Mrs。Traversaskedherselfwhetherperchanceshehadnotsimplyscreamed。Ithadneveroccurredtoherbeforethatperhapsshehad。Atthetimeitseemedtohershehadnostrengthformorethanawhisper。Hadshebeenreallysoloud？Andthedeadlychill，thenightthathadgonebyherhadleftinherbody，vanishedfromherlimbs，passedoutofherinaflush。Herfacewasturnedawayfromthelight，andthatfactgavehercouragetocontinue。Moreover，themanbeforeherwassodetachedfromtheshamesandpridesandschemesoflifethatheseemednottocountatall，exceptthatsomehoworotherhemanagedattimestocatchthemereliteralsenseofthewordsaddressedtohim——andanswerthem。Andanswerthem！Answerunfailingly，impersonally，withoutanyfeeling。
\"YousawTom——KingTom？Washethere？Imeanjustthen，atthemoment。Therewasalightatthegangway。Washeondeck？\"
\"No。Intheboat。\"
\"Already？CouldIhavebeenheardintheboatdownthere？Yousaythewholeshipheardme——andIdon’tcare。Butcouldhehearme？\"
\"WasitTomyouwereafter？\"saidJorgensoninthetoneofanegligentremark。
\"Can’tyouanswerme？\"shecried，angrily。
\"Tomwasbusy。Nochild’splay。Theboatshovedoff，\"saidJorgenson，asifheweremerelythinkingaloud。
\"Youwon’ttellme，then？\"Mrs。Traversapostrophizedhim，fearlessly。ShewasnotafraidofJorgenson。Justthenshewasafraidofnothingandnobody。AndJorgensonwentonthinkingaloud。
\"IguesshewillbekeptbusyfromnowonandsoshallI。\"
Mrs。Traversseemedreadytotakebytheshouldersandshakethatdead—voicedspectretillitbeggedformercy。Butsuddenlyherstrongwhitearmsfelldownbyherside，thearmsofanexhaustedwoman。
\"Ishallnever，neverfindout，\"shewhisperedtoherself。
Shecastdownhereyesinintolerablehumiliation，inintolerabledesire，asthoughshehadveiledherface。Notasoundreachedthelonelinessofherthought。ButwhensheraisedhereyesagainJorgensonwasnolongerstandingbeforeher。
Foraninstantshesawhimallblackinthebrilliantandnarrowdoorway，andthenextmomenthehadvanishedoutside，asifdevouredbythehotblazeoflight。ThesunhadrisenontheShoreofRefuge。
WhenMrs。Traverscameoutondeckherselfitwasasitwerewithaboldlyunveiledface，withwide—openanddry，sleeplesseyes。
Theirgaze，undismayedbythesunshine，soughttheinnermostheartofthingseachdayofferedtothepassionofherdreadandofherimpatience。Thelagoon，thebeach，thecoloursandtheshapesstruckhermorethaneverasaluminouspaintingonanimmenseclothhidingthemovementsofaninexplicablelife。Sheshadedhereyeswithherhand。Therewerefiguresonthebeach，movingdarkdotsonthewhitesemicircleboundedbythestockades，backedbyroofridgesabovethepalmgroves。Furtherbackthemassofcarvedwhitecoralontheroofofthemosqueshonelikeawhiteday—star。Religionandpolitics——alwayspolitics！Totheleft，beforeTengga’senclosure，theloomoffirehadchangedintoapillarofsmoke。Butthereweresomebigtreesoverthereandshecouldn’ttellwhetherthenightcouncilhadprolongeditssitting。Somevagueformswerestillmovingthereandshecouldpicturethemtoherself：Daman，thesupremechiefofsea—robbers，withavengefulheartandtheeyesofagazelle；Sentot，thesourfanaticwiththebigturban，thatothersaintwithascantyloinclothandashesinhishair，andTenggawhomshecouldimaginefromhearsay，fat，good—tempered，crafty，butreadytospillbloodonhisambitiouswayandalreadyboldenoughtoflauntayellowstateumbrellaattheverygateofBelarab’sstockade——sotheysaid。
Shesaw，sheimagined，sheevenadmittednowtherealityofthosethingsnolongeramerepageantmarshalledforhervisionwithbarbaroussplendourandsavageemphasis。Shequestioneditnolonger——butshedidnotfeelitinhersoulanymorethanonefeelsthedepthoftheseaunderitspeacefulglitterortheturmoilofitsgreyfury。Hereyesrangedafar，unbelievingandfearful——andthenallatonceshebecameawareoftheemptyCagewithitsinteriorindisorder，thecampbedsteadsnottakenaway，apillowlyingonthedeck，thedyingflamelikeashredofdullyellowstuffinsidethelamplefthangingoverthetable。Thewholestruckherassqualidandasifalreadydecayed，aflimsyandidlephantasy。ButJorgenson，seatedonthedeckwithhisbacktoit，wasnotidle。Hisoccupation，too，seemedfantasticandsotrulychildishthatherheartsankattheman’sutterabsorptioninit。Jorgensonhadbeforehim，stretchedonthedeck，severalbitsofratherthinanddirty—lookingropeofdifferentlengthsfromacoupleofinchestoaboutafoot。Hehad（anidiotmighthaveamusedhimselfinthatway）setfiretotheendsofthem。Theysmoulderedwithamazingenergy，emittingnowandthenasplutter，andinthecalmairwithinthebulwarkssentupveryslender，exactlyparallelthreadsofsmoke，eachwithavanishingcurlattheend；andtheabsorptionwithwhichJorgensongavehimselfuptothatpastimewasenoughtoshakeallconfidenceinhissanity。
Inonehalf—openedhandhewasholdingthewatch。Hewasalsoprovidedwithascrapofpaperandthestumpofapencil。Mrs。
Traverswasconfidentthathedidnoteitherhearorseeher。
\"CaptainJorgenson，younodoubtthink……\"
Hetriedtowaveherawaywiththestumpofthepencil。Hedidnotwanttobeinterruptedinhisstrangeoccupation。Hewasplayingverygravelyindeedwiththosebitsofstring。\"Ilightedthemalltogether，\"hemurmured，keepingoneeyeonthedialofthewatch。Justthentheshortestpieceofstringwentout，utterlyconsumed。JorgensonmadeahastynoteandremainedstillwhileMrs。Traverslookedathimwithstonyeyesthinkingthatnothingintheworldwasanyuse。TheotherthreadsofsmokewentonvanishinginspiralsbeforetheattentiveJorgenson。
\"Whatareyoudoing？\"askedMrs。Travers，drearily。
\"Timingmatch……precaution……\"
HehadneverinMrs。Travers’experiencebeenlessspectralthanthen。Hedisplayedaweaknessoftheflesh。Hewasimpatientatherintrusion。Hedividedhisattentionbetweenthethreadsofsmokeandthefaceofthewatchwithsuchinterestthatthesuddenreportsofseveralgunsbreakingforthefirsttimefordaysthestillnessofthelagoonandtheillusionofthepaintedscenefailedtomakehimraisehishead。Heonlyjerkeditsidewaysalittle。Mrs。TraversstaredatthewispsofwhitevapourfloatingaboveBelarab’sstockade。Theseriesofsharpdetonationsceasedandtheircombinedechoescamebackoverthelagoonlikealong—drawnandrushingsigh。
\"What’sthis？\"criedMrs。Travers。
\"Belarab’scomehome，\"saidJorgenson。
ThelastthreadofsmokedisappearedandJorgensongotup。Hehadlostallinterestinthewatchandthrustitcarelesslyintohispocket，togetherwiththebitofpaperandthestumpofpencil。
Hehadresumedhisaloofnessfromthelifeofmen，butapproachingthebulwarkhecondescendedtolooktowardBelarab’sstockade。
\"Yes，heishome，\"hesaidverylow。
’’What’sgoingtohappen？\"criedMrs。Travers。\"What’stobedone？\"Jorgensonkeptuphisappearanceofcommuningwithhimself。
\"Iknowwhattodo，\"hemumbled。
\"Youarelucky，\"saidMrs。Travers，withintensebitterness。
Itseemedtoherthatshewasabandonedbyalltheworld。Theoppositeshoreofthelagoonhadresumeditsaspectofapaintedscenethatwouldneverrolluptodisclosethetruthbehinditsblindingandsoullesssplendour。Itseemedtoherthatshehadsaidherlastwordstoallofthem：tod’Alcacer，toherhusband，toLingardhimself——andthattheyhadallgonebehindthecurtainforeveroutofhersight。OfallthewhitemenJorgensonalonewasleft，thatmanwhohaddonewithlifesocompletelythathismerepresencerobbeditofallheatandmystery，leavingnothingbutitsterrible，itsrevoltinginsignificance。AndMrs。Traverswasreadyforrevolt。Shecriedwithsuppressedpassion：
\"Areyouaware，CaptainJorgenson，thatIamalive？\"
Heturnedhiseyesonher，andforamomentshewasdauntedbytheircoldglassiness。Butbeforetheycoulddriveheraway，somethinglikethegleamofasparkgavethemaninstant’sanimation。
\"Iwanttogoandjointhem。Iwanttogoashore，\"shesaid，firmly。\"There！\"
Herbareandextendedarmpointedacrossthelagoon，andJorgenson’sresurrectedeyesglidedalongthewhitelimbandwanderedoffintospace。
\"Noboat，\"hemuttered。
\"Theremustbeacanoe。Iknowthereisacanoe。Iwantit。\"
Shesteppedforwardcompelling，commanding，tryingtoconcentrateinherglanceallherwillpower，thesenseofherownrighttodisposeofherselfandherclaimtobeservedtothelastmomentofherlife。Itwasasifshehaddonenothing。Jorgensondidn’tflinch。
\"Whichofthemareyouafter？\"askedhisblank，unringingvoice。
Shecontinuedtolookathim；herfacehadstiffenedintoaseveremask；shemanagedtosaydistinctly：
\"Isupposeyouhavebeenaskingyourselfthatquestionforsometime，CaptainJorgenson？\"
\"No。Iamaskingyounow。\"
HisfacedisclosednothingtoMrs。Travers’boldandwearyeyes。
\"Whatcouldyoudooverthere？\"Jorgensonaddedasmerciless，asirrepressible，andsincereasthoughheweretheembodimentofthatinnervoicethatspeaksinallofusattimesand，likeJorgenson，isoffensiveanddifficulttoanswer。
\"RememberthatIamnotashadowbutalivingwomanstill，CaptainJorgenson。IcanliveandIcandie。Sendmeovertosharetheirfate。\"
\"Sureyouwouldlike？\"askedtherousedJorgensoninavoicethathadanunexpectedlivingquality，afaintvibrationwhichnomanhadknowninitforyears。\"Theremaybedeathinit，\"hemumbled，relapsingintoindifference。
\"Whocares？\"shesaid，recklessly。\"AllIwantistoaskTomaquestionandhearhisanswer。That’swhatIwouldlike。That’swhatImusthave。\"
II
Alongthehotandgloomyforestpath，neglected，overgrownandstrangledinthefiercelifeofthejungle，therecameafaintrustleofleaves。Jaffir，theservantofprinces，themessengerofgreatmen，walked，stooping，withabroadchopperinhishand。
Hewasnakedfromthewaistupward，hisshouldersandarmswerescratchedandbleeding。Amultitudeofbitinginsectsmadeacloudabouthishead。Hehadlosthiscostlyandancienthead—kerchief，andwheninaslightlywiderspacehestoppedinalisteningattitudeanybodywouldhavetakenhimforafugitive。
Hewavedhisarmsabout，slappinghisshoulders，thesidesofhishead，hisheavingflanks；then，motionless，listenedagainforawhile。Asoundoffiring，notsomuchmadefaintbydistanceasmuffledbythemassesoffoliage，reachedhisears，droppingshotswhichhecouldhavecountedifhehadcaredto。\"Thereisfightingintheforestalready，\"hethought。Thenputtinghisheadlowinthetunnelofvegetationhedashedforwardoutofthehorriblecloudofflies，whichheactuallymanagedforaninstanttoleavebehindhim。Butitwasnotfromthecrueltyofinsectsthathewasflying，fornomancouldhopetodropthatescort，andJaffirinhislifeofafaithfulmessengerhadbeenaccustomed，ifsuchanextravagantphrasemaybeused，tobeeatenalive。Bentnearlydoubleheglidedanddodgedbetweenthetrees，throughtheundergrowth，hisbrownbodystreamingwithsweat，hisfirmlimbsgleaminglikelimbsofimperishablebronzethroughthemassofgreenleavesthatareforeverbornandforeverdying。Forallhisdesperatehastehewasnolongerafugitive；hewassimplyamaninatremendoushurry。Hisflight，whichhadbegunwithaboundandarushandageneraldisplayofgreatpresenceofmind，wasasimpleissuefromacriticalsituation。Issuesfromcriticalsituationsaregenerallysimpleifoneisquickenoughtothinkofthemintime。Hebecameawareverysoonthattheattempttopursuehimhadbeengivenup，buthehadtakentheforestpathandhadkeptuphispacebecausehehadlefthisRajahandtheladyImmadabesetbyenemiesontheedgeoftheforest，asgoodascaptivestoapartyofTengga’smen。
Belarab’shesitationhadprovedtoomuchevenforHassim’shereditarypatienceinsuchmatters。Itisbutbecomingthatweightynegotiationsshouldbespreadovermanydays，thatthesamerequestsandargumentsshouldberepeatedinthesamewords，atmanysuccessiveinterviews，andreceivethesameevasiveanswers。Mattersofstatedemandthedignityofsuchaprocedureasiftimeitselfhadtowaitonthepowerandwisdomofrulers。
Sucharetheproceedingsofembassiesandthedignifiedpatienceofenvoys。ButatthistimeofcrisisHassim’simpatienceobtainedtheupperhand；andthoughheneverdepartedfromthetraditionofsoftspeechandrestrainedbearingwhilefollowingwithhissisterinthetrainofthepiousBelarab，hehadhismomentsofanger，ofanxiety，ofdespondency。Hisfriendships，hisfuture，hiscountry’sdestinieswereatstake，whileBelarab’scampwandereddeviouslyoverthebackcountryasifinfluencedbythevacillationoftheruler’sthought，theveryimageofuncertainfate。
Oftennomorethanthesingleword\"Good\"wasalltheanswervouchsafedtoHassim’sdailyspeeches。Thelessermen，companionsoftheChief，treatedhimwithdeference；butHassimcouldfeeltheoppositionfromthewomen’ssideofthecampworkingagainsthiscauseinsubserviencetothemerecapriceofthenewwife，agirlquitegentleandkindtoherdependents，butwhoseimaginationhadrunawaywithhercompletelyandhadmadehergreedyforthelootoftheyachtfrommeresimplicityandinnocence。WhatcouldHassim，thatstranger，wanderingandpoor，offerforheracceptance？Nothing。Thewealthofhisfar—offcountrywasbutanidletale，thetalkofanexilelookingforhelp。
AtnightHassimhadtolistentotheanguisheddoubtsofImmada，theonlycompanionofhislife，childofthesamemother，braveasaman，butinherfearsaverywoman。ShewhisperedthemtohimfarintothenightwhilethecampofthegreatBelarabwashushedinsleepandthefireshadsunkdowntomereglowingembers。Hassimsoothedhergravely。Buthe，too，wasanativeofWajowheremenaremoredaringandquickerofmindthanotherMalays。Moreenergetic，too，andenergydoesnotgowithoutaninnerfire。HassimlostpatienceandoneeveninghedeclaredtohissisterImmada：\"To—morrowweleavethisrulerwithoutamindandgobacktoourwhitefriend。\"
Thereforenextmorning，lettingthecampmoveonthedirectroadtothesettlement，HassimandImmadatookacourseoftheirown。
Itwasalonelypathbetweenthejungleandtheclearings。Theyhadtwoattendantswiththem，Hassim’sownmen，menofWajo；andsotheladyImmada，whenshehadamindto，couldbecarried，afterthemannerofthegreatladiesofWajowhoneednotputfoottothegroundunlesstheylike。TheladyImmada，accustomedtothehardshipsthatarethelotofexiles，preferredtowalk，butfromtimetotimesheletherselfbecarriedforashortdistanceoutofregardforthefeelingsofherattendants。Thepartymadegoodtimeduringtheearlyhours，andHassimexpectedconfidentlytoreachbeforeeveningtheshoreofthelagoonataspotverynearthestrandedEmma。Atnoontheyrestedintheshadenearadarkpoolwithintheedgeoftheforest；anditwastherethatJaffirmetthem，muchtohisandtheirsurprise。Itwastheoccasionofalongtalk。Jaffir，squattingonhisheels，discoursedinmeasuredtones。Hehadentrancedlisteners。ThestoryofCarter’sexploitamongsttheShoalshadnotreachedBelarab’scamp。ItwasagreatshocktoHassim，butthesortofhalfsmilewithwhichhehadbeenlisteningtoJaffirneveraltereditscharacter。ItwasthePrincessImmadawhocriedoutindistressandwrungherhands。Adeepsilencefell。
Indeed，beforethefatalmagnitudeofthefactitseemedeventothoseMalaysthattherewasnothingtosayandJaffir，loweringhishead，respectedhisPrince’sconsternation。Then，beforethatfeelingcouldpassawayfromthatsmallgroupofpeopleseatedroundafewsmoulderingsticks，thenoisyapproachofalargepartyofmenmadethemallleaptotheirfeet。Beforetheycouldmakeanothermovementtheyperceivedthemselvesdiscovered。Themenwerearmedasifboundonsomewarlikeexpedition。AmongstthemSentot，inhisloinclothandwithunboundwildlocks，caperedandswunghisarmsaboutlikethelunatichewas。Theothers’astonishmentmadethemhalt，buttheirattitudewasobviouslyhostile。Intherearaportlyfigureflankedbytwoattendantscarryingswordswasapproachingprudently。RajahHassimresumedquietlyhisseatonthetrunkofafallentree，Immadarestedherhandlightlyonherbrother’sshoulder，andJaffir，squattingdownagain，lookedatthegroundwithallhisfacultiesandeverymuscleofhisbodytenselyonthealert。
\"Tengga’sfighters，\"hemurmured，scornfully。
Inthegroupsomebodyshouted，andwasansweredbyshoutsfromafar。Therecouldbenothoughtofresistance。HassimslippedtheemeraldringfromhisfingerstealthilyandJaffirgotholdofitbyanalmostimperceptiblemovement。TheRajahdidnotevenlookatthetrustymessenger。
\"Failnottogiveittothewhiteman，\"hemurmured。\"Thyservanthears，ORajah。It’sacharmofgreatpower。\"
Theshadowsweregrowingtothewestward。Everybodywassilent，andtheshiftinggroupofarmedmenseemedtohavedriftedcloser。Immada，drawingtheendofascarfacrossherface，confrontedtheadvancewithonlyoneeyeexposed。OntheflankofthearmedmenSentotwasperformingaslowdancebuthe，too，seemedtohavegonedumb。
\"Nowgo，\"breathedoutRajahHassim，hisgazelevelledintospaceimmovably。
ForasecondormoreJaffirdidnotstir，thenwithasuddenleapfromhissquattingpostureheflewthroughtheairandstruckthejungleinagreatcommotionofleaves，vanishinginstantlylikeaswimmerdivingfromonhigh。Adeepmurmurofsurprisearoseinthearmedparty，aspearwasthrown，ashotwasfired，threeorfourmendashedintotheforest，buttheysoonreturnedcrestfallenwithapologeticsmiles；whileJaffir，strikinganoldpaththatseemedtoleadintherightdirection，ranoninsolitude，raisingarustleofleaves，withanakedparanginhishandandacloudoffliesabouthishead。Thesundecliningtothewestwardthrewshaftsoflightacrosshisdarkpath。Heranataspringyhalf—trot，hiseyeswatchful，hisbroadchestheaving，andcarryingtheemeraldringontheforefingerofaclenchedhandasthoughhewereafraiditshouldslipoff，flyoff，betornfromhimbyaninvisibleforce，orspiritedawaybysomeenchantment。Whocouldtellwhatmighthappen？Therewereevilforcesatworkintheworld，powerfulincantations，horribleapparitions。Themessengerofprincesandofgreatmen，chargedwiththesupremeappealofhismaster，wasafraidinthedeepeningshadeoftheforest。Evilpresencesmighthavebeenlurkinginthatgloom。Stillthesunhadnotsetyet。Hecouldseeitsfacethroughtheleavesasheskirtedtheshoreofthelagoon。ButwhatifAllah’scallshouldcometohimsuddenlyandhedieasheran！
HedrewalongbreathontheshoreofthelagoonwithinaboutahundredyardsfromthestrandedbowsoftheEmma。Thetidewasoutandhewalkedtotheendofasubmergedlogandsentoutahailforaboat。Jorgenson’svoiceanswered。Thesunhadsunkbehindtheforestbeltofthecoast。Allwasstillasfarastheeyecouldreachovertheblackwater。AslightbreezecamealongitandJaffironthebrink，waitingforacanoe，shiveredalittle。
AtthesamemomentCarter，exhaustedbythirtyhoursofuninterruptedtoilattheheadofwhitesandMalaysingettingtheyachtafloat，droppedintoMrs。Travers’deckchair，onboardtheHermit，saidtothedevotedWasub：\"Letagoodwatchbekeptto—night，oldman，\"glancedcontentedlyatthesettingsunandfellasleep。
III
TherewasinthebowsoftheEmmaanelevatedgratingovertheheelofherbowspritwhencetheeyecouldtakeinthewholerangeofherdeckandseeeverymovementofhercrew。Itwasaspotsafefromeaves—droppers，though，ofcourse，exposedtoview。ThesunhadjustsetonthesupremecontentofCarterwhenJorgensonandJaffirsatdownsidebysidebetweentheknightheadsoftheEmmaand，publicbutunapproachable，impressiveandsecret，begantoconverseinlowtones。
EveryWajofugitivewhomannedthehulkfelttheapproachofadecisivemoment。Theirmindsweremadeupandtheirheartsbeatsteadily。Theywerealldesperatemendeterminedtofightandtodieandtroublingnotaboutthemanneroflivingordying。ThiswasnotthecasewithMrs。Traverswho，havingshutherselfupinthedeckhouse，wasprofoundlytroubledaboutthoseverythings，thoughshe，too，feltdesperateenoughtowelcomealmostanysolution。
Ofallthepeopleonboardshealonedidnotknowanythingofthatconference。InherdeepandaimlessthinkingshehadonlybecomeawareoftheabsenceoftheslightestsoundonboardtheEmma。Notarustle，notafootfall。ThepublicviewofJorgensonandJaffirindeepconsultationhadtheeffectoftakingallwishtomovefromeveryman。
Twilightenvelopedthetwofiguresforwardwhiletheytalked，lookinginthestillnessoftheirposelikecarvedfiguresofEuropeanandAsiaticcontrastedinintimatecontact。Thedeepeningduskhadnearlyeffacedthemwhenatlasttheyrosewithoutwarning，asitwere，andthrillingtheheartofthebeholdersbythesuddenmovement。Buttheydidnotseparateatonce。Theylingeredintheirhighplaceasifawaitingthefallofcompletedarkness，afitendingtotheirmysteriouscommunion。
JaffirhadgivenJorgensonthewholestoryofthering，thesymbolofafriendshipmaturedandconfirmedonthenightofdefeat，onthenightofflightfromafar—distantlandsleepingunmovedunderthewrathandfireofheaven。
\"Yes，Tuan，\"continuedJaffir，\"itwasfirstsentouttothewhiteman，onanightofmortaldanger，apresenttorememberafriendby。IwasthebearerofitthenevenasIamnow。Then，asnow，itwasgiventomeandIwastoldtosavemyselfandhandtheringoverinconfirmationofmymessage。IdidsoandthatwhitemanseemedtostilltheverystormtosavemyRajah。Hewasnotonetodepartandforgethimwhomhehadoncecalledhisfriend。Mymessagewasbutamessageofgood—bye，butthecharmoftheringwasstrongenoughtodrawallthepowerofthatwhitemantothehelpofmymaster。NowIhavenowordstosay。RajahHassimasksfornothing。Butwhatofthat？BythemercyofAllahallthingsarethesame，thecompassionoftheMostHigh，thepowerofthering，theheartofthewhiteman。Nothingischanged，onlythefriendshipisalittleolderandlovehasgrownbecauseoftheshareddangersandlongcompanionship。Therefore，Tuan，Ihavenofear。ButhowamItogettheringtotheRajahLaut？Justhandittohim。Thelastbreathwouldbetimeenoughiftheyweretospearmeathisfeet。Butalas！thebushisfullofTengga’smen，thebeachisopenandIcouldneverevenhopetoreachthegate。\"
Jorgenson，withhishandsdeepinthepocketsofhistunic，listened，lookingdown。Jaffirshowedasmuchconsternationashisnaturewascapableof。
\"OurrefugeiswithGod，\"hemurmured。\"Butwhatistobedone？
Hasyourwisdomnostratagem，OTuan？\"
Jorgensondidnotanswer。Itappearedasthoughhehadnostratagem。ButGodisgreatandJaffirwaitedontheother’simmobility，anxiousbutpatient，perplexedyethopefulinhisgrimway，whilethenightflowingonfromthedarkforestnearbyhidtheirtwofiguresfromthesightofobservingmen。BeforethesilenceofJorgensonJaffirbegantotalkpractically。NowthatTenggahadthrownoffthemaskJaffirdidnotthinkthathecouldlandonthebeachwithoutbeingattacked，captured，naykilled，sinceamanlikehe，thoughhecouldsavehimselfbytakingflightattheorderofhismaster，couldnotbeexpectedtosurrenderwithoutafight。Hementionedthatintheexerciseofhisimportantfunctionsheknewhowtoglidelikeashadow，creeplikeasnake，andalmostburrowhiswayunderground。HewasJaffirwhohadneverbeenfoiled。Nobog，morass，greatriverorjunglecouldstophim。Hewouldhavewelcomedthem。Inmanyrespectstheywerethefriendsofacraftymessenger。Butthatwasanopenbeach，andtherewasnootherway，andasthingsstoodnoweverybusharound，everytreetrunk，everydeepshadowofhouseorfencewouldconcealTengga’smenorsuchofDaman’sinfuriatedpartisansashadalreadymadetheirwaytotheSettlement。Howcouldhehopetotraversethedistancebetweenthewater’sedgeandBelarab’sgatewhichnowwouldremainshutnightandday？NotonlyhimselfbutanybodyfromtheEmmawouldbesuretoberusheduponandspearedintwentyplaces。
Hereflectedforamomentinsilence。
\"Evenyou，Tuan，couldnotaccomplishthefeat。\"
\"True，\"mutteredJorgenson。
When，afteraperiodofmeditation，helookedround，Jaffirwasnolongerbyhisside。Hehaddescendedfromthehighplaceandwasprobablysquattingonhisheelsinsomedarknookontheforedeck。JorgensonknewJaffirtoowelltosupposethathewouldgotosleep。Hewouldsittherethinkinghimselfintoastateoffury，thengetawayfromtheEmmainsomewayorother，goashoreandperishfighting。Hewould，infact，runamok；foritlookedasiftherecouldbenowayoutofthesituation。Then，ofcourse，LingardwouldknownothingofHassimandImmada’scaptivityfortheringwouldneverreachhim——theringthatcouldtellitsowntale。No，Lingardwouldknownothing。HewouldknownothingaboutanybodyoutsideBelarab’sstockadetilltheendcame，whatevertheendmightbe，forallthosepeoplethatlivedthelifeofmen。WhethertoknowornottoknowwouldbegoodforLingardJorgensoncouldnottell。Headmittedtohimselfthatheretherewassomethingthathe，Jorgenson，couldnottell。Allthepossibilitieswerewrappedupindoubt，uncertain，likeallthingspertainingtothelifeofmen。ItwasonlywhengivingashortthoughttohimselfthatJorgensonhadnodoubt。He，ofcourse，wouldknowwhattodo。
Onthethinfaceofthatoldadventurerhiddeninthenightnotafeaturemoved，notamuscletwitched，ashedescendedinhisturnandwalkedaftalongthedecksoftheEmma。Hisfadedeyes，whichhadseensomuch，didnotattempttoexplorethenight，theynevergaveaglancetothesilentwatchersagainstwhomhebrushed。Hadalightbeenflashedonhimsuddenlyhewouldhaveappearedlikeamanwalkinginhissleep：thesomnambulistofaneternaldream。Mrs。Traversheardhisfootstepspassalongthesideofthedeckhouse。Sheheardthem——andletherheadfallagainonherbarearmsthrownoverthelittledeskbeforewhichshesat。