\"Theriverisveryangry。Look！Lookatthedriftinglogs！Canyougo？\"
Dainglanceddoubtfullyonthelividexpanseofseethingwaterboundedfarawayontheothersidebythenarrowblacklineoftheforests。Suddenly，inavividwhiteflash，thelowpointoflandwiththebendingtreesonitandAlmayer\'shouse，leapedintoview，flickeredanddisappeared。DainpushedBabalatchiasideandrandowntothewater-gatefollowedbyhisshiveringboatmen。
Babalatchibackedslowlyinandclosedthedoor，thenturnedroundandlookedsilentlyuponLakamba。TheRajahsatstill，glaringstonilyuponthetable，andBabalatchigazedcuriouslyattheperplexedmoodofthemanhehadservedsomanyyearsthroughgoodandevilfortune。Nodoubttheone-eyedstatesmanfeltwithinhissavageandmuchsophisticatedbreasttheunwontedfeelingsofsympathywith，andperhapsevenpityfor，themanhecalledhismaster。Fromthesafepositionofaconfidentialadviser，hecould，inthedimvistaofpastyears，seehimself——acasualcut-throat——findingshelterunderthatman\'sroofinthemodestrice-clearingofearlybeginnings。Thencamealongperiodofunbrokensuccess，ofwisecounsels，anddeepplottingsresolutelycarriedoutbythefearlessLakamba，tillthewholeeastcoastfromPouloLauttoTanjongBatulistenedtoBabalatchi\'swisdomspeakingthroughthemouthoftherulerofSambir。Inthoselongyearshowmanydangersescaped，howmanyenemiesbravelyfaced，howmanywhitemensuccessfullycircumvented！Andnowhelookedupontheresultofsomanyyearsofpatienttoil：thefearlessLakambacowedbytheshadowofanimpendingtrouble。Therulerwasgrowingold，andBabalatchi，awareofanuneasyfeelingatthepitofhisstomach，putbothhishandstherewithasuddenlyvividandsadperceptionofthefactthathehimselfwasgrowingoldtoo；thatthetimeofrecklessdaringwaspastforbothofthem，andthattheyhadtoseekrefugeinprudentcunning。Theywantedpeace；theyweredisposedtoreform；theywerereadyeventoretrench，soastohavethewherewithaltobribetheevildaysaway，ifbribedawaytheycouldbe。Babalatchisighedforthesecondtimethatnightashesquattedagainathismaster\'sfeetandtenderedhimhisbetel-nutboxinmutesympathy。Andtheysatthereincloseyetsilentcommunionofbetel-nutchewers，movingtheirjawsslowly，expectoratingdecorouslyintothewide-mouthedbrassvesseltheypassedtooneanother，andlisteningtotheawfuldinofthebattlingelementsoutside。
\"Thereisaverygreatflood，\"remarkedBabalatchi，sadly。
\"Yes，\"saidLakamba。\"DidDaingo？\"