第4章

Theconvictionthattheyacht，andeverythingbelongingtoher，wereinsomeindefinitebutveryrealdanger，tookafreshastrongholdofhim，andthepersuasionthatthemasterofthebrigwasgoingtheretohelpdidnotbyanymeansassuagehisalarm。Thefactonlyservedtocomplicatehisuneasinesswithasenseofmystery。

Thewhitemanwhospokeasifthatseawasallhisown，orasifpeopleintrudeduponhisprivacybytakingthelibertyofgettingwreckedonacoastwhereheandhisfriendsdidsomequeerbusiness，seemedtohimanundesirablehelper。Thattheboathadbeenloweredtocommunicatewiththeprausseenandavoidedbyhimintheeveninghehadnodoubt。Thethoughthadflashedonhimatonce。Ithadanuglylook。Yetthebestthingtodoafterallwastohangonandgetbacktotheyachtandwarnthem……

Warnthemagainstwhom？Themanhadbeenperfectlyopenwithhim。

Warnthemagainstwhat？Itstruckhimthathehadn’ttheslightestconceptionofwhatwouldhappen，ofwhatwasevenlikelytohappen。Thatstrangerescuerhimselfwasbringingthenewsofdanger。Dangerfromthenativesofcourse。Andyethewasincommunicationwiththosenatives。Thatwasevident。Thatboatgoingoffinthenight……Cartersworeheartilytohimself。

Hisperplexitybecamepositivebodilypainashesat，wet，uncomfortable，andstill，onehandonthetiller，thrownupanddowninheadlongswingsofhisboat。Andbeforehiseyes，toweringhigh，theblackhullofthebrigalsoroseandfell，settinghersterndowninthesea，nowandagain，withatremendousandfoamingsplash。NotasoundfromherreachedCarter’sears。Sheseemedanabandonedcraftbutfortheoutlineofaman’sheadandbodystillvisibleinawatchfulattitudeabovethetaffrail。

Cartertoldhisbowmantohaulupcloserandhailed：

"Brigahoy。Anythingwrong？"

Hewaited，listening。Theshadowymanstillwatched。Aftersometimeacurt"No"camebackinanswer。

"Areyougoingtokeephove—tolong？"shoutedCarter。

"Don’tknow。Notlong。Dropyourboatclearoftheship。Dropclear。Dodamageifyoudon’t。"

"Slackaway，John！"saidCarterinaresignedtonetotheelderlyseamaninthebow。"Slackawayandletusrideeasytothefullscope。Theydon’tseemverytalkativeonboardthere。"

Evenwhilehewasspeakingthelineranoutandtheregularundulationsofthepassingseasdrovetheboatawayfromthebrig。Carterturnedalittleinhisseattolookattheland。Itloomedupdeadtoleewardlikealoftyandirregularconeonlyamileoramileandahalfdistant。Thenoiseofthesurfbeatinguponitsbasewasheardagainstthewindinmeasureddetonations。

ThefatigueofmanydaysspentintheboatasserteditselfabovetherestlessnessofCarter’sthoughtsand，gradually，helostthenotionofthepassingtimewithoutaltogetherlosingtheconsciousnessofhissituation。

Intheintervalsofthatbenumbedstupor——ratherthansleep——hewasawarethattheinterruptednoiseofthesurfhadgrownintoacontinuousgreatrumble，swellingperiodicallyintoaloudroar；

thatthehighisletappearednowbigger，andthatawhitefringeoffoamwasvisibleatitsfeet。Stilltherewasnostirormovementofanykindonboardthebrig。Henoticedthatthewindwasmoderatingandtheseagoingdownwithit，andthendozedoffagainforaminute。Whennextheopenedhiseyeswithastart，itwasjustintimetoseewithsurpriseanewstarsoarnoiselesslystraightupfrombehindtheland，takeupitspositioninabrilliantconstellation——andgooutsuddenly。Twomorefollowed，ascendingtogether，andafterreachingaboutthesameelevation，expiredsidebyside。

"Them’srockets，sir——ain’tthey？"saidoneofthemeninamuffledvoice。

"Aye，rockets，"gruntedCarter。"Andnow，what’sthenextmove？"

hemutteredtohimselfdismally。

Hegothisanswerinthefierceswishingwhirrofaslenderrayoffirethat，shootingviolentlyupwardfromthesombrehullofthebrig，dissolvedatonceintoadullredshoweroffallingsparks。Onlyone，whiteandbrilliant，remainedalonepoisedhighoverhead，andafterglowingvividlyforasecond，explodedwithafeeblereport。Almostatthesametimehesawthebrig’sheadfalloffthewind，madeouttheyardsswingingroundtofillthemaintopsail，andhearddistinctlythethudofthefirstwavethrownoffbytheadvancingbows。Thenextminutethetow—linegotthestrainandhisboatstartedhurriedlyafterthebrigwithasuddenjerk。

Leaningforward，wideawakeandattentive，Cartersteered。Hismensatonebehindanotherwithshouldersup，andarchedbacks，dozing，uncomfortablebutpatient，uponthethwarts。Thecarerequisitetosteertheboatproperlyinthetrackoftheseethinganddisturbedwaterleftbythebriginherrapidcoursepreventedhimfromreflectingmuchupontheincertitudeofthefutureanduponhisownunusualsituation。

Nowhewasonlyexceedinglyanxioustoseetheyachtagain，anditwaswithafeelingofveryrealsatisfactionthathesawallplainsailbeingmadeonthebrig。Throughtheremaininghoursofthenighthesatgraspingthetillerandkeepinghiseyesontheshadowyandhighpyramidofcanvasglidingsteadilyaheadofhisboatwithaslightbalancingmovementfromsidetoside。

IV

Itwasnoonbeforethebrig，pilotedbyLingardthroughthedeepchannelsbetweentheoutercoralreefs，roundedwithinpistol—shotalowhummockofsandwhichmarkedtheendofalongstretchofstonyledgesthat，beingmostlyawash，showedablackheadonly，hereandthereamongstthehissingbrownfrothoftheyellowsea。Asthebrigdrewclearofthesandypatchthereappeared，deadtowindwardandbeyondamazeofbrokenwater，sandspits，andclustersofrocks，theblackhulloftheyachtheelingover，highandmotionlessuponthegreatexpanseofglitteringshallows。Herlong，nakedsparswereinclinedslightlyasifshehadbeensailingwithagoodbreeze。Therewastothelookers—onaboardthebrigsomethingsadanddisappointingintheyacht’saspectasshelayperfectlystillinanattitudethatinaseaman’smindisassociatedwiththeideaofrapidmotion。

"Heresheis！"saidShaw，who，cladinaspotlesswhitesuit，camejustthenfromforwardwherehehadbeenbusywiththeanchors。"Sheiswellon，sir——isn’tshe？Lookslikeamudflattomefromhere。"

"Yes。Itisamudflat，"saidLingard，slowly，raisingthelongglasstohiseye。"Haulthemainsailup，Mr。Shaw，"hewentonwhilehetookasteadylookattheyacht。"Wewillhavetoworkinshorttackshere。"

Heputtheglassdownandmovedawayfromtherail。Forthenexthourhehandledhislittlevesselintheintricateandnarrowchannelwithcarelesscertitude，asifeverystone，everygrainofsanduponthetreacherousbottomhadbeenplainlydisclosedtohissight。Hehandledherinthefitfulandunsteadybreezewithamatter—of—factaudacitythatmadeShaw，forwardathisstation，gaspinsheeralarm。Whenheadingtowardtheinshoreshoalsthebrigwasneverputroundtillthequick，loudcriesoftheleadsmenannouncedthattherewerenomorethanthreefeetofwaterunderherkeel；andwhenstandingtowardthesteepinneredgeofthelongreef，wheretheleadwasofnouse，thehelmwouldbeputdownonlywhenthecutwatertouchedthefaintlineoftheborderingfoam。Lingard’sloveforhisbrigwasaman’slove，andwassogreatthatitcouldneverbeappeasedunlesshecalledonhertoputforthallherqualitiesandherpower，torepayhisexactingaffectionbyafaithfulnesstriedtotheveryutmostlimitofendurance。Everyflutterofthesailsflewdownfromaloftalongthetautleeches，toenterhisheartinasenseofacutedelight；andthegentlemurmurofwateralongside，which，continuousandsoft，showedthatinallherwindingshisincomparablecrafthadnever，evenforaninstant，ceasedtocarryherway，wastohimmorepreciousandinspiringthanthesoftwhisperoftenderwordswouldhavebeentoanotherman。Itwasinsuchmomentsthathelivedintensely，inaflushofstrongfeelingthatmadehimlongtopresshislittlevesseltohisbreast。Shewashisperfectworldfulloftrustfuljoy。

Thepeopleonboardtheyacht，whowatchedeagerlythefirstsailtheyhadseensincetheyhadbeenashoreonthatdesertedpartofthecoast，soonmadeherout，withsomedisappointment，tobeasmallmerchantbrigbeatinguptackfortackalongtheinneredgeofthereef——probablywiththeintentiontocommunicateandofferassistance。Thegeneralopinionamongtheseafaringportionofhercrewwasthatlittleeffectiveassistancecouldbeexpectedfromavesselofthatdescription。Onlythesailing—masteroftheyachtremarkedtotheboatswain（whohadtheadvantageofbeinghisfirstcousin）："Thismaniswellacquaintedhere；youcanseethatbythewayhehandleshisbrig。Ishan’tbesorrytohavesomebodytostandbyus。Can’ttellwhenwewillgetoffthismud，George。"

Alongboard，sailedveryclose，enabledthebrigtofetchthesouthernlimitofdiscolouredwateroverthebankonwhichtheyachthadstranded。Ontheveryedgeofthemuddypatchshewasputinstaysforthelasttime。Assoonasshehadpaidoffontheothertack，sailwasshortenedsmartly，andthebrigcommencedthestretchthatwastobringhertoheranchorage，underhertopsails，lowerstaysailsandjib。Therewasthenlessthanaquarterofamileofshallowwaterbetweenherandtheyacht；butwhilethatvesselhadgoneashorewithherheadtotheeastwardthebrigwasmovingslowlyinawest—northwestdirection，andconsequently，sailed——sotospeak——pastthewholelengthoftheyacht。Lingardsaweverysoulintheschoonerondeck，watchinghisadventinasilencewhichwasasunbrokenandperfectasthatonboardhisownvessel。

Alittlemanwitharedfaceframedinwhitewhiskerswavedagold—lacedcapabovetherailinthewaistoftheyacht。Lingardraisedhisarminreturn。Furtheraft，underthewhiteawnings，hecouldseetwomenandawoman。Oneofthemenandtheladywereinblue。Theotherman，whoseemedverytallandstoodwithhisarmentwinedroundanawningstanchionabovehishead，wascladinwhite。Lingardsawthemplainly。Theylookedatthebrigthroughbinoculars，turnedtheirfacestooneanother，movedtheirlips，seemedsurprised。Alargedogputhisforepawsontherail，and，liftinguphisbig，blackhead，sentoutthreeloudandplaintivebarks，thendroppeddownoutofsight。Asuddenstirandanappearanceofexcitementamongstallhandsonboardtheyachtwascausedbytheirperceivingthattheboattowingasternofthestrangerwastheirownsecondgig。

Armswereoutstretchedwithpointingfingers。Someoneshoutedoutalongsentenceofwhichnotawordcouldbemadeout；andthenthebrig，havingreachedthewesternlimitofthebank，begantomovediagonallyaway，increasingherdistancefromtheyachtbutbringinghersterngraduallyintoview。Thepeopleaft，Lingardnoticed，lefttheirplacesandwalkedovertothetaffrailsoastokeephimlongerinsight。

Whenaboutamileoffthebankandnearlyinlinewiththesternoftheyachtthebrig’stopsailsflutteredandtheyardscamedownslowlyonthecaps；theforeandaftcanvasrandown；andforsometimeshefloatedquietlywithfoldedwingsuponthetransparentsheetofwater，undertheradiantsilenceofthesky。

Thenheranchorwenttothebottomwitharumblingnoiseresemblingtherollofdistantthunder。Inamomentherheadtendedtothelastpuffsofthenortherlyairsandtheensignatthepeakstirred，unfurleditselfslowly，collapsed，flewoutagain，andfinallyhungdownstraightandstill，asifweightedwithlead。

"Deadcalm，sir，"saidShawtoLingard。"Deadcalmagain。Wegotintothisfunnyplaceinthenickoftime，sir。"

Theystoodforawhilesidebyside，lookingrounduponthecoastandthesea。Thebrighadbeenbroughtupinthemiddleofabroadbeltofclearwater。Tothenorthrockyledgesshowedinblackandwhitelinesupontheslightswellsettinginfromthere。Asmallislandstoodoutfromthebrokenwaterlikethesquaretowerofsomesubmergedbuilding。Itwasabouttwomilesdistantfromthebrig。Totheeastwardthecoastwaslow；acoastofgreenforestsfringedwithdarkmangroves。Therewasinitssombredullnessaclearlydefinedopening，asifasmallpiecehadbeencutoutwithasharpknife。Thewaterinitshonelikeapatchofpolishedsilver。LingardpointeditouttoShaw。

"Thisistheentrancetotheplacewherewearegoing，"hesaid。

Shawstared，round—eyed。

"Ithoughtyoucamehereonaccountofthishereyacht，"hestammered，surprised。

"Ah。Theyacht，"saidLingard，musingly，keepinghiseyesonthebreakinthecoast。"Theyacht——"Hestampedhisfootsuddenly。

"IwouldgiveallIamworthandthrowinafewdaysoflifeintothebargainifIcouldgetheroffandawaybeforeto—night。"

Hecalmeddown，andagainstoodgazingattheland。Alittlewithintheentrancefrombehindthewallofforestsaninvisiblefirebelchedoutsteadilytheblackandheavyconvolutionsofthicksmoke，whichstoodouthigh，likeatwistedandshiveringpillaragainsttheclearblueofthesky。

"Wemuststopthatgame，Mr。Shaw，"saidLingard，abruptly。

"Yes，sir。Whatgame？"askedShaw，lookingroundinwonder。

"Thissmoke，"saidLingard，impatiently。"It’sasignal。"

"Certainly，sir——thoughIdon’tseehowwecandoit。Itseemsfarinland。Asignalforwhat，sir？"

"Itwasnotmeantforus，"saidLingardinanunexpectedlysavagetone。"Here，Shaw，makethemputablankchargeintothatforecastlegun。Tell’emtoramhardthewaddingandgreasethemouth。Wewanttomakeagoodnoise。IfoldJorgensonhearsit，thatfirewillbeoutbeforeyouhavetimetoturnroundtwice……Inaminute，Mr。Carter。"

Theyacht’sboathadcomealongsideassoonasthebrighadbeenbroughtup，andCarterhadbeenwaitingtotakeLingardonboardtheyacht。Theybothwalkednowtothegangway。Shaw，followinghiscommander，stoodbytotakehislastorders。

"Putalltheboatsinthewater，Mr。Shaw，"Lingardwassaying，withonefootontherail，readytoleavehisship，"andmountthefour—pounderswivelinthelongboat’sbow。Castoffthesealashingsoftheguns，butdon’trun’emoutyet。Keepthetopsailslooseandthejibreadyforsetting，Imaywantthesailsinahurry。Now，Mr。Carter，Iamreadyforyou。"

"Shoveoff，boys，"saidCarterassoonastheywereseatedintheboat。"Shoveoff，andgivewayforalastpullbeforeyougetalongrest。"

Themenlaybackontheiroars，grunting。Theirfacesweredrawn，greyandstreakedwiththedriedsaltsprays。Theyhadtheworriedexpressionofmenwhohadalongcallmadeupontheirendurance。Carter，heavy—eyedanddull，steeredfortheyacht’sgangway。Lingardaskedastheywerecrossingthebrig’sbows：

"Waterenoughalongsideyourcraft，Isuppose？"

"Yes。Eighttotwelvefeet，"answeredCarter，hoarsely。"Say，Captain！Where’syourshowofcutthroats？Why！Thisseaisasemptyasachurchonaweek—day。"

Theboomingreport，nearlyoverhishead，ofthebrig’seighteen—pounderinterruptedhim。Aroundpuffofwhitevapour，spreadingitselflazily，clunginfadingshredsabouttheforeyard。Lingard，turninghalfroundinthesternsheets，lookedatthesmokeontheshore。Carterremainedsilent，staringsleepilyattheyachttheywereapproaching。Lingardkeptwatchingthesmokesointenselythathealmostforgotwherehewas，tillCarter’svoicepronouncingsharplyathisearthewords"wayenough，"recalledhimtohimself。

Theywereintheshadowoftheyachtandcomingalongsideherladder。Themasterofthebriglookedupwardintothefaceofagentleman，withlongwhiskersandashavedchin，staringdownathimoverthesidethroughasingleeyeglass。Asheputhisfootonthebottomstephecouldseetheshoresmokestillascending，unceasingandthick；butevenashelookedtheverybaseoftheblackpillarroseabovetheraggedlineoftree—tops。Thewholethingfloatedclearawayfromtheearth，androllingitselfintoanirregularlyshapedmass，driftedouttoseaward，travellingslowlyovertheblueheavens，likeathreateningandlonelycloud。

PARTII。THESHOREOFREFUGE

I

Thecoastoffwhichthelittlebrig，floatinguprightaboveheranchor，seemedtoguardthehighhulloftheyachthasnodistinctivefeatures。Itislandwithoutform。Itstretchesawaywithoutcapeorbluff，longandlow——indefinitely；andwhentheheavygustsofthenortheastmonsoondrivethethickrainslantingoverthesea，itisseenfaintlyunderthegreysky，blackandwithablurredoutlinelikethestraightedgeofadissolvingshore。Inthelongseasonofuncloudeddays，itpresentstoviewonlyanarrowbandofearththatappearscrushedflatuponthevastlevelofwatersbytheweightofthesky，whoseimmensedomerestsonitinalineasfineandtrueasthatoftheseahorizonitself。

NotwithstandingitsnearnesstothecentresofEuropeanpower，thiscoasthasbeenknownforagestothearmedwanderersoftheseseasas"TheShoreofRefuge。"Ithasnospecificnameonthecharts，andgeographymanualsdon’tmentionitatall；butthewreckageofmanydefeatsunerringlydriftsintoitscreeks。

Itsapproachesareextremelydifficultforastranger。Lookedatfromseaward，theinnumerableisletsfringingwhat，onaccountofitsvastsize，maybecalledthemainland，mergeintoabackgroundthatpresentsnotasinglelandmarktopointthewaythroughtheintricatechannels。Itmaybesaidthatinabeltofseatwentymilesbroadalongthatlowshorethereismuchmorecoral，mud，sand，andstonesthanactualseawater。Itwasamongsttheoutlyingshoalsofthisstretchthattheyachthadgoneashoreandtheeventsconsequentuponherstrandingtookplace。

Thediffusedlightoftheshortdaybreakshowedtheopenwatertothewestward，sleeping，smoothandgrey，underafadedheaven。

Thestraightcoastthrewaheavybeltofgloomalongtheshoals，which，inthecalmofexpiringnight，wereunmarkedbytheslightestripple。Inthefaintdawnthelowclumpsofbushesonthesandbanksappearedimmense。

Twofigures，noiselessliketwoshadows，movedslowlyoverthebeachofarockyislet，andstoppedsidebysideontheveryedgeofthewater。Behindthem，betweenthematsfromwhichtheyhadarisen，asmallheapofblackemberssmoulderedquietly。Theystooduprightandperfectlystill，butfortheslightmovementoftheirheadsfromrighttoleftandbackagainastheyswepttheirgazethroughthegreyemptinessofthewaterswhere，abouttwomilesdistant，thehulloftheyachtloomeduptoseaward，blackandshapeless，againstthewansky。

Thetwofigureslookedbeyondwithoutexchangingasmuchasamurmur。Thetallerofthetwogrounded，atarm’slength，thestockofagunwithalongbarrel；thehairoftheotherfelldowntoitswaist；and，nearby，theleavesofcreepersdroopingfromthesummitofthesteeprockstirrednomorethanthefestoonedstone。Thefaintlight，disclosinghereandthereagleamofwhitesandbanksandtheblurredhummocksofisletsscatteredwithinthegloomofthecoast，theprofoundsilence，thevaststillnessallround，accentuatedthelonelinessofthetwohumanbeingswho，urgedbyasleeplesshope，hadrisenthus，atbreakofday，tolookafarupontheveiledfaceofthesea。

"Nothing！"saidthemanwithasigh，andasifawakeningfromalongperiodofmusing。

Hewascladinajacketofcoarsebluecotton，ofthekindapoorfishermanmightown，andheworeitwideopenonamuscularchestthecolourandsmoothnessofbronze。Fromthetwistofthreadbaresarongwoundtightlyonthehipsprotrudedoutwardtothelefttheivoryhilt，ringedwithsixbandsofgold，ofaweaponthatwouldnothavedisgracedaruler。Silverglitteredabouttheflintlockandthehardwoodstockofhisgun。Theredandgoldhandkerchieffoldedroundhisheadwasofcostlystuff，suchasiswovenbyhigh—bornwomeninthehouseholdsofchiefs，onlythegoldthreadsweretarnishedandthesilkfrayedinthefolds。Hisheadwasthrownback，thedroppedeyelidsnarrowedthegleamofhiseyes。Hisfacewashairless，thenoseshortwithmobilenostrils，andthesmileofcarelessgood—humourseemedtohavebeenpermanentlywrought，asifwithadelicatetool，intotheslighthollowsaboutthecornersofratherfulllips。Hisuprightfigurehadanegligentelegance。Butinthecarelessface，intheeasygesturesofthewholemantherewassomethingattentiveandrestrained。

Aftergivingtheoffingalastsearchingglance，heturnedand，facingtherisingsun，walkedbare—footedontheelasticsand。

Thetrailedbuttofhisgunmadeadeepfurrow。Theembershadceasedtosmoulder。Helookeddownatthempensivelyforawhile，thencalledoverhisshouldertothegirlwhohadremainedbehind，stillscanningthesea：

"Thefireisout，Immada。"

Atthesoundofhisvoicethegirlmovedtowardthemats。Herblackhairhunglikeamantle。Hersarong，thekilt—likegarmentwhichbothsexeswear，hadthenationalcheckofgreyandred，butshehadnotcompletedherattirebythebelt，scarves，thelooseupperwrappings，andthehead—coveringofawoman。Ablacksilkjacket，likethatofamanofrank，wasbuttonedoverherbustandfittedcloselytoherslenderwaist。Theedgeofastand—upcollar，stiffwithgoldembroidery，rubbedhercheek。

Shehadnobracelets，noanklets，andalthoughdressedpracticallyinman’sclothes，hadaboutherpersonnoweaponofanysort。Herarmshungdowninexceedinglytightsleevesslitalittlewayupfromthewrist，gold—braidedandwitharowofsmallgoldbuttons。Shewalked，brownandalert，allofapiece，withshortsteps，theeyeslivelyinanimpassivelittleface，thearchedmouthclosedfirmly；andherwholepersonbreathedinitsrigidgracethefierygravityofyouthatthebeginningofthetaskoflife——atthebeginningofbeliefsandhopes。

ThiswasthedayofLingard’sarrivaluponthecoast，but，asisknown，thebrig，delayedbythecalm，didnotappearinsightoftheshallowstillthemorningwasfaradvanced。Disappointedintheirhopetoseetheexpectedsailshininginthefirstraysoftherisingsun，themanandthewoman，withoutattemptingtorelightthefire，loungedontheirsleepingmats。Attheirfeetacommoncanoe，hauledoutofthewater，was，formoresecurity，mooredbyagrassropetotheshaftofalongspearplantedfirmlyonthewhitebeach，andtheincomingtidelappedmonotonouslyagainstitsstern。

Thegirl，twistingupherblackhair，fasteneditwithslenderwoodenpins。Theman，recliningatfulllength，hadmaderoomonhismatforthegun——asonewoulddoforafriend——and，supportedonhiselbow，lookedtowardtheyachtwitheyeswhosefixeddreaminesslikeatransparentveilwouldshowtheslowpassageofeverygloomythoughtbydeepeninggraduallyintoasombrestare。

"Wehaveseenthreesunrisesonthisislet，andnofriendcamefromthesea，"hesaidwithoutchanginghisattitude，withhisbacktowardthegirlwhosatontheothersideofthecoldembers。

"Yes；andthemooniswaning，"sheansweredinalowvoice。"Themooniswaning。Yethepromisedtobeherewhenthenightsarelightandthewatercoversthesandbanksasfarasthebushes。"

"Thetravellerknowsthetimeofhissettingout，butnotthetimeofhisreturn，"observedtheman，calmly。

Thegirlsighed。

"Thenightsofwaitingarelong，"shemurmured。

"Andsometimestheyarevain，"saidthemanwiththesamecomposure。"Perhapshewillneverreturn。"

"Why？"exclaimedthegirl。

"Theroadislongandtheheartmaygrowcold，"wastheanswerinaquietvoice。"Ifhedoesnotreturnitisbecausehehasforgotten。"

"Oh，Hassim，itisbecauseheisdead，"criedthegirl，indignantly。

Theman，lookingfixedlytoseaward，smiledattheardourofhertone。

Theywerebrotherandsister，andthoughverymuchalike，thefamilyresemblancewaslostinthemoregeneraltraitscommontothewholerace。

TheywerenativesofWajoanditisacommonsayingamongsttheMalayracethattobeasuccessfultravellerandtraderamanmusthavesomeWajobloodinhisveins。Andwiththosepeopletrading，whichmeansalsotravellingafar，isaromanticandanhonourableoccupation。Thetradermustpossessanadventurousspiritandakeenunderstanding；heshouldhavethefearlessnessofyouthandthesagacityofage；heshouldbediplomaticandcourageous，soastosecurethefavourofthegreatandinspirefearinevil—doers。

ThesequalitiesnaturallyarenotexpectedinashopkeeperoraChinamanpedlar；theyareconsideredindispensableonlyforamanwho，ofnoblebirthandperhapsrelatedtotherulerofhisowncountry，wandersovertheseasinacraftofhisownandwithmanyfollowers；carriesfromislandtoislandimportantnewsaswellasmerchandise；whomaybetrustedwithsecretmessagesandvaluablegoods；amanwho，inshort，isasreadytointrigueandfightastobuyandsell。SuchistheidealtraderofWajo。

Trading，thusunderstood，wastheoccupationofambitiousmenwhoplayedanoccultbutimportantpartinallthosenationalrisings，religiousdisturbances，andalsointheorganizedpiraticalmovementsonalargescalewhich，duringthefirsthalfofthelastcentury，affectedthefateofmorethanonenativedynastyand，forafewyearsatleast，seriouslyendangeredtheDutchruleintheEast。When，atthecostofmuchbloodandgold，acomparativepeacehadbeenimposedontheislandsthesameoccupation，thoughshornofitsgloriouspossibilities，remainedattractiveforthemostadventurousofarestlessrace。TheyoungersonsandrelationsofmanyanativerulertraversedtheseasoftheArchipelago，visitedtheinnumerableandlittle—knownislands，andthethenpracticallyunknownshoresofNewGuinea；

everyspotwhereEuropeantradehadnotpenetrated——fromArutoAtjeh，fromSumbawatoPalawan。