<p>The tale started off in a peculiar manner. The first three paragraphs or so that detailed the dark and shadow shrouded setting added a degree of mystery to the intro.</p>
<p>This short story was a tale within a tale, and was narrated by the man. Right from the get go I though this tale was fiction, but not until the ending did the author enlighten us that it had actually been a real life experience of the man (the commanding officer).<p>
<p>Joseph Conrad did a great job of adding suspense to the story. By not telling the reader what the strange and mystifying objects--that sailors were spotting floating in the ocean during the intervals of less dense fog—were, he managed to drag us in. This Commanding Officer’s suspicions on what the mysterious boat in the cove was doing also added that element of suspense and curiosity. </p>
<p>The ending I really never saw coming. The fact that the entire tale that they we were just given was an actual occurrence was the last thing I expected.</p>