第11章

Shefixedhereyesonit。Shethought："Ishan’ttellhimanything。Impossible。No！Ishalltelleverything。"Sheexpectedeverymomenttohearherhusband’svoiceandthesuspensewasintolerablebecauseshefeltthatthenshemustdecide。Somebodyondeckwasbabblingexcitedly。Shedevoutlyhopedd’Alcacerwouldspeakfirstandthusputoffthefatalmoment。Avoicesaidroughly："What’sthat？"AndinthemidstofherdistresssherecognizedCarter’svoice，havingnoticedthatyoungmanwhowasofadifferentstampfromtherestofthecrew。Shecametotheconclusionthatthemattercouldberelatedjocularly，or——whynotpretendfear？Atthatmomentthebrig’syard—armlightshewaslookingattrembleddistinctly，andshewasdumfoundedasifshehadseenacommotioninthefirmament。Withherlipsopenforacryshesawitfallstraightdownseveralfeet，flicker，andgoout。Allperplexitypassedfromhermind。Thisfirstfactofthedangergaveherathrillofquiteanewemotion。Somethinghadtobedoneatonce。Forsomeremotereasonshefeltashamedofherhesitations。

ShemovedswiftlyforwardandunderthelampcamefacetofacewithCarterwhowascomingaft。Bothstopped，staring，thelightfellontheirfaces，andbothwerestruckbyeachother’sexpression。Thefoureyesshonewide。

"Youhaveseen？"sheasked，beginningtotremble。

"Howdoyouknow？"hesaid，atthesametime，evidentlysurprised。

Suddenlyshesawthateverybodywasondeck。

"Thelightisdown，"shestammered。

"Thegentlemenarelost，"saidCarter。Thenheperceivedshedidnotseemtounderstand。"Kidnappedoffthesandbank，"hecontinued，lookingatherfixedlytoseehowshewouldtakeit。

Sheseemedcalm。"Kidnappedlikeapairoflambs！Notasqueak，"

heburstoutwithindignation。"Butthesandbankislongandtheymighthavebeenattheotherend。Youwereondeck，ma’am？"heasked。

"Yes，"shemurmured。"Inthechairhere。"

"Wewerealldownbelow。Ihadtorestalittle。WhenIcameupthewatchmanwasasleep。Heswearshewasn’t，butIknowbetter。

Nobodyheardanynoise，unlessyoudid。Butperhapsyouwereasleep？"heasked，deferentially。

"Yes——no——Imusthavebeen，"shesaid，faintly。

VIII

Lingard’ssoulwasexaltedbyhistalkwithMrs。Travers，bythestrainofincertitudeandbyextremefatigue。OnreturningonboardheaskedafterHassimandwastoldthattheRajahandhissisterhadgoneoffintheircanoepromisingtoreturnbeforemidnight。Theboatssenttoscoutbetweentheisletsnorthandsouthoftheanchoragehadnotcomebackyet。Hewentintohiscabinandthrowinghimselfonthecouchclosedhiseyesthinking：

"ImustsleeporIshallgomad。"

AttimeshefeltanunshakenconfidenceinMrs。Travers——thenherememberedherface。Nextmomentthefacewouldfade，hewouldmakeanefforttoholdontotheimage，fail——andthenbecomeconvincedwithouttheshadowofadoubtthathewasutterlylost，unlessheletallthesepeoplebewipedoffthefaceoftheearth。

"Theyallheardthatmanordermeoutofhisship，"hethought，andthereuponforasecondorsohecontemplatedwithoutflinchingtheluridimageofamassacre。"AndyetIhadtotellherthatnotahairofherheadshallbetouched。Notahair。"

Andirrationallyattherecollectionofthesewordsthereseemedtobenotroubleofanykindleftintheworld。Nowandthen，however，therewereblackinstantswhenfromsheerwearinesshethoughtofnothingatall；andduringoneofthesehefellasleep，losingtheconsciousnessofexternalthingsassuddenlyasifhehadbeenfelledbyablowonthehead。

Whenhesatup，almostbeforehewasproperlyawake，hisfirstalarmedconvictionwasthathehadsleptthenightthrough。TherewasalightinthecuddyandthroughtheopendoorofhiscabinhesawdistinctlyMrs。Traverspassoutofviewacrossthelightedspace。

"Theydidcomeonboardafterall，"hethought——"howisitI

haven’tbeencalled！"

Hedartedintothecuddy。Nobody！Lookingupattheclockintheskylighthewasvexedtoseeithadstoppedtillhisearcaughtthefaintbeatofthemechanism。Itwasgoingthen！Hecouldnothavebeenasleepmorethantenminutes。Hehadnotbeenonboardmorethantwenty！

Soitwasonlyadeception；hehadseennoone。Andyetherememberedtheturnofthehead，thelineoftheneck，thecolourofthehair，themovementofthepassingfigure。Hereturnedspiritlesslytohisstate—roommuttering，"Nomoresleepformeto—night，"andcameoutdirectly，holdingafewsheetsofpapercoveredwithahigh，angularhandwriting。

ThiswasJorgenson’sletterwrittenthreedaysbeforeandentrustedtoHassim。Lingardhadreaditalreadytwice，butheturnedupthelampalittlehigherandsatdowntoreaditagain。

Ontheredshieldabovehisheadthegiltsheafofthunderboltsdartingbetweentheinitialsofhisnameseemedtobeaimedstraightatthenapeofhisneckashesatwithbaredelbowsspreadonthetable，poringoverthecrumpledsheets。Theletterbegan：

HassimandImmadaaregoingoutto—nighttolookforyou。Youarebehindyourtimeandeverypassingdaymakesthingsworse。

TendaysagothreeofBelarab’smen，whohadbeencollectingturtles’eggsontheislets，cameflyingbackwithastoryofashipstrandedontheoutermudflats。Belarabatonceforbadeanyboatfromleavingthelagoon。Sofargood。Therewasagreatexcitementinthevillage。Ijudgeitmustbeaschooner——

probablysomefoolofatrader。However，youwillknowallaboutherwhenyoureadthis。YoumaysayImighthavepulledouttoseatohavealookformyself。ButbesidesBelarab’sorderstothecontrary，whichIwouldattendtoforthesakeofexample，allyouareworthinthisworld，Tom，ishereintheEmma，undermyfeet，andIwouldnotleavemychargeevenforhalfaday。

HassimattendedthecouncilheldeveryeveningintheshedoutsideBelarab’sstockade。ThatholymanNingratwasforlootingthatvessel。Hassimreprovedhimsayingthatthevesselprobablywassentbyyoubecausenowhitemenwereknowntocomeinsidetheshoals。BelarabbackedupHassim。NingratwasveryangryandreproachedBelarabforkeepinghim，Ningrat，shortofopiumtosmoke。Hebeganbycallinghim"O！son，"andendedbyshouting，"O！youworsethananunbeliever！"Therewasahullabaloo。ThefollowersofTenggawerereadytointerfereandyouknowhowitisbetweenTenggaandBelarab。TenggaalwayswantedtooustBelarab，andhischancesweregettingprettygoodbeforeyouturnedupandarmedBelarab’sbodyguardwithmuskets。However，Hassimstoppedthatrow，andnoonewashurtthattime。Nextday，whichwasFriday，Ningratafterreadingtheprayersinthemosquetalkedtothepeopleoutside。Hebleatedandcaperedlikeanoldgoat，prophesyingmisfortune，ruin，andexterminationifthesewhiteswereallowedtogetaway。Heismadbutthentheythinkhimasaint，andhehadbeenfightingtheDutchforyearsinhisyoungdays。SixofBelarab’sguardmarcheddownthevillagestreetcarryingmusketsatfullcockandthecrowdclearedout。

NingratwasspiritedawaybyTengga’smenintotheirmaster’sstockade。Ifitwasnotforthefearofyouturningupanymomenttherewouldhavebeenaparty—fightthatevening。IthinkitisapityTenggaisnotchiefofthelandinsteadofBelarab。Abraveandforesightedman，howevertreacherousatheart，canalwaysbetrustedtoacertainextent。OnecannevergetanythingclearfromBelarab。Peace！Peace！Youknowhisfad。Andthisfadmakeshimactsilly。Thepeaceracketwillgethimintoarow。Itmaycosthimhislifeintheend。However，TenggadoesnotfeelhimselfstrongenoughyettoactwithhisownfollowersonlyandBelarabhas，onmyadvice，disarmedallvillagers。Hismenwentintothehousesandtookawaybyforceallthefirearmsandasmanyspearsastheycouldlayhandson。Thewomenscreamedabuseofcourse，buttherewasnoresistance。Afewmenwereseenclearingoutintotheforestwiththeirarms。Notethis，foritmeansthereisanotherpowerbesideBelarab’sinthevillage：thegrowingpowerofTengga。

Onemorning——fourdaysago——IwenttoseeTengga。Ifoundhimbytheshoretrimmingaplankwithasmallhatchetwhileaslaveheldanumbrellaoverhishead。Heisamusinghimselfinbuildingaboatjustnow。Hethrewhishatchetdowntomeetmeandledmebythehandtoashadyspot。Hetoldmefranklyhehadsentouttwogoodswimmerstoobservethestrandedvessel。Thesemenstoledownthecreekinacanoeandwhenontheseacoastswamfromsandbanktosandbankuntiltheyapproachedunobserved——I

think——toaboutfiftyyardsfromthatschoonerWhatcanthatcraftbe？Ican’tmakeitout。Themenreportedtherewerethreechiefsonboard。Onewithaglitteringeye，onealeanmaninwhite，andanotherwithoutanyhaironthefaceanddressedinadifferentstyle。Coulditbeawoman？Idon’tknowwhattothink。

Iwishyouwerehere。AfteralotofchatterTenggasaid："SixyearsagoIwasrulerofacountryandtheDutchdrovemeout。

Thecountrywassmallbutnothingistoosmallforthemtotake。

Theypretendedtogiveitbacktomynephew——mayheburn！Iranawayortheywouldhavekilledme。Iamnothinghere——butI

remember。Thesewhitepeopleouttherecannotrunawayandtheyareveryfew。Thereisperhapsalittletoloot。IwouldgiveittomymenwhofollowedmeinmycalamitybecauseIamtheirchiefandmyfatherwasthechiefoftheirfathers。"Ipointedouttheimprudenceofthis。Hesaid："Thedeaddonotshowtheway。"TothisIremarkedthattheignorantdonotgiveinformation。Tenggakeptquietforawhile，thensaid："Wemustnottouchthembecausetheirskinislikeyoursandtokillthemwouldbewrong，butatthebiddingofyouwhiteswemaygoandfightwithpeopleofourownskinandourownfaith——andthatisgood。IhavepromisedtoTuanLingardtwentymenandaprautomakewarinWajo。Themenaregoodandlookattheprau；itisswiftandstrong。"Imustsay，Tom，theprauisthebestcraftofthekindIhaveeverseen。Isaidyoupaidhimwellforthehelp。"AndI

alsowouldpay，"sayshe，"ifyouletmehaveafewgunsandalittlepowderformymen。YouandIshallsharethelootofthatshipoutside，andTuanLingardwillnotknow。Itisonlyalittlegame。Youhaveplentyofgunsandpowderunderyourcare。"HemeantintheEmma。OnthatIspokeoutprettystraightandwegotratherwarmuntilatlasthegavemetounderstandthatashehadaboutfortyfollowersofhisownandIhadonlynineofHassim’schapstodefendtheEmmawith，hecouldverywellgoformeandgetthelot。"Andthen，"sayshe，"Iwouldbesostrongthateverybodywouldbeonmyside。"Idiscoveredinthecourseoffurthertalkthatthereisanotionamongstmanypeoplethatyouhavecometogriefinsomewayandwon’tshowuphereanymore。

AfterthisIsawthepositionwasseriousandIwasinahurrytogetbacktotheEmma，butpretendingIdidnotcareIsmiledandthankedTenggaforgivingmewarningofhisintentionsaboutmeandtheEmma。Atthishenearlychokedhimselfwithhisbetelquidandfixingmewithhislittleeyes，muttered："Evenalizardwillgiveaflythetimetosayitsprayers。"Iturnedmybackonhimandwasverythankfultogetbeyondthethrowofaspear。I

haven’tbeenoutoftheEmmasince。

IX

TheletterwentontoenlargeontheintriguesofTengga，thewaveringconductofBelarab，andthestateofthepublicmind。Itnotedeverygustofopinionandeveryevent，withanearnestnessofbeliefintheirimportancebefittingthechronicleofacrisisinthehistoryofanempire。TheshadeofJorgensonhad，indeed，steppedbackintothelifeofmen。Theoldadventurerlookedonwithaperfectunderstandingofthevalueoftrifles，usinghiseyesforthatothermanwhoseconsciencewouldhavethetasktounravelthetangle。LingardlivedthroughthosedaysintheSettlementandwasthankfultoJorgenson；onlyashelivednotfromdaytodaybutfromsentencetosentenceofthewriting，therewasaneffectofbewilderingrapidityinthesuccessionofeventsthatmadehimgruntwithsurprisesometimesorgrowl——"What？"tohimselfangrilyandturnbackseverallinesorawholepagemorethanonce。Towardtheendhehadaheavyfrownofperplexityandfidgetedasheread：

——andIbegantothinkIcouldkeepthingsquiettillyoucameorthosewretchedwhitepeoplegottheirschooneroff，whenSherifDamanarrivedfromthenorthontheverydayhewasexpected，withtwoIllanunpraus。HelookslikeanArab。ItwasveryevidenttomehecanwindthetwoIllanunpangeransroundhislittlefinger。Thetwoprausarelargeandarmed。Theycameupthecreek，flagsandstreamersflying，beatingdrumsandgongs，andenteredthelagoonwiththeirdecksfullofarmedmenbrandishingtwo—handedswordsandsoundingthewarcry。Itisafineforceforyou，onlyBelarabwhoisaperversedevilwouldnotreceiveSherifDamanatonce。SoDamanwenttoseeTenggawhodetainedhimaverylongtime。LeavingTenggahecameonboardtheEmma，andIcouldseedirectlytherewassomethingup。

Hebeganbyaskingmefortheammunitionandweaponstheyaretogetfromyou，sayinghewasanxioustosailatoncetowardWajo，sinceitwasagreedhewastoprecedeyoubyafewdays。I

repliedthatthatwastrueenoughbutthatIcouldnotthinkofgivinghimthepowderandmusketstillyoucame。Hebegantotalkaboutyouandhintedthatperhapsyouwillnevercome。"Andnomatter，"sayshe，"hereisRajahHassimandtheLadyImmadaandwewouldfightforthemifnowhitemanwasleftintheworld。

Onlywemusthavesomethingtofightwith。"HepretendedthentoforgetmealtogetherandtalkedwithHassimwhileIsatlistening。HebegantoboasthowwellhegotalongtheBrunicoast。NoIllanunprauhadpasseddownthatcoastforyears。

Immadawantedmetogivethearmshewasaskingfor。ThegirlisbesideherselfwithfearofsomethinghappeningthatwouldputastopperontheWajoexpedition。Shehassethermindongettinghercountryback。Hassimisveryreservedbutheisveryanxious，too。Damangotnothingfromme，andthatveryeveningtheprauswereorderedbyBelarabtoleavethelagoon。HedoesnottrusttheIllanuns——andsmallblametohim。SherifDamanwentlikealamb。Hehasnopowderforhisguns。AstheprauspassedbytheEmmaheshoutedtomehewasgoingtowaitforyououtsidethecreek。Tenggahasgivenhimamanwhowouldshowhimtheplace。

Allthislooksveryqueertome。

Lookoutoutsidethen。Theprausaredodgingamongsttheislets。

DamanvisitsTengga。TenggacalledonmeasagoodfriendtotryandpersuademetogiveDamanthearmsandgunpowderheissoanxioustoget。SomehoworothertheytriedtogetaroundBelarab，whocametoseemelastnightandhintedIhadbetterdoso。HeisanxiousfortheseIllanunstoleavetheneighbourhood。

Hethinksthatiftheyloottheschoonertheywillbeoffatonce。That’sallhewantsnow。ImmadahasbeentoseeBelarab’swomenandstoppedtwonightsinthestockade。Belarab’syoungestwife——hegotmarriedsixweeksago——isonthesideofTengga’spartybecauseshethinksBelarabwouldgetashareofthelootandshegotintohersillyheadtherearejewelsandsilksinthatschooner。WhatbetweenTenggaworryinghimoutsideandthewomenworryinghimathome，Belarabhadsuchalivelytimeofitthatheconcludedhewouldgotoprayathisfather’stomb。Soforthelasttwodayshehasbeenawaycampinginthatunhealthyplace。Whenhecomesbackhewillbedownwithfeverassureasfateandthenhewillbenogoodforanything。Tenggalightsupsmokyfiresoften。SomesignaltoDaman。IgoashorewithHassim’smenandputthemout。Thisisriskingafighteverytime——forTengga’smenlookveryblackatus。Idon’tknowwhatthenextmovemaybe。Hassim’sastrueassteel。Immadaisveryunhappy。TheywilltellyoumanydetailsIhavenotimetowrite。

ThelastpageflutteredonthetableoutofLingard’sfingers。Hesatverystillforamomentlookingstraightbeforehim，thenwentondeck。

"Ourboatsbackyet？"heaskedShaw，whomhesawprowlingonthequarter—deck。

"No，sir，Iwishtheywere。Iamwaitingforthemtogoandturnin，"answeredthemateinanaggrievedmanner。

"Lowerthatlanternforwardthere，"criedLingard，suddenly，inMalay。

"Thistradeisn’tfitforadecentman，"mutteredShawtohimself，andhemovedawaytoleanontherail，lookingmoodilytoseaward。Afterawhile："Thereseemstobecommotiononboardthatyacht，"hesaid。"Iseealotoflightsmovingaboutherdecks。Anythingwrong，doyouthink，sir？"

"No，Iknowwhatitis，"saidLingardinatoneofelation。Shehasdoneit！hethought。

Hereturnedtothecabin，putawayJorgenson’sletterandpulledoutthedrawerofthetable。Itwasfullofcartridges。Hetookamusketdown，loadedit，thentookanotherandanother。Hehammeredatthewaddingswithfiercejoyousness。Theramrodsrangandjumped。Itseemedtohimhewasdoinghisshareofsomeworkinwhichthatwomanwasplayingherpartfaithfully。"Shehasdoneit，"herepeated，mentally。"Shewillsitinthecuddy。Shewillsleepinmyberth。Well，I’mnotashamedofthebrig。Byheavens——no！Ishallkeepaway：nevercomenearthemasI’vepromised。Nowthere’snothingmoretosay。I’vetoldhereverythingatonce。There’snothingmore。"

Hefeltaheavinessinhisburningbreast，inallhislimbsasifthebloodinhisveinshadbecomemoltenlead。

"Ishallgettheyachtoff。Three，fourdays——no，aweek。"

Hefoundhecouldn’tdoitunderaweek。Itoccurredtohimhewouldseehereverydaytilltheyachtwasafloat。No，hewouldn’tintrude，buthewasmasterandownerofthebrigafterall。Hedidn’tmeantoskulklikeawhippedcurabouthisowndecks。

"It’llbetendaysbeforetheschoonerisready。I’lltakeeveryscrapofballastoutofher。I’llstripher——I’lltakeherlowermastsoutofher，byheavens！I’llmakesure。Thenanotherweektofitout——and——goodbye。WishIhadneverseenthem。

Good—bye——forever。Home’stheplaceforthem。Notforme。Onanothercoastshewouldnothavelistened。Ah，butsheisawoman——everyinchofher。Ishallshakehands。Yes。Ishalltakeherhand——justbeforeshegoes。Whythedevilnot？Iammasterhereafterall——inthisbrig——asgoodasanyone——byheavens，betterthananyone——betterthananyoneonearth。"

HeheardShawwalksmartlyforwardabovehisheadhailing：

"What’sthat——aboat？"

Avoiceansweredindistinctly。

"Oneofmyboatsisback，"thoughtLingard。"NewsaboutDamanperhaps。Idon’tcareifhekicks。Iwishhewould。IwouldsoonshowherIcanfightaswellasIcanhandlethebrig。Twopraus。

Onlytwopraus。Iwouldn’tmindifthereweretwenty。Iwouldsweep’emoffthesea——Iwouldblow’emoutofthewater——Iwouldmakethebrigwalkoverthem。’Now，’I’dsaytoher，’youwhoarenotafraid，lookhowit’sdone！’"

Hefeltlight。Hehadthesensationofbeingwhirledhighinthemidstofanuproarandaspowerlessasafeatherinahurricane。

Heshudderedprofoundly。Hisarmshungdown，andhestoodbeforethetablestaringlikeamanovercomebysomefatalintelligence。

Shaw，goingintothewaisttoreceivewhathethoughtwasoneofthebrig’sboats，cameagainstCartermakinghiswayafthurriedly。

"Hullo！Isityouagain？"hesaid，swiftly，barringtheway。

"Icomefromtheyacht，"beganCarterwithsomeimpatience。

"Whereelsecouldyoucomefrom？"saidShaw。"Andwhatmightyouwantnow？"

"Iwanttoseeyourskipper。"

"Well，youcan’t，"declaredShaw，viciously。"He’sturnedinforthenight。"

"Heexpectsme，"saidCarter，stampinghisfoot。"I’vegottotellhimwhathappened。"

"Don’tyoufretyourself，youngman，"saidShawinasuperiormanner；"heknowsallaboutit。"

Theystoodsuddenlysilentinthedark。Carterseemedatalosswhattodo。Shaw，thoughsurprisedbyit，enjoyedtheeffecthehadproduced。

"Damnme，ifIdidnotthinkso，"murmuredCartertohimself；

thendrawlingcoollyasked——"Andperhapsyouknow，too？"

"Whatdoyouthink？ThinkIamadummyhere？Iain’tmateofthisbrigfornothing。"

"No，youarenot，"saidCarterwithacertainbitternessoftone。

"Peopledoallkindsofqueerthingsforaliving，andIamnotparticularmyself，butIwouldthinktwicebeforetakingyourbillet。"

"What？Whatdoyouin—si—nu—ate。Mybillet？Youain’tfitforit，youyacht—swabbingbrass—buttonedimposter。"

"What’sthis？Anyofourboatsback？"askedLingardfromthepoop。"Lettheseacannieinchargecometomeatonce。"

"There’sonlyamessagefromtheyacht，"beganShaw，deliberately。

"Yacht！Getthedecklampsalonghereinthewaist！Seetheladderlowered。Bearahand，serang！Mr。Shaw！Burntheflareupaft。Twoofthem！Givelighttotheyacht’sboatsthatwillbecomingalongside。Steward！Where’sthatsteward？Turnhimoutthen。"

BarefeetbegantopatterallroundCarter。Shadowsglidedswiftly。

"Aretheseflarescoming？Where’sthequartermasteronduty？"

shoutedLingardinEnglishandMalay。"Thisway，comehere！Putitonarocketstick——can’tyou？Holdovertheside——thus！Standbywiththelinesfortheboatsforwardthere。Mr。Shaw——wewantmorelight！"

"Aye，aye，sir，"calledoutShaw，buthedidnotmove，asifdazedbythevehemenceofhiscommander。

"That’swhatwewant，"mutteredCarterunderhisbreath。

"Imposter！Whatdoyoucallyourself？"hesaidhalfaloudtoShaw。

TheruddyglareoftheflaresdisclosedLingardfromheadtofoot，standingatthebreakofthepoop。Hisheadwasbare，hisface，crudelylighted，hadafierceandchangingexpressionintheswayofflames。

"Whatcanbehisgame？"thoughtCarter，impressedbythepowerfulandwildaspectofthatfigure。"He’schangedsomehowsinceIsawhimfirst，"hereflected。Itstruckhimthechangewasserious，notexactlyfortheworse，perhaps——andyet……Lingardsmiledathimfromthepoop。

Carterwentupthestepsandwithoutpausinginformedhimofwhathadhappened。

"Mrs。Traverstoldmetogotoyouatonce。She’sveryupsetasyoumayguess，"hedrawled，lookingLingardhardintheface。

Lingardknittedhiseyebrows。"Thehands，too，arescared，"

Carterwenton。"Theyfancythesavages，orwhatevertheymaybewhostoletheowner，aregoingtoboardtheyachteveryminute。I

don’tthinksomyselfbut——"

"Quiteright——mostunlikely，"mutteredLingard。

"Aye，Idaresayyouknowallaboutit，"continuedCarter，coolly，"themenarestartledandnomistake，butIcan’tblamethemverymuch。Thereisn’tenoughevenofcarvingknivesaboardtogoround。Oneoldsignalgun！Apoorshowforbettermenthanthey。"

"There’snomistakeIsupposeaboutthisaffair？"askedLingard。

"Well，unlessthegentlemenarehavingalarkwithusathideandseek。Themansayshewaitedtenminutesatthepoint，thenpulledslowlyalongthebanklookingout，expectingtoseethemwalkingback。Hemadethetrunkofatreeapparentlystrandedonthesandandashewasscullingpasthesaysamanjumpedupfrombehindthatlog，flungastickathimandwentoffrunning。Hebackedwateratonceandbegantoshout，’Areyouthere，sir？’Nooneanswered。Hecouldhearthebushesrustleandsomestrangenoiseslikewhisperings。Itwasverydark。Aftercallingoutseveraltimes，andwaitingonhisoars，hegotfrightenedandpulledbacktotheyacht。Thatisclearenough。Theonlydoubtinmymindisiftheyarealiveornot。Ididn’tletontoMrs。

Travers。That’sakindofthingyoukeeptoyourself，ofcourse。"

"Idon’tthinktheyaredead，"saidLingard，slowly，andasifthinkingofsomethingelse。

"Oh！Ifyousaysoit’sallright，"saidCarterwithdeliberation。

"What？"askedLingard，absently；"flingastick，didthey？Flingaspear！"

"That’sit！"assentedCarter，"butIdidn’tsayanything。Ionlywonderedifthesamekindofstickhadn’tbeenflungattheowner，that’sall。ButIsupposeyouknowyourbusinessbest，Captain。"

Lingard，graspinghiswholebeard，reflectedprofoundly，erectandwithbowedheadintheglareoftheflares。