily ministering spirit; a
hand-bell tinkled urgently under the poop-deck. . . .
I found my two officers waiting for me near the supper table, in
the lighted cuddy. We sat down at once, and as I helped the chief
mate, I said:
"Are you aware that there is a ship anchored inside the islands? I
saw her mastheads above the ridge as the sun went down."
He raised sharply his simple face, overcharged by a terrible growth
of whisker, and emitted his usual ejaculations: "Bless my soul,
sir! You don't say so!"
My second mate was a round-cheeked, silent young man, grave beyond
'Twixt Land & Sea | 
