第6章

"Thechaphasplentyofsense，"mutteredLingardtohimself，andwhentheystoodsidebysideonthedeck，hesaid："Buttheremaybeenemiesonthebeach，OJaffir，andtheyalsomayshouttodeceivemymen。SoletyourhailbeLightning！Willyouremember？"

ForatimeJaffirseemedtobechoking。

"Lit—ing！Isthatright？Isay——isthatright，Ostrongman？"

Nextmomentheappeareduprightandshadowyontherail。

"Yes。That’sright。Gonow，"saidLingard，andJaffirleapedoff，becominginvisiblelongbeforehestruckthewater。Thentherewasasplash；afterawhileasplutteringvoicecriedfaintly，"Lit—ing！Ah，ha！"andsuddenlythenextthunder—squallburstuponthecoast。InthecrashingflaresoflightLingardhadagainandagainthequickvisionofawhitebeach，theinclinedpalm—treesofthegrove，thestockadebythesea，theforestfaraway：avastlandscapemysteriousandstill——Hassim’snativecountrysleepingunmovedunderthewrathandfireofHeaven。

IV

ATravellervisitingWajoto—daymay，ifhedeservestheconfidenceofthecommonpeople，hearthetraditionalaccountofthelastcivilwar，togetherwiththelegendofachiefandhissister，whosemotherhadbeenagreatprincesssuspectedofsorceryandonherdeath—bedhadcommunicatedtothesetwothesecretsoftheartofmagic。Thechief’ssisterespecially，"withtheaspectofachildandthefearlessnessofagreatfighter，"

becameskilledincastingspells。Theyweredefeatedbythesonoftheiruncle，because——willexplainthenarratorsimply——"ThecourageofusWajopeopleissogreatthatmagiccandonothingagainstit。Ifoughtinthatwar。Wehadthemwiththeirbackstothesea。"Andthenhewillgoontorelateinanawedtonehowonacertainnight"whentherewassuchathunderstormashasbeenneverheardofbeforeorsince"aship，resemblingtheshipsofwhitemen，appearedoffthecoast，"asthoughshehadsaileddownfromtheclouds。Shemoved，"hewillaffirm，"withhersailsbellyingagainstthewind；insizeshewaslikeanisland；thelightningplayedbetweenhermastswhichwereashighasthesummitsofmountains；astarburnedlowthroughthecloudsaboveher。Weknewitforastaratoncebecausenoflameofman’skindlingcouldhaveenduredthewindandrainofthatnight。Itwassuchanightthatweonthewatchhardlydaredlookuponthesea。Theheavyrainwasbeatingdownoureyelids。Andwhendaycame，theshipwasnowheretobeseen，andinthestockadewherethedaybeforetherewereahundredormoreatourmercy，therewasnoone。Thechief，Hassim，wasgone，andtheladywhowasaprincessinthecountry——andnobodyknowswhatbecameofthemfromthatdaytothis。Sometimestradersfromourpartstalkofhavingheardofthemhere，andheardofthemthere，butthesearetheliesofmenwhogoafarforgain。WewholiveinthecountrybelievethattheshipsailedbackintothecloudswhencetheLady’smagicmadehercome。Didwenotseetheshipwithourowneyes？AndastoRajahHassimandhissister，MasImmada，somemensayonethingandsomeanother，butGodaloneknowsthetruth。"

SuchisthetraditionalaccountofLingard’svisittotheshoresofBoni。Andthetruthishecameandwentthesamenight；for，whenthedawnbrokeonacloudyskythebrig，underreefedcanvasandsmotheredinsprays，wasstormingalongtothesouthwardonherwayoutoftheGulf。Lingard，watchingovertherapidcourseofhisvessel，lookedaheadwithanxiouseyesandmorethanonceaskedhimselfwithwonder，why，afterall，washethuspressingherunderallthesailshecouldcarry。Hishairwasblownaboutbythewind，hismindwasfullofcareandtheindistinctshapesofmanynewthoughts，andunderhisfeet，theobedientbrigdashedheadlongfromwavetowave。

Herownerandcommanderdidnotknowwherehewasgoing。Thatadventurerhadonlyaconfusednotionofbeingonthethresholdofabigadventure。Therewassomethingtobedone，andhefelthewouldhavetodoit。Itwasexpectedofhim。Theseasexpectedit；thelandexpectedit。Menalso。Thestoryofwarandofsuffering；Jaffir’sdisplayoffidelity，thesightofHassimandhissister，thenight，thetempest，thecoastunderstreamsoffire——allthismadeoneinspiringmanifestationofalifecallingtohimdistinctlyforinterference。Butwhatappealedtohimmostwasthesilent，thecomplete，unquestioning，andapparentlyuncurious，trustofthesepeople。Theycameawayfromdeathstraightintohisarmsasitwere，andremainedinthempassiveasthoughtherehadbeennosuchthingasdoubtorhopeordesire。Thisamazingunconcernseemedtoputhimunderaheavyloadofobligation。

Hearguedtohimselfthathadnotthesedefeatedmenexpectedeverythingfromhimtheycouldnothavebeensoindifferenttohisaction。Theirdumbquietudestirredhimmorethanthemostardentpleading。Notaword，notawhisper，notaquestioninglookeven！Theydidnotask！Itflatteredhim。Hewasalsorathergladofit，becauseiftheunconsciouspartofhimwasperfectlycertainofitsaction，he，himself，didnotknowwhattodowiththosebruisedandbatteredbeingsaplayfulfatehaddeliveredsuddenlyintohishands。

Hehadreceivedthefugitivespersonally，hadhelpedsomeovertherail；inthedarkness，slashedaboutbylightning，hehadguessedthatnotoneofthemwasunwounded，andinthemidstoftotteringshapeshewonderedhowonearththeyhadmanagedtoreachthelong—boatthathadbroughtthemoff。Hecaughtunceremoniouslyinhisarmsthesmallestoftheseshapesandcarrieditintothecabin，thenwithoutlookingathislightburdenranupagainondecktogetthebrigunderway。Whileshoutingoutordershewasdimlyawareofsomeonehoveringnearhiselbow。ItwasHassim。

"Iamnotreadyforwar，"heexplained，rapidly，overhisshoulder，"andto—morrowtheremaybenowind。"Afterwardforatimeheforgoteverybodyandeverythingwhileheconnedthebrigthroughthefewoutlyingdangers。Butinhalfanhour，andrunningoffwiththewindonthequarter，hewasquiteclearofthecoastandbreathedfreely。Itwasonlythenthatheapproachedtwoothersonthatpoopwherehewasaccustomedinmomentsofdifficultytocommunealonewithhiscraft。Hassimhadcalledhissisteroutofthecabin；nowandthenLingardcouldseethemwithfiercedistinctness，sidebyside，andwithtwinedarms，lookingtowardthemysteriouscountrythatseemedateveryflashtoleapawayfartherfromthebrig——unscathedandfading。

ThethoughtuppermostinLingard’smindwas："WhatonearthamI

goingtodowiththem？"Andnooneseemedtocarewhathewoulddo。Jaffirwitheightothersquarteredonthemainhatch，lookedtoeachother’swoundsandconversedinterminablyinlowtones，cheerfulandquiet，likewell—behavedchildren。Eachofthemhadsavedhiskris，butLingardhadtomakeadistributionofcottonclothoutofhistrade—goods。Wheneverhepassedbythem，theyalllookedafterhimgravely。HassimandImmadalivedinthecuddy。Thechief’ssistertooktheaironlyintheeveningandthosetwocouldbeheardeverynight，invisibleandmurmuringintheshadowsofthequarter—deck。EveryMalayonboardkeptrespectfullyawayfromthem。

Lingard，onthepoop，listenedtothesoftvoices，risingandfalling，inamelancholycadence；sometimesthewomancriedoutasifinangerorinpain。Hewouldstopshort。Thesoundofadeepsighwouldfloatuptohimonthestillnessofthenight。

Attentivestarssurroundedthewanderingbrigandonallsidestheirlightfellthroughavastsilenceuponanoiselesssea。

Lingardwouldbeginagaintopacethedeck，mutteringtohimself。

"Belarab’sthemanforthisjob。HisistheonlyplacewhereI

canlookforhelp，butIdon’tthinkIknowenoughtofindit。I

wishIhadoldJorgensonhere——justfortenminutes。"

ThisJorgensonknewthingsthathadhappenedalongtimeago，andlivedamongstmenefficientinmeetingtheaccidentsoftheday，butwhodidnotcarewhatwouldhappento—morrowandwhohadnotimetorememberyesterday。Strictlyspeaking，hedidnotliveamongstthem。Heonlyappearedtherefromtimetotime。Helivedinthenativequarter，withanativewoman，inanativehousestandinginthemiddleofaplotoffencedgroundwheregrewplantains，andfurnishedonlywithmats，cookingpots，aqueerfishingnetontwosticks，andasmallmahoganycasewithalockandasilverplateengravedwiththewords"CaptainH。C。

Jorgenson。BarqueWildRose。"

Itwaslikeaninscriptiononatomb。TheWildRosewasdead，andsowasCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，andthesextantcasewasallthatwasleftofthem。OldJorgenson，gauntandmute，wouldturnupatmealtimesonboardanytradingvesselintheRoads，andthestewards——Chinamenormulattos——wouldsulkilyputonanextraplatewithoutwaitingfororders。Whentheseamentradersforegatherednoisilyroundaglitteringclusterofbottlesandglassesonalightedverandah，oldJorgensonwouldemergeupthestairsasiffromadarksea，and，steppingupwithakindoftotteringjauntiness，wouldhelphimselfinthefirsttumblertohand。

"Idrinktoyouall。No——nochair。"

Hewouldstandsilentoverthetalkinggroup。Histaciturnitywasaseloquentastherepeatedwarningoftheslaveofthefeast。

Hisfleshhadgonethewayofallflesh，hisspirithadsunkintheturmoilofhispast，buthisimmenseandbonyframesurvivedasifmadeofiron。Hishandstrembledbuthiseyesweresteady。

Hewassupposedtoknowdetailsabouttheendofmysteriousmenandofmysteriousenterprises。Hewasanevidentfailurehimself，buthewasbelievedtoknowsecretsthatwouldmakethefortuneofanyman；yettherewasalsoageneralimpressionthathisknowledgewasnotofthatnaturewhichwouldmakeitprofitableforamoderatelyprudentperson。

Thispowerfulskeleton，dressedinfadedbluesergeandwithoutanykindoflinen，existedanyhow。Sometimes，ifofferedthejob，hepilotedahomeshipthroughtheStraitsofRhio，after，however，assuringthecaptain：

"Youdon’twantapilot；amancouldgothroughwithhiseyesshut。Butifyouwantme，I’llcome。Tendollars。"

Then，afterseeinghischargeclearofthelastislandofthegrouphewouldgobackthirtymilesinacanoe，withtwooldMalayswhoseemedtobeinsomewayhisfollowers。Totravelthirtymilesatseaundertheequatorialsunandinacrankydug—outwhereoncedownyoumustnotmove，isanachievementthatrequirestheenduranceofafakirandthevirtueofasalamander。

Tendollarswascheapandgenerallyhewasindemand。Whentimeswerehardhewouldborrowfivedollarsfromanyoftheadventurerswiththeremark：

"Ican’tpayyouback，verysoon，butthegirlmusteat，andifyouwanttoknowanything，Icantellyou。"

Itwasremarkablethatnobodyeversmiledatthat"anything。"Theusualthingwastosay：

"Thankyou，oldman；whenIampushedforabitofinformationI’llcometoyou。"

Jorgensonnoddedthenandwouldsay："Rememberthatunlessyouyoungchapsarelikewemenwhorangedabouthereyearsago，whatIcouldtellyouwouldbeworsethanpoison。"

ItwasfromJorgenson，whohadhisfavouriteswithwhomhewaslesssilent，thatLingardhadheardofDarat—es—Salam，the"ShoreofRefuge。"Jorgensonhad，asheexpressedit，"knowntheinsideofthatcountryjustafterthehigholdtimeswhenthewhite—cladPadrispreachedandfoughtalloverSumatratilltheDutchshookintheirshoes。"Onlyhedidnotsay"shook"and"shoes"buttheaboveparaphraseconveyswellenoughhiscontemptuousmeaning。

LingardtriednowtorememberandpiecetogetherthepracticalbitsofoldJorgenson’samazingtales；butallthathadremainedwithhimwasanapproximateideaofthelocalityandaverystrongbutconfusednotionofthedangerousnatureofitsapproaches。Hehesitated，andthebrig，answeringinhermovementstothestateoftheman’smind，lingeredontheroad，seemedtohesitatealso，swingingthiswayandthatonthedaysofcalm。

ItwasjustbecauseofthathesitationthatabigNewYorkship，loadedwithoilincasesforJapan，andpassingthroughtheBillitonpassage，sightedonemorningaverysmartbrigbeinghove—torightinthefair—wayandalittletotheeastofCarimata。Thelankskipper，inafrock—coat，andthebigmatewithheavymoustaches，judgedheralmosttooprettyforaBritisher，andwonderedatthemanonboardlayinghistopsailtothemastfornoreasonthattheycouldsee。Thebigship’ssailsfannedheralong，flappinginthelightair，andwhenthebrigwaslastseenfarasternshehadstillhermainyardabackasifwaitingforsomeone。Butwhen，nextday，aLondontea—clipperpassedonthesametrack，shesawnoprettybrighesitating，allwhiteandstillatthepartingoftheways。AllthatnightLingardhadtalkedwithHassimwhilethestarsstreamedfromeasttowestlikeanimmenseriverofsparksabovetheirheads。Immadalistened，sometimesexclaiminglow，sometimesholdingherbreath。

Sheclappedherhandsonce。Afaintdawnappeared。

"Youshallbetreatedlikemyfatherinthecountry，"Hassimwassaying。Aheavydewdrippedofftheriggingandthedarkenedsailswereblackonthepaleazureofthesky。"Youshallbethefatherwhoadvisesforgood——"

"Ishallbeasteadyfriend，andasafriendIwanttobetreated——nomore，"saidLingard。"Takebackyourring。"

"Whydoyouscornmygift？"askedHassim，withasadandironicsmile。

"Takeit，"saidLingard。"Itisstillmine。HowcanIforgetthat，whenfacingdeath，youthoughtofmysafety？Therearemanydangersbeforeus。Weshallbeoftenseparated——toworkbetterforthesameend。IfeveryouandImmadaneedhelpatonceandI

amwithinreach，sendmeamessagewiththisringandifIamaliveIwillnotfailyou。"Helookedaroundatthepaledaybreak。"IshalltalktoBelarabstraight——likewewhitesdo。I

haveneverseenhim，butIamastrongman。BelarabmusthelpustoreconqueryourcountryandwhenourendisattainedIwon’tlethimeatyouup。"

Hassimtooktheringandinclinedhishead。

"It’stimeforustobemoving，"saidLingard。Hefeltaslighttugathissleeve。HelookedbackandcaughtImmadaintheactofpressingherforeheadtothegreyflannel。"Don’t，child！"hesaid，softly。

ThesunroseabovethefaintbluelineoftheShoreofRefuge。

Thehesitationwasover。Themanandthevessel，workinginaccord，hadfoundtheirwaytothefaintblueshore。Beforethesunhaddescendedhalf—waytoitsrestthebrigwasanchoredwithinagunshotoftheslimymangroves，inaplacewhereforahundredyearsormorenowhiteman’svesselhadbeenentrustedtotheholdofthebottom。Theadventurersoftwocenturiesagohadnodoubtknownofthatanchoragefortheywereveryignorantandincomparablyaudacious。Ifitistrue，assomesay，thatthespiritsofthedeadhaunttheplaceswherethelivinghavesinnedandtoiled，thentheymighthaveseenawhitelong—boat，pulledbyeightoarsandsteeredbyamansunburntandbearded，acabbage—leafhatonhead，andpistolsinhisbelt，skirtingtheblackmud，fulloftwistedroots，insearchofalikelyopening。

Creekaftercreekwaspassedandtheboatcreptonslowlylikeamonstrouswater—spiderwithabigbodyandeightslenderlegs……Didyoufollowwithyourghostlyeyesthequestofthisobscureadventurerofyesterday，youshadesofforgottenadventurerswho，inleatherjerkinsandsweatingundersteelhelmets，attackedwithlongrapiersthepalisadesofthestrangeheathen，or，musketonshoulderandmatchincock，guardedtimberblockhousesbuiltuponthebanksofriversthatcommandgoodtrade？You，who，weariedwiththetoiloffighting，sleptwrappedinfriezemantlesonthesandofquietbeaches，dreamingoffabulousdiamondsandofafar—offhome。

"Here’sanopening，"saidLingardtoHassim，whosatathisside，justasthesunwassettingawaytohisleft。"Here’sanopeningbigenoughforaship。It’stheentrancewearelookingfor，I

believe。Weshallpullallnightupthiscreekifnecessaryandit’stheverydevilifwedon’tcomeuponBelarab’slairbeforedaylight。"

Heshovedthetillerhardoverandtheboat，swervingsharply，vanishedfromthecoast。

Andperhapstheghostsofoldadventurersnoddedwiselytheirghostlyheadsandexchangedtheghostofawistfulsmile。

V

"What’sthematterwithKingTomoflate？"wouldasksomeonewhen，allthecardsinaheaponthetable，thetraderslyingbackintheirchairstookaspellfromahardgamble。

"Tomhaslearnedtoholdhistongue，hemustbeuptosomedam’

goodthing，"opinedanother；whileamanwithhookedfeaturesandofGermanextractionwhowassupposedtobeagentforaDutchcrockeryhouse——thefamous"Sphinx"mark——brokeinresentfully：

"Nefermindhim，shentlemens，he’smatt，mattasaMarshHase。

DreemonatsagoIcallonboardhisprigtotalkpizness。Andhesayslikedis——’Glearoudt。’’Vatfor？’Isay。’GlearoudtbeforeIshuckyouoferboard。’Gott—for—dam！Issdatthevaytotalkpizness？Ivantsellhimeinliddlecasefirstchopgrockeryfortradeand——"

"Ha，ha，ha！Idon’tblameTom，"interruptedtheownerofapearlingschooner，whohadcomeintotheRoadsforstores。"Why，Mosey，thereisn’tamangycanniballeftinthewholeofNewGuineathathasn’tgotacupandsaucerofyourproviding。You’vefloodedthemarket，savee？"

Jorgensonstoodby，askeletonatthegamingtable。

"BecauseyouareaDutchspy，"hesaid，suddenly，inanawfultone。

TheagentoftheSphinxmarkjumpedupinasuddenfury。

"Vat？Vat？Shentlemens，youallknowme！"Notamusclemovedinthefacesaround。"Knowme，"hestammeredwithwetlips。"Vat，funfyear——berfegtlyacquaint——grockery——Verfluchtesponsher。

Ich？Spy。Vatforspy？VordamteEnglishpedlars！"

Thedoorslammed。"Isthatso？"askedaNewEnglandvoice。"Whydon’tyouletdaylightintohim？"

"Oh，wecan’tdothathere，"murmuredoneoftheplayers。"Yourdeal，Trench，letusgeton。"

"Can’tyou？"drawledtheNewEnglandvoice。"Youlaw—abiding，get—a—summons，act—of——parliamentlotofsonsofBelial——can’tyou？Now，looka—here，theseColtpistolsIamselling——"Hetookthepearlerasideandcouldbeheardtalkingearnestlyinthecorner。"See——youload——and——see？"Therewererapidclicks。

"Simple，isn’tit？Andifanytrouble——saywithyourdivers"——CLICK，CLICK，CLICK——"Throughandthrough——likeasieve——warrantedtocuretheworstkindofcussednessinanynigger。Yes，siree！Acaseoftwenty—fourorsinglespecimens——asyoulike。No？Shot—guns——rifles？No！Waal，Iguessyou’reofnousetome，butIcoulddoadealwiththatTom——whatd’yecallhim？Whered’yecatchhim？Everywhere——eh？Waal——that’snowhere。

ButIshallfindhimsomeday——yes，siree。"

Jorgenson，utterlydisregarded，lookeddowndreamilyatthefallingcards。"Spy——Itellyou，"hemutteredtohimself。"Ifyouwanttoknowanything，askme。"

WhenLingardreturnedfromWajo——afteranuncommonlylongabsence——everyoneremarkedagreatchange。Hewaslesstalkativeandnotsonoisy，hewasstillhospitablebuthishospitalitywaslessexpansive，andthemanwhowasneversohappyaswhendiscussingimpossiblywildprojectswithhalfadozencongenialspiritsoftenshowedadisinclinationtomeethisbestfriends。

Inaword，hereturnedmuchlessofagoodfellowthanhewentaway。HisvisitstotheSettlementswerenotlessfrequent，butmuchshorter；andwhentherehewasalwaysinahurrytobegone。

Duringtwoyearsthebrighad，inherway，ashardalifeofitastheman。Swiftandtrimsheflittedamongsttheislandsoflittleknowngroups。Shecouldbedescriedafarfromlonelyheadlands，awhitespecktravellingfastoverthebluesea；theapathetickeepersofrarelighthousesdottingthegreathighwaytotheeastcametoknowthecutofhertopsails。Theysawherpassingeast，passingwest。Theyhadfaintglimpsesofherflyingwithmastsaslantinthemistofarain—squall，orcouldobserveheratleisure，uprightandwithshiveringsails，forgingaheadthroughalongdayofunsteadyairs。MensawherbattlingwithaheavymonsoonintheBayofBengal，lyingbecalmedintheJavaSea，orglidingoutsuddenlyfrombehindapointofland，gracefulandsilentintheclearmoonlight。Heractivitywasthesubjectofexcitedbutlow—tonedconversations，whichwouldbeinterruptedwhenhermasterappeared。

"Hereheis。Cameinlastnight，"whisperedthegossipinggroup。

Lingarddidnotseethecovertglancesofrespecttemperedbyirony；henoddedandpassedon。

"Hey，Tom！Notimeforadrink？"wouldshoutsomeone。

Hewouldshakehisheadwithoutlookingback——farawayalready。

Floridandburlyhecouldbeseen，foradayortwo，gettingoutofdustygharries，stridinginsunshinefromtheOccidentalBanktotheHarbourOffice，crossingtheEsplanade，disappearingdownastreetofChineseshops，whileathiselbowandastallashimself，oldJorgensonpacedalong，leanandfaded，obstinateanddisregarded，likeahauntingspiritfromthepasteagertostepbackintothelifeofmen。

Lingardignoredthiswreckofanadventurer，stickingtohimcloserthanhisshadow，andtheotherdidnottrytoattractattention。Hewaitedpatientlyatthedoorsofoffices，wouldvanishattiffintime，wouldinvariablyturnupagainintheeveningandthenhekepthisplacetillLingardwentaboardforthenight。ThepolicepeonsondutylookeddisdainfullyatthephantomofCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，BarqueWildRose，wanderingonthesilentquayorstandingstillforhoursattheedgeofthesombreroadsteadspeckledbytheanchorlightsofships——anadventuroussoullongingtorecrossthewatersofoblivion。

Thesampan—men，scullinglazilyhomewardpasttheblackhullofthebrigatanchor，couldhearfarintothenightthedrawloftheNewEnglandvoiceescapingthroughtheliftedpanesofthecabinskylight。Snatchesofnasalsentencesfloatedinthestillnessaroundthestillcraft。

"Yes，siree！Mexicanwarrifles——goodasnew——sixinacase——mypeopleinBaltimore——that’sso。Hundredandtwentyroundsthrowninforeachspecimen——markedtosuityourre—quirements。

Suppose——musicalinstruments，thissideupwithcare——how’sthatforyourtaste？No，no！Cashdown——mypeopleinBalt——Shootingsea—gullsyousay？Waal！It’sariskybusiness——seehere——tenpercent。discount——it’soutofmyownpocket——"

Astimeworeon，andnothinghappened，atleastnothingthatonecouldhearof，theexcitementdiedout。Lingard’snewattitudewasacceptedasonly"hisway。"Therewasnothinginit，maintainedsome。Othersdissented。Agooddealofcuriosity，however，remainedandthefaintrumourofsomethingbigbeinginpreparationfollowedhimintoeveryharbourhewentto，fromRangoontoHongkong。

Hefeltnowheresomuchathomeaswhenhisbrigwasanchoredontheinnersideofthegreatstretchofshoals。Thecentreofhislifehadshiftedaboutfourhundredmiles——fromtheStraitsofMalaccatotheShoreofRefuge——andwhentherehefelthimselfwithinthecircleofanotherexistence，governedbyhisimpulse，nearerhisdesire。HassimandImmadawouldcomedowntothecoastandwaitforhimontheislet。Healwaysleftthemwithregret。

Attheendofthefirststageineachtrip，Jorgensonwaitedforhimatthetopoftheboat—stairsandwithoutawordfellintostepathiselbow。Theyseldomexchangedthreewordsinaday；

butoneeveningaboutsixmonthsbeforeLingard’slasttrip，astheywerecrossingtheshortbridgeoverthecanalwherenativecraftliemooredinclusters，Jorgensonlengthenedhisstrideandcameabreast。Itwasamoonlightnightandnothingstirredonearthbuttheshadowsofhighclouds。Lingardtookoffhishatanddrewinalongsighinthetepidbreeze。Jorgensonspokesuddenlyinacautioustone："ThenewRajahTullasmokesopiumandissometimesdangeroustospeakto。ThereisalotofdiscontentinWajoamongstthebigpeople。"

"Good！Good！"whisperedLingard，excitedly，offhisguardforonce。Then——"Howthedevildoyouknowanythingaboutit？"heasked。

Jorgensonpointedatthemassofpraus，coastingboats，andsampansthat，jammeduptogetherinthecanal，laycoveredwithmatsandfloodedbythecoldmoonlightwithhereandthereadimlanternburningamongsttheconfusionofhighsterns，spars，mastsandloweredsails。

"There！"hesaid，astheymovedon，andtheirhattedandclothedshadowsfellheavilyonthequeer—shapedvesselsthatcarrythefortunesofbrownmenuponashallowsea。"There！Icansitwiththem，Icantalktothem，IcancomeandgoasIlike。Theyknowmenow——it’stime—thirty—fiveyears。Someofthemgiveaplateofriceandabitoffishtothewhiteman。That’sallIget——afterthirty—fiveyears——givenuptothem。"

Hewassilentforatime。

"Iwaslikeyouonce，"headded，andthenlayinghishandonLingard’ssleeve，murmured——"Areyouverydeepinthisthing？"

"Totheverylastcent，"saidLingard，quietly，andlookingstraightbeforehim。

Theglitteroftheroadsteadwentout，andthemastsofanchoredshipsvanishedintheinvadingshadowofacloud。