第5章

II

Itwasinthemostunknownperhapsofsuchspots，asmallbayonthecoastofNewGuinea，thatyoungPataHassim，thenephewofoneofthegreatestchiefsofWajo，metLingardforthefirsttime。

HewasatraderaftertheWajomanner，andinastoutsea—goingprauarmedwithtwogunsandmannedbyyoungmenwhowererelatedtohisfamilybybloodordependence，hadcomeintheretobuysomebirdsofparadiseskinsfortheoldSultanofTernate；ariskyexpeditionundertakennotinthewayofbusinessbutasamatterofcourtesytowardtheagedSultanwhohadentertainedhimsumptuouslyinthatdismalbrickpalaceatTernateforamonthormore。

Whilelyingoffthevillage，verymuchonhisguard，waitingfortheskinsandnegotiatingwiththetreacherouscoast—savageswhoarethego—betweensinthattrade，HassimsawonemorningLingard’sbrigcometoananchorinthebay，andshortlyafterwardobservedawhitemanofgreatstaturewithabeardthatshonelikegold，landfromaboatandstrollonunarmed，thoughfollowedbyfourMalaysofthebrig’screw，towardthenativevillage。

Hassimwasstruckwithwonderandamazementatthecoolrecklessnessofsuchaproceeding；and，after；intrueMalayfashion，discussingwithhispeopleforanhourorsotheurgencyofthecase，healsolanded，butwellescortedandarmed，withtheintentionofgoingtoseewhatwouldhappen。

Theaffairreallywasverysimple，"suchas"——Lingardwouldsay——"suchasmighthavehappenedtoanybody。"Hewentashorewiththeintentiontolookforsomestreamwherehecouldconvenientlyreplenishhiswatercasks，thisbeingreallythemotivewhichhadinducedhimtoenterthebay。

While，withhismenclosebyandsurroundedbyamop—headed，sootycrowd，hewasshowingafewcottonhandkerchiefs，andtryingtoexplainbysignstheobjectofhislanding，aspear，lungedfrombehind，grazedhisneck。ProbablythePapuanwantedonlytoascertainwhethersuchacreaturecouldbekilledorhurt，andmostlikelyfirmlybelievedthatitcouldnot；butoneofLingard’sseamenatonceretaliatedbystrikingattheexperimentingsavagewithhisparang——threesuchchoppersbroughtforthepurposeofclearingthebush，ifnecessary，beingalltheweaponsthepartyfromthebrigpossessed。

AdeadlytumultensuedwithsuchsuddennessthatLingard，turningroundswiftly，sawhisdefender，alreadyspearedinthreeplaces，fallforwardathisfeet。Wasub，whowasthere，andafterwardtoldthestoryonceaweekonanaverage，usedtohorrifyhishearersbyshowinghowthemanblinkedhiseyesquicklybeforehefell。Lingardwasunarmed。Totheendofhislifeheremainedincorrigiblyrecklessinthatrespect，explainingthathewas"muchtooquicktemperedtocarryfirearmsonthechanceofarow。Andifputtoit，"heargued，"Icanmakeshifttokillamanwithmyfistanyhow；andthen——don’tyesee——youknowwhatyou’redoingandarenotsoapttostartatroublefromsheertemperorfunk——see？"

Inthiscasehedidhisbesttokillamanwithablowfromtheshoulderandcatchingupanotherbythemiddleflunghimatthenaked，wildcrowd。"Hehurledmenaboutasthewindhurlsbrokenboughs。

Hemadeabroadwaythroughourenemies！"relatedWasubinhisjerkyvoice。ItismoreprobablethatLingard’squickmovementsandtheamazingaspectofsuchastrangebeingcausedthewarriorstofallbackbeforehisrush。

Takinginstantadvantageoftheirsurpriseandfear，Lingard，followedbyhismen，dashedalongthekindofruinousjettyleadingtothevillagewhichwaserectedasusualoverthewater。

Theydartedintooneofthemiserablehutsbuiltofrottenmatsandbitsofdecayedcanoes，andinthissheltershowingdaylightthroughallitssides，theyhadtimetodrawbreathandrealizethattheirpositionwasnotmuchimproved。

Thewomenandchildrenscreaminghadclearedoutintothebush，whileattheshoreendofthejettythewarriorscaperedandyelled，preparingforageneralattack。Lingardnoticedwithmortificationthathisboat—keeperapparentlyhadlosthishead，for，insteadofswimmingofftotheshiptogivethealarm，ashewasperfectlyabletodo，themanactuallystruckoutforasmallrockahundredyardsawayandwasfranticallytryingtoclimbupitsperpendicularside。Thetidebeingout，tojumpintothehorriblemudunderthehouseswouldhavebeenalmostcertaindeath。Nothingremainedtherefore——sincethemiserabledwellingwouldnothavewithstoodavigorouskick，letaloneasiege——buttorushbackonshoreandregainpossessionoftheboat。TothisLingardmadeuphismindquicklyand，arminghimselfwithacrookedstickhefoundunderhishand，salliedforthattheheadofhisthreemen。Asheboundedalong，farinadvance，hehadjusttimetoperceiveclearlythedesperatenatureoftheundertaking，whenheheardtwoshotsfiredtohisright。Thesolidmassofblackbodiesandfrizzlyheadsinfrontofhimwaveredandbrokeup。Theydidnotrunaway，however。

Lingardpursuedhiscourse，butnowwiththatthrillofexultationwhichevenafaintprospectofsuccessinspiresinasanguineman。Heheardashoutofmanyvoicesfaroff，thentherewasanotherreportofashot，andamusketballfiredatlongrangespurtedatinyjetofsandbetweenhimandhiswildenemies。Hisnextboundwouldhavecarriedhimintotheirmidsthadtheyawaitedhisonset，buthisupliftedarmfoundnothingtostrike。Blackbackswereleapinghighorglidinghorizontallythroughthegrasstowardtheedgeofthebush。

Heflunghisstickatthenearestpairofblackshouldersandstoppedshort。Thetallgrassesswayedthemselvesintoarest，achorusofyellsandpiercingshrieksdiedoutinadismalhowl，andallatoncethewoodedshoresandthebluebayseemedtofallunderthespellofaluminousstillness。Thechangewasasstartlingastheawakeningfromadream。ThesuddensilencestruckLingardasamazing。

Hebrokeitbyliftinghisvoiceinastentorianshout，whicharrestedthepursuitofhismen。Theyretiredreluctantly，glaringbackangrilyatthewallofajunglewherenotasingleleafstirred。Thestrangers，whoseopportuneappearancehaddecidedtheissueofthatadventure，didnotattempttojoininthepursuitbuthaltedinacompactbodyonthegroundlatelyoccupiedbythesavages。

LingardandtheyoungleaderoftheWajotradersmetinthesplendidlightofnoonday，andamidsttheattentivesilenceoftheirfollowers，ontheveryspotwheretheMalayseamanhadlosthislife。Lingard，stridingupfromoneside，thrustouthisopenpalm；Hassimrespondedatoncetothefrankgestureandtheyexchangedtheirfirsthand—claspovertheprostratebody，asiffatehadalreadyexactedthepriceofadeathforthemostominousofhergifts——thegiftoffriendshipthatsometimescontainsthewholegoodorevilofalife。

"I’llneverforgetthisday，"criedLingardinaheartytone；andtheothersmiledquietly。

Thenafterashortpause——"Willyouburnthevillageforvengeance？"askedtheMalaywithaquickglancedownatthedeadLascarwho，onhisfaceandwithstretchedarms，seemedtoclingdesperatelytothatearthofwhichhehadknownsolittle。

Lingardhesitated。

"No，"hesaid，atlast。"Itwoulddogoodtonoone。"

"True，"saidHassim，gently，"butwasthismanyourdebtor——aslave？"

"Slave？"criedLingard。"ThisisanEnglishbrig。Slave？No。A

freemanlikemyself。"

"Hai。Heisindeedfreenow，"mutteredtheMalaywithanotherglancedownward。"Butwhowillpaythebereavedforhislife？"

"Ifthereisanywhereawomanorchildbelongingtohim，I——myserangwouldknow——Ishallseekthemout，"criedLingard，remorsefully。

"Youspeaklikeachief，"saidHassim，"onlyourgreatmendonotgotobattlewithnakedhands。Oyouwhitemen！Othevalourofyouwhitemen！"

"Itwasfolly，purefolly，"protestedLingard，"andthispoorfellowhaspaidforit。"

"Hecouldnotavoidhisdestiny，"murmuredtheMalay。"Itisinmymindmytradingisfinishednowinthisplace，"headded，cheerfully。

Lingardexpressedhisregret。

"Itisnomatter，itisnomatter，"assuredtheothercourteously，andafterLingardhadgivenapressinginvitationforHassimandhistwocompanionsofhighranktovisitthebrig，thetwopartiesseparated。

TheeveningwascalmwhentheMalaycraftleftitsberthneartheshoreandwasrowedslowlyacrossthebaytoLingard’sanchorage。

Theendofastoutlinewasthrownonboard，andthatnightthewhiteman’sbrigandthebrownman’sprauswungtogethertothesameanchor。

Thesunsettingtoseawardshotitslastraysbetweentheheadlands，whenthebodyofthekilledLascar，wrappedupdecentlyinawhitesheet，accordingtoMohammedanusage，wasloweredgentlybelowthestillwatersofthebayuponwhichhiscuriousglances，onlyafewhoursbefore，hadrestedforthefirsttime。Atthemomentthedeadman，releasedfromslip—ropes，disappearedwithoutaripplebeforetheeyesofhisshipmates，thebrightflashandtheheavyreportofthebrig’sbowgunweresucceededbythemutteringechoesoftheencirclingshoresandbytheloudcriesofseabirdsthat，wheelinginclouds，seemedtoscreamafterthedepartingseamanawildandeternalgood—bye。

Themasterofthebrig，makinghiswayaftwithhanginghead，wasfollowedbylowmurmursofpleasedsurprisefromhiscrewaswellasfromthestrangerswhocrowdedthemaindeck。Insuchactsperformedsimply，fromconviction，whatmaybecalledtheromanticsideoftheman’snaturecameout；thatresponsivesensitivenesstotheshadowyappealsmadebylifeanddeath，whichisthegroundworkofachivalrouscharacter。

Lingardentertainedhisthreevisitorsfarintothenight。A

sheepfromthebrig’sseastockwasgiventothemenoftheprau，whileinthecabin，Hassimandhistwofriends，sittinginarowonthesternsettee，lookedverysplendidwithcostlymetalsandflawedjewels。ThetalkconductedwithheartyfriendshiponLingard’spart，andonthepartoftheMalayswiththewell—bredairofdiscreetcourtesy，whichisnaturaltothebetterclassofthatpeople，toucheduponmanysubjectsand，intheend，driftedtopolitics。

"Itisinmymindthatyouareapowerfulmaninyourowncountry，"saidHassim，withacircularglanceatthecuddy。

"Mycountryisuponafar—awayseawherethelightbreezesareasstrongasthewindsoftherainyweatherhere，"saidLingard；andtherewerelowexclamationsofwonder。"Ileftitveryyoung，andIdon’tknowaboutmypowertherewheregreatmenaloneareasnumerousasthepoorpeopleinallyourislands，TuanHassim。Buthere，"hecontinued，"here，whichisalsomycountry——beinganEnglishcraftandworthyofit，too——Iampowerfulenough。Infact，IamRajahhere。Thisbitofmycountryisallmyown。"

Thevisitorswereimpressed，exchangedmeaningglances，noddedateachother。

"Good，good，"saidHassimatlast，withasmile。"Youcarryyourcountryandyourpowerwithyouoverthesea。ARajahuponthesea。Good！"

Lingardlaughedthunderouslywhiletheotherslookedamused。

"Yourcountryisverypowerful——weknow，"beganagainHassimafterapause，"butisitstrongerthanthecountryoftheDutchwhostealourland？"

"Stronger？"criedLingard。Heopenedabroadpalm。"Stronger？Wecouldtaketheminourhandlikethis——"andheclosedhisfingerstriumphantly。

"Anddoyoumakethempaytributefortheirland？"enquiredHassimwitheagerness。

"No，"answeredLingardinasoberedtone；"this，TuanHassim，yousee，isnotthecustomofwhitemen。Wecould，ofcourse——butitisnotthecustom。"

"Isitnot？"saidtheotherwithascepticalsmile。"Theyarestrongerthanweareandtheywanttributefromus。Andsometimestheygetit——evenfromWajowhereeverymanisfreeandwearsakris。"

TherewasaperiodofdeadsilencewhileLingardlookedthoughtfulandtheMalaysgazedstonilyatnothing。

"Butweburnourpowderamongstourselves，"wentonHassim，gently，"andbluntourweaponsupononeanother。"

Hesighed，paused，andthenchangingtoaneasytonebegantourgeLingardtovisitWajo"fortradeandtoseefriends，"hesaid，layinghishandonhisbreastandinclininghisbodyslightly。

"Aye。Totradewithfriends，"criedLingardwithalaugh，"forsuchaship"——hewavedhisarm——"forsuchavesselasthisislikeahouseholdwheretherearemanybehindthecurtain。Itisascostlyasawifeandchildren。"

Theguestsroseandtooktheirleave。

"Youfiredthreeshotsforme，PanglimaHassim，"saidLingard，seriously，"andIhavehadthreebarrelsofpowderputonboardyourprau；oneforeachshot。Butwearenotquits。"

TheMalay’seyesglitteredwithpleasure。

"Thisisindeedafriend’sgift。Cometoseemeinmycountry！"

"Ipromise，"saidLingard，"toseeyou——someday。"

Thecalmsurfaceofthebayreflectedthegloriousnightsky，andthebrigwiththeprauridingasternseemedtobesuspendedamongstthestarsinapeacethatwasalmostunearthlyintheperfectionofitsunstirringsilence。Thelasthand—shakeswereexchangedondeck，andtheMalayswentaboardtheirowncraft。

Nextmorning，whenabreezesprangupsoonaftersunrise，thebrigandtheprauleftthebaytogether。WhenclearofthelandLingardmadeallsailandsheeredalongsidetosaygood—byebeforepartingcompany——thebrig，ofcourse，sailingthreefeettotheprau’sone。Hassimstoodonthehighdeckaft。

"Prosperousroad，"hailedLingard。

"Rememberthepromise！"shoutedtheother。"Andcomesoon！"hewenton，raisinghisvoiceasthebrigforgedpast。"Comesoon——lestwhatperhapsiswrittenshouldcometopass！"

Thebrigshotahead。

"What？"yelledLingardinapuzzledtone，"what’swritten？"

Helistened。Andfloatingoverthewatercamefaintlythewords：

"Nooneknows！"

III

"Myword！Icouldn’thelplikingthechap，"wouldshoutLingardwhentellingthestory；andlookingaroundattheeyesthatglitteredathimthroughthesmokeofcheroots，thisBrixhamtrawler—boy，afterwardayouthincolliers，deep—waterman，gold—digger，ownerandcommanderof"thefinestbrigafloat，"

knewthatbyhislisteners——seamen，traders，adventurerslikehimself——thiswasacceptednotastheexpressionofafeeling，butasthehighestcommendationhecouldgivehisMalayfriend。

"Byheavens！IshallgotoWajo！"hecried，andasemicircleofheadsnoddedgraveapprobationwhileaslightlyironicalvoicesaiddeliberately——"Youareamademan，Tom，ifyougetontherightsideofthatRajahofyours。"

"Goin——andlookoutforyourself，"criedanotherwithalaugh。

Alittleprofessionaljealousywasunavoidable，Wajo，onaccountofitschronicstateofdisturbance，beingclosedtothewhitetraders；buttherewasnorealill—willinthebanterofthesemen，who，risingwithhandshakes，droppedoffonebyone。Lingardwentstraightaboardhisvesseland，tillmorning，walkedthepoopofthebrigwithmeasuredsteps。Theridinglightsofshipstwinkledallroundhim；thelightsashoretwinkledinrows，thestarstwinkledabovehisheadinablacksky；andreflectedintheblackwateroftheroadsteadtwinkledfarbelowhisfeet。Andalltheseinnumerableandshiningpointswereutterlylostintheimmensedarkness。Onceheheardfaintlytherumblingchainofsomevesselcomingtoananchorfarawaysomewhereoutsidetheofficiallimitsoftheharbour。Astrangertotheport——thoughtLingard——oneofuswouldhavestoodrightin。Perhapsashipfromhome？Andhefeltstrangelytouchedatthethoughtofthatship，wearywithmonthsofwandering，anddaringnottoapproachtheplaceofrest。Atsunrise，whilethebigshipfromtheWest，hersidesstreakedwithrustandgreywiththesaltofthesea，wasmovingslowlyintotakeupaberthneartheshore，Lingardlefttheroadsteadonhiswaytotheeastward。

Aheavygulfthunderstormwasraging，whenafteralongpassageandattheendofasultrycalmday，wastedindriftinghelplesslyinsightofhisdestination，Lingard，takingadvantageoffitfulgustsofwind，approachedtheshoresofWajo。Withcharacteristicaudacity，heheldonhisway，closinginwithacoasttowhichhewasastranger，andonanightthatwouldhaveappalledanyotherman；whileateverydazzlingflash，Hassim’snativelandseemedtoleapneareratthebrig——anddisappearinstantlyasthoughithadcrouchedlowforthenextspringoutofanimpenetrabledarkness。Duringthelongdayofthecalm，hehadobtainedfromthedeckandfromaloft，suchgoodviewsofthecoast，andhadnotedthelayofthelandandthepositionofthedangerssocarefullythat，thoughattheprecisemomentwhenhegavetheordertoletgotheanchor，hehadbeenforsometimeabletoseenofurtherthanifhisheadhadbeenwrappedinawoollenblanket，yetthenextflickeringbluishflashshowedhimthebrig，anchoredalmostexactlywherehehadjudgedhertobe，offanarrowwhitebeachnearthemouthofariver。

Hecouldseeontheshoreahighclusterofbamboohutspercheduponpiles，asmallgroveoftallpalmsallbowedtogetherbeforetheblastlikestalksofgrass，somethingthatmighthavebeenapalisadeofpointedstakesnearthewater，andfaroff，asombrebackgroundresemblinganimmensewall——theforest—cladhills。

Nextmoment，allthisvanishedutterlyfromhissight，asifannihilatedand，beforehehadtimetoturnaway，camebacktoviewwithasuddencrash，appearingunscathedandmotionlessunderhookeddartsofflame，likesomelegendarycountryofimmortals，withstandingthewrathandfireofHeaven。

Madeuneasybythenatureofhisholdingground，andfearingthatinoneoftheterrificoff—shoreguststhebrigwouldstartheranchor，Lingardremainedondecktowatchoverthesafetyofhisvessel。Withonehanduponthelead—linewhichwouldgivehiminstantwarningofthebrigbeginningtodrag，hestoodbytherail，mostofthetimedeafenedandblinded，butalsofascinated，bytherepeatedswiftvisionsofanunknownshore，asightalwayssoinspiring，asmuchperhapsbyitsvaguesuggestionofdangerasbythehopesofsuccessitneverfailstoawakenintheheartofatrueadventurer。Anditsimmutableaspectofprofoundandstillrepose，seenthusunderstreamsoffireandinthemidstofaviolentuproar，madeitappearinconceivablymysteriousandamazing。

Betweenthesquallstherewereshortmomentsofcalm，whilenowandtheneventhethunderwouldceaseasiftodrawbreath。

Duringoneofthoseintervals。Lingard，tiredandsleepy，wasbeginningtodozewherehestood，whensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthat，somewherebelow，theseahadspokeninahumanvoice。

Ithadsaid，"PraisebetoGod——"andthevoicesoundedsmall，clear，andconfident，likethevoiceofachildspeakinginacathedral。Lingardgaveastartandthought——I’vedreamedthis——anddirectlytheseasaidveryclosetohim，"Givearope。"

Thethundergrowledwickedly，andLingard，aftershoutingtothemenondeck，peereddownatthewater，untilatlasthemadeoutfloatingclosealongsidetheupturnedfaceofamanwithstaringeyesthatgleamedathimandthenblinkedquicklytoaflashoflightning。Bythattimeallhandsinthebrigwerewildlyactiveandmanyropes—endshadbeenthrownover。Thentogetherwithagustofwind，and，asifblownonboard，amantumbledovertherailandfellallinaheapuponthedeck。Beforeanyonehadthetimetopickhimup，heleapedtohisfeet，causingthepeoplearoundhimtostepbackhurriedly。Asinisterblueglareshowedthebewilderedfacesandthepetrifiedattitudesofmencompletelydeafenedbytheaccompanyingpealofthunder。Afteratime，asiftobeingsplungedintheabyssofeternalsilence，therecametotheirearsanunfamiliarthin，far—awayvoicesaying：

"Iseekthewhiteman。"

"Here，"criedLingard。Then，whenhehadthestranger，drippingandnakedbutforasoakedwaistcloth，underthelampofthecabin，hesaid，"Idon’tknowyou。"

"MynameisJaffir，andIcomefromPataHassim，whoismychiefandyourfriend。Doyouknowthis？"

Heheldupathickgoldring，setwithafairlygoodemerald。

"IhaveseenitbeforeontheRajah’sfinger，"saidLingard，lookingverygrave。

"ItisthewitnessofthetruthIspeak——themessagefromHassimis——’Departandforget！’"

"Idon’tforget，"saidLingard，slowly。"Iamnotthatkindofman。Whatfollyisthis？"

ItisunnecessarytogiveatfulllengththestorytoldbyJaffir。Itappearsthatonhisreturnhome，afterthemeetingwithLingard，Hassimfoundhisrelativedyingandastrongpartyformedtoopposehisrightfulsuccessor。TheoldRajahTulladiedlateatnightand——asJaffirputit——beforethesunrosetherewerealreadyblowsexchangedinthecourtyardoftheruler’sdalam。Thiswasthepreliminaryfightofacivilwar，fosteredbyforeignintrigues；awarofjungleandriver，ofassaultedstockadesandforestambushes。Inthiscontest，bothparties——

accordingtoJaffir——displayedgreatcourage，andoneofthemanunswervingdevotiontowhat，almostfromthefirst，wasalostcause。BeforeamonthelapsedHassim，thoughstillchiefofanarmedband，wasalreadyafugitive。Hekeptupthestruggle，however，withsomevaguenotionthatLingard’sarrivalwouldturnthetide。

"Forweekswelivedonwildrice；fordayswefoughtwithnothingbutwaterinourbellies，"declaimedJaffirinthetoneofatruefire—eater。

Andthenhewentontorelate，how，drivensteadilydowntothesea，Hassim，withasmallbandoffollowers，hadbeenfordaysholdingthestockadebythewaterside。

"Buteverynightsomemendisappeared，"confessedJaffir。"Theywerewearyandhungryandtheywenttoeatwiththeirenemies。

Weareonlytennow——tenmenandawomanwiththeheartofaman，whoaretonightstarving，andto—morrowshalldieswiftly。Wesawyourshipafarallday；butyouhavecometoolate。Andforfearoftreacheryandlestharmshouldbefallyou——hisfriend——theRajahgavemetheringandIcreptonmystomachoverthesand，andIswaminthenight——andI，Jaffir，thebestswimmerinWajo，andtheslaveofHassim，tellyou——hismessagetoyouis’Departandforget’——andthisishisgift——take！"

HecaughtholdsuddenlyofLingard’shand，thrustroughlyintoitthering，andthenforthefirsttimelookedroundthecabinwithwonderingbutfearlesseyes。Theylingeredoverthesemicircleofbayonetsandrestedfondlyonmusket—racks。Hegruntedinadmiration。

"Ya—wa，thisisstrength！"hemurmuredasiftohimself。"Butithascometoolate。"

"Perhapsnot，"criedLingard。

"Toolate，"saidJaffir，"wearetenonly，andatsunrisewegoouttodie。"Hewenttothecabindoorandhesitatedtherewithapuzzledair，beingunusedtolocksanddoorhandles。

"Whatareyougoingtodo？"askedLingard。

"Ishallswimback，"repliedJaffir。"Themessageisspokenandthenightcannotlastforever。"

"Youcanstopwithme，"saidLingard，lookingatthemansearchingly。

"Hassimwaits，"wasthecurtanswer。

’Didhetellyoutoreturn？"askedLingard。

"No！Whatneed？"saidtheotherinasurprisedtone。

Lingardseizedhishandimpulsively。

"IfIhadtenmenlikeyou！"hecried。

"Weareten，buttheyaretwentytoone，"saidJaffir，simply。

Lingardopenedthedoor。

"Doyouwantanythingthatamancangive？"heasked。

TheMalayhadamomentofhesitation，andLingardnoticedthesunkeneyes，theprominentribs，andtheworn—outlookoftheman。

"Speakout，"heurgedwithasmile；"thebearerofagiftmusthaveareward。"

"Adrinkofwaterandahandfulofriceforstrengthtoreachtheshore，"saidJaffirsturdily。"Foroverthere"——hetossedhishead——"wehadnothingtoeatto—day。"

"Youshallhaveit——giveittoyouwithmyownhands，"mutteredLingard。

Hedidso，andthusloweredhimselfinJaffir’sestimationforatime。Whilethemessenger，squattingonthefloor，atewithouthastebutwithconsiderableearnestness，Lingardthoughtoutaplanofaction。Inhisignoranceastothetruestateofaffairsinthecountry，tosaveHassimfromtheimmediatedangerofhispositionwasallthathecouldreasonablyattempt。TothatendLingardproposedtoswingouthislong—boatandsendhercloseinshoretotakeoffHassimandhismen。HeknewenoughofMalaystofeelsurethatonsuchanightthebesiegers，nowcertainofsuccess，andbeing，Jaffirsaid，inpossessionofeverythingthatcouldfloat，wouldnotbeveryvigilant，especiallyontheseafrontofthestockade。TheveryfactofJaffirhavingmanagedtoswimoffundetectedprovedthatmuch。Thebrig’sboatcould——whenthefrequencyoflightningabated——approachunseenclosetothebeach，andthedefeatedparty，eitherstealingoutonebyoneormakingarushinabody，wouldembarkandbereceivedinthebrig。

ThisplanwasexplainedtoJaffir，whohearditwithouttheslightestmarkofinterest，beingapparentlytoobusyeating。

Whenthelastgrainofricewasgone，hestoodup，tookalongpullatthewaterbottle，muttered："Ihear。Good。IwilltellHassim，"andtighteningtheragroundhisloins，preparedtogo。

"Givemetimetoswimashore，"hesaid，"andwhentheboatstarts，putanotherlightbesidetheonethatburnsnowlikeastaraboveyourvessel。Weshallseeandunderstand。Anddon’tsendtheboattillthereislesslightning：aboatisbiggerthanamaninthewater。Telltherowerstopullforthepalm—groveandceasewhenanoar，thrustdownwithastrongarm，touchesthebottom。Verysoontheywillhearourhail；butifnoonecomestheymustgoawaybeforedaylight。Achiefmaypreferdeathtolife，andwewhoareleftarealloftrueheart。Doyouunderstand，Obigman？"