There were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coastal steamers, which usually hug the shore so closely, kept well to seaward, and but few fishing boats were in sight. The only sail noticeable was a foreign schooner with all sails set, which was seemingly going westwards.

The foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained in sight, and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in the face of her danger. Before the night shut down she was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of the sea. 'As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.'

Shortly before ten o'clock the stillness of the air grew quite oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard, and the band on the pier, with its lively French air, was like a discord in the great harmony of nature's silence.

Vocabulary:

Seaward: Away from the land
Schooner: A type of ship
All sails set: All the sails up
Prolific: Producing a lot
Undulating: Going gently up and down
Oppressive: Pushing hard down, making uncomfortable
Air: Here it means 'a musical tune'
Discord: Disagreement, not in tune with the rest