第15章

"——"HowmanychangesofclothesshallIputup，sir？"askedthesteward，whileLingardtookthepistolsfromhimandeasedthehammersafterputtingonfreshcaps。——"Iwilltakenothingthistime，steward。"Hereceivedinturnfromthemulatto’shandsaredsilkhandkerchief，apocketbook，acigar—case。Heknottedthehandkerchieflooselyroundhisthroat；itwasevidenthewasgoingthroughtheroutineofeverydeparturefortheshore；heevenopenedthecigar—casetoseewhetherithadbeenfilled。——"Hat，sir，"murmuredthehalf—caste。Lingardflungitonhishead。——"Takeyourordersfromthislady，steward——tillIcomeback。Thecabinishers——doyouhear？"Hesighedreadytogoandseemedunabletoliftafoot。——"Iamcomingwithyou，"declaredMrs。Traverssuddenlyinatoneofunalterabledecision。Hedidnotlookather；hedidnotevenlookup；hesaidnothing，tillafterCarterhadcried："Youcan’t，Mrs。Travers！"——whenwithoutbudginghewhisperedtohimself：——"Ofcourse。"Mrs。Travershadpulledalreadythehoodofhercloakoverherheadandherfacewithinthedarkclothhadturnedanintenseandunearthlywhite，inwhichthevioletofhereyesappearedunfathomablymysterious。

Carterstartedforward。——"Youdon’tknowthisman，"healmostshouted。

"Idoknowhim，"shesaid，andbeforethereproachfullyunbelievingattitudeoftheothersheadded，speakingslowlyandwithemphasis："Thereisnot，Iverilybelieve，asinglethoughtoractofhislifethatIdon’tknow。"——"It’strue——it’strue，"

mutteredLingardtohimself。Carterthrewuphisarmswithagroan。"Standback，"saidavoicethatsoundedtohimlikeagrowlofthunder，andhefeltagriponhishandwhichseemedtocrusheverybone。Hejerkeditaway。——"Mrs。Travers！stay，"hecried。Theyhadvanishedthroughtheopendoorandthesoundoftheirfootstepshadalreadydiedaway。Carterturnedaboutbewilderedasiflookingforhelp。——"Whoishe，steward？Whointhenameofallthemaddevilsishe？"heasked，wildly。Hewasconfoundedbythecoldandphilosophicaltoneoftheanswer：——"’Tain’tmyplacetotroubleaboutthat，sir——noryoursIguess。"——"Isn’tit！"shoutedCarter。"Why，hehascarriedtheladyoff。"Thestewardwaslookingcriticallyatthelampandafterawhilescrewedthelightdown。——"That’sbetter，"hemumbled。——"GoodGod！Whatisafellowtodo？"continuedCarter，lookingatHassimandImmadawhowerewhisperingtogetherandgavehimonlyanabsentglance。Herushedondeckandwasstruckblindinstantlybythenightthatseemedtohavebeenlyinginwaitforhim；hestumbledoversomethingsoft，kickedsomethinghard，flunghimselfontherail。"Comeback，"hecried。"Comeback。Captain！Mrs。Travers！——orletmecome，too。"

Helistened。Thebreezeblewcoolagainsthischeek。Ablackbandageseemedtolieoverhiseyes。"Gone，"hegroaned，utterlycrushed。AndsuddenlyheheardMrs。Travers’voiceremoteinthedepthsofthenight。——"Defendthebrig，"itsaid，andthesewords，pronouncingthemselvesintheimmensityofalightlessuniverse，thrilledeveryfibreofhisbodybythecommandingsadnessoftheirtone。"Defend，defendthebrig。"……"IamdamnedifIdo，"shoutedCarterindespair。"Unlessyoucomeback！……Mrs。Travers！"

"……asthough——Iwere——onboard——myself，"wentontherisingcadenceofthevoice，moredistantnow，amarveloffaintandimperiousclearness。

Cartershoutednomore；hetriedtomakeouttheboatforatime，andwhen，givingitup，heleapeddownfromtherail，theheavyobscurityofthebrig’smaindeckwasagitatedlikeasombrepoolbyhisjump，swayed，eddied，seemedtobreakup。Blotchesofdarknessrecoiled，driftedaway，barefeetshuffledhastily，confusedmurmursdiedout。"Lascars，"hemuttered，"Thecrewisallagog。"Afterwardhelistenedforamomenttothefaintlytumultuoussnoresofthewhitemensleepinginrows，withtheirheadsunderthebreakofthepoop。Somewhereabouthisfeet，theyacht’sblackdog，invisible，andchainedtoadeck—ringbolt，whined，rattledthethinlinks，patteredwithhisclawsinhisdistressattheunfamiliarsurroundings，beggingforthecharityofhumannotice。Carterstoopedimpulsively，andwasmetbyastartlinglickintheface。——"Hallo，boy！"Hethumpedthethickcurlysides，strokedthesmoothhead——"Goodboy，Rover。Down。Liedown，dog。Youdon’tknowwhattomakeofit——doyou，boy？"Thedogbecamestillasdeath。"Well，neitherdoI，"mutteredCarter。

Butsuchnaturesarehelpedbyacheerfulcontemptfortheintricateandendlesssuggestionsofthought。Hetoldhimselfthathewouldsoonseewhatwastocomeofit，anddismissedallspeculation。Hadhebeenalittleolderhewouldhavefeltthatthesituationwasbeyondhisgrasp；buthewastooyoungtoseeitwholeandinamannerdetachedfromhimself。Alltheseinexplicableeventsfilledhimwithdeepconcern——butthenontheotherhandhehadthekeyofthemagazineandhecouldnotfinditinhishearttodislikeLingard。Hewaspositiveaboutthisatlast，andtoknowthatmuchafterthediscomfortofaninwardconflictwentalongwaytowardasolution。WhenhefollowedShawintothecabinhecouldnotrepressasenseofenjoymentorhideafaintandmalicioussmile。

"Goneaway——didyousay？Andcarriedofftheladywithhim？"

discoursedShawveryloudinthedoorway。"Didhe？Well，Iamnotsurprised。Whatcanyouexpectfromamanlikethat，wholeaveshisshipinanopenroadsteadwithout——Iwon’tsayorders——butwithoutasmuchasasinglewordtohisnextincommand？Andatnightatthat！Thatjustshowsyouthekindofman。Isthisthewaytotreatachiefmate？Iapprehendhewasriledatthelittleal—ter—cationwehadjustbeforeyoucameonboard。Itoldhimatruthortwo——but——nevermind。There’sthelawandthat’senoughforme。Iamcaptainaslongasheisoutoftheship，andifhisaddressbeforeverylongisnotinoneofHerMajesty’sjailsorotherIau—tho—rizeyoutocallmeaDutchman。Youmarkmywords。"

Hewalkedinmasterfully，satdownandsurveyedthecabininaleisurelyandautocraticmanner；butsuddenlyhiseyesbecamestonywithamazementandindignation；hepointedafatandtremblingforefinger。

"Niggers，"hesaid，huskily。"Inthecuddy！Inthecuddy！"Heappearedbereftofspeechforatime。

SinceheenteredthecabinHassimhadbeenwatchinghiminthoughtfulandexpectantsilence。"Ican’thaveit，"hecontinuedwithgenuinefeelinginhisvoice。"Damme！I’vetoomuchrespectformyself。"Herosewithheavydeliberation；hiseyesbulgedoutinasevereanddignifiedstare。"Outyougo！"hebellowed；

suddenly，makingastepforward。——"GreatScott！Whatareyouupto，mister？"askedinatoneofdispassionatesurprisethestewardwhoseheadappearedinthedoorway。"ThesearetheCaptain’sfriends。""Showmeaman’sfriendsand……"beganShaw，dogmatically，butabruptlypassedintothetoneofadmonition。"Youtakeyourmugoutoftheway，bottlewasher。Theyain’tfriendsofmine。Iain’tavagabond。Iknowwhat’sduetomyself。Quit！"hehissed，fiercely。Hassim，withanalertmovement，graspedthehandleofhiskris。Shawpuffedouthischeeksandfrowned。——"Lookout！Hewillstickyoulikeaprizepig，"murmuredCarterwithoutmovingamuscle。Shawlookedroundhelplessly。——"Andyouwouldenjoythefun——wouldn’tyou？"hesaidwithslowbitterness。Carter’sdistantnon—committalsmilequiteoverwhelmedhimbyitshorridfrigidity。Extremedespondencyreplacedtheproperfeelingofracialprideintheprimitivesoulofthemate。"MyGod！Whatluck！WhathaveIdonetofallamongstthatlot？"hegroaned，satdown，andtookhisbiggreyheadinhishands。CarterdrewasidetomakeroomforImmada，who，inobediencetoawhisperfromherbrother，soughttoleavethecabin。Shepassedoutafteraninstantofhesitation，duringwhichshelookedupatCarteronce。Herbrother，motionlessinadefensiveattitude，protectedherretreat。Shedisappeared；Hassim’sgriponhisweaponrelaxed；helookedinturnateveryobjectinthecabinasiftofixitspositioninhismindforever，andfollowinghissister，walkedoutwithnoiselessfootfalls。

Theyenteredthesamedarknesswhichhadreceived，enveloped，andhiddenthetroubledsoulsofLingardandEdith，buttothesetwothelightfromwhichtheyhadfeltthemselvesdrivenawaywasnowlikethelightofforbiddenhopes；ithadtheawfulandtranquilbrightnessthatalightburningontheshorehasforanexhaustedswimmerabouttogivehimselfuptothefatefulsea。Theylookedback；ithaddisappeared；CarterhadshutthecabindoorbehindthemtohaveitoutwithShaw。Hewantedtoarriveatsomekindofworkingcompromisewiththenominalcommander，butthematewassodemoralizedbythenoveltyoftheassaultsmadeuponhisrespectabilitythattheyoungdefenderofthebrigcouldgetnothingfromhimexceptlamentationsmingledwithmildblasphemies。Thebrigslept，andalongherquietdeckthevoicesraisedinhercabin——Shaw’sappealsandreproachesdirectedvociferouslytoheaven，togetherwithCarter’sinflexibledrawlmingledintoonedeadened，modulated，andcontinuousmurmur。Thelockoutsinthewaist，motionlessandpeeringintoobscurity，oneearturnedtothesea，wereawareofthatstrangeresonanceliketheghostofaquarrelthatseemedtohoverattheirbacks。

Wasub，afterseeingHassimandImmadaintotheircanoe，prowledtoandfrothewholelengthofthevesselvigilantly。Therewasnotastarintheskyandnogleamonthewater；therewasnohorizon，nooutline，noshapefortheeyetorestupon，nothingforthehandtograsp。Anobscuritythatseemedwithoutlimitinspaceandtimehadsubmergedtheuniverselikeadestroyingflood。

Alullofthebreezekeptforatimethesmallboatintheneighbourhoodofthebrig。Thehoistedsail，invisible，flutteredfaintly，mysteriously，andtheboatrisingandfallingbodilytothepassageofeachinvisibleundulationofthewatersseemedtoreposeuponalivingbreast。Lingard，hishandonthetiller，satuperect，expectantandsilent。Mrs。Travershaddrawnhercloakclosearoundherbody。Theirglancesplungedinfinitelydeepintoalightlessvoid，andyettheywerestillsonearthebrigthatthepiteouswhineofthedog，mingledwiththeangryrattlingofthechain，reachedtheirearsfaintly，evokingobscureimagesofdistressandfury。Asharpbarkendinginaplaintivehowlthatseemedraisedbythepassageofphantomsinvisibletomen，renttheblackstillness，asthoughtheinstinctofthebruteinspiredbythesoulofnighthadvoicedinalamentableplaintthefearofthefuture，theanguishoflurkingdeath，theterrorofshadows。Notfarfromthebrig’sboatHassimandImmadaintheircanoe，lettingtheirpaddlestrailinthewater，satinasilentandinvincibletorporasifthefitfulpuffsofwindhadcarriedtotheirheartsthebreathofasubtlepoisonthat，verysoon，wouldmakethemdie。——"Haveyouseenthewhitewoman’seyes？"

criedthegirl。Shestruckherpalmstogetherloudlyandremainedwithherarmsextended，withherhandsclasped。"OHassim！Haveyouseenhereyesshiningunderhereyebrowslikeraysoflightdartingunderthearchedboughsinaforest？Theypiercedme。I

shudderedatthesoundofhervoice！Isawherwalkbehindhim——anditseemstomethatshedoesnotliveonearth——thatallthisiswitchcraft。"

Shelamentedinthenight。Hassimkeptsilent。HehadnoillusionsandinanyothermanbutLingardhewouldhavethoughttheproceedingnobetterthansuicidalfolly。ForhimTraversandd’AlcacerweretwopowerfulRajahs——probablyrelativesoftheRulerofthelandoftheEnglishwhomheknewtobeawoman；butwhytheyshouldcomeandinterferewiththerecoveryofhisownkingdomwasanobscureproblem。HewasconcernedforLingard’ssafety。Thattheriskwasincurredmostlyforhissake——sothattheprospectsofthegreatenterpriseshouldnotberuinedbyaquarreloverthelivesofthesewhites——didnotstrikehimsomuchasmaybeimagined。TherewasthatinhimwhichmadesuchanactiononLingard’spartappearallbutunavoidable。WashenotRajahHassimandwasnottheotheramanofstrongheart，ofstrongarm，ofproudcourage，amangreatenoughtoprotecthighbornprinces——afriend？Immada’swordscalledoutasmilewhich，likethewords，waslostinthedarkness。"Forgetyourweariness，"hesaid，gently，"lest，OSister，weshouldarrivetoolate。"Thecomingdaywouldthrowitslightonsomedecisiveevent。HassimthoughtofhisownmenwhoguardedtheEmmaandhewishedtobewheretheycouldhearhisvoice。HeregrettedJaffirwasnotthere。Hassimwassaddenedbytheabsencefromhissideofthatmanwhooncehadcarriedwhathethoughtwouldbehislastmessagetohisfriend。Ithadnotbeenthelast。Hehadlivedtocherishnewhopesandtofacenewtroublesand，perchance，toframeanothermessageyet，whiledeathknockedwiththehandsofarmedenemiesatthegate。Thebreezesteadied；thesucceedingswellsswungthecanoesmoothlyuptheunbrokenridgesofwatertravellingapacealongtheland。Theyprogressedslowly；

butImmada’sheartwasmorewearythanherarms，andHassim，dippingthebladeofhispaddlewithoutasplash，peeredrightandleft，tryingtomakeouttheshadowyformsofislets。Alongwayaheadofthecanoeandholdingthesamecourse，thebrig’sdinghyranwithbroadlugextended，makingforthatnarrowandwindingpassagebetweenthecoastandthesouthernshoals，whichledtothemouthofthecreekconnectingthelagoonwiththesea。

ThusonthatstarlessnighttheShallowswerepeopledbyuneasysouls。Thethickveilofcloudsstretchedoverthem，cutthemofffromtherestoftheuniverse。AttimesMrs。Travershadinthedarknesstheimpressionofdizzyspeed，andagainitseemedtoherthattheboatwasstandingstill，thateverythingintheworldwasstandingstillandonlyherfancyroamedfreefromalltrammels。Lingard，perfectlymotionlessbyherside，steered，shapinghiscoursebythefeelofthewind。Presentlyheperceivedaheadaghostlyflickeroffaint，lividlightwhichtheearthseemedtothrowupagainsttheuniformblacknessofthesky。ThedinghywasapproachingtheexpanseoftheShallows。Theconfusedclamourofbrokenwaterdeepeneditsnote。

"Howlongarewegoingtosaillikethis？"askedMrs。Travers，gently。Shedidnotrecognizethevoicethatpronouncedtheword"Always"inanswertoherquestion。Ithadtheimpersonalringofavoicewithoutamaster。Herheartbeatfast。

"CaptainLingard！"shecried。

"Yes。What？"hesaid，nervously，asifstartledoutofadream。

"Iaskedyouhowlongweweregoingtosaillikethis，"sherepeated，distinctly。

"Ifthebreezeholdsweshallbeinthelagoonsoonafterdaybreak。Thatwillbetherighttime，too。IshallleaveyouonboardthehulkwithJorgenson。"

"Andyou？Whatwillyoudo？"sheasked。Shehadtowaitforawhile。

"IwilldowhatIcan，"sheheardhimsayatlast。Therewasanotherpause。"AllIcan，"headded。

Thebreezedropped，thesailfluttered。

"Ihaveperfectconfidenceinyou，"shesaid。"Butareyoucertainofsuccess？"

"No。"

ThefutilityofherquestioncamehometoMrs。Travers。Inafewhoursoflifeshehadbeentornawayfromallhercertitudes，flungintoaworldofimprobabilities。Thisthoughtinsteadofaugmentingherdistressseemedtosootheher。Whatsheexperiencedwasnotdoubtanditwasnotfear。Itwassomethingelse。Itmighthavebeenonlyagreatfatigue。

Sheheardadulldetonationasifinthedepthofthesea。Itwashardlymorethanashockandavibration。Arollerhadbrokenamongsttheshoals；thelividclearnessLingardhadseenaheadflashedandflickeredinexpandedwhitesheetsmuchnearertotheboatnow。Andallthis——thewanburstoflight，thefaintshockasofsomethingremoteandimmensefallingintoruins，wastakingplaceoutsidethelimitsofherlifewhichremainedencircledbyanimpenetrabledarknessandbyanimpenetrablesilence。Puffsofwindblewaboutherheadandexpired；thesailcollapsed，shiveredaudibly，stoodfullandstillinturn；andagainthesensationofvertiginousspeedandofabsoluteimmobilitysucceedingeachotherwithincreasingswiftnessmergedatlastintoabizarrestateofheadlongmotionandprofoundpeace。Thedarknessenfoldedherliketheenervatingcaressofasombreuniverse。Itwasgentleanddestructive。Itslanguorseducedhersoulintosurrender。Nothingexistedandevenallhermemoriesvanishedintospace。Shewascontentthatnothingshouldexist。

Lingard，awareallthetimeoftheircontactinthenarrowsternsheetsoftheboat，wasstartledbythepressureofthewoman’sheaddroopingonhisshoulder。Hestiffenedhimselfstillmoreasthoughhehadtriedontheapproachofadangertoconcealhislifeinthebreathlessrigidityofhisbody。Theboatsoaredanddescendedslowly；aregionoffoamandreefsstretchedacrosshercoursehissinglikeagiganticcauldron；astronggustofwinddroveherstraightatitforamomentthenpassedonandabandonedhertotheregularbalancingoftheswell。Thestruggleoftherocksforeveroverwhelmedandemerging，withtheseaforevervictoriousandrepulsed，fascinatedtheman。HewatcheditashewouldhavewatchedsomethinggoingonwithinhimselfwhileMrs。Traverssleptsustainedbyhisarm，pressedtohisside，abandonedtohissupport。TheshoalsguardingtheShoreofRefugehadgivenhimhisfirstglimpseofsuccess——thesolidsupportheneededforhisaction。TheShallowsweretheshelterofhisdreams；theirvoicehadthepowertosootheandexalthisthoughtswiththepromiseoffreedomforhishopes。Neverhadtherebeensuchagenerousfriendship……Amassofwhitefoamwhirlingaboutacentreofintenseblacknessspunsilentlypastthesideoftheboat……ThatwomanheheldlikeacaptiveonhisarmhadalsobeengiventohimbytheShallows。

SuddenlyhiseyescaughtonadistantsandbanktheredgleamofDaman’scampfireinstantlyeclipsedlikethewinkofasignallinglanternalongthelevelofthewaters。Itbroughttohismindtheexistenceofthetwomen——thoseothercaptives。IfthewarcanoetransportingthemintothelagoonhadleftthesandsshortlyafterHassim’sretreatfromDaman’scamp，Traversandd’Alcacerwerebythistimefarawayupthecreek。EverythoughtofactionhadbecomeodioustoLingardsinceallhecoulddointheworldnowwastohastenthemomentofhisseparationfromthatwomantowhomhehadconfessedthewholesecretofhislife。

Andsheslept。Shecouldsleep！Helookeddownatherashewouldhavelookedattheslumberingignoranceofachild，butthelifewithinhimhadthefiercebeatofsuprememoments。Nearby，theeddiessighedalongthereefs，thewatersoughedamongstthestones，clungroundtherockswithtragicmurmursthatresembledpromises，good—byes，orprayers。FromtheunfathomabledistancesofthenightcametheboomingoftheswellassaultingtheseawardfaceoftheShallows。Hefeltthewoman’snearnesswithsuchintensitythatheheardnothing……Thensuddenlyhethoughtofdeath。

"Wakeup！"heshoutedinherear，swingingroundinhisseat。

Mrs。Traversgasped；asplashofwaterflickedherovertheeyesandshefelttheseparatedropsrundownhercheeks，shetastedthemonherlips，tepidandbitterliketears。Aswishingundulationtossedtheboatonhighfollowedbyanotherandstillanother；andthentheboatwiththebreezeabeamglidedthroughstillwater，layingoveratasteadyangle。

"Clearofthereefnow，"remarkedLingardinatoneofrelief。

"Wereweinanydanger？"askedMrs。Traversinawhisper。

"Well，thebreezedroppedandwedriftedinveryclosetotherocks，"heanswered。"Ihadtorouseyou。Itwouldn’thavedoneforyoutowakeupsuddenlystrugglinginthewater。"

Soshehadslept！Itseemedtoherincrediblethatsheshouldhaveclosedhereyesinthissmallboat，withtheknowledgeoftheirdesperateerrand，onsodisturbedasea。Themanbyhersideleanedforward，extendedhisarm，andtheboatgoingoffbeforethewindwentonfasteronanevenkeel。Amotionlessblackbankrestingontheseastretchedinfinitelyrightintheirwayinominousstillness。ShecalledLingard’sattentiontoit。

"Lookatthisawfulcloud。"

"Thiscloudisthecoastandinamomentweshallbeenteringthecreek，"hesaid，quietly。Mrs。Traversstaredatit。Wasitland——land！Itseemedtoherevenlesspalpablethanacloud，ameresinisterimmobilityabovetheunrestofthesea，nursinginitsdepththeunrestofmenwho，tohermind，werenomorerealthanfantasticshadows。

V

WhatstruckMrs。Traversmost，directlysheseteyesonhim，wastheother—worldaspectofJorgenson。Hehadbeenburiedoutofsightsolongthathistall，gauntbody，hisunhurried，mechanicalmovements，hissetfaceandhiseyeswithanemptygazesuggestedaninvincibleindifferencetoallthepossiblesurprisesoftheearth。ThatappearanceofaresuscitatedmanwhoseemedtobecommandedbyaconjuringspellstrolledalongthedecksofwhatwaseventoMrs。Travers’eyesthemerecorpseofashipandturnedonherapairofdeep—sunk，expressionlesseyeswithanalmostunearthlydetachment。Mrs。Travershadneverbeenlookedatbeforewiththatstrangeandpregnantabstraction。Yetshedidn’tdislikeJorgenson。Intheearlymorninglight，whitefromheadtofootinaperfectlycleansuitofclotheswhichseemedhardlytocontainanylimbs，freshlyshaven（Jorgenson’ssunkencheekswiththeirwitheredcolouringalwayshadasortofglossasthoughhehadthehabitofshavingeverytwohoursorso），helookedasimmaculateasthoughhehadbeenindeedapurespiritsuperiortothesoilingcontactsofthematerialearth。Hewasdisturbingbuthewasnotrepulsive。Hegavenosignofgreeting。

Lingardaddressedhimatonce。

"Youhavehadaregularstaircasebuiltupthesideofthehulk，Jorgenson，"hesaid。"Itwasveryconvenientforustocomeaboardnow，butincaseofanattackdon’tyouthink……"

"Ididthink。"TherewasnothingsodispassionateintheworldasthevoiceofCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，exBarqueWildRose，sincehehadrecrossedtheWatersofObliviontostepbackintothelifeofmen。"Ididthink，butsinceIdon’twanttomaketrouble……"

"Oh，youdon’twanttomaketrouble，"interruptedLingard。

"No。Don’tbelieveinit。Doyou，KingTom？"

"Imayhavetomaketrouble。"

"Soyoucameuphereinthissmalldinghyofyourslikethistostartmakingtrouble，didyou？"

"What’sthematterwithyou？Don’tyouknowmeyet，Jorgenson？"

"IthoughtIknewyou。HowcouldItellthatamanlikeyouwouldcomealongforafightbringingawomanwithhim？"

"ThisladyisMrs。Travers，"saidLingard。"ThewifeofoneofthelucklessgentlemenDamangotholdoflastevening……ThisisJorgenson，thefriendofwhomIhavebeentellingyou，Mrs。

Travers。"

Mrs。Traverssmiledfaintly。Hereyesroamedfarandnearandthestrangenessofhersurroundings，theoverpoweringcuriosity，theconflictofinterestanddoubtgavehertheaspectofonestillnewtolife，presentinganinnocentandnaiveattitudebeforethesurprisesofexperience。Shelookedveryguilelessandyouthfulbetweenthosetwomen。Lingardgazedatherwiththatunconscioustendernessmingledwithwonder，whichsomemenmanifesttowardgirlhood。Therewasnothingofaconquerorofkingdomsinhisbearing。Jorgensonpreservedhisamazingabstractionwhichseemedneithertohearnorseeanything。But，evidently，hekeptamysteriousgriponeventsintheworldoflivingmenbecauseheaskedverynaturally：

"Howdidshegetaway？"

"Theladywasn’tonthesandbank，"explainedLingard，curtly。

"Whatsandbank？"mutteredJorgenson，perfunctorily……"Istheyachtlooted，Tom？"

"Nothingofthekind，"saidLingard。

"Ah，manydead？"inquiredJorgenson。

"Itellyoutherewasnothingofthekind，"saidLingard，impatiently。

"What？Nofight！"inquiredJorgensonagainwithouttheslightestsignofanimation。

"No。"

"Andyouafightingman。"

"Listentome，Jorgenson。Thingsturnedoutsothatbeforethetimecameforafightitwasalreadytoolate。"HeturnedtoMrs。

Traversstilllookingaboutwithanxiouseyesandafaintsmileonherlips。"WhileIwastalkingtoyouthateveningfromtheboatitwasalreadytoolate。No。Therewasneveranytimeforit。Ihavetoldyouallaboutmyself，Mrs。Travers，andyouknowthatIspeakthetruthwhenIsaytoolate。Ifyouhadonlybeenaloneinthatyachtgoingabouttheseas！"

"Yes，"shestruckin，"butIwasnotalone。"

Lingarddroppedhischinonhisbreast。Alreadyaforetasteofnoondayheatstaledthesparklingfreshnessofthemorning。ThesmilehadvanishedfromEdithTravers’lipsandhereyesrestedonLingard’sbowedheadwithanexpressionnolongercuriousbutwhichmighthaveappearedenigmatictoJorgensonifhehadlookedather。ButJorgensonlookedatnothing。Heaskedfromtheremotenessofhisdeadpast，"Whathaveyouleftoutside，Tom？

Whatistherenow？"

"There’stheyachtontheshoals，mybrigatanchor，andaboutahundredoftheworstkindofIllanunvagabondsunderthreechiefsandwithtwowar—prausmooredtotheedgeofthebank。MaybeDamaniswiththem，too，outthere。"

"No，"saidJorgenson，positively。

"Hehascomein，"criedLingard。"Hebroughthisprisonersinhimselfthen。"

"Landedbytorchlight，"utteredpreciselytheshadeofCaptainJorgenson，lateoftheBarqueWildRose。HeswunghisarmpointingacrossthelagoonandMrs。Traversturnedaboutinthatdirection。

Allthescenewasbutagreatlightandagreatsolitude。Hergazetravelledoverthelustrous，darksheetofemptywatertoashoreborderedbyawhitebeachempty，too，andshowingnosignofhumanlife。Thehumanhabitationswerelostintheshadeofthefruittrees，maskedbythecultivatedpatchesofIndiancornandthebananaplantations。Neartheshoretherigidlinesoftwostockadedfortscouldbedistinguishedflankingthebeach，andbetweenthemwithagreatopenspacebeforeit，thebrownroofslopeofanenormouslongbuildingthatseemedsuspendedintheairhadagreatsquareflagflutteringaboveit。Somethinglikeasmallwhiteflameintheskywasthecarvedwhitecoralfinialonthegableofthemosquewhichhadcaughtfulltheraysofthesun。Amultitudeofgaystreamers，whiteandred，flewoverthehalf—concealedroofs，overthebrilliantfieldsandamongstthesombrepalmgroves。Butitmighthavebeenadesertedsettlementdecoratedandabandonedbyitsdepartedpopulation。Lingardpointedtothestockadeontheright。

"That’swhereyourhusbandis，"hesaidtoMrs。Travers。

"Whoistheother？"utteredJorgenson’svoiceattheirbacks。Healsowasturnedthatwaywithhisstrangesightlessgazefixedbeyondthemintothevoid。

"ASpanishgentlemanIbelieveyousaid，MrsTravers，"observedLingard。

"Itisextremelydifficulttobelievethatthereisanybodythere，"murmuredMrs。Travers。