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。