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：