The End of the Tether

THE END OF THE TETHER

By Joseph Conrad

I

For a long time after the course of the steamer _Sofala_ had been altered for the land, the low swampy coast had retained its appearance of a mere smudge of darkness beyond a belt of glitter. The sunrays seemed to fall violently upon the calm sea--seemed to shatter themselves upon an adamantine surface into sparkling dust, into a daz...