第8章

Hassim’scompanionsgarrisonedtheoldhulk，andJorgenson，leftincharge，prowledaboutfromstemtostern，taciturnandanxiouslyfaithfultohistrust。Hehadbeenreceivedwithastonishment，respect——andawe。Belarabvisitedhimoften。

Sometimesthosewhomhehadknownintheirprimeyearsago，duringastruggleforfaithandlife，wouldcometotalkwiththewhiteman。Theirvoiceswereliketheechoesofstirringevents，inthepaleglamourofayouthgoneby。Theynoddedtheiroldheads。Doyouremember？——theysaid。Herememberedonlytoowell！

Hewaslikeamanraisedfromthedead，forwhomthefascinatingtrustinthepoweroflifeistaintedbytheblackscepticismofthegrave。

Onlyattimestheinvinciblebeliefintherealityofexistencewouldcomeback，insidiousandinspiring。Hesquaredhisshoulders，heldhimselfstraight，andwalkedwithafirmerstep。

Hefeltaglowwithinhimandthequickenedbeatofhisheart。

ThenhecalculatedinsilentexcitementLingard’schancesofsuccess，andhelivedforatimewiththelifeofthatothermanwhoknewnothingoftheblackscepticismofthegrave。Thechancesweregood，verygood。

"Ishouldliketoseeitthrough，"Jorgensonmutteredtohimselfardently；andhislustrelesseyeswouldflashforamoment。

PARTIII。THECAPTURE

I

"Somepeople，"saidLingard，"goabouttheworldwiththeireyesshut。Youareright。Theseaisfreetoallofus。Someworkonit，andsomeplaythefoolonit——andIdon’tcare。OnlyyoumaytakeitfrommethatIwillletnoman’splayinterferewithmywork。Youwantmetounderstandyouareaverygreatman——"

Mr。Traverssmiled，coldly。

"Oh，yes，"continuedLingard，"Iunderstandthatwellenough。Butrememberyouareveryfarfromhome，whileI，here，IamwhereI

belong。AndIbelongwhereIam。IamjustTomLingard，nomore，noless，whereverIhappentobe，and——youmayask——"Asweepofhishandalongthewesternhorizonentrustedwithperfectconfidencetheremainderofhisspeechtothedumbtestimonyofthesea。

Hehadbeenonboardtheyachtformorethanan。hour，andnothing，forhim，hadcomeofitbutthebirthofanunreasoninghate。Totheunconsciousdemandofthesepeople’spresence，oftheirignorance，oftheirfaces，oftheirvoices，oftheireyes，hehadnothingtogivebutaresentmentthathadinitagermofrecklessviolence。Hecouldtellthemnothingbecausehehadnotthemeans。Theircomingatthismoment，whenhehadwanderedbeyondthatcirclewhichrace，memories，earlyassociations，alltheessentialconditionsofone’sorigin，traceroundeveryman’slife，deprivedhiminamannerofthepowerofspeech。Hewasconfounded。Itwaslikemeetingexactingspectresinadesert。

Hestaredattheopensea，hisarmscrossed，withareflectivefierceness。Hisveryappearancemadehimutterlydifferentfromeveryoneonboardthatvessel。Thegreyshirt，thebluesash，onerolled—upsleevebaringasculpturalforearm，thenegligentmasterfulnessofhistoneandposewereverydistastefultoMr。

Travers，who，havingmadeuphismindtowaitforsomekindofofficialassistance，regardedtheintrusionofthatinexplicablemanwithsuspicion。FromthemomentLingardcameonboardtheyacht，everyeyeinthatvesselhadbeenfixeduponhim。OnlyCarter，withinearshotandleaningwithhiselbowupontherail，stareddownatthedeckasifovercomewithdrowsinessorlostinthought。

Ofthethreeotherpersonsaft，Mr。Traverskepthishandsinthesidepocketsofhisjacketanddidnotconcealhisgrowingdisgust。

Ontheothersideofthedeck，alady，inalongchair，hadapassiveattitudethattoMr。d’Alcacer，standingnearher，seemedcharacteristicofthemannerinwhichsheacceptedthenecessitiesofexistence。Yearsbefore，asanattacheofhisEmbassyinLondon，hehadfoundheraninterestinghostess。Shewasevenmoreinterestingnow，sinceachancemeetingandMr。

Travers’offerofapassagetoBataviahadgivenhimanopportunityofstudyingthevariousshadesofscornwhichhesuspectedtobethesecretofheracquiescenceintheshallownessofeventsandthemonotonyofaworldlyexistence。

Therewerethingsthatfromthefirsthehadnotbeenabletounderstand；forinstance，whysheshouldhavemarriedMr。

Travers。Itmusthavebeenfromambition。Hecouldnothelpfeelingthatsuchasuccessfulmistakewouldexplaincompletelyherscornandalsoheracquiescence。ThemeetinginManilahadbeenutterlyunexpectedtohim，andheaccountedforittohisuncle，theGovernor—Generalofthecolony，bypointingoutthatEnglishmen，whenworstedinthestruggleofloveorpolitics，travelextensively，asifbyencompassingalargeportionofearth’ssurfacetheyhopedtogatherfreshstrengthforarenewedcontest。Astohimself，hejudged——butdidnotsay——thathiscontestwithfatewasended，thoughhealsotravelled，leavingbehindhiminthecapitalsofEuropeastoryinwhichtherewasnothingscandalousbutthepublicityofanexcessivefeeling，andnothingmoretragicthantheearlydeathofawomanwhosebrilliantperfectionswerenobetterknowntothegreatworldthanthediscreetandpassionatedevotionshehadinnocentlyinspired。

Theinvitationtojointheyachtwastheculminatingpointofmanyexchangedcivilities，andwasmainlypromptedbyMr。

Travers’desiretohavesomebodytotalkto。D’Alcacerhadacceptedwiththerecklessindifferenceofamantowhomonemethodofflightfromarelentlessenemyisasgoodasanother。

Certainlytheprospectoflisteningtolongmonologuesoncommerce，administration，andpoliticsdidnotpromisemuchalleviationtohissorrow；andhecouldnotexpectmuchelsefromMr。Travers，whoselifeandthought，ignorantofhumanpassion，weredevotedtoextractingthegreatestpossibleamountofpersonaladvantagefromhumaninstitutions。D’Alcacerfound，however，thathecouldattainameasureofforgetfulness——themostpreciousthingforhimnow——inthesocietyofEdithTravers。

Shehadawakenedhiscuriosity，whichhethoughtnothingandnobodyonearthcoulddoanymore。

Thesetwotalkedofthingsindifferentandinteresting，certainlynotconnectedwithhumaninstitutions，andonlyveryslightlywithhumanpassions；butd’Alcacercouldnothelpbeingmadeawareofherlatentcapacityforsympathydevelopedinthosewhoaredisenchantedwithlifeordeath。Howfarshewasdisenchantedhedidnotknow，anddidnotattempttofindout。Thisrestraintwasimposeduponhimbythechivalrousrespecthehadforthesecretsofwomenandbyaconvictionthatdeepfeelingisoftenimpenetrablyobscure，eventothoseitmastersfortheirinspirationortheirruin。Hebelievedthatevensheherselfwouldneverknow；buthisgravecuriositywassatisfiedbytheobservationofhermentalstate，andhewasnotsorrythatthestrandingoftheyachtprolongedhisopportunity。

Timepassedonthatmudbankaswellasanywhereelse，anditwasnotfromamultiplicityofevents，butfromthelapseoftimealone，thatheexpectedrelief。YetinthesamenessofdaysupontheShallows，timeflowingceaselessly，flowedimperceptibly；

and，sinceeverymanclingstohisown，beitjoy，beitgrief，hewaspleasedaftertheunrestofhiswanderingstobeabletofancythewholeuniverseandeventimeitselfapparentlycometoastandstill；asifunwillingtotakehimawayfurtherfromhissorrow，whichwasfadingindeedbutundiminished，asthingsfade，notinthedistancebutinthemist。

II

D’Alcacerwasamanofnearlyforty，leanandsallow，withholloweyesandadroopingbrownmoustache。Hisgazewaspenetratinganddirect，hissmilefrequentandfleeting。HeobservedLingardwithgreatinterest。Hewasattractedbythatelusivesomething——aline，afold，perhapstheformoftheeye，thedroopofaneyelid，thecurveofacheek，thattriflingtraitwhichonnotwofacesonearthisalike，thatineachfaceistheveryfoundationofexpression，asif，alltherestbeingheredity，mystery，oraccident，italonehadbeenshapedconsciouslybythesoulwithin。

NowandthenhebentslightlyovertheslowbeatofaredfaninthecurveofthedeckchairtosayafewwordstoMrs。Travers，whoansweredhimwithoutlookingup，withoutamodulationoftoneoraplayoffeature，asifshehadspokenfrombehindtheveilofanimmenseindifferencestretchedbetweenherandallmen，betweenherheartandthemeaningofevents，betweenhereyesandtheshallowseawhich，likehergaze，appearedprofound，foreverstilled，andseemed，faroffinthedistanceofafainthorizon，beyondthereachofeye，beyondthepowerofhandorvoice，toloseitselfinthesky。

Mr。Traverssteppedaside，andspeakingtoCarter，overwhelmedhimwithreproaches。

"Youmisunderstoodyourinstructions，"murmuredMr。Traversrapidly。"Whydidyoubringthismanhere？Iamsurprised——"

"NothalfsomuchasIwaslastnight，"growledtheyoungseaman，withoutanyreverenceinhistone，veryprovokingtoMr。Travers。

"IperceivenowyouweretotallyunfitforthemissionI

entrustedyouwith，"wentontheowneroftheyacht。

"It’shewhogotholdofme，"saidCarter。"Haven’tyouheardhimyourself，sir？"

"Nonsense，"whisperedMr。Travers，angrily。"Haveyouanyideawhathisintentionsmaybe？"

"Ihalfbelieve，"answeredCarter，"thathisintentionwastoshootmeinhiscabinlastnightifI——"

"That’snotthepoint，"interruptedMr。Travers。"Haveyouanyopinionastohismotivesincominghere？"

Carterraisedhisweary，bloodshoteyesinafacescarletandpeelingasthoughithadbeenlickedbyaflame。"Iknownomorethanyoudo，sir。Lastnightwhenhehadmeinthatcabinofhis，hesaidhewouldjustassoonshootmeasletmegotolookforanyotherhelp。Itlooksasifheweredesperatelybentupongettingalotofsalvagemoneyoutofastrandedyacht。"

Mr。Traversturnedaway，and，foramoment，appearedimmersedindeepthought。Thisaccidentofstrandinguponadesertedcoastwasannoyingasalossoftime。Hetriedtominimizeitbyputtinginorderthenotescollectedduringtheyear’stravelintheEast。Hehadsentoffforassistance；hissailing—master，verycrestfallen，madeboldtosaythattheyachtwouldmostlikelyfloatatthenextspringtides；d’Alcacer，apersonofundoubtednobilitythoughofinferiorprinciples，wasbetterthannocompany，insofaratleastthathecouldplaypicquet。

Mr。Travershadmadeuphismindtowait。Thensuddenlythisroughman，lookingasifhehadsteppedoutfromanengravinginabookaboutbuccaneers，brokeinuponhisresignationwithmysteriousallusionstodanger，whichsoundedabsurdyetweredisturbing；withdarkandwarningsentencesthatsoundedlikedisguisedmenaces。

Mr。Travershadaheavyandratherlongchinwhichheshaved。Hiseyeswereblue，achill，naiveblue。HefacedLingarduntouchedbytravel，withoutamarkofwearinessorexposure，withtheairofhavingbeenborninvulnerable。Hehadafull，paleface；andhiscomplexionwasperfectlycolourless，yetamazinglyfresh，asifhehadbeenrearedintheshade。

Hethought：

"Imustputanendtothispreposteroushectoring。Iwon’tbeintimidatedintopayingforservicesIdon’tneed。"

Mr。Traversfeltastrongdisgustfortheimpudenceoftheattempt；andallatonce，incredibly，strangely，asthoughthething，likeacontestwitharivalorafriend，hadbeenofprofoundimportancetohiscareer，hefeltinexplicablyelatedatthethoughtofdefeatingthesecretpurposesofthatman。

Lingard，unconsciousofeverythingandeverybody，contemplatedthesea。Hehadgrownonit，hehadlivedwithit；ithadenticedhimawayfromhome；onithisthoughtshadexpandedandhishandhadfoundworktodo。Ithadsuggestedendeavour，ithadmadehimownerandcommanderofthefinestbrigafloat；ithadlulledhimintoabeliefinhimself，inhisstrength，inhisluck——andsuddenly，byitscomplicityinafatalaccident，ithadbroughthimfacetofacewithadifficultythatlookedlikethebeginningofdisaster。

Hehadsaidallhedaredtosay——andheperceivedthathewasnotbelieved。Thishadnothappenedtohimforyears。Ithadneverhappened。Itbewilderedhimasifhehadsuddenlydiscoveredthathewasnolongerhimself。Hehadcometothemandhadsaid："I

meanwellbyyou。IamTomLingard——"andtheydidnotbelieve！

Beforesuchscepticismhewashelpless，becausehehadneverimagineditpossible。Hehadsaid："Youareinthewayofmywork。YouareinthewayofwhatIcannotgiveupforanyone；

butIwillseeyouthroughallsafeifyouwillonlytrustme——

me，TomLingard。"Andtheywouldnotbelievehim！Itwasintolerable。Heimaginedhimselfsweepingtheirdisbeliefoutofhisway。Andwhynot？Hedidnotknowthem，hedidnotcareforthem，hedidnotevenneedtolifthishandagainstthem！Allhehadtodowastoshuthiseyesnowforadayortwo，andafterwardhecouldforgetthathehadeverseenthem。Itwouldbeeasy。Lettheirdisbeliefvanish，theirfollydisappear，theirbodiesperish……Itwasthat——orruin！

III

Lingard’sgaze，detachingitselffromthesilentsea，travelledslowlyoverthesilentfiguresclusteringforward，overthefacesoftheseamenattentiveandsurprised，overthefacesneverseenbeforeyetsuggestingolddays——hisyouth——otherseas——thedistantshoresofearlymemories。Mr。Traversgaveastartalso，andthehandwhichhadbeenbusywithhisleftwhiskerwentintothepocketofhisjacket，asthoughhehadpluckedoutsomethingworthkeeping。HemadeaquicksteptowardLingard。

"Idon’tseemywaytoutilizeyourservices，"hesaid，withcoldfinality。

Lingard，graspinghisbeard，lookeddownathimthoughtfullyforashorttime。

"Perhapsit’sjustaswell，"hesaid，veryslowly，"becauseIdidnotoffermyservices。I’veofferedtotakeyouonboardmybrigforafewdays，asyouronlychanceofsafety。Andyouaskedmewhatweremymotives。Mymotives！Ifyoudon’tseethemtheyarenotforyoutoknow。"

Andthesemenwho，twohoursbeforehadneverseeneachother，stoodforamomentclosetogether，antagonistic，asiftheyhadbeenlife—longenemies，oneshort，dapperandglaringupward，theothertoweringheavily，andlookingdownincontemptandanger。

Mr。d’Alcacer，withouttakinghiseyesoffthem，bentlowoverthedeckchair。

"Haveyoueverseenamandashinghimselfatastonewall？"heasked，confidentially。

"No，"saidMrs。Travers，gazingstraightbeforeherabovetheslowflutterofthefan。"No，Ididnotknowitwaseverdone；

menburrowunderorsliproundquietlywhiletheylooktheotherway。"

"Ah！youdefinediplomacy，"murmuredd’Alcacer。"Alittleofitherewoulddonoharm。Butourpicturesquevisitorhasnoneofit。I’veagreatlikingforhim。"

"Already！"breathedoutMrs。Travers，withasmilethattouchedherlipswithitsbrightwingandwasflownalmostbeforeitcouldbeseen。

"Thereislikingatfirstsight，"affirmedd’Alcacer，"aswellasloveatfirstsight——thecoupdefoudre——youknow。"

Shelookedupforamoment，andhewenton，gravely："Ithinkitisthetruest，themostprofoundofsentiments。Youdonotlovebecauseofwhatisintheother。Youlovebecauseofsomethingthatisinyou——somethingalive——inyourself。"Hestruckhisbreastlightlywiththetipofonefinger。"Acapacityinyou。

Andnoteveryonemayhaveit——noteveryonedeservestobetouchedbyfirefromheaven。"

"Anddie，"shesaid。

Hemadeaslightmovement。

"Whocantell？Thatisasitmaybe。Butitisalwaysaprivilege，evenifonemustlivealittleafterbeingburnt。"

Throughthesilencebetweenthem，Mr。Travers’voicecameplainly，sayingwithirritation：

"I’vetoldyoualreadythatIdonotwantyou。I’vesentamessengertothegovernoroftheStraits。Don’tbeimportunate。"

ThenLingard，standingwithhisbacktothem，growledoutsomethingwhichmusthaveexasperatedMr。Travers，becausehisvoicewaspitchedhigher：

"Youareplayingadangerousgame，Iwarnyou。SirJohn，asithappens，isapersonalfriendofmine。Hewillsendacruiser——"

andLingardinterruptedrecklesslyloud：

"Aslongasshedoesnotgethereforthenexttendays，Idon’tcare。CruisersarescarcejustnowintheStraits；andtoturnmybackonyouisnohangingmatteranyhow。Iwouldriskthat，andmore！Doyouhear？Andmore！"

Hestampedhisfootheavily，Mr。Traverssteppedback。

"Youwillgainnothingbytryingtofrightenme，"hesaid。"I

don’tknowwhoyouare。"

Everyeyeintheyachtwaswideopen。Themen，crowdeduponeachother，staredstupidlylikeaflockofsheep。Mr。Traverspulledoutahandkerchiefandpasseditoverhisforehead。Thefaceofthesailing—masterwholeanedagainstthemainmast——asnearashedaredtoapproachthegentry——wasshiningandcrimsonbetweenwhitewhiskers，likeaglowingcoalbetweentwopatchesofsnow。

D’Alcacerwhispered：

"Itisaquarrel，andthepicturesquemanisangry。Heishurt。"

Mrs。Travers’fanrestedonherknees，andshesatstillasifwaitingtohearmore。

"DoyouthinkIoughttomakeaneffortforpeace？"askedd’Alcacer。

Shedidnotanswer，andafterwaitingalittle，heinsisted：

"Whatisyouropinion？ShallItrytomediate——asaneutral，asabenevolentneutral？Ilikethatmanwiththebeard。"

Theinterchangeofangryphraseswentonaloud，amidstgeneralconsternation。

"IwouldturnmybackonyouonlyIamthinkingofthesepoordevilshere，"growledLingard，furiously。"Didyouaskthemhowtheyfeelaboutit？"

"Iasknoone，"splutteredMr。Travers。"Everybodyheredependsonmyjudgment。"

"Iamsorryforthemthen，"pronouncedLingardwithsuddendeliberation，andleaningforwardwithhisarmscrossedonhisbreast。

AtthisMr。Traverspositivelyjumped，andforgothimselfsofarastoshout：

"Youareanimpudentfellow。Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou。"

D’Alcacer，aftermutteringtohimself，"Thisisgettingserious，"

madeamovement，andcouldnotbelievehisearswhenheheardMrs。Traverssayrapidlywithakindoffervour：

"Don’tgo，pray；don’tstopthem。Oh！Thisistruth——thisisanger——somethingrealatlast。"

D’Alcacerleanedbackatonceagainsttherail。

ThenMr。Travers，withonearmextended，repeatedveryloudly：

"Nothingmoretosay。Leavemyshipatonce！"

Anddirectlytheblackdog，stretchedathiswife’sfeet，muzzleonpawsandblinkingyelloweyes，growleddiscontentedlyatthenoise。Mrs。Traverslaughedafaint，brightlaugh，thatseemedtoescape，toglide，todartbetweenherwhiteteeth。D’Alcacer，concealinghisamazement，waslookingdownathergravely：andafteraslightgasp，shesaidwithlittleburstsofmerrimentbetweeneveryfewwords：

"No，butthisis——such——suchafreshexperienceformetohear——toseesomething——genuineandhuman。Ah！ah！onewouldthinktheyhadwaitedalltheirlivesforthisopportunity——ah！

ah！ah！Alltheirlives——forthis！ah！ah！ah！"

Thesestrangewordsstruckd’Alcacerasperfectlyjust，asthrowinganunexpectedlight。Butafterasmile，hesaid，seriously：

"Thisrealitymaygotoofar。Amanwholookssopicturesqueiscapableofanything。Allowme——"Andheleftherside，movingtowardLingard，loose—limbedandgaunt，yethavinginhiswholebearing，inhiswalk，ineveryleisurelymovement，anairofdistinctionandceremony。

Lingardspunroundwithaggressivemientothelighttouchonhisshoulder，butassoonashetookhiseyesoffMr。Travers，hisangerfell，seemedtosinkwithoutasoundathisfeetlikearejectedgarment。

"Pardonme，"saidd’Alcacer，composedly。Theslightwaveofhishandwashardlymorethananindication，thebeginningofaconciliatinggesture。"Pardonme；butthisisamatterrequiringperfectconfidenceonbothsides。DonMartin，here，whoisapersonofimportance……"

"I’vespokenmymindplainly。IhavesaidasmuchasIdare。OnmywordIhave，"declaredLingardwithanairofgoodtemper。

"Ah！"saidd’Alcacer，reflectively，"thenyourreserveisamatterofpledgedfaith——of——ofhonour？"

Lingardalsoappearedthoughtfulforamoment。

"Youmayputitthatway。AndIowenothingtoamanwhocouldn’tseemyhandwhenIputitouttohimasIcameaboard。"

"Youhavesomuchtheadvantageofushere，"repliedd’Alcacer，"thatyoumaywellbegenerousandforgetthatoversight；andthenjustalittlemoreconfidence……"

"Mydeard’Alcacer，youareabsurd，"brokeinMr。Travers，inacalmvoicebutwithwhitelips。"Ididnotcomeoutallthiswaytoshakehandspromiscuouslyandreceiveconfidencesfromthefirstadventurerthatcomesalong。"

D’AlcacersteppedbackwithanalmostimperceptibleinclinationoftheheadatLingard，whostoodforamomentwithtwitchingface。

"IAManadventurer，"heburstout，"andifIhadn’tbeenanadventurer，Iwouldhavehadtostarveorworkathomeforsuchpeopleasyou。IfIweren’tanadventurer，youwouldbemostlikelylyingdeadonthisdeckwithyourcutthroatgapingatthesky。"

Mr。Traverswavedthisspeechaway。Butothersalsohadheard。

Carterlistenedwatchfullyandsomething，somealarmingnotionseemedtodawnallatonceuponthethicklittlesailing—master，whorushedonhisshortlegs，andtuggingatCarter’ssleeve，stammereddesperately：

"What’shesaying？Who’she？What’sup？Arethenativesunfriendly？Mybooksays——’Nativesfriendlyallalongthiscoast！’Mybooksays——"

Carter，whohadglancedovertheside，jerkedhisarmfree。

"Yougodownintothepantry，whereyoubelong，Skipper，andreadthatbitaboutthenativesoveragain，"hesaidtohissuperiorofficer，withsavagecontempt。"I’llbehangedifsomeofthemain’tcomingaboardnowtoeatyou——bookandall。Getoutoftheway，andletthegentlemenhavethefirstchanceofarow。"

ThenaddressingLingard，hedrawledinhisoldway：

"Thatcrazymateofyourshassentyourboatback，withacoupleofvisitorsinher，too。"

Beforeheapprehendedplainlythemeaningofthesewords，Lingardcaughtsightoftwoheadsrisingabovetherail，theheadofHassimandtheheadofImmada。ThentheirbodiesascendedintoviewasthoughthesetwobeingshadgraduallyemergedfromtheShallows。Theystoodforamomentontheplatformlookingdownonthedeckasifabouttostepintotheunknown，thendescendedandwalkingaftenteredthehalf—lightundertheawningshadingtheluxurioussurroundings，thecomplicatedemotionsofthe，tothem，inconceivableexistences。

Lingardwithoutwaitingamomentcried：

"Whatnews，ORajah？"

Hassim’seyesmadetheroundoftheschooner’sdecks。Hehadlefthisgunintheboatandadvancedemptyhanded，withatranquilassuranceasifbearingawelcomeofferinginthefaintsmileofhislips。Immada，halfhiddenbehindhisshoulder，followedlightly，herelbowspressedclosetoherside。Thethickfringeofhereyelasheswasdroppedlikeaveil；shelookedyouthfulandbrooding；shehadanaspectofshyresolution。

Theystoppedwithinarm’slengthofthewhites，andforsometimenobodysaidaword。ThenHassimgaveLingardasignificantglance，andutteredrapidlywithaslighttossoftheheadthatindicatedinamannerthewholeoftheyacht：

"Iseenoguns！"

"N——no！"saidLingard，lookingsuddenlyconfused。Ithadoccurredtohimthatforthefirsttimeintwoyearsormorehehadforgotten，utterlyforgotten，thesepeople’sexistence。

Immadastoodslightandrigidwithdowncasteyes。Hassim，athisease，scrutinizedthefaces，asifsearchingforelusivepointsofsimilitudeorforsubtleshadesofdifference。

"Whatisthisnewintrusion？"askedMr。Travers，angrily。

"Thesearethefisher—folk，sir，"brokeinthesailing—master，"we’veobservedthesethreedayspastflittingaboutinacanoe；

buttheyneverhadthesensetoanswerourhail；andyetabitoffishforyourbreakfast——"Hesmiledobsequiously，andallatonce，withoutprovocation，begantobellow：