第7章

"Dropit，"whisperedJorgenson。

"Iamindebt，"saidLingard，slowly，andstoodstill。

"Dropit！"

"Neverdroppedanythinginmylife。"

"Dropit！"

"ByGod，Iwon’t！"criedLingard，stampinghisfoot。

Therewasapause。

"Iwaslikeyou——once，"repeatedJorgenson。"Fiveandthirtyyears——neverdroppedanything。Andwhatyoucandoisonlychild’splaytosomejobsIhavehadonmyhands——understandthat——greatmanasyouare，CaptainLingardoftheLightning……YoushouldhaveseentheWildRose，"headdedwithasuddenbreakinhisvoice。

Lingardleanedovertheguard—railofthepier。Jorgensoncamecloser。

"Isetfiretoherwithmyownhands！"hesaidinavibratingtoneandverylow，asifmakingamonstrousconfession。

"Poordevil，"mutteredLingard，profoundlymovedbythetragicenormityoftheact。"Isupposetherewasnowayout？"

"Iwasn’tgoingtoletherrottopiecesinsomeDutchport，"

saidJorgenson，gloomily。"DidyoueverhearofDawson？"

"Something——Idon’tremembernow——"mutteredLingard，whofeltachilldownhisbackattheideaofhisownvesseldecayingslowlyinsomeDutchport。"Hedied——didn’the？"heasked，absently，whilehewonderedwhetherhewouldhavetheplucktosetfiretothebrig——onanemergency。

"CuthisthroatonthebeachbelowFortRotterdam，"saidJorgenson。Hisgauntfigurewaveredintheunsteadymoonshineasthoughmadeofmist。"Yes。Hebrokesometraderegulationorotherandtalkedbigaboutlaw—courtsandlegaltrialstothelieutenantoftheKomet。’Certainly，’saysthehound。

’JurisdictionofMacassar，Iwilltakeyourschoonerthere。’Thencomingintotheroadshetowsherfulltiltonaledgeofrocksonthenorthside——smash！WhenshewashalffullofwaterhetakeshishatofftoDawson。’There’stheshore，’sayshe——’goandgetyourlegaltrial，you—Englishman——’"Heliftedalongarmandshookhisfistatthemoonwhichdodgedsuddenlybehindacloud。"Allwaslost。PoorDawsonwalkedthestreetsformonthsbarefootedandinrags。Thenonedayhebeggedaknifefromsomecharitablesoul，wentdowntotakealastlookatthewreck，and——"

"Idon’tinterferewiththeDutch，"interruptedLingard，impatiently。"IwantHassimtogetbackhisown——"

"AndsupposetheDutchwantthethingsjustso，"returnedJorgenson。"Anywaythereisadevilinsuchwork——dropit！"

"Lookhere，"saidLingard，"Itookthesepeopleoffwhentheywereintheirlastditch。Thatmeanssomething。Ioughtnottohavemeddledanditwouldhavebeenalloverinafewhours。I

musthavemeantsomethingwhenIinterfered，whetherIknewitornot。Imeantitthen——anddidnotknowit。Verywell。Imeanitnow——anddoknowit。Whenyousavepeoplefromdeathyoutakeashareintheirlife。That’showIlookatit。"

Jorgensonshookhishead。

"Foolishness！"hecried，thenaskedsoftlyinavoicethattrembledwithcuriosity——"Wheredidyouleavethem？"

"WithBelarab，"breathedoutLingard。"Youknewhimintheolddays。"

"Iknewhim，Iknewhisfather，"burstouttheotherinanexcitedwhisper。"WhomdidInotknow？IknewSentotwhenhewasKingoftheSouthShoreofJavaandtheDutchofferedapriceforhishead——enoughtomakeanyman’sfortune。HeslepttwiceonboardtheWildRosewhenthingshadbeguntogowrongwithhim。I

knewhim，Iknewallhischiefs，thepriests，thefightingmen，theoldregentwholostheartandwentovertotheDutch，I

knew——"hestammeredasifthewordscouldnotcomeout，gaveitupandsighed——"Belarab’sfatherescapedwithme，"hebeganagain，quietly，"andjoinedthePadrisinSumatra。Herosetobeagreatleader。Belarabwasayouththen。Thosewerethetimes。I

rangedthecoast——andlaughedatthecruisers；IsaweverybattlefoughtintheBattakcountry——andIsawtheDutchrun；IwasatthetakingofSingalandescaped。IwasthewhitemanwhoadvisedthechiefsofManangkabo。TherewasalotaboutmeintheDutchpapersatthetime。TheysaidIwasaFrenchmanturnedMohammedan——"hesworeagreatoath，and，reelingagainsttheguard—rail，panted，mutteringcursesonnewspapers。

"Well，Belarabhasthejobinhand，"saidLingard，composedly。

"HeisthechiefmanontheShoreofRefuge。Thereareothers，ofcourse。Hehassentmessagesnorthandsouth。Wemusthavemen。"

"Allthedevilsunchained，"saidJorgenson。"Youhavedoneitandnow——lookout——lookout……"

"NothingcangowrongasfarasIcansee，"arguedLingard。"Theyallknowwhat’stobedone。I’vegottheminhand。Youdon’tthinkBelarabunsafe？Doyou？"

"Haven’tseenhimforfifteenyears——butthewholething’sunsafe，"growledJorgenson。

"ItellyouI’vefixeditsothatnothingcangowrong。ItwouldbebetterifIhadawhitemanovertheretolookafterthingsgenerally。Thereisagoodlotofstoresandarms——andBelarabwouldbearwatching——nodoubt。Areyouinanywant？"headded，puttinghishandinhispocket。

"No，there’splentytoeatinthehouse，"answeredJorgenson，curtly。"Dropit，"heburstout。"Itwouldbebetterforyoutojumpoverboardatonce。Lookatme。Icameoutaboyofeighteen。

IcanspeakEnglish，IcanspeakDutch，Icanspeakeverycursedlingooftheseislands——Irememberthingsthatwouldmakeyourhairstandonend——butIhaveforgottenthelanguageofmyowncountry。I’vetraded，I’vefought，Ineverbrokemywordtowhiteornative。And，lookatme。Ifithadn’tbeenforthegirlI

wouldhavediedinaditchtenyearsago。Everythingleftme——youth，money，strength，hope——theverysleep。Butshestuckbythewreck。"

"Thatsaysalotforherandsomethingforyou，"saidLingard，cheerily。

Jorgensonshookhishead。

"That’stheworstofall，"hesaidwithslowemphasis。"That’stheend。Icametothemfromtheothersideoftheearthandtheytookmeand——seewhattheymadeofme。"

"Whatplacedoyoubelongto？"askedLingard。

"Tromso，"groanedoutJorgenson；"Iwillneverseesnowagain，"

hesobbedout，hisfaceinhishands。

Lingardlookedathiminsilence。

"Wouldyoucomewithme？"hesaid。"AsItoldyou，Iaminwantofa——"

"Iwouldseeyoudamnedfirst！"brokeouttheother，savagely。"I

amanoldwhiteloafer，butyoudon’tgetmetomeddleintheirinfernalaffairs。Theyhaveadeviloftheirown——"

"Thethingsimplycan’tfail。I’vecalculatedeverymove。I’veguardedagainsteverything。Iamnofool。"

"Yes——youare。Good—night。"

"Well，good—bye，"saidLingard，calmly。

Hesteppedintohisboat，andJorgensonwalkedupthejetty。

Lingard，clearingtheyokelines，heardhimcalloutfromadistance：

"Dropit！"

"Isailbeforesunrise，"heshoutedinanswer，andwentonboard。

Whenhecameupfromhiscabinafteranuneasynight，itwasdarkyet。Alankfigurestrolledacrossthedeck。

"HereIam，"saidJorgenson，huskily。"Diethereorhere——allone。But，ifIdiethere，rememberthegirlmusteat。"

LingardwasoneofthefewwhohadseenJorgenson’sgirl。Shehadawrinkledbrownface，alotoftangledgreyhair，afewblackstumpsofteeth，andhadbeenmarriedtohimlatelybyanenterprisingyoungmissionaryfromBukitTimah。WhatherappearancemighthavebeenoncewhenJorgensongaveforherthreehundreddollarsandseveralbrassguns，itwasimpossibletosay。

Allthatwasleftofheryouthwasapairofeyes，undimmedandmournful，which，whenshewasalone，seemedtolookstonilyintothepastoftwolives。WhenJorgensonwasneartheyfollowedhismovementswithanxiouspertinacity。AndnowwithinthesarongthrownoverthegreyheadtheyweredroppingunseentearswhileJorgenson’sgirlrockedherselftoandfro，squattingaloneinacornerofthedarkhut。

"Don’tyouworryaboutthat，"saidLingard，graspingJorgenson’shand。"Sheshallwantfornothing。AllIexpectyoutodoistolookalittleafterBelarab’smoralswhenIamaway。OnemoretripImustmake，andthenweshallbereadytogoahead。I’veforeseeneverysinglething。Trustme！"

InthiswaydidtherestlessshadeofCaptainH。C。Jorgensonrecrossthewaterofobliviontostepbackintothelifeofmen。

VI

Fortwoyears，Lingard，whohadthrownhimselfbodyandsoulintothegreatenterprise，hadlivedinthelongintoxicationofslowlypreparingsuccess。Nothoughtoffailurehadcrossedhismind，andnopriceappearedtooheavytopayforsuchamagnificentachievement。ItwasnothinglessthanbringingHassimtriumphantlybacktothatcountryseenonceatnightunderthelowcloudsandintheincessanttumultofthunder。WhenattheconclusionofsomelongtalkwithHassim，whoforthetwentiethtimeperhapshadrelatedthestoryofhiswrongsandhisstruggle，heliftedhisbigarmandshakinghisfistabovehishead，shouted："Wewillstirthemup。Wewillwakeupthecountry！"hewas，withoutknowingitintheleast，makingacompleteconfessionoftheidealismhiddenunderthesimplicityofhisstrength。Hewouldwakeupthecountry！Thatwasthefundamentalandunconsciousemotiononwhichwereengraftedhisneedofaction，theprimitivesenseofwhatwasduetojustice，togratitude，tofriendship，thesentimentalpityforthehardlotofImmada——poorchild——theproudconvictionthatofallthemenintheworld，inhisworld，healonehadthemeansandthepluck"toliftupthebigend"ofsuchanadventure。

Moneywaswantedandmenwerewanted，andhehadobtainedenoughofbothintwoyearsfromthatdaywhen，pistolsinhisbeltandacabbage—leafhatonhead，hehadunexpectedly，andatearlydawn，confrontedinperfectsilencethatmysteriousBelarab，whohimselfwasforamomenttooastoundedforspeechatthesightofawhiteface。

Thesunhadnotyetclearedtheforestsoftheinterior，butaskyalreadyfulloflightarchedoveradarkovallagoon，overwidefieldsasyetfullofshadows，thatseemedslowlychangingintothewhitenessofthemorningmist。Therewerehuts，fences，palisades，bighousesthat，erectedonloftypiles，wereseenabovethetopsofclusteredfruittrees，asifsuspendedintheair。

SuchwastheaspectofBelarab’ssettlementwhenLingardsethiseyesonitforthefirsttime。Therewereallthesethings，agreatnumberoffacesatthebackofthespareandmuffled—upfigureconfrontinghim，andintheswiftlyincreasinglightacompletestillnessthatmadethemurmuroftheword"Marhaba"

（welcome），pronouncedatlastbythechief，perfectlyaudibletoeveryoneofhisfollowers。Thebodyguardswhostoodabouthiminblackskull—capsandwithlong—shaftedlances，preservedanimpassiveaspect。Acrossopenspacesmencouldbeseenrunningtothewaterside。Agroupofwomenstandingonalowknollgazedintently，andnothingofthembuttheheadsshowedabovetheunstirringstalksofamaizefield。Suddenlywithinaclusterofemptyhutsnearbythevoiceofaninvisiblehagwasheardscoldingwithshrillfuryaninvisibleyounggirl：

"Strangers！Youwanttoseethestrangers？Odevoidofalldecency！MustIsolameandoldhuskthericealone？Mayevilbefalltheeandthestrangers！Maytheyneverfindfavour！Maytheybepursuedwithswords！Iamold。Iamold。Thereisnogoodinstrangers！Ogirl！Maytheyburn。"

"Welcome，"repeatedBelarab，gravely，andlookingstraightintoLingard’seyes。

LingardspentsixdaysthattimeinBelarab’ssettlement。Ofthese，threewerepassedinobservingeachotherwithoutaquestionbeingaskedorahintgivenastotheobjectinview。

Lingardloungedonthefinematswithwhichthechiefhadfurnishedasmallbamboohouseoutsideafortifiedenclosure，whereawhiteflagwithagreenborderflutteredonahighandslenderpolebutstillbelowthewallsoflong，high—roofedbuildings，raisedfortyfeetormoreonhard—woodposts。

Farawaytheinlandforestsweretintedashimmeringblue，liketheforestsofadream。Ontheseawardsidethebeltofgreattrunksandmattedundergrowthcametothewesternshoreoftheovallagoon；andinthepurefreshnessoftheairthegroupsofbrownhousesreflectedinthewaterorseenabovethewavinggreenofthefields，theclumpsofpalmtrees，thefenced—inplantations，thegrovesoffruittrees，madeupapictureofsumptuousprosperity。

Abovethebuildings，themen，thewomen，thestillsheetofwaterandthegreatplainofcropsglisteningwithdew，stretchedtheexalted，themiraculouspeaceofacloudlesssky。Andnoroadseemedtoleadintothiscountryofsplendourandstillness。Onecouldnotbelievetheunquietseawassonear，withitsgiftsanditsunendingmenace。Evenduringthemonthsofstorms，thegreatclamourrisingfromthewhitenedexpanseoftheShallowsdwelthighintheairinavastmurmur，nowfeeblenowstronger，thatseemedtoswingbackandforthonthewindabovetheearthwithoutanyonebeingabletotellwhenceitcame。Itwaslikethesolemnchantofawaterfallswellinganddyingawayabovethewoods，thefields，abovetheroofsofhousesandtheheadsofmen，abovethesecretpeaceofthathiddenandflourishingsettlementofvanquishedfanatics，fugitives，andoutcasts。

EveryafternoonBelarab，followedbyanescortthatstoppedoutsidethedoor，enteredalonethehouseofhisguest。Hegavethesalutation，inquiredafterhishealth，conversedaboutinsignificantthingswithaninscrutablemien。Butallthetimethesteadfastgazeofhisthoughtfuleyesseemedtoseekthetruthwithinthatwhiteface。Inthecooloftheevening，beforethesunhadset，theytalkedtogether，passingandrepassingbetweentheruggedpillarsofthegrovenearthegateofthestockade。Theescortawayintheobliquesunlight，followedwiththeireyesthestrollingfiguresappearingandvanishingbehindthetrees。Manywordswerepronounced，butnothingwassaidthatwoulddisclosethethoughtsofthetwomen。Theyclaspedhandsdemonstrativelybeforeseparating，andtheheavyslamofthegatewasfollowedbythetriplethudofthewoodenbarsdroppedintoironclamps。

Onthethirdnight，Lingardwasawakenedfromalightsleepbythesoundofwhisperingoutside。Ablackshadowobscuredthestarsinthedoorway，andamanenteringsuddenly，stoodabovehiscouchwhileanothercouldbeseensquatting——adarklumponthethresholdofthehut。

"Fearnot。IamBelarab，"saidacautiousvoice。

"Iwasnotafraid，"whisperedLingard。"Itisthemancominginthedarkandwithoutwarningwhoisindanger。"

"Anddidyounotcometomewithoutwarning？Isaid’welcome’——itwasaseasyformetosay’killhim。’"

"Youwerewithinreachofmyarm。Wewouldhavediedtogether，"

retortedLingard，quietly。

Theotherclickedhistonguetwice，andhisindistinctshapeseemedtosinkhalf—waythroughthefloor。

"Itwasnotwrittenthusbeforewewereborn，"hesaid，sittingcross—leggednearthemats，andinadeadenedvoice。"Thereforeyouaremyguest。Letthetalkbetweenusbestraightliketheshaftofaspearandshorterthantheremainderofthisnight。

Whatdoyouwant？"

"First，yourlonglife，"answeredLingard，leaningforwardtowardthegleamofapairofeyes，"andthen——yourhelp。"

VII

ThefaintmurmurofthewordsspokenonthatnightlingeredforalongtimeinLingard’sears，morepersistentthanthememoryofanuproar；helookedwithafixedgazeatthestarsburningpeacefullyinthesquareofthedoorway，whileafterlisteninginsilencetoallhehadtosay，Belarab，asifseducedbythestrengthandaudacityofthewhiteman，openedhisheartwithoutreserve。Hetalkedofhisyouthsurroundedbythefuryoffanaticismandwar，ofbattlesonthehills，ofadvancesthroughtheforests，ofmen’sunswervingpiety，oftheirunextinguishablehate。Notasinglewanderingcloudobscuredthegentlesplendouroftherectangularpatchofstarlightframedintheopaqueblacknessofthehut。Belarabmurmuredonofasuccessionofreverses，oftheringofdisastersnarrowingroundmen’sfadinghopesandundiminishedcourage。Hewhisperedofdefeatandflight，ofthedaysofdespair，ofthenightswithoutsleep，ofunendingpursuit，ofthebewilderedhorrorandsombrefury，oftheirwomenandchildrenkilledinthestockadebeforethebesiegedsalliedforthtodie。

"IhaveseenallthisbeforeIwasinyearsaman，"hecried，low。

Hisvoicevibrated。Inthepausethatsucceededtheyheardalightsighofthesleepingfollowerwho，claspinghislegsabovehisankles，restedhisforeheadonhisknees。

"Andtherewasamongstus，"beganBelarabagain，"onewhitemanwhoremainedtotheend，whowasfaithfulwithhisstrength，withhiscourage，withhiswisdom。Agreatman。Hehadgreatrichesbutagreaterheart。"

ThememoryofJorgenson，emaciatedandgreyhaired，andtryingtoborrowfivedollarstogetsomethingtoeatforthegirl，passedbeforeLingardsuddenlyuponthepacificglitterofthestars。

"Heresembledyou，"pursuedBelarab，abruptly。"Weescapedwithhim，andinhisshipcamehere。Itwasasolitude。Theforestcameneartothesheetofwater，therankgrasswavedupontheheadsoftallmen。Telal，myfather，diedofweariness；wewereonlyafew，andweallnearlydiedoftroubleandsadness——here。

Onthisspot！Andnoenemiescouldtellwherewehadgone。ItwastheShoreofRefuge——andstarvation。"

Hedronedoninthenight，withrisingandfallinginflections。

Hetoldhowhisdesperatecompanionswantedtogooutanddiefightingontheseaagainsttheshipsfromthewest，theshipswithhighsidesandwhitesails；andhow，unflinchingandalone，hekeptthembattlingwiththethornybush，withtherankgrass，withthesoaringandenormoustrees。Lingard，leaningonhiselbowandstaringthroughthedoor，recalledtheimageofthewidefieldsoutside，sleepingnow，inanimmensityofserenityandstarlight。Thisquietandalmostinvisibletalkerhaddoneitall；inhimwastheorigin，thecreation，thefate；andinthewonderofthatthoughttheshadowymurmuringfigureacquiredagiganticgreatnessofsignificance，asifithadbeentheembodimentofsomenaturalforce，ofaforceforevermasterfulandundying。

"AndevennowmylifeisunsafeasifIweretheirenemy，"saidBelarab，mournfully。"Eyesdonotkill，norangrywords；andcurseshavenopower，elsetheDutchwouldnotgrowfatlivingonourland，andIwouldnotbealiveto—night。Doyouunderstand？

Haveyouseenthemenwhofoughtintheolddays？Theyhavenotforgottenthetimesofwar。Ihavegiventhemhomesandquietheartsandfullbellies。Ialone。Andtheycursemynameinthedark，ineachother’sears——becausetheycanneverforget。"

Thisman，whosetalkhadbeenofwarandviolence，discoveredunexpectedlyapassionatecravingforsecurityandpeace。Noonewouldunderstandhim。Someofthosewhowouldnotunderstandhaddied。Hiswhiteteethgleamedcruellyinthedark。Buttherewereothershecouldnotkill。Thefools。Hewantedthelandandthepeopleinittobeforgottenasiftheyhadbeenswallowedbythesea。Buttheyhadneitherwisdomnorpatience。Couldtheynotwait？Theychantedprayersfivetimeseveryday，buttheyhadnotthefaith。

"Deathcomestoall——andtothebelieverstheendoftrouble。Butyouwhitemenwhoaretoostrongforus，youalsodie。Youdie。

AndthereisaParadiseasgreatasallearthandallHeaventogether，butnotforyou——notforyou！"

Lingard，amazed，listenedwithoutasound。Thesleepersnoredfaintly。Belarabcontinuedverycalmafterthisalmostinvoluntaryoutburstofaconsolingbelief。Heexplainedthathewantedsomebodyathisback，somebodystrongandwhomhecouldtrust，someoutsideforcethatwouldawetheunruly，thatwouldinspiretheirignorancewithfear，andmakehisrulesecure。HegropedinthedarkandseizingLingard’sarmabovetheelbowpresseditwithforce——thenletgo。AndLingardunderstoodwhyhistemerityhadbeensosuccessful。

Thenandthere，inreturnforLingard’sopensupport，afewgunsandalittlemoney，BelarabpromisedhishelpfortheconquestofWajo。Therewasnodoubthecouldfindmenwhowouldfight。Hecouldsendmessagestofriendsatadistanceandtherewerealsomanyunquietspiritsinhisowndistrictreadyforanyadventure。

Hespokeofthesemenwithfiercecontemptandanangrytenderness，inmingledaccentsofenvyanddisdain。Hewasweariedbytheirfolly，bytheirrecklessness，bytheirimpatience——andheseemedtoresenttheseasiftheyhadbeengiftsofwhichhehimselfhadbeendeprivedbythefatalityofhiswisdom。Theywouldfight。WhenthetimecameLingardhadonlytospeak，andasignfromhimwouldsendthemtoavaindeath——thosemenwhocouldnotwaitforanopportunityonthisearthorfortheeternalrevengeofHeaven。

Heceased，andtowereduprightinthegloom。

"Awake！"heexclaimed，low，bendingoverthesleepingman。

Theirblackshapes，passinginturn，eclipsedfortwosuccessivemomentstheglitterofthestars，andLingard，whohadnotstirred，remainedalone。Helaybackfulllengthwithanarmthrownacrosshiseyes。

WhenthreedaysafterwardheleftBelarab’ssettlement，itwasonacalmmorningofuncloudedpeace。Alltheboatsofthebrigcameupintothelagoonarmedandmannedtomakemoreimpressivethesolemnfactofaconcludedalliance。Astaringcrowdwatchedhisimposingdepartureinprofoundsilenceandwithanincreasedsenseofwonderatthemysteryofhisapparition。Theprogressoftheboatswassmoothandslowwhiletheycrossedthewidelagoon。

Lingardlookedbackonce。Agreatstillnesshadlaiditshandovertheearth，thesky，andthemen；upontheimmobilityoflandscapeandpeople。HassimandImmada，standingoutclearlybythesideofthechief，raisedtheirarmsinalastsalutation；

andthedistantgestureappearedsad，futile，lostinspace，likeasignofdistressmadebycastawaysinthevainhopeofanimpossiblehelp。

Hedeparted，hereturned，hewentawayagain，andeachtimethosetwofigures，lonelyonsomesandbankoftheShallows，madeathimthesamefutilesignofgreetingorgood—bye。Theirarmsateachmovementseemedtodrawcloseraroundhisheartthebondsofaprotectingaffection。Heworkedprosaically，earningmoneytopaythecostoftheromanticnecessitythathadinvadedhislife。Andthemoneyranlikewateroutofhishands。TheowneroftheNewEnglandvoiceremittednotalittleofittohispeopleinBaltimore。ButimporthousesintheportsoftheFarEasthadtheirshare。Itpaidforafastprauwhich，commandedbyJaffir，sailedintounfrequentedbaysandupunexploredrivers，carryingsecretmessages，importantnews，generousbribes。AgoodpartofitwenttothepurchaseoftheEmma。

TheEmmawasabatteredanddecrepitoldschoonerthat，inthedeclineofherexistence，hadbeenmuchill—usedbyapaunchywhitetraderofcunningandgluttonousaspect。Thismanboastedoutrageouslyafterwardofthegoodpricehehadgot"forthatrottenoldhookerofmine——youknow。"TheEmmaleftportmysteriouslyincompanywiththebrigandhenceforthvanishedfromtheseasforever。LingardhadhertowedupthecreekandranheragrounduponthatshoreofthelagoonfarthestfromBelarab’ssettlement。Therehadbeenatthattimeagreatriseofwaters，whichretiringsoonafterlefttheoldcraftcradledinthemud，withherbowsgroundedhighbetweenthetrunksoftwobigtrees，andleaningoveralittleasthoughafterahardlifeshehadsettledwearilytoaneverlastingrest。There，afewmonthslater，Jorgensonfoundherwhen，calledbackintothelifeofmen，hereappeared，togetherwithLingard，intheLandofRefuge。

"Sheisbetterthanafortonshore，"saidLingard，assidebysidetheyleantoverthetaffrail，lookingacrossthelagoononthehousesandpalmgrovesofthesettlement。"AllthegunsandpowderIhavegottogethersofararestoredinher。Goodidea，wasn’tit？Therewillbe，perhaps，noothersuchfloodforyears，andnowtheycan’tcomealongsideunlessrightunderthecounter，andonlyoneboatatatime。Ithinkyouareperfectlysafehere；

youcouldkeepoffawholefleetofboats；sheisn’teasytosetfireto；theforestinfrontisbetterthanawall。Well？"

Jorgensonassentedingrunts。Helookedatthedesolateemptinessofthedecks，atthestrippedspars，atthedeadbodyofthedismantledlittlevesselthatwouldknowthelifeoftheseasnomore。Thegloomoftheforestfellonher，mournfullikeawindingsheet。Thebushesofthebanktappedtheirtwigsonthebluffofherbows，andapendentspikeoftinybrownblossomsswungtoandfroovertheruinsofherwindlass。