Then he was silent, opened his eyes wider and wider with renewed attention on that which he was watching, and said,—
"It is coming from afar, but not the less surely will it come."
The arc of the horizon which occupied the visual rays and thoughts of the doctor, being opposite to the west, was illuminated by the transcendent reflection of twilight, as if it were day. This arc, limited in extent, and surrounded by streaks of grayish vapour, was uniformly blue, but of a leaden rather than cerulean blue. The doctor, having completely returned to the contemplation of the sea, pointed to this atmospheric arc, and said,—
"Skipper, do you see?"
"What?"
"That."
"What?"
"Out there."
"A blue spot? Yes."
"What is it?"