The Nigger of The "Narcissus": A Tale of the Forecastle

The main deck was dark aft but halfway from forward through the open doors of the forecastle two streaks of brilliant light cut the shadow of the quiet night that lay upon the ship. A hum of voices was heard there while port and starboard in the illuminated doorways silhouettes of moving men appeared for a moment very black without relief like figures cut out of sheet tin.' (Excerpt from Chapter 1)