Heart(härt) of Darkness(ˈdärknis)

Heart(härt) of Darkness(ˈdärknis)

By Joseph(-səf,ˈjōzəf) Conrad(e)

I

The Nellie, a cruising(kro͞oz) yawl(yôl), swung to her anchor(ˈaNGkər) without a flutter(ˈflətər) of the sails(sāl), and was at rest(rest). The flood had made, the wind was nearly(ˈni(ə)rlē) calm(kä(l)m), and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn(tərn) of the tide(tīd).

The sea-reach of the Thames(temz) stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable(inˈtərmənəbəl) waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded(weld) together without a joint(joint), and in the luminous(ˈlo͞omənəs) space the tanned(tan) sails of the barges(bärj) drifting(drift) up with the tide(tīd) seemed to stand still in red clusters(ˈkləstər) of canvas(ˈkanvəs) sharply(SHärp) peaked, with gleams(glēm) of varnished(ˈvärniSH) sprits(sprit). A haze(hāz) rested on the low shores(SHôr) that ran out to sea in vanishing(ˈvaniSH) flatness. The air was dark above Gravesend(ā), and farther back still seemed condensed(kənˈdenst) into a mournful(ˈmôrnfəl) gloom(glo͞om), brooding(ˈbro͞odiNG) motionless(ˈmōSHənlis) over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth.

The Director of Companies was our captain(ˈkaptən) and our host(hōst). We four affectionately(əˈfekʃənətli) watched his back as he stood in the bows(bou,bō) looking to seaward(ˈsēwərd). On the whole river there was nothing that looked half so nautical(ˈnôtikəl). He resembled(riˈzembəl) a pilot(ˈpīlət), which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified(pərˈsänəˌfī). It was difficult to realize(ˈrē(ə)ˌlīz) his work was not out there in the luminous(ˈlo͞omənəs) estuary(ˈesCHo͞oˌerē), but behind him, within the brooding(ˈbro͞odiNG) gloom(glo͞om).

…
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/219/219-h/219-h.htm