wasaninch，perhapstwo，undersixfeet，powerfullybuilt，andheadvancedstraightatyouwithaslightstoopoftheshoulders，headforward，andafixedfrom-understarewhichmadeyouthinkofachargingbull。Hisvoicewasdeep，loud，andhismannerdisplayedakindofdoggedself-assertionwhichhadnothingaggressiveinit。Itseemedanecessity，anditwasdirectedapparentlyasmuchathimselfasatanybodyelse。Hewasspotlesslyneat，apparelledinimmaculatewhitefromshoestohat，andinthevariousEasternportswherehegothislivingasship-chandler’swater-clerkhewasverypopular。
　　Awater-clerkneednotpassanexaminationinanythingunderthesun，buthemusthaveAbilityintheabstractanddemonstrateitpractically。
　　Hisworkconsistsinracingundersail，steam，oroarsagainstotherwater-clerksforanyshipabouttoanchor，greetinghercaptaincheerily，forcinguponhimacard——thebusinesscardoftheship-chandler——andonhisfirstvisitonshorepilotinghimfirmlybutwithoutostentationtoavast，cavern-likeshopwhichisfullofthingsthatareeatenanddrunkonboardship；whereyoucangeteverythingtomakehersea-worthyandbeautiful，fromasetofchain-hooksforhercabletoabookofgold-leafforthecarvingsofherstern；andwherehercommanderisreceivedlikeabrotherbyaship-chandlerhehasneverseenbefore。Thereisacoolparlour，easy-chairs，bottles，cigars，writingimplements，acopyofharbourregulations，andawarmthofwelcomethatmeltsthesaltofathreemonths’passageoutofaseaman’sheart。Theconnectionthusbeguniskeptup，aslongastheshipremainsinharbour，bythedailyvisitsofthewater-clerk。Tothecaptainheisfaithfullikeafriendandattentivelikeason，withthepatienceofJob，theunselfishdevotionofawoman，andthejollityofabooncompanion。
　　Lateronthebillissentin。Itisabeautifulandhumaneoccupation。
　　Thereforegoodwater-clerksarescarce。Whenawater-clerkwhopossessesAbilityintheabstracthasalsotheadvantageofhavingbeenbroughtuptothesea，heisworthtohisemployeralotofmoneyandsomehumouring。
　　Jimhadalwaysgoodwagesandasmuchhumouringaswouldhaveboughtthefidelityofafiend。Nevertheless，withblackingratitudehewouldthrowupthejobsuddenlyanddepart。Tohisemployersthereasonshegavewereobviouslyinadequate。Theysaid`Confoundedfool!’assoonashisbackwasturned。Thiswastheircriticismonhisexquisitesensibility。
　　TothewhitemeninthewatersidebusinessandtothecaptainsofshipshewasjustJim——nothingmore。Hehad，ofcourse，anothername，buthewasanxiousthatitshouldnotbepronounced。Hisincognito，whichhadasmanyholesasasieve，wasnotmeanttohideapersonalitybutafact。
　　Whenthefactbrokethroughtheincognitohewouldleavesuddenlytheseaportwherehehappenedtobeatthetimeandgotoanother——generallyfarthereast。Hekepttoseaportsbecausehewasaseamaninexilefromthesea，andhadAbilityintheabstract，whichisgoodfornootherworkbutthatofawater-clerk。Heretreatedingoodordertowardstherisingsun，andthefactfollowedhimcasuallybutinevitably。ThusinthecourseofyearshewasknownsuccessivelyinBombay，inCalcutta，inRangoon，inPenang，inBatavia——andineachofthesehalting-placeswasjustJimthewater-clerk。
　　Afterwards，whenhiskeenperceptionoftheIntolerabledrovehimawayforgoodfromseaportsandwhitemen，evenintothevirginforest，theMalaysofthejunglevillage，wherehehadelectedtoconcealhisdeplorablefaculty，addedawordtothemonosyllableofhisincognito。TheycalledhimTuanJim：asonemightsay——LordJim。
　　Originallyhecamefromaparsonage。Manycommandersoffinemerchant-shipscomefromtheseabodesofpietyandpeace。Jim’sfatherpossessedsuchcertainknowledgeoftheUnknowableasmadefortherighteousnessofpeopleincottageswithoutdisturbingtheeaseofmindofthosewhomanunerringProvidenceenablestoliveinmansions。Thelittlechurchonahillhadthemossygreynessofarockseenthrougharaggedscreenofleaves。Ithadstoodthereforcenturies，butthetreesaroundprobablyrememberedthelayingofthefirststone。Below，theredfrontoftherectorygleamedwithawarmtintinthemidstofgrass-plots，flower-beds，andfirtrees，withanorchardattheback，apavedstable-yardtotheleft，andtheslopingglassofgreenhousestackedalongawallofbricks。Thelivinghadbelongedtothefamilyforgenerations；butJimwasoneoffivesons，andwhenafteracourseoflightholidayliteraturehisvocationfortheseahaddeclareditself，hewassentatoncetoa`training-shipforofficersofthemercantilemarine。’
　　Helearnedtherealittletrigonometryandhowtocrosstop-gallantyards。Hewasgenerallyliked。Hehadthethirdplaceinnavigationandpulledstrokeinthefirstcutter。Havingasteadyheadwithanexcellentphysique，hewasverysmartaloft。Hisstationwasinthefore-top，andoftenfromtherehelookeddown，withthecontemptofamandestinedtoshineinthemidstofdangers，atthepeacefulmultitudeofroofscutintwobythebrowntideofthestream，whilescatteredontheoutskirtsofthesurroundingplainthefactorychimneysroseperpendicularagainstagrimysky，eachslenderlikeapencil，andbelchingoutsmokelikeavolcano。
　　Hecouldseethebigshipsdeparting，thebroad-beamedferriesconstantlyonthemove，thelittleboatsfloatingfarbelowhisfeet，withthehazysplendouroftheseainthedistance，andthehopeofastirringlifeintheworldofadventure。
　　Onthelowerdeckinthebabeloftwohundredvoiceshewouldforgethimself，andbeforehandliveinhismindthesea-lifeoflightliterature。
　　Hesawhimselfsavingpeoplefromsinkingships，cuttingawaymastsinahurricane，swimmingthroughasurfwithaline；orasalonelycastaway，barefootedandhalfnaked，walkingonuncoveredreefsinsearchofshellfishtostaveoffstarvation。Heconfrontedsavagesontropicalshores，quelledmutiniesonthehighseas，andinasmallboatupontheoceankeptuptheheartsofdespairingmen——alwaysanexampleofdevotiontoduty，andasunflinchingasaheroinabook。
　　`Something’sup。Comealong。’
　　Heleapedtohisfeet。Theboyswerestreaminguptheladders。Abovecouldbeheardagreatscurryingaboutandshouting，andwhenhegotthroughthehatchwayhestoodstill——asifconfounded。
　　Itwastheduskofawinter’sday。Thegalehadfreshenedsincenoon，stoppingthetrafficontheriver，andnowblewwiththestrengthofahurricaneinfitfulburststhatboomedlikesalvoesofgreatgunsfiringovertheocean。Therainslantedinsheetsthatflickedandsubsided，andbetweenwhilesJimhadthreateningglimpsesofthetumblingtide，thesmallcraftjumbledandtossingalongtheshore，themotionlessbuildingsinthedrivingmist，thebroadferry-boatspitchingponderouslyatanchor，thevastlanding-stagesheavingupanddownandsmotheredinsprays。Thenextgustseemedtoblowallthisaway。Theairwasfullofflyingwater。
　　Therewasafiercepurposeinthegale，afuriousearnestnessinthescreechofthewind，inthebrutaltumultofearthandsky，thatseemeddirectedathim，andmadehimholdhisbreathinawe。Hestoodstill。Itseemedtohimhewaswhirledaround。
　　Hewasjostled。`Manthecutter!’Boysrushedpasthim。Acoasterrunninginforshelterhadcrashedthroughaschooneratanchor，andoneoftheship’sinstructorshadseentheaccident。Amobofboysclamberedontherails，clusteredroundthedavits。`Collision。Justaheadofus。Mr。Symonssawit。’Apushmadehimstaggeragainstthemizzen-mast，andhecaughtholdofarope。Theoldtraining-shipchainedtohermooringsquiveredallover，bowinggentlyheadtowind，andwithherscantyrigginghumminginadeepbassthebreathlesssongofheryouthatsea。`Loweraway!’Hesawtheboat，manned，dropswiftlybelowtherail，andrushedafterher。
　　Heheardasplash。`Letgo；clearthefalls!’Heleanedover。Theriveralongsideseethedinfrothystreaks。Thecuttercouldbeseeninthefallingdarknessunderthespelloftideandwind，thatforamomentheldherbound，andtossingabreastoftheship。Ayellingvoiceinherreachedhimfaintly：
　　`Keepstroke，youyoungwhelps，ifyouwanttosaveanybody!Keepstroke!’
　　Andsuddenlysheliftedhighherbow，and，leapingwithraisedoarsoverawave，brokethespellcastuponherbythewindandtide。
　　Jimfelthisshouldergrippedfirmly。`Toolate，youngster。’Thecaptainoftheshiplaidarestraininghandonthatboy，whoseemedonthepointofleapingoverboard，andJimlookedupwiththepainofconsciousdefeatinhiseyes。Thecaptainsmiledsympathetically。`Betterlucknexttime。
　　Thiswillteachyoutobesmart。’
　　Ashrillcheergreetedthecutter。Shecamedancingbackhalffullofwater，andwithtwoexhaustedmenwashingaboutonherbottomboards。ThetumultandthemenaceofwindandseanowappearedverycontemptibletoJim，increasingtheregretofhisaweattheirinefficientmenace。Nowheknewwhattothinkofit。Itseemedtohimhecarednothingforthegale。Hecouldaffrontgreaterperils。Hewoulddoso——betterthananybody。
　　Notaparticleoffearwasleft。Neverthelesshebroodedapartthateveningwhilethebowmanofthecutter——aboywithafacelikeagirl’sandbiggreyeyes——wastheheroofthelowerdeck。Eagerquestionerscrowdedroundhim。Henarrated：`Ijustsawhisheadbobbing，andIdashedmyboat-hookinthewater。ItcaughtinhisbreechesandInearlywentoverboard，asIthoughtIwould，onlyoldSymonsletgothetillerandgrabbedmylegs——theboatnearlyswamped。OldSymonsisafineoldchap。Idon’tmindabithimbeinggrumpywithus。Hesworeatmeallthetimeheheldmyleg，butthatwasonlyhiswayoftellingmetosticktotheboat-hook。OldSymonsisawfullyexcitable——isn’the？No——notthelittlefairchap——theother，thebigonewithabeard。Whenwepulledhiminhegroaned，`Oh，myleg!
　　oh，myleg!’andturneduphiseyes。Fancysuchabigchapfaintinglikeagirl。Wouldanyofyoufellowsfaintforajabwithaboat-hook？——Iwouldn’t。
　　Itwentintohislegsofar。’Heshowedtheboat-hook，whichhehadcarriedbelowforthepurpose，andproducedasensation。`No，silly!Itwasnothisfleshthatheldhim——hisbreechesdid。Lotsofblood，ofcourse。’
　　Jimthoughtitapitifuldisplayofvanity。Thegalehadministeredtoaheroismasspuriousasitsownpretenceofterror。Hefeltangrywiththebrutaltumultofearthandskyfortakinghimunawaresandcheckingunfairlyagenerousreadinessfornarrowescapes。Otherwisehewasrathergladhehadnotgoneintothecutter，sincealowerachievementhadservedtheturn。Hehadenlargedhisknowledgemorethanthosewhohaddonethework。Whenallmenflinched，then——hefeltsure——healonewouldknowhowtodealwiththespuriousmenaceofwindandseas。Heknewwhattothinkofit。Seendispassionately，itseemedcontemptible。Hecoulddetectnotraceofemotioninhimself，andthefinaleffectofastaggeringeventwasthat，unnoticedandapartfromthenoisycrowdofboys，heexultedwithfreshcertitudeinhisavidityforadventure，andinasenseofmany-sidedcourage。
　　AFTERtwoyearsoftraininghewenttosea，andenteringtheregionssowellknowntohisimagination，foundthemstrangelybarrenofadventure。Hemademanyvoyages。Heknewthemagicmonotonyofexistencebetweenskyandwater：hehadtobearthecriticismofmen，theexactionsofthesea，andtheprosaicseverityofthedailytaskthatgivesbread——butwhoseonlyrewardisintheperfectloveofthework。Thisrewardeludedhim。Yethecouldnotgoback，becausethereisnothingmoreenticing，disenchanting，andenslavingthanthelifeatsea。Besides，hisprospectsweregood。Hewasgentlemanly，steady，tractable，withathoroughknowledgeofhisduties；andintime，whenveryyoung，hebecamechiefmateofafineship，withouteverhavingbeentestedbythoseeventsoftheseathatshowinthelightofdaytheinnerworthofaman，theedgeofhistemper，andthefibreofhisstuff；thatrevealthequalityofhisresistanceandthesecrettruthofhispretences，notonlytoothersbutalsotohimself。
　　Onlyonceinallthattimehehadagaintheglimpseoftheearnestnessintheangerofthesea。Thattruthisnotsooftenmadeapparentaspeoplemightthink。Therearemanyshadesinthedangerofadventuresandgales，anditisonlynowandthenthatthereappearsonthefaceoffactsasinisterviolenceofintention——thatindefinablesomethingwhichforcesituponthemindandtheheartofaman，thatthiscomplicationofaccidentsortheseelementalfuriesarecomingathimwithapurposeofmalice，withastrengthbeyondcontrol，withanunbridledcrueltythatmeanstotearoutofhimhishopeandhisfear，thepainofhisfatigueandhislongingforrest：whichmeanstosmash，todestroy，toannihilateallhehadseen，known，loved，enjoyed，orhated；allthatispricelessandnecessary——thesunshine，thememories，thefuture，——whichmeanstosweepthewholepreciousworldutterlyawayfromhissightbythesimpleandappallingactoftakinghislife。
　　Jim，disabledbyafallingsparatthebeginningofaweekofwhichhisScottishcaptainusedtosayafterwards：`Man!it’saperfectmeeracletomehowshelivedthroughit!’spentmanydaysstretchedonhisback，dazed，battered，hopeless，andtormentedasifatthebottomofanabyssofunrest。Hedidnotcarewhattheendwouldbe，andinhislucidmomentsover-valuedhisindifference。Thedanger，whennotseen，hastheimperfectvaguenessofhumanthought。Thefeargrowsshadowy；andImagination，theenemyofmen，thefatherofallterrors，unstimulated，sinkstorestinthedullnessofexhaustedemotion。Jimsawnothingbutthedisorderofhistossedcabin。Helaytherebatteneddowninthemidstofasmalldevastation，andfeltsecretlygladhehadnottogoondeck。Butnowandagainanuncontrollablerushofanguishwouldgriphimbodily，makehimgaspandwritheundertheblankets，andthentheunintelligentbrutalityofanexistenceliabletotheagonyofsuchsensationsfilledhimwithadespairingdesiretoescapeatanycost。Thenfineweatherreturned，andhethoughtnomoreaboutit。
　　Hislameness，however，persisted，andwhentheshiparrivedatanEasternporthehadtogotothehospital。Hisrecoverywasslow，andhewasleftbehind。
　　Therewereonlytwootherpatientsinthewhitemen’sward：thepurserofagunboat，whohadbrokenhislegfallingdownahatchway；andakindofrailwaycontractorfromaneighbouringprovince，afflictedbysomemysterioustropicaldisease，whoheldthedoctorforanass，andindulgedinsecretdebaucheriesofpatentmedicinewhichhisTamilservantusedtosmuggleinwithunwearieddevotion。Theytoldeachotherthestoryoftheirlives，playedcardsalittle，or，yawningandinpyjamas，loungedthroughthedayineasy-chairswithoutsayingaword。Thehospitalstoodonahill，andagentlebreezeenteringthroughthewindows，alwaysflungwideopen，broughtintothebareroomthesoftnessofthesky，thelanguoroftheearth，thebewitchingbreathoftheEasternwaters。Therewereperfumesinit，suggestionsofinfiniterepose，thegiftofendlessdreams。Jimlookedeverydayoverthethicketsofgardens，beyondtheroofsofthetown，overthefrondsofpalmsgrowingontheshore，atthatroadsteadwhichisathoroughfaretotheEast——attheroadsteaddottedbygarlandedislets，lightedbyfestalsunshine，itsshipsliketoys，itsbrilliantactivityresemblingaholidaypageant，withtheeternalserenityoftheEasternskyoverheadandthesmilingpeaceoftheEasternseaspossessingthespaceasfarasthehorizon。