Lingard，leaningback，claspedhishandsroundhisknees。Heseemednottobelisteningandd’Alcacer，pullingacigarettecaseoutofhispocket，lookedforalongtimeatthethreecigarettesitcontained。Itwasthelastoftheprovisionhehadonhimwhencaptured。D’Alcacerhadputhimselfonthestrictestallowance。Acigarettewasonlytobelightedonspecialoccasions；andnowtherewereonlythreeleftandtheyhadtobemadetolasttilltheendoflife。Theycalmed，theysoothed，theygaveanattitude。Andonlythreeleft！Onehadtobekeptforthemorning，tobelightedbeforegoingthroughthegateofdoom——thegateofBelarab’sstockade。Acigarettesoothed，itgaveanattitude。Wasthisthefittingoccasionforoneoftheremainingtwo？D’Alcacer，atrueLatin，wasnotafraidofalittleintrospection。Inthepausehedescendedintotheinnermostdepthsofhisbeing，thenglancedupatthenightsky。
Sportsman，traveller，hehadoftenlookedupatthestarsbeforetoseehowtimewent。Itwasgoingveryslowly。Hetookoutacigarette，snapped—tothecase，bentdowntotheembers。Thenhesatupandblewoutathincloudofsmoke。Themanbyhissidelookedwithhisbowedheadandclaspedkneelikeamasculinerenderingofmournfulmeditation。Suchattitudesaremetwithsometimesonthesculpturesofancienttombs。D’Alcacerbegantospeak：
\"Sheisarepresentativewomanandyetoneofthoseofwhomtherearebutveryfewatanytimeintheworld。Notthattheyareveryrarebutthatthereisbutlittleroomontop。Theyaretheiridescentgleamsonahardanddarksurface。Fortheworldishard，CaptainLingard，itishard，bothinwhatitwillrememberandinwhatitwillforget。Itisforsuchwomenthatpeopletoilonthegroundandundergroundandartistsofallsortsinvoketheirinspiration。\"
Lingardseemednottohaveheardaword。Hischinrestedonhisbreast。D’Alcacerappraisedtheremaininglengthofhiscigaretteandwentoninanequabletonethroughwhichpiercedacertainsadness：
\"No，therearenotmanyofthem。Andyettheyareall。Theydecorateourlifeforus。Theyarethegraciousfiguresonthedrabwallwhichliesonthissideofourcommongrave。Theyleadasortofritualdance，thatmostofushaveagreedtotakeseriously。Itisaverybindingagreementwithwhichsincerityandgoodfaithandhonourhavenothingtodo。Verybinding。Woetohimorherwhobreaksit。Directlytheyleavethepageanttheygetlost。\"
Lingardturnedhisheadsharplyanddiscoveredd’Alcacerlookingathimwithprofoundattention。
\"Theygetlostinamaze，\"continuedd’Alcacer，quietly。\"Theywanderinitlamentingoverthemselves。IwouldshudderatthatfateforanythingIloved。Doyouknow，CaptainLingard，howpeoplelostinamazeend？\"hewentonholdingLingardbyasteadfaststare。\"No？……Iwilltellyouthen。Theyendbyhatingtheirveryselves，andtheydieindisillusionanddespair。\"
Asifafraidoftheforceofhiswordsd’AlcacerlaidasoothinghandlightlyonLingard’sshoulder。ButLingardcontinuedtolookintotheembersathisfeetandremainedinsensibletothefriendlytouch。Yetd’Alcacercouldnotimaginethathehadnotbeenheard。Hefoldedhisarmsonhisbreast。
\"Idon’tknowwhyIhavebeentellingyouallthis，\"hesaid，apologetically。\"IhopeIhavenotbeenintrudingonyourthoughts。\"
\"Icanthinkofnothing，\"Lingarddeclared，unexpectedly。\"Ionlyknowthatyourvoicewasfriendly；andfortherest——\"
\"Onemustgetthroughanightlikethissomehow，\"saidd’Alcacer。
\"Theverystarsseemtolagontheirway。It’sacommonbeliefthatadrowningmanisirresistiblycompelledtoreviewhispastexperience。JustnowIfeelquiteoutofmydepth，andwhateverI
havesaidhascomefrommyexperience。Iamsureyouwillforgiveme。Allthatitamountstoisthis：thatitisnaturalforustocryforthemoonbutitwouldbeveryfataltohaveourcriesheard。Forwhatcouldanyoneofusdowiththemoonifitweregiventohim？Iamspeakingnowofus——commonmortals。\"
Itwasnotimmediatelyafterd’AlcacerhadceasedspeakingbutonlyafteramomentthatLingardunclaspedhisfingers，gotup，andwalkedaway。D’Alcacerfollowedwithaglanceofquietinterestthebig，shadowyformtillitvanishedinthedirectionofanenormousforesttreeleftinthemiddleofthestockade。
ThedeepestshadeofthenightwasspreadoverthegroundofBelarab’sfortifiedcourtyard。Theveryembersofthefireshadturnedblack，showingonlyhereandthereamerespark；andtheformsofthepronesleeperscouldhardlybedistinguishedfromthehardgroundonwhichtheyrested，withtheirarmslyingbesidethemonthemats。PresentlyMrs。Traversappearedquiteclosetod’Alcacer，whoroseinstantly。
\"Martinisasleep，\"saidMrs。Traversinatonethatseemedtohaveborrowedsomethingofthemysteryandquietnessofthenight。
\"Alltheworld’sasleep，\"observedd’Alcacer，solowthatMrs。
Traversbarelycaughtthewords，\"Exceptyouandme，andoneotherwhohasleftmetowanderaboutinthenight。\"
\"Washewithyou？Wherehashegone？\"
\"Whereit’sdarkestIshouldthink，\"answeredd’Alcacer，secretly。\"It’snousegoingtolookforhim；butifyoukeepperfectlystillandholdyourbreathyoumaypresentlyhearhisfootsteps。\"
\"Whatdidhetellyou？\"breathedoutMrs。Travers。
\"Ididn’taskhimanything。Ionlyknowthatsomethinghashappenedwhichhasrobbedhimofhispowerofthinking……
Hadn’tIbettergotothehut？DonMartinoughttohavesomeonewithhimwhenhewakesup。\"Mrs。Traversremainedperfectlystillandevennowandthenheldherbreathwithavaguefearofhearingthosefootstepswanderinginthedark。D’Alcacerhaddisappeared。AgainMrs。Traversheldherbreath。No。Nothing。Notasound。Onlythenighttohereyesseemedtohavegrowndarker。
Wasthatafootstep？\"WherecouldIhidemyself？\"shethought。
Butshedidn’tmove。
Afterleavingd’Alcacer，Lingardthreadinghiswaybetweenthefiresfoundhimselfunderthebigtree，thesametreeagainstwhichDamanhadbeenleaningonthedayofthegreattalkwhenthewhiteprisonershadbeensurrenderedtoLingard’skeepingondefiniteconditions。LingardpassedthroughthedeepobscuritymadebytheoutspreadboughsoftheonlywitnessleftthereofapastthatforendlessageshadseennomankindonthisshoredefendedbytheShallows，aroundthislagoonovershadowedbythejungle。Inthecalmnighttheoldgiant，withoutshuddersormurmursinitsenormouslimbs，sawtherestlessmandriftthroughtheblackshadeintothestarlight。
Inthatdistantpartofthecourtyardtherewereonlyafewsentrieswho，themselvesinvisible，sawLingard’swhitefigurepacetoandfroendlessly。Theyknewwellwhothatwas。Itwasthegreatwhiteman。Averygreatman。Averyrichman。A
possessoroffire—arms，whocoulddispensevaluablegiftsanddealdeadlyblows，thefriendoftheirRuler，theenemyofhisenemies，knowntothemforyearsandalwaysmysterious。Attheirposts，flattenedagainstthestakesnearconvenientloopholes，theycastbackwardglancesandexchangedfaintwhispersfromtimetotime。
Lingardmighthavethoughthimselfalone。Hehadlosttouchwiththeworld。Whathehadsaidtod’Alcacerwasperfectlytrue。Hehadnothought。Hewasinthestateofamanwho，havingcasthiseyesthroughtheopengatesofParadise，isrenderedinsensiblebythatmoment’svisiontoalltheformsandmattersoftheearth；andintheextremityofhisemotionceaseseventolookuponhimselfbutasthesubjectofasublimeexperiencewhichexaltsorunfits，sanctifiesordamns——hedidn’tknowwhich。
Everyshadowythought，everypassingsensationwaslikeabaseintrusiononthatsupremememory。Hecouldn’tbearit。
WhenhehadtriedtoresumehisconversationwithBelarabafterMrs。Travers’arrivalhehaddiscoveredhimselfunabletogoon。
Hehadjustenoughself—controltobreakofftheinterviewinmeasuredterms。Hepointedoutthelatenessofthehour，amostastonishingexcusetopeopletowhomtimeisnothingandwhoselifeandactivitiesarenotruledbytheclock。IndeedLingardhardlyknewwhathewassayingordoingwhenhewentoutagainleavingeverybodydumbwithastonishmentatthechangeinhisaspectandinhisbehaviour。AsuspicioussilencereignedforalongtimeinBelarab’sgreataudienceroomtilltheChiefdismissedeverybodybytwoquietwordsandaslightgesture。
Withherchininherhandintheposeofasybiltryingtoreadthefutureintheglowofdyingembers，Mrs。Travers，withoutholdingherbreath，heardquiteclosetoherthefootstepswhichshehadbeenlisteningforwithmingledalarm，remorse，andhope。
Shedidn’tchangeherattitude。Thedeepredglowlightedherupdimly，herface，thewhitehandhangingbyherside，herfeetintheirsandals。Thedisturbingfootstepsstoppedclosetoher。
\"Wherehaveyoubeenallthistime？\"sheasked，withoutlookinground。
\"Idon’tknow，\"answeredLingard。Hewasspeakingtheexacttruth。Hedidn’tknow。Eversincehehadreleasedthatwomanfromhisarmseverythingbutthevaguestnotionshaddepartedfromhim。Events，necessities，things——hehadlosthisgriponthemall。Andhedidn’tcare。Theywerefutileandimpotent；hehadnopatiencewiththem。TheoffendedandastonishedBelarab，d’Alcacerwithhiskindlytouchandfriendlyvoice，thesleepingmen，themenawake，theSettlementfullofunrestfullifeandtherestlessShallowsofthecoast，wereremovedfromhimintoanimmensityofpityingcontempt。Perhapstheyexisted。Perhapsallthiswaitedforhim。Well，letallthiswait；leteverythingwait，tillto—morrowortotheendoftime，whichcouldnowcomeatanymomentforallhecared——butcertainlytillto—morrow。
\"Ionlyknow，\"hewentonwithanemphasisthatmadeMrs。Traversraiseherhead，\"thatwhereverIgoIshallcarryyouwithme——againstmybreast。\"
Mrs。Travers’fineearcaughtthemingledtonesofsuppressedexultationanddawningfear，theardourandthefalteringofthosewords。Shewasfeelingstillthephysicaltruthattherootofthemsostronglythatshecouldn’thelpsayinginadreamywhisper：
\"Didyoumeantocrushthelifeoutofme？\"
Heansweredinthesametone：
\"Icouldnothavedoneit。Youaretoostrong。WasIrough？I
didn’tmeantobe。IhavebeenoftentoldIdidn’tknowmyownstrength。YoudidnotseemabletogetthroughthatopeningandsoIcaughtholdofyou。Youcameawayinmyhandsquiteeasily。
SuddenlyIthoughttomyself，’nowIwillmakesure。’\"
Hepausedasifhisbreathhadfailedhim。Mrs。Traversdarednotmaketheslightestmovement。Stillintheposeofoneinquestofhiddentruthshemurmured，\"Makesure？\"
\"Yes。AndnowIamsure。Youarehere——here！BeforeIcouldn’ttell。\"
\"Oh，youcouldn’ttellbefore，\"shesaid。
\"No。\"
\"Soitwasrealitythatyouwereseeking。\"
Herepeatedasifspeakingtohimself：\"AndnowIamsure。\"
Hersandalledfoot，allrosyintheglow，feltthewarmthoftheembers。Thetepidnighthadenvelopedherbody；andstillundertheimpressionofhisstrengthshegaveherselfuptoamomentaryfeelingofquietudethatcameaboutherheartassoftasthenightairpenetratedbythefeebleclearnessofthestars。\"Thisisalimpidsoul，\"shethought。
\"YouknowIalwaysbelievedinyou，\"hebeganagain。\"YouknowI
did。Well。IneverbelievedinyousomuchasIdonow，asyousitthere，justasyouare，andwithhardlyenoughlighttomakeyououtby。\"
Itoccurredtoherthatshehadneverheardavoiceshelikedsowell——exceptone。Butthathadbeenagreatactor’svoice；
whereasthismanwasnothingintheworldbuthisveryownself。
Hepersuaded，hemoved，hedisturbed，hesoothedbyhisinherenttruth。Hehadwantedtomakesureandhehadmadesureapparently；andtoowearytoresistthewaywardnessofherthoughtsMrs。Traversreflectedwithasortofamusementthatapparentlyhehadnotbeendisappointed。Shethought，\"Hebelievesinme。Whatamazingwords。OfallthepeoplethatmighthavebelievedinmeIhadtofindthisonehere。Hebelievesinmemorethaninhimself。\"Agustofsuddenremorsetoreheroutfromherquietness，madehercryouttohim：
\"CaptainLingard，weforgethowwehavemet，weforgetwhatisgoingon。Wemustn’t。Iwon’tsaythatyouplacedyourbeliefwronglybutIhavetoconfesssomethingtoyou。ImusttellyouhowIcamehereto—night。Jorgenson……\"
Heinterruptedherforciblybutwithoutraisinghisvoice。
\"Jorgenson。Who’sJorgenson？Youcametomebecauseyoucouldn’thelpyourself。\"
Thistookherbreathaway。\"ButImusttellyou。Thereissomethinginmycomingwhichisnotcleartome。\"
\"YoucantellmenothingthatIdon’tknowalready，\"hesaidinapleadingtone。\"Saynothing。Sitstill。Timeenoughto—morrow。
To—morrow！ThenightisdrawingtoanendandIcarefornothingintheworldbutyou。Letmebe。Givemetherestthatisinyou。\"
Shehadneverheardsuchaccentsonhislipsandshefeltforhimagreatandtenderpity。Whynothumourthismoodinwhichhewantedtopreservethemomentsthatwouldnevercometohimagainonthisearth？Shehesitatedinsilence。Shesawhimstirinthedarknessasifhecouldnotmakeuphismindtositdownonthebench。Butsuddenlyhescatteredtheemberswithhisfootandsankonthegroundagainstherfeet，andshewasnotstartledintheleasttofeeltheweightofhisheadonherknee。Mrs。
Traverswasnotstartledbutshefeltprofoundlymoved。Whyshouldshetormenthimwithallthosequestionsoffreedomandcaptivity，ofviolenceandintrigue，oflifeanddeath？Hewasnotinastatetobetoldanythinganditseemedtoherthatshedidnotwanttospeak，thatinthegreatnessofhercompassionshesimplycouldnotspeak。Allshecoulddoforhimwastorestherhandlightlyonhisheadandrespondsilentlytotheslightmovementshefelt，sighorsob，butamovementwhichsuddenlyimmobilizedherinananxiousemotion。
AboutthesametimeontheothersideofthelagoonJorgenson，raisinghiseyes，notedthestarsandsaidtohimselfthatthenightwouldnotlastlongnow。Hewishedfordaylight。HehopedthatLingardhadalreadydonesomething。TheblazeinTengga’scompoundhadbeenre—lighted。Tom’spowerwasunbounded，practicallyunbounded。Andhewasinvulnerable。
Jorgensonlethisoldeyeswanderamongstthegleamsandshadowsofthegreatsheetofwaterbetweenhimandthathostileshoreandfanciedhecoulddetectafloatingshadowhavingthecharacteristicshapeofamaninasmallcanoe。
\"O！Ya！Man！\"hehailed。\"Whatdoyouwant？\"Othereyes，too，haddetectedthatshadow。LowmurmursaroseonthedeckoftheEmma。
\"Ifyoudon’tspeakatonceIshallfire，\"shoutedJorgenson，fiercely。
\"No，whiteman，\"returnedthefloatingshapeinasolemndrawl。
\"Iamthebeareroffriendlywords。Achief’swords。IcomefromTengga。\"
\"Therewasabulletthatcameonboardnotalongtimeago——alsofromTengga，\"saidJorgenson。
\"Thatwasanaccident，\"protestedthevoicefromthelagoon。
\"Whatelsecoulditbe？IstherewarbetweenyouandTengga？No，no，Owhiteman！AllTenggadesiresisalongtalk。Hehassentmetoaskyoutocomeashore。\"
AtthesewordsJorgenson’sheartsankalittle。ThisinvitationmeantthatLingardhadmadenomove。WasTomasleeporaltogethermad？
\"Thetalkwouldbeofpeace，\"declaredimpressivelytheshadowwhichhaddriftedmuchclosertothehulknow。
\"Itisn’tformetotalkwithgreatchiefs，\"Jorgensonreturned，cautiously。
\"ButTenggaisafriend，\"arguedthenocturnalmessenger。\"Andbythatfirethereareotherfriends——yourfriends，theRajahHassimandtheladyImmada，whosendyoutheirgreetingsandwhoexpecttheireyestorestonyoubeforesunrise。\"
\"That’salie，\"remarkedJorgenson，perfunctorily，andfellintothought，whiletheshadowybearerofwordspreservedascandalizedsilence，though，ofcourse，hehadnotexpectedtobebelievedforamoment。Butonecouldnevertellwhatawhitemanwouldbelieve。HehadwantedtoproducetheimpressionthatHassimandImmadawerethehonouredguestsofTengga。ItoccurredtohimsuddenlythatperhapsJorgensondidn’tknowanythingofthecapture。Andhepersisted。
\"Mywordsarealltrue，Tuan。TheRajahofWajoandhissisterarewithmymaster。IleftthemsittingbythefireonTengga’srighthand。Willyoucomeashoretobewelcomedamongstfriends？\"
Jorgensonhadbeenreflectingprofoundly。HisobjectwastogainasmuchtimeaspossibleforLingard’sinterferencewhichindeedcouldnotfailtobeeffective。ButhehadnottheslightestwishtoentrusthimselftoTengga’sfriendliness。Notthathemindedtherisk；buthedidnotseetheuseoftakingit。
\"No！\"hesaid，\"Ican’tgoashore。WewhitemenhavewaysofourownandIamchiefofthishulk。AndmychiefistheRajahLaut，awhitemanlikemyself。
AllthewordsthatmatterareinhimandifTenggaissuchagreatchieflethimasktheRajahLautforatalk。Yes，that’stheproperthingforTenggatodoifheissuchagreatchiefashesays。\"
\"TheRajahLauthasmadehischoice。HedwellswithBelarab，andwiththewhitepeoplewhoarehuddledtogetherliketrappeddeerinBelarab’sstockade。Whyshouldn’tyoumeantimegooverwhereeverythingislightedupandopenandtalkinfriendshipwithTengga’sfriends，whoseheartshavebeenmadesickbymanydoubts；RajahHassimandtheladyImmadaandDaman，thechiefofthemenofthesea，whodonotknownowwhomtheycantrustunlessitbeyou，Tuan，thekeeperofmuchwealth？\"
Thediplomatistinthesmalldugoutpausedforamomenttogivespecialweighttothefinalargument：
\"Whichyouhavenomeanstodefend。Weknowhowmanyarmedmentherearewithyou。\"
\"Theyaregreatfighters，\"Jorgensonobserved，unconcernedly，spreadinghiselbowsontherailandlookingoveratthefloatingblackpatchofcharacteristicshapewhenceproceededthevoiceofthewilyenvoyofTengga。\"EachmanofthemisworthtenofsuchasyoucanfindintheSettlement。\"
\"Yes，byAllah。Evenworthtwentyofthesecommonpeople。Indeed，youhaveenoughwithyoutomakeagreatfightbutnotenoughforvictory。\"
\"Godalonegivesvictory，\"saidsuddenlythevoiceofJaffir，who，verystillatJorgenson’selbow，hadbeenlisteningtotheconversation。
\"Verytrue，\"wastheanswerinanextremelyconventionaltone。
\"Willyoucomeashore，Owhiteman；andbetheleaderofchiefs？\"
\"Ihavebeenthatbefore，\"saidJorgenson，withgreatdignity，\"andnowallIwantispeace。ButIwon’tcomeashoreamongstpeoplewhosemindsaresomuchtroubled，tillRajahHassimandhissisterreturnonboardthisshipandtellmethetaleoftheirnewfriendshipwithTengga。\"
Hisheartwassinkingwitheveryminute，theveryairwasgrowingheavierwiththesenseofoncomingdisaster，onthatnightthatwasneitherwarnorpeaceandwhoseonlyvoicewasthevoiceofTengga’senvoy，insinuatingintonethoughmenacinginwords。
\"No，thatcannotbe，\"saidthatvoice。\"But，Tuan，verilyTenggahimselfisreadytocomeonboardheretotalkwithyou。Heisveryreadytocomeandindeed，Tuan，hemeanstocomeonboardherebeforeverylong。\"
\"Yes，withfiftywar—canoesfilledwiththeferociousrabbleoftheShoreofRefuge，\"Jaffirwasheardcommenting，sarcastically，overtherail；andasinistermuttered\"Itmaybeso，\"ascendedalongsidefromtheblackwater。
Jorgensonkeptsilentasifwaitingforasupremeinspirationandsuddenlyhespokeinhisother—worldvoice：\"TellTenggafrommethataslongashebringswithhimRajahHassimandtheRajah’ssister，heandhischiefmenwillbewelcomeondeckhere，nomatterhowmanyboatscomealongwiththem。ForthatIdonotcare。Youmaygonow。\"
Aprofoundsilencesucceeded。Itwasclearthattheenvoywasgone，keepingintheshadowoftheshore。JorgensonturnedtoJaffir。
\"Deathamongstfriendsisbutafestival，\"hequoted，mumblinginhismoustache。
\"Itis，byAllah，\"assentedJaffirwithsombrefervour。
VI
Thirty—sixhourslaterCarter，alonewithLingardinthecabinofthebrig，couldalmostfeelduringapauseinhistalktheoppressive，thebreathlesspeaceoftheShallowsawaitinganothersunset。
\"Ineverexpectedtoseeanyofyoualive，\"Carterbeganinhiseasytone，butwithmuchlesscarelessnessinhisbearingasthoughhisdaysofresponsibilityamongsttheShoalsoftheShoreofRefugehadmaturedhisviewoftheexternalworldandofhisownplacetherein。
\"Ofcoursenot，\"mutteredLingard。
ThelistlessnessofthatmanwhomhehadalwaysseenactingunderthestressofasecretpassionseemedperfectlyappallingtoCarter’syouthfulanddeliberateenergy。EversincehehadfoundhimselfagainfacetofacewithLingardhehadtriedtoconcealtheshockingimpressionwithadelicacywhichowednothingtotrainingbutwasasintuitiveasachild’s。
WhilejustifyingtoLingardhismannerofdealingwiththesituationontheShoreofRefuge，hecouldnotforthelifeofhimhelpaskinghimselfwhatwasthisnewmystery。Hewasalsoyoungenoughtolongforawordofcommendation。
\"Come，Captain，\"heargued；\"howwouldyouhavelikedtocomeoutandfindnothingbuttwohalf—burntwrecksstuckonthesands——perhaps？\"
Hewaitedforamoment，theninsheercompassionturnedawayhiseyesfromthatfixedgaze，fromthatharassedfacewithsunkcheeks，fromthatfigureofindomitablestrengthrobbedofitsfire。Hesaidtohimself：\"Hedoesn’thearme，\"andraisedhisvoicewithoutalteringitsself—containedtone：
\"Iwasbelowyesterdaymorningwhenwefelttheshock，butthenoisecametousonlyasadeeprumble。ImadeonejumpforthecompanionbutthatpreciousShawwasbeforemeyelling，’Earthquake！Earthquake！’andIamhangedifhedidn’tmisshisfootingandlanddownonhisheadatthebottomofthestairs。I
hadtostoptopickhimupbutIgotondeckintimetoseeamightyblackcloudthatseemedalmostsolidpopupfrombehindtheforestlikeaballoon。Itstayedthereforquitealongtime。
SomeofourCalashesondecksworetomethattheyhadseenaredflashabovethetree—tops。Butthat’shardtobelieve。Iguessedatoncethatsomethinghadblownuponshore。MyfirstthoughtwasthatIwouldneverseeyouanymoreandImadeupmymindatoncetofindoutallthetruthyouhavebeenkeepingawayfromme。No，sir！Don’tyoumakeamistake！Iwasn’tgoingtogiveyouup，deadoralive。\"
HelookedhardatLingardwhilesayingthesewordsandsawthefirstsignofanimationpassoverthatravagedface。Hesawevenitslipsmoveslightly；buttherewasnosound，andCarterlookedawayagain。
\"Perhapsyouwouldhavedonebetterbytellingmeeverything；butyouleftmebehindonmyowntobeyourmanhere。IputmyhandtotheworkIcouldseebeforeme。Iamasailor。Thereweretwoshipstolookafter。Andheretheyarebothforyou，fittogoortostay，tofightortorun，asyouchoose。\"HewatchedwithbatedbreaththeeffortLingardhadtomaketoutterthetwowordsofthedesiredcommendation：
\"Welldone！\"
\"AndIamyourmanstill，\"Carteradded，impulsively，andhastenedtolookawayfromLingard，whohadtriedtosmileathimandhadfailed。Carterdidn’tknowwhattodonext，remaininthecabinorleavethatunsupportedstrongmantohimself。Withashynesscompletelyforeigntohischaracterandwhichhecouldnotunderstandhimself，hesuggestedinanengagingmurmurandwithanembarrassedassumptionofhisrighttogiveadvice：
\"Whynotliedownforabit，sir？Icanattendtoanythingthatmayturnup。Youseemdoneup，sir。\"
HewasfacingLingard，whostoodontheothersideofthetableinaleaningforwardattitudeproppeduponrigidarmsandstaredfixedlyathim——perhaps？Carterfeltonthevergeofdespair。
Thiscouldn’tlast。HewasrelievedtoseeLingardshakehisheadslightly。
\"No，Mr。Carter。IthinkIwillgoondeck，\"saidtheCaptainofthefamousbrigLightning，whilehiseyesroamedalloverthecabin。Carterstoodasideatonce，butitwassomelittletimebeforeLingardmadeamove。
Thesunhadsunkalready，leavingthateveningnotraceofitsgloryonaskyclearascrystalandonthewaterswithoutaripple。Allcolourseemedtohavegoneoutoftheworld。Theoncomingshadowroseassubtleasaperfumefromtheblackcoastlyingathwarttheeasternsemicircle；andsuchwasthesilencewithinthehorizonthatonemighthavefanciedoneselfcometotheendoftime。Blackandtoylikeinthecleardepthsandthefinalstillnessoftheeveningthebrigandtheschoonerlayanchoredinthemiddleofthemainchannelwiththeirheadsswungthesameway。Lingard，withhischinonhisbreastandhisarmsfolded，movedslowlyhereandthereaboutthepoop。Closeandmutelikehisshadow，Carter，athiselbow，followedhismovements。Hefeltananxioussolicitude