There were not many lights to be seen on the sea. Even the coastal steamships, which usually hug the shore so closely, kept well away from the coast. Only a few fishing boats were in sight. The only sail noticeable was a foreign ship with all sails set, which was sailing to the west.

Whilst the ship remained in sight, many people commented on the foolishness or ignorance of the ship's officers. People tried to signal the ship to tell it to reduce sail in the face of her danger. Before the night, the ship was seen with sails idly flapping as she rolled on the gentle swell of the sea. 'As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.'

Shortly before ten o'clock, the air grew very heavy and still. The silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard. The band on the pier was playing a lively French tune, and this was like a discord in the great harmony of nature's silence.

Vocabulary:

Hug: Hold close to
All sails set: All the sails up
Reduce sail: Take down some sails
Swell: Here it means 'waves out at sea'
Marked: Easy to notice
Bleating: When a sheep goes 'baaa'
Discord: Disagreement, not in tune with the rest
Harmony: Things working well with each other