\"Thechaphasplentyofsense，\"mutteredLingardtohimself，andwhentheystoodsidebysideonthedeck，hesaid：\"Buttheremaybeenemiesonthebeach，OJaffir，andtheyalsomayshouttodeceivemymen。SoletyourhailbeLightning！Willyouremember？\"
ForatimeJaffirseemedtobechoking。
\"Lit—ing！Isthatright？Isay——isthatright，Ostrongman？\"
Nextmomentheappeareduprightandshadowyontherail。
\"Yes。That’sright。Gonow，\"saidLingard，andJaffirleapedoff，becominginvisiblelongbeforehestruckthewater。Thentherewasasplash；afterawhileasplutteringvoicecriedfaintly，\"Lit—ing！Ah，ha！\"andsuddenlythenextthunder—squallburstuponthecoast。InthecrashingflaresoflightLingardhadagainandagainthequickvisionofawhitebeach，theinclinedpalm—treesofthegrove，thestockadebythesea，theforestfaraway：avastlandscapemysteriousandstill——Hassim’snativecountrysleepingunmovedunderthewrathandfireofHeaven。
IV
ATravellervisitingWajoto—daymay，ifhedeservestheconfidenceofthecommonpeople，hearthetraditionalaccountofthelastcivilwar，togetherwiththelegendofachiefandhissister，whosemotherhadbeenagreatprincesssuspectedofsorceryandonherdeath—bedhadcommunicatedtothesetwothesecretsoftheartofmagic。Thechief’ssisterespecially，\"withtheaspectofachildandthefearlessnessofagreatfighter，\"
becameskilledincastingspells。Theyweredefeatedbythesonoftheiruncle，because——willexplainthenarratorsimply——\"ThecourageofusWajopeopleissogreatthatmagiccandonothingagainstit。Ifoughtinthatwar。Wehadthemwiththeirbackstothesea。\"Andthenhewillgoontorelateinanawedtonehowonacertainnight\"whentherewassuchathunderstormashasbeenneverheardofbeforeorsince\"aship，resemblingtheshipsofwhitemen，appearedoffthecoast，\"asthoughshehadsaileddownfromtheclouds。Shemoved，\"hewillaffirm，\"withhersailsbellyingagainstthewind；insizeshewaslikeanisland；thelightningplayedbetweenhermastswhichwereashighasthesummitsofmountains；astarburnedlowthroughthecloudsaboveher。Weknewitforastaratoncebecausenoflameofman’skindlingcouldhaveenduredthewindandrainofthatnight。Itwassuchanightthatweonthewatchhardlydaredlookuponthesea。Theheavyrainwasbeatingdownoureyelids。Andwhendaycame，theshipwasnowheretobeseen，andinthestockadewherethedaybeforetherewereahundredormoreatourmercy，therewasnoone。Thechief，Hassim，wasgone，andtheladywhowasaprincessinthecountry——andnobodyknowswhatbecameofthemfromthatdaytothis。Sometimestradersfromourpartstalkofhavingheardofthemhere，andheardofthemthere，butthesearetheliesofmenwhogoafarforgain。WewholiveinthecountrybelievethattheshipsailedbackintothecloudswhencetheLady’smagicmadehercome。Didwenotseetheshipwithourowneyes？AndastoRajahHassimandhissister，MasImmada，somemensayonethingandsomeanother，butGodaloneknowsthetruth。\"
SuchisthetraditionalaccountofLingard’svisittotheshoresofBoni。Andthetruthishecameandwentthesamenight；for，whenthedawnbrokeonacloudyskythebrig，underreefedcanvasandsmotheredinsprays，wasstormingalongtothesouthwardonherwayoutoftheGulf。Lingard，watchingovertherapidcourseofhisvessel，lookedaheadwithanxiouseyesandmorethanonceaskedhimselfwithwonder，why，afterall，washethuspressingherunderallthesailshecouldcarry。Hishairwasblownaboutbythewind，hismindwasfullofcareandtheindistinctshapesofmanynewthoughts，andunderhisfeet，theobedientbrigdashedheadlongfromwavetowave。
Herownerandcommanderdidnotknowwherehewasgoing。Thatadventurerhadonlyaconfusednotionofbeingonthethresholdofabigadventure。Therewassomethingtobedone，andhefelthewouldhavetodoit。Itwasexpectedofhim。Theseasexpectedit；thelandexpectedit。Menalso。Thestoryofwarandofsuffering；Jaffir’sdisplayoffidelity，thesightofHassimandhissister，thenight，thetempest，thecoastunderstreamsoffire——allthismadeoneinspiringmanifestationofalifecallingtohimdistinctlyforinterference。Butwhatappealedtohimmostwasthesilent，thecomplete，unquestioning，andapparentlyuncurious，trustofthesepeople。Theycameawayfromdeathstraightintohisarmsasitwere，andremainedinthempassiveasthoughtherehadbeennosuchthingasdoubtorhopeordesire。Thisamazingunconcernseemedtoputhimunderaheavyloadofobligation。
Hearguedtohimselfthathadnotthesedefeatedmenexpectedeverythingfromhimtheycouldnothavebeensoindifferenttohisaction。Theirdumbquietudestirredhimmorethanthemostardentpleading。Notaword，notawhisper，notaquestioninglookeven！Theydidnotask！Itflatteredhim。Hewasalsorathergladofit，becauseiftheunconsciouspartofhimwasperfectlycertainofitsaction，he，himself，didnotknowwhattodowiththosebruisedandbatteredbeingsaplayfulfatehaddeliveredsuddenlyintohishands。
Hehadreceivedthefugitivespersonally，hadhelpedsomeovertherail；inthedarkness，slashedaboutbylightning，hehadguessedthatnotoneofthemwasunwounded，andinthemidstoftotteringshapeshewonderedhowonearththeyhadmanagedtoreachthelong—boatthathadbroughtthemoff。Hecaughtunceremoniouslyinhisarmsthesmallestoftheseshapesandcarrieditintothecabin，thenwithoutlookingathislightburdenranupagainondecktogetthebrigunderway。Whileshoutingoutordershewasdimlyawareofsomeonehoveringnearhiselbow。ItwasHassim。
\"Iamnotreadyforwar，\"heexplained，rapidly，overhisshoulder，\"andto—morrowtheremaybenowind。\"Afterwardforatimeheforgoteverybodyandeverythingwhileheconnedthebrigthroughthefewoutlyingdangers。Butinhalfanhour，andrunningoffwiththewindonthequarter，hewasquiteclearofthecoastandbreathedfreely。Itwasonlythenthatheapproachedtwoothersonthatpoopwherehewasaccustomedinmomentsofdifficultytocommunealonewithhiscraft。Hassimhadcalledhissisteroutofthecabin；nowandthenLingardcouldseethemwithfiercedistinctness，sidebyside，andwithtwinedarms，lookingtowardthemysteriouscountrythatseemedateveryflashtoleapawayfartherfromthebrig——unscathedandfading。
ThethoughtuppermostinLingard’smindwas：\"WhatonearthamI
goingtodowiththem？\"Andnooneseemedtocarewhathewoulddo。Jaffirwitheightothersquarteredonthemainhatch，lookedtoeachother’swoundsandconversedinterminablyinlowtones，cheerfulandquiet，likewell—behavedchildren。Eachofthemhadsavedhiskris，butLingardhadtomakeadistributionofcottonclothoutofhistrade—goods。Wheneverhepassedbythem，theyalllookedafterhimgravely。HassimandImmadalivedinthecuddy。Thechief’ssistertooktheaironlyintheeveningandthosetwocouldbeheardeverynight，invisibleandmurmuringintheshadowsofthequarter—deck。EveryMalayonboardkeptrespectfullyawayfromthem。
Lingard，onthepoop，listenedtothesoftvoices，risingandfalling，inamelancholycadence；sometimesthewomancriedoutasifinangerorinpain。Hewouldstopshort。Thesoundofadeepsighwouldfloatuptohimonthestillnessofthenight。
Attentivestarssurroundedthewanderingbrigandonallsidestheirlightfellthroughavastsilenceuponanoiselesssea。
Lingardwouldbeginagaintopacethedeck，mutteringtohimself。
\"Belarab’sthemanforthisjob。HisistheonlyplacewhereI
canlookforhelp，butIdon’tthinkIknowenoughtofindit。I
wishIhadoldJorgensonhere——justfortenminutes。\"
ThisJorgensonknewthingsthathadhappenedalongtimeago，andlivedamongstmenefficientinmeetingtheaccidentsoftheday，butwhodidnotcarewhatwouldhappento—morrowandwhohadnotimetorememberyesterday。Strictlyspeaking，hedidnotliveamongstthem。Heonlyappearedtherefromtimetotime。Helivedinthenativequarter，withanativewoman，inanativehousestandinginthemiddleofaplotoffencedgroundwheregrewplantains，andfurnishedonlywithmats，cookingpots，aqueerfishingnetontwosticks，andasmallmahoganycasewithalockandasilverplateengravedwiththewords\"CaptainH。C。
Jorgenson。BarqueWildRose。\"
Itwaslikeaninscriptiononatomb。TheWildRosewasdead，andsowasCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，andthesextantcasewasallthatwasleftofthem。OldJorgenson，gauntandmute，wouldturnupatmealtimesonboardanytradingvesselintheRoads，andthestewards——Chinamenormulattos——wouldsulkilyputonanextraplatewithoutwaitingfororders。Whentheseamentradersforegatherednoisilyroundaglitteringclusterofbottlesandglassesonalightedverandah，oldJorgensonwouldemergeupthestairsasiffromadarksea，and，steppingupwithakindoftotteringjauntiness，wouldhelphimselfinthefirsttumblertohand。
\"Idrinktoyouall。No——nochair。\"
Hewouldstandsilentoverthetalkinggroup。Histaciturnitywasaseloquentastherepeatedwarningoftheslaveofthefeast。
Hisfleshhadgonethewayofallflesh，hisspirithadsunkintheturmoilofhispast，buthisimmenseandbonyframesurvivedasifmadeofiron。Hishandstrembledbuthiseyesweresteady。
Hewassupposedtoknowdetailsabouttheendofmysteriousmenandofmysteriousenterprises。Hewasanevidentfailurehimself，buthewasbelievedtoknowsecretsthatwouldmakethefortuneofanyman；yettherewasalsoageneralimpressionthathisknowledgewasnotofthatnaturewhichwouldmakeitprofitableforamoderatelyprudentperson。
Thispowerfulskeleton，dressedinfadedbluesergeandwithoutanykindoflinen，existedanyhow。Sometimes，ifofferedthejob，hepilotedahomeshipthroughtheStraitsofRhio，after，however，assuringthecaptain：
\"Youdon’twantapilot；amancouldgothroughwithhiseyesshut。Butifyouwantme，I’llcome。Tendollars。\"
Then，afterseeinghischargeclearofthelastislandofthegrouphewouldgobackthirtymilesinacanoe，withtwooldMalayswhoseemedtobeinsomewayhisfollowers。Totravelthirtymilesatseaundertheequatorialsunandinacrankydug—outwhereoncedownyoumustnotmove，isanachievementthatrequirestheenduranceofafakirandthevirtueofasalamander。
Tendollarswascheapandgenerallyhewasindemand。Whentimeswerehardhewouldborrowfivedollarsfromanyoftheadventurerswiththeremark：
\"Ican’tpayyouback，verysoon，butthegirlmusteat，andifyouwanttoknowanything，Icantellyou。\"
Itwasremarkablethatnobodyeversmiledatthat\"anything。\"Theusualthingwastosay：
\"Thankyou，oldman；whenIampushedforabitofinformationI’llcometoyou。\"
Jorgensonnoddedthenandwouldsay：\"Rememberthatunlessyouyoungchapsarelikewemenwhorangedabouthereyearsago，whatIcouldtellyouwouldbeworsethanpoison。\"
ItwasfromJorgenson，whohadhisfavouriteswithwhomhewaslesssilent，thatLingardhadheardofDarat—es—Salam，the\"ShoreofRefuge。\"Jorgensonhad，asheexpressedit，\"knowntheinsideofthatcountryjustafterthehigholdtimeswhenthewhite—cladPadrispreachedandfoughtalloverSumatratilltheDutchshookintheirshoes。\"Onlyhedidnotsay\"shook\"and\"shoes\"buttheaboveparaphraseconveyswellenoughhiscontemptuousmeaning。
LingardtriednowtorememberandpiecetogetherthepracticalbitsofoldJorgenson’samazingtales；butallthathadremainedwithhimwasanapproximateideaofthelocalityandaverystrongbutconfusednotionofthedangerousnatureofitsapproaches。Hehesitated，andthebrig，answeringinhermovementstothestateoftheman’smind，lingeredontheroad，seemedtohesitatealso，swingingthiswayandthatonthedaysofcalm。
ItwasjustbecauseofthathesitationthatabigNewYorkship，loadedwithoilincasesforJapan，andpassingthroughtheBillitonpassage，sightedonemorningaverysmartbrigbeinghove—torightinthefair—wayandalittletotheeastofCarimata。Thelankskipper，inafrock—coat，andthebigmatewithheavymoustaches，judgedheralmosttooprettyforaBritisher，andwonderedatthemanonboardlayinghistopsailtothemastfornoreasonthattheycouldsee。Thebigship’ssailsfannedheralong，flappinginthelightair，andwhenthebrigwaslastseenfarasternshehadstillhermainyardabackasifwaitingforsomeone。Butwhen，nextday，aLondontea—clipperpassedonthesametrack，shesawnoprettybrighesitating，allwhiteandstillatthepartingoftheways。AllthatnightLingardhadtalkedwithHassimwhilethestarsstreamedfromeasttowestlikeanimmenseriverofsparksabovetheirheads。Immadalistened，sometimesexclaiminglow，sometimesholdingherbreath。
Sheclappedherhandsonce。Afaintdawnappeared。
\"Youshallbetreatedlikemyfatherinthecountry，\"Hassimwassaying。Aheavydewdrippedofftheriggingandthedarkenedsailswereblackonthepaleazureofthesky。\"Youshallbethefatherwhoadvisesforgood——\"
\"Ishallbeasteadyfriend，andasafriendIwanttobetreated——nomore，\"saidLingard。\"Takebackyourring。\"
\"Whydoyouscornmygift？\"askedHassim，withasadandironicsmile。
\"Takeit，\"saidLingard。\"Itisstillmine。HowcanIforgetthat，whenfacingdeath，youthoughtofmysafety？Therearemanydangersbeforeus。Weshallbeoftenseparated——toworkbetterforthesameend。IfeveryouandImmadaneedhelpatonceandI
amwithinreach，sendmeamessagewiththisringandifIamaliveIwillnotfailyou。\"Helookedaroundatthepaledaybreak。\"IshalltalktoBelarabstraight——likewewhitesdo。I
haveneverseenhim，butIamastrongman。BelarabmusthelpustoreconqueryourcountryandwhenourendisattainedIwon’tlethimeatyouup。\"
Hassimtooktheringandinclinedhishead。
\"It’stimeforustobemoving，\"saidLingard。Hefeltaslighttugathissleeve。HelookedbackandcaughtImmadaintheactofpressingherforeheadtothegreyflannel。\"Don’t，child！\"hesaid，softly。
ThesunroseabovethefaintbluelineoftheShoreofRefuge。
Thehesitationwasover。Themanandthevessel，workinginaccord，hadfoundtheirwaytothefaintblueshore。Beforethesunhaddescendedhalf—waytoitsrestthebrigwasanchoredwithinagunshotoftheslimymangroves，inaplacewhereforahundredyearsormorenowhiteman’svesselhadbeenentrustedtotheholdofthebottom。Theadventurersoftwocenturiesagohadnodoubtknownofthatanchoragefortheywereveryignorantandincomparablyaudacious。Ifitistrue，assomesay，thatthespiritsofthedeadhaunttheplaceswherethelivinghavesinnedandtoiled，thentheymighthaveseenawhitelong—boat，pulledbyeightoarsandsteeredbyamansunburntandbearded，acabbage—leafhatonhead，andpistolsinhisbelt，skirtingtheblackmud，fulloftwistedroots，insearchofalikelyopening。
Creekaftercreekwaspassedandtheboatcreptonslowlylikeamonstrouswater—spiderwithabigbodyandeightslenderlegs……Didyoufollowwithyourghostlyeyesthequestofthisobscureadventurerofyesterday，youshadesofforgottenadventurerswho，inleatherjerkinsandsweatingundersteelhelmets，attackedwithlongrapiersthepalisadesofthestrangeheathen，or，musketonshoulderandmatchincock，guardedtimberblockhousesbuiltuponthebanksofriversthatcommandgoodtrade？You，who，weariedwiththetoiloffighting，sleptwrappedinfriezemantlesonthesandofquietbeaches，dreamingoffabulousdiamondsandofafar—offhome。
\"Here’sanopening，\"saidLingardtoHassim，whosatathisside，justasthesunwassettingawaytohisleft。\"Here’sanopeningbigenoughforaship。It’stheentrancewearelookingfor，I
believe。Weshallpullallnightupthiscreekifnecessaryandit’stheverydevilifwedon’tcomeuponBelarab’slairbeforedaylight。\"
Heshovedthetillerhardoverandtheboat，swervingsharply，vanishedfromthecoast。
Andperhapstheghostsofoldadventurersnoddedwiselytheirghostlyheadsandexchangedtheghostofawistfulsmile。
V
\"What’sthematterwithKingTomoflate？\"wouldasksomeonewhen，allthecardsinaheaponthetable，thetraderslyingbackintheirchairstookaspellfromahardgamble。
\"Tomhaslearnedtoholdhistongue，hemustbeuptosomedam’
goodthing，\"opinedanother；whileamanwithhookedfeaturesandofGermanextractionwhowassupposedtobeagentforaDutchcrockeryhouse——thefamous\"Sphinx\"mark——brokeinresentfully：
\"Nefermindhim，shentlemens，he’smatt，mattasaMarshHase。
DreemonatsagoIcallonboardhisprigtotalkpizness。Andhesayslikedis——’Glearoudt。’’Vatfor？’Isay。’GlearoudtbeforeIshuckyouoferboard。’Gott—for—dam！Issdatthevaytotalkpizness？Ivantsellhimeinliddlecasefirstchopgrockeryfortradeand——\"
\"Ha，ha，ha！Idon’tblameTom，\"interruptedtheownerofapearlingschooner，whohadcomeintotheRoadsforstores。\"Why，Mosey，thereisn’tamangycanniballeftinthewholeofNewGuineathathasn’tgotacupandsaucerofyourproviding。You’vefloodedthemarket，savee？\"
Jorgensonstoodby，askeletonatthegamingtable。
\"BecauseyouareaDutchspy，\"hesaid，suddenly，inanawfultone。
TheagentoftheSphinxmarkjumpedupinasuddenfury。
\"Vat？Vat？Shentlemens，youallknowme！\"Notamusclemovedinthefacesaround。\"Knowme，\"hestammeredwithwetlips。\"Vat，funfyear——berfegtlyacquaint——grockery——Verfluchtesponsher。
Ich？Spy。Vatforspy？VordamteEnglishpedlars！\"
Thedoorslammed。\"Isthatso？\"askedaNewEnglandvoice。\"Whydon’tyouletdaylightintohim？\"
\"Oh，wecan’tdothathere，\"murmuredoneoftheplayers。\"Yourdeal，Trench，letusgeton。\"
\"Can’tyou？\"drawledtheNewEnglandvoice。\"Youlaw—abiding，get—a—summons，act—of——parliamentlotofsonsofBelial——can’tyou？Now，looka—here，theseColtpistolsIamselling——\"Hetookthepearlerasideandcouldbeheardtalkingearnestlyinthecorner。\"See——youload——and——see？\"Therewererapidclicks。
\"Simple，isn’tit？Andifanytrouble——saywithyourdivers\"——CLICK，CLICK，CLICK——\"Throughandthrough——likeasieve——warrantedtocuretheworstkindofcussednessinanynigger。Yes，siree！Acaseoftwenty—fourorsinglespecimens——asyoulike。No？Shot—guns——rifles？No！Waal，Iguessyou’reofnousetome，butIcoulddoadealwiththatTom——whatd’yecallhim？Whered’yecatchhim？Everywhere——eh？Waal——that’snowhere。
ButIshallfindhimsomeday——yes，siree。\"
Jorgenson，utterlydisregarded，lookeddowndreamilyatthefallingcards。\"Spy——Itellyou，\"hemutteredtohimself。\"Ifyouwanttoknowanything，askme。\"
WhenLingardreturnedfromWajo——afteranuncommonlylongabsence——everyoneremarkedagreatchange。Hewaslesstalkativeandnotsonoisy，hewasstillhospitablebuthishospitalitywaslessexpansive，andthemanwhowasneversohappyaswhendiscussingimpossiblywildprojectswithhalfadozencongenialspiritsoftenshowedadisinclinationtomeethisbestfriends。
Inaword，hereturnedmuchlessofagoodfellowthanhewentaway。HisvisitstotheSettlementswerenotlessfrequent，butmuchshorter；andwhentherehewasalwaysinahurrytobegone。
Duringtwoyearsthebrighad，inherway，ashardalifeofitastheman。Swiftandtrimsheflittedamongsttheislandsoflittleknowngroups。Shecouldbedescriedafarfromlonelyheadlands，awhitespecktravellingfastoverthebluesea；theapathetickeepersofrarelighthousesdottingthegreathighwaytotheeastcametoknowthecutofhertopsails。Theysawherpassingeast，passingwest。Theyhadfaintglimpsesofherflyingwithmastsaslantinthemistofarain—squall，orcouldobserveheratleisure，uprightandwithshiveringsails，forgingaheadthroughalongdayofunsteadyairs。MensawherbattlingwithaheavymonsoonintheBayofBengal，lyingbecalmedintheJavaSea，orglidingoutsuddenlyfrombehindapointofland，gracefulandsilentintheclearmoonlight。Heractivitywasthesubjectofexcitedbutlow—tonedconversations，whichwouldbeinterruptedwhenhermasterappeared。
\"Hereheis。Cameinlastnight，\"whisperedthegossipinggroup。
Lingarddidnotseethecovertglancesofrespecttemperedbyirony；henoddedandpassedon。
\"Hey，Tom！Notimeforadrink？\"wouldshoutsomeone。
Hewouldshakehisheadwithoutlookingback——farawayalready。
Floridandburlyhecouldbeseen，foradayortwo，gettingoutofdustygharries，stridinginsunshinefromtheOccidentalBanktotheHarbourOffice，crossingtheEsplanade，disappearingdownastreetofChineseshops，whileathiselbowandastallashimself，oldJorgensonpacedalong，leanandfaded，obstinateanddisregarded，likeahauntingspiritfromthepasteagertostepbackintothelifeofmen。
Lingardignoredthiswreckofanadventurer，stickingtohimcloserthanhisshadow，andtheotherdidnottrytoattractattention。Hewaitedpatientlyatthedoorsofoffices，wouldvanishattiffintime，wouldinvariablyturnupagainintheeveningandthenhekepthisplacetillLingardwentaboardforthenight。ThepolicepeonsondutylookeddisdainfullyatthephantomofCaptainH。C。Jorgenson，BarqueWildRose，wanderingonthesilentquayorstandingstillforhoursattheedgeofthesombreroadsteadspeckledbytheanchorlightsofships——anadventuroussoullongingtorecrossthewatersofoblivion。
Thesampan—men，scullinglazilyhomewardpasttheblackhullofthebrigatanchor，couldhearfarintothenightthedrawloftheNewEnglandvoiceescapingthroughtheliftedpanesofthecabinskylight。Snatchesofnasalsentencesfloatedinthestillnessaroundthestillcraft。
\"Yes，siree！Mexicanwarrifles——goodasnew——sixinacase——mypeopleinBaltimore——that’sso。Hundredandtwentyroundsthrowninforeachspecimen——markedtosuityourre—quirements。
Suppose——musicalinstruments，thissideupwithcare——how’sthatforyourtaste？No，no！Cashdown——mypeopleinBalt——Shootingsea—gullsyousay？Waal！It’sariskybusiness——seehere——tenpercent。discount——it’soutofmyownpocket——\"
Astimeworeon，andnothinghappened，atleastnothingthatonecouldhearof，theexcitementdiedout。Lingard’snewattitudewasacceptedasonly\"hisway。\"Therewasnothinginit，maintainedsome。Othersdissented。Agooddealofcuriosity，however，remainedandthefaintrumourofsomethingbigbeinginpreparationfollowedhimintoeveryharbourhewentto，fromRangoontoHongkong。
Hefeltnowheresomuchathomeaswhenhisbrigwasanchoredontheinnersideofthegreatstretchofshoals。Thecentreofhislifehadshiftedaboutfourhundredmiles——fromtheStraitsofMalaccatotheShoreofRefuge——andwhentherehefelthimselfwithinthecircleofanotherexistence，governedbyhisimpulse，nearerhisdesire。HassimandImmadawouldcomedowntothecoastandwaitforhimontheislet。Healwaysleftthemwithregret。
Attheendofthefirststageineachtrip，Jorgensonwaitedforhimatthetopoftheboat—stairsandwithoutawordfellintostepathiselbow。Theyseldomexchangedthreewordsinaday；
butoneeveningaboutsixmonthsbeforeLingard’slasttrip，astheywerecrossingtheshortbridgeoverthecanalwherenativecraftliemooredinclusters，Jorgensonlengthenedhisstrideandcameabreast。Itwasamoonlightnightandnothingstirredonearthbuttheshadowsofhighclouds。Lingardtookoffhishatanddrewinalongsighinthetepidbreeze。Jorgensonspokesuddenlyinacautioustone：\"ThenewRajahTullasmokesopiumandissometimesdangeroustospeakto。ThereisalotofdiscontentinWajoamongstthebigpeople。\"
\"Good！Good！\"whisperedLingard，excitedly，offhisguardforonce。Then——\"Howthedevildoyouknowanythingaboutit？\"heasked。
Jorgensonpointedatthemassofpraus，coastingboats，andsampansthat，jammeduptogetherinthecanal，laycoveredwithmatsandfloodedbythecoldmoonlightwithhereandthereadimlanternburningamongsttheconfusionofhighsterns，spars，mastsandloweredsails。
\"There！\"hesaid，astheymovedon，andtheirhattedandclothedshadowsfellheavilyonthequeer—shapedvesselsthatcarrythefortunesofbrownmenuponashallowsea。\"There！Icansitwiththem，Icantalktothem，IcancomeandgoasIlike。Theyknowmenow——it’stime—thirty—fiveyears。Someofthemgiveaplateofriceandabitoffishtothewhiteman。That’sallIget——afterthirty—fiveyears——givenuptothem。\"
Hewassilentforatime。
\"Iwaslikeyouonce，\"headded，andthenlayinghishandonLingard’ssleeve，murmured——\"Areyouverydeepinthisthing？\"
\"Totheverylastcent，\"saidLingard，quietly，andlookingstraightbeforehim。
Theglitteroftheroadsteadwentout，andthemastsofanchoredshipsvanishedintheinvadingshadowofacloud。