\"——\"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。