Heneverthoughtofanythingatthetime；allhecouldremember——hesaid——wasagreatyell；thefirsthousesofPatusanwerebeforehimfourhundredyardsaway；hesawthecreek，andasitweremechanicallyputonmorepace。
　　Theearthseemedfairlytoflybackwardsunderhisfeet。Hetookofffromthelastdryspot，felthimselfflyingthroughtheair，felthimself，withoutanyshock，planteduprightinanextremelysoftandstickymudbank。Itwasonlywhenhetriedtomovehislegsandfoundhecouldn’tthat，inhisownwords，“hecametohimself。“Hebegantothinkofthe“ballylongspears。“Asamatteroffact，consideringthatthepeopleinsidethestockadehadtoruntothegate，thengetdowntothelanding-place，getintoboats，andpullroundapointofland，hehadmoreadvancethanheimagined。Besides，itbeinglowwater，thecreekwaswithoutwater——youcouldn’tcallitdry——andpracticallyhewassafeforatimefromeverythingbutaverylongshotperhaps。Thehigherfirmgroundwasaboutsixfeetinfrontofhim。“I
　　thoughtIwouldhavetodiethereallthesame，“hesaid。Hereachedandgrabbeddesperatelywithhishands，andonlysucceededingatheringahorriblecoldshinyheapofslimeagainsthisbreast——uptohisverychin。Itseemedtohimhewasburyinghimselfalive，andthenhestruckoutmadly，scatteringthemudwithhisfists。Itfellonhishead，onhisface，overhiseyes，intohismouth。Hetoldmethatherememberedsuddenlythecourtyard，asyourememberaplacewhereyouhadbeenveryhappyyearsago。Helonged——sohesaid——tobebackthereagain，mendingtheclock。Mendingtheclock——thatwastheidea。Hemadeefforts，tremendoussobbing，gaspingefforts，effortsthatseemedtobursthiseyeballsintheirsocketsandmakehimblind，andculminatingintoonemightysupremeeffortinthedarknesstocracktheearthasunder，tothrowitoffhislimbs——andhefelthimselfcreepingfeeblyupthebank。Helayfulllengthonthefirmgroundandsawthelight，thesky。Thenasasortofhappythoughtthenotioncametohimthathewouldgotosleep。Hewillhaveitthathedidactuallygotosleep：
　　thatheslept——perhapsforaminute，perhapsfortwentyseconds，oronlyforonesecond，butherecollectsdistinctlytheviolentconvulsivestartofawakening。Heremainedlyingstillforawhile，andthenhearosemuddyfromheadtofootandstoodthere，thinkinghewasaloneofhiskindforhundredsofmiles，alone，withnohelp，nosympathy，nopitytoexpectfromanyone，likeahuntedanimal。Thefirsthouseswerenotmorethantwentyyardsfromhim；anditwasthedesperatescreamingofafrightenedwomantryingtocarryoffachildthatstartedhimagain。Hepeltedstraightoninhissocks，beplasteredwithfilthoutofallsemblancetoahumanbeing。Hetraversedmorethanhalfthelengthofthesettlement。Thenimblerwomenfledrightandleft，themenjustdroppedwhatevertheyhadintheirhands，andremaindedpetrifiedwithdroppingjaws。Hewasaflyingterror。
　　Hesayshenoticedthelittlechildrentryingtorunforlife，fallingontheirlittlestomachsandkicking。Heswervedbetweentwohousesupaslope，clamberedindesperationoverabarricadeoffelledtreestherewasn’taweekwithoutsomefightinPatusanatthattime，burstthroughafenceintoamaize-patch，whereascaredboyflungastickathim，blundereduponapath，andranallatonceintothearmsofseveralstartledmen。
　　Hejusthadbreathenoughtogaspout，“Doramin!Doramin!“Heremembersbeinghalf-carried，half-rushedtothetopoftheslope，andinavastenclosurewithpalmsandfruit-treesbeingrunuptoalargemansittingmassivelyinachairinthemidstofthegreatestpossiblecommotionandexcitement。Hefumbledinmudandclothestoproducethering，and，findinghimselfsuddenlyonhisback，wonderedwhohadknockedhimdown。Theyhadsimplylethimgo——don’tyouknow？——buthecouldn’tstand。Atthefootofthesloperandomshotswerefired，andabovetheroofsofthesettlementthereroseadullroarofamazement。Buthewassafe。Doramin’speoplewerebarricadingthegateandpouringwaterdownhisthroat；Doramin’soldwife，fullofbusinessandcommiseration，wasissuingshrillorderstohergirls。“Theoldwoman，“hesaid，softly，“madeato-doovermeasifIhadbeenherownson。Theyputmeintoanimmensebed——herstatebed——andsheraninandoutwipinghereyestogivemepatsontheback。Imusthavebeenapitifulobject。IjustlaytherelikealogforIdon’tknowhowlong。“
　　`HeseemedtohaveagreatlikingforDoramin’soldwife。Sheonhersidehadtakenamotherlyfancytohim。Shehadaround，nut-brown，softface，allfinewrinkles，large，brightredlipsshechewedbetelassiduously，andscrewed-up，winking，benevolenteyes。Shewasconstantlyinmovement，scoldingbusilyandorderingunceasinglyatroopofyoungwomenwithclearbrownfacesandbiggraveeyes，herdaughters，herservants，herslave-girls。
　　Youknowhowitisinthesehouseholds：it’sgenerallyimpossibletotellthedifference。Shewasveryspare，andevenherampleoutergarment，fastenedinfrontwithjewelledclasps，hadsomehowaskimpyeffect。HerdarkbarefeetwerethrustintoyellowstrawslippersofChinesemake。Ihaveseenhermyselfflittingaboutwithherextremelythick，long，greyhairfallingabouthershoulders。Sheutteredhomelyshrewdsayings，wasofnoblebirth，andwaseccentricandarbitrary。Intheafternoonshewouldsitinaveryroomyarmchairoppositeherhusband，gazingsteadilythroughawideopeninginthewallwhichgaveanextensiveviewofthesettlementandtheriver。
　　`Sheinvariablytuckedupherfeetunderher，butoldDoraminsatsquarely，satimposinglyasamountainsitsonaplain。Hewasonlyofthenakhodaormerchantclass，buttherespectshowntohimandthedignityofhisbearingwereverystriking。HewasthechiefofthesecondpowerinPatusan。
　　TheimmigrantsfromCelebesaboutsixtyfamiliesthat，withdependantsandsoon，couldmustersometwohundredmen“wearingthekris“hadelectedhimyearsagofortheirhead。Themenofthatraceareintelligent，enterprising，revengeful，butwithamorefrankcouragethantheotherMalays，andrestlessunderoppression。TheyformedthepartyopposedtotheRajah。Ofcoursethequarrelswerefortrade。Thiswastheprimarycauseoffactionfights，ofthesuddenoutbreaksthatwouldfillthisorthatpartofthesettlementwithsmoke，flame，thenoiseofshotsandshrieks。Villageswereburnt，menweredraggedintotheRajah’sstockadetobekilledortorturedforthecrimeoftradingwithanybodyelsebuthimself。OnlyadayortwobeforeJim’sarrivalseveralheadsofhouseholdsintheveryfishingvillagethatwasafterwardstakenunderhisespecialprotectionhadbeendrivenoverthecliffsbyapartyoftheRajah’sspearmen，onsuspicionofhavingbeencollectingediblebirds’nestsforaCelebestrader。RajahAllangpretendedtobetheonlytraderinhiscountry，andthepenaltyforthebreachofthemonopolywasdeath；buthisideaoftradingwasindistinguishablefromthecommonestformsofrobbery。Hiscrueltyandrapacityandnootherboundsthanhiscowardice，andhewasafraidoftheorganizedpoweroftheCelebesmen，only——tillJimcame——hewasnotafraidenoughtokeepquiet。Hestruckatthemthroughhissubjects，andthoughthimselfpatheticallyintheright。
　　Thesituationwascomplicatedbyawanderingstranger，anArabhalf-breed，who，Ibelieve，onpurelyreligiousgrounds，hadincitedthetribesintheinteriorthebush-folk，asJimhimselfcalledthemtorise，andhadestablishedhimselfinafortifiedcamponthesummitofoneofthetwinhills。HehungoverthetownofPatusanlikeahawkoverapoultryyard，buthedevastatedtheopencountry。Wholevillages，deserted，rottedontheirblackenedpostsoverthebanksofclearstreams，droppingpiecemealintothewaterthegrassoftheirwalls，theleavesoftheirroofs，withacuriouseffectofnaturaldecayasiftheyhadbeenaformofvegetationstrickenbyablightatitsveryroot。ThetwopartiesinPatusanwerenotsurewhichonethispartisanmostdesiredtoplunder。TheRajahintriguedwithhimfeebly。SomeoftheBugissettlers，wearywithendlessinsecurity，werehalfinclinedtocallhimin。Theyoungerspiritsamongstthem，chaffing，advisedto“getSherifAliwithhiswildmenanddrivetheRajahAllangoutofthecountry。“Doraminrestrainedthemwithdifficulty。Hewasgrowingold，and，thoughhisinfluencehadnotdiminished，thesituationwasgettingbeyondhim。ThiswasthestateofaffairswhenJim，boltingfromtheRajah’sstockade，appearedbeforethechiefoftheBugis，producedthering，andwasreceivedinamannerofspeaking，intotheheartofthecommunity。’
　　wasoneofthemostremarkablemenofhisraceIhadeverseen。HisbulkforaMalaywasimmense，buthedidnotlookmerelyfat；helookedimposing，monumental。Thismotionlessbody，cladinrichstuffs，colouredsilks，goldembroideries；thishugehead，enfoldedinared-and-goldhead-kerchief；theflat，big，roundface，wrinkled，furrowed，withtwosemicircularheavyfoldsstartingoneachsideofwide，fiercenostrils，andenclosingathick-lippedmouth；thethroatlikeabull；thevastcorrugatedbrowoverhangingthestaringproudeyes——madeawholethat，onceseen，canneverbeforgotten。Hisimpassivereposeheseldomstirredalimbwhenoncehesatdownwaslikeadisplayofdignity。
　　Hewasneverknowntoraisehisvoice。Itwasahoarseandpowerfulmurmur，slightlyveiledasifheardfromadistance。Whenhewalked，twoshort，sturdyyoungfellows，nakedtothewaist，inwhitesarongsandwithblackskull-capsonthebacksoftheirheads，sustainedhiselbows；theywouldeasehimdownandstandbehindhischairtillhewantedtorise，whenhewouldturnhisheadslowly，asifwithdifficulty，totherightandtotheleft，andthentheywouldcatchhimunderhisarmpitsandhelphimup。Forallthat，therewasnothingofacrippleabouthim：onthecontrary，allhisponderousmovementswerelikemanifestationsofamightydeliberateforce。Itwasgenerallybelievedheconsultedhiswifeastopublicaffairs；
　　butnobody，asfarasIknow，hadeverheardthemexchangeasingleword。
　　Whentheysatinstatebythewideopeningitwasinsilence。Theycouldseebelowtheminthedeclininglightthevastexpanseoftheforestcountry，adarksleepingseaofsombregreenundulatingasfarasthevioletandpurplerangeofmountains；theshiningsinuosityoftheriverlikeanimmenseletterSofbeatensilver；thebrownribbonofhousesfollowingthesweepofbothbanks，overtoppedbythetwinhillsuprisingabovethenearertree-tops。
　　Theywerewonderfullycontrasted：she，light，delicate，spare，quick，alittlewitch-like，withatouchofmotherlyfussinessinherrepose；he，facingher，immenseandheavy，likeafigureofamanroughlyfashionedofstone，withsomethingmagnanimousandruthlessinhisimmobility。Thesonoftheseoldpeoplewasamostdistinguishedyouth。
　　`Theyhadhimlateinlife。Perhapshewasnotreallysoyoungashelooked。Four-orfive-and-twentyisnotsoyoungwhenamanisalreadyfatherofafamilyateighteen。Whenheenteredthelargeroom，linedandcarpetedwithfinemats，andwithahighceilingofwhitesheeting，wherethecouplesatinstatesurroundedbyamostdeferentialretinue，hewouldmakehiswaystraighttoDoramin，tokisshishand——whichtheotherabandonedtohimmajestically——andthenwouldstepacrosstostandbyhismother’schair。IsupposeImaysaytheyidolizedhim，butInevercaughtthemgivinghimanovertglance。Those，itistrue，werepublicfunctions。Theroomwasgenerallythronged。Thesolemnformalityofgreetingsandleave-takings，theprofoundrespectexpressedingestures，onthefaces，inthelowwhispers，issimplyindescribable。“It’swellworthseeing，“Jimhadassuredmewhilewewerecrossingtheriver，onourwayback。“Theyarelikepeopleinabook，aren’tthey？“hesaidtriumphantly。“AndDainWaris——theirson——isthebestfriendbarringyouIeverhad。WhatMr。Steinwouldcallagood`war-comrade。’Iwasinluck。Jove!IwasinluckwhenItumbledamongstthematmylastgasp。“Hemediatedwithbowedhead，thenrousinghimselfheadded：
　　“`OfcourseIdidn’tgotosleepoverit，but……“Hepausedagain。
　　“Itseemedtocometome，“hemurmured。“AllatonceIsawwhatIhadtodo……“
　　`Therewasnodoubtthatithadcometohim；andithadcomethroughthewar，too，asisnatural，sincethispowerthatcametohimwasthepowertomakepeace。Itisinthissensealonethatmightsooftenisright。Youmustnotthinkhehadseenhiswayatonce。WhenhearrivedtheBugiscommunitywasinamostcriticalposition。“Theywereallafraid，“
　　hesaidtome——“eachmanafraidforhimself；whileIcouldseeasplainaspossiblethattheymustdosomethingatonce，iftheydidnotwanttogounderoneafteranother，whatbetweentheRajahandthatvagabondSherif。“
　　Buttoseethatwasnothing。Whenhegothisideahehadtodriveitintoreluctantminds，throughthebulwarksoffear，ofselfishness。Hedroveitinatlast。Andthatwasnothing。Hehadtodevisethemeans。Hedevisedthem——anaudaciousplan；andhistaskwasonlyhalfdone。Hehadtoinspirewithhisownconfidencealotofpeoplewhohadhiddenandabsurdreasonstohangback；hehadtoconciliateimbecilejealousies，andargueawayallsortsofsenselessmistrusts。WithouttheweightofDoramin’sauthority，andhisson’sfiery