enthusiasm，hewouldhavefailed。DainWaris，thedistinguishedyouth，wasthefirsttobelieveinhim；theirswasoneofthesestrange，profound，rarefriendshipsbetweenbrownandwhite，inwhichtheverydifferenceofraceseemstodrawtwohumanbeingscloserbysomemysticelementofsympathy。OfDainWaris，hisownpeoplesaidwithpridethatheknewhowtofightlikeawhiteman。Thiswastrue；hehadthatsortofcourage——thecourageintheopen，Imaysay——buthehadalsoaEuropeanmind。Youmeetthemsometimeslikethat，andaresurprisedtodiscoverunexpectedlyafamiliarturnofthought，anunobscuredvision，atenacityofpurpose，atouchofaltruism。Ofsmallstature，butadmirablywellproportioned，DainWarishadaproudcarriage，apolished，easybearing，atemperamentlikeaclearflame。Hisduskyface，withbigblackeyes，wasinactionexpressive，andinreposethoughtful。Hewasofasilentdisposition；afirmglance，anironicsmile，acourteousdeliberationofmannerseemedtohintatgreatreservesofintelligenceandpower。SuchbeingsopentotheWesterneye，sooftenconcernedwithmeresurfaces，thehiddenpossibilitiesofracesandlandsoverwhichhangsthemysteryofunrecordedages。HenotonlytrustedJim，heunderstoodhim，Ifirmlybelieve。Ispeakofhimbecausehehadcaptivatedme。His——ifImaysayso——hiscausticplacidity，andatthesametime，hisintelligentsympathywithJim’saspirations，appealedtome。Iseemedtobeholdtheveryoriginoffriendship。IfJimtookthelead，theotherhadcaptivatedhisleader。Infact，Jimtheleaderwasacaptiveineverysense。Theland，thepeople，thefriendship，thelove，werelikethejealousguardiansofhisbody。Everydayaddedalinktothefettersofthatstrangefreedom。Ifeltconvincedofit，asfromdaytodayIlearnedmoreofthestory。
　　`Thestory!Haven’tIheardthestory？I’vehearditonthemarch，incamphemademescourthecountryafterinvisiblegame；I’velistenedtoagoodpartofitononeofthetwinsummits，afterclimbingthelasthundredfeetorsoonmyhandsandknees。Ourescortwehadvolunteerfollowersfromvillagetovillagehascampedmeantimeonabitoflevelgroundhalf-wayuptheslope，andinthestillbreathlesseveningthesmellofwood-smokereachedournostrilsfrombelowwiththepenetratingdelicacyofsomechoicescent。Voicesalsoascended，wonderfulintheirdistinctandimmaterialclearness。Jimsatonthetrunkofafelledtree，andpullingouthispipebegantosmoke。Anewgrowthofgrassandbusheswasspringingup；thereweretracesofanearthworkunderamassofthornytwigs。“Itallstartedfromhere，“hesaid，afteralongandmeditativesilence。Ontheotherhill，twohundredyardsacrossasombreprecipice，Isawalineofhighblackenedstakes，showinghereandthereruinously——theremnantsofSherifAli’simpregnablecamp。
　　`Butithadbeentaken，though。Thathadbeenhisidea。HehadmountedDoramin’soldordnanceonthetopofthathill；tworustyironseven-pounders，alotofsmallbrasscannon——currencycannon。Butifthebrassgunsrepresentwealth，theycanalso，whencrammedrecklesslytothemuzzle，sendasolidshottosomelittledistance。Thethingwastogetthemupthere。Heshowedmewherehehadfastenedthecables，explainedhowhehadimprovisedarudecapstanoutofahollowedlogturninguponapointedstake，indicatedwiththebowlofhispipetheoutlineoftheearthwork。Thelasthundredfeetoftheascenthadbeenthemostdifficult。Hehadmadehimselfresponsibleforsuccessonhisownhead。Hehadinducedthewarpartytoworkhardallnight。Bigfireslightedatintervalsblazedalldowntheslope，“butuphere，“heexplained，“thehoistingganghadtoflyaroundinthedark。“
　　Fromthetophesawmenmovingonthehill-sidelikeantsatwork。Hehimselfonthatnighthadkeptonrushingdownandclimbinguplikeasquirrel，directing，encouraging，watchingallalongtheline。OldDoraminhadhimselfcarriedupthehillinhisarm-chair。Theyputhimdownonthelevelplaceupontheslope，andhesatthereinthelightofoneofthebigfires——“amazingoldchap——realoldchieftain，“saidJim，“withhislittlefierceeyes——apairofimmenseflintlockpistolsonhisknees。Magnificentthings，ebony，silver-mounted，withbeautifullocksandacalibrelikeanoldblunderbuss。
　　ApresentfromStein，itseems——inexchangeforthatring，youknow。UsedtobelongtogoodoldM`Neil。Godonlyknowshowhecamebythem。
　　Therehesat，movingneitherhandnorfoot，aflameofdrybrushwoodbehindhim，andlotsofpeoplerushingabout，shoutingandpullingroundhim——themostsolemn，imposingoldchapyoucanimagine。Hewouldn’thavehadmuchchanceifSherifAlihadlethisinfernalcrewlooseatusandstampededmylot。Eh？Anyhowhehadcomeuptheretodieifanythingwentwrong。Nomistake!Jove!Itthrilledmetoseehimthere——likearock。
　　ButtheSherifmusthavethoughtusmad，andnevertroubledtocomeandseehowwegoton。Nobodybelieveditcouldbedone。Why!Ithinktheverychapswhopulledandshovedandsweatedoveritdidnotbelieveitcouldbedone!UponmywordIdon’tthinktheydid……“
　　`Hestooderect，thesmoulderingbrier-woodinhisclutch，withasmileonhislipsandasparkleinhisboyisheyes。Isatonthestumpofatreeathisfeet，andbelowusstretchedtheland，thegreatexpanseoftheforests，sombreunderthesunshine，rollinglikeasea，withglintsofwindingrivers，thegreyspotsofvillages，andhereandthereaclearing，likeanisletoflightamongstthedarkwavesofcontinuoustree-tops。
　　Abroodinggloomlayoverthisvastandmonotonouslandscape；thelightfellonitasifintoanabyss。Thelanddevouredthesunshine；onlyfaroff，alongthecoast，theemptyocean，smoothandpolishedwithinthefainthaze，seemedtoriseuptotheskyinawallofsteel。
　　`AndthereIwaswithhim，highinthesunshineinthetopofthathistorichillofhis。Hedominatedtheforest，theseculargloom，theoldmankind。
　　Hewaslikeafiguresetuponapedestal，torepresentinhispersistentyouththepower，andperhapsthevirtues，ofracesthatnevergrowold，thathaveemergedfromthegloom。Idon’tknowwhyheshouldalwayshaveappearedtomesymbolic。Perhapsthisistherealcauseofmyinterestinhisfate。Idon’tknowwhetheritwasexactlyfairtohimtoremembertheincidentwhichhadgivenanewdirectiontohislife，butatthatverymomentIrememberedverydistinctly。Itwaslikeashadowinthelight。’
　　thelegendhadgiftedhimwithsupernaturalpowers。Yes，itwassaid，therehadbeenmanyropescunninglydisposed，andastrangecontrivancethatturnedbytheeffortsofmanymen，andeachgunwentuptearingslowlythroughthebushes，likeawildpigrootingitswayintheundergrowth，but……andthewisestshooktheirheads。
　　Therewassomethingoccultinallthis，nodoubt；forwhatisthestrengthofropesandofmen’sarms？Thereisarebellioussoulinthingswhichmustbeovercomebypowerfulcharmsandincantations。ThusoldSura——averyrespectablehouseholderofPatusan——withwhomIhadaquietchatoneevening。However，Surawasaprofessionalsorcereralso，whoattendedallthericesowingsandreapingsformilesaroundforthepurposeofsubduingthestubbornsoulofthings。Thisoccupationheseemedtothinkamostarduousone，andperhapsthesoulsofthingsaremorestubbornthanthesoulsofmen。Astothesimplefolkofoutlyingvillages，theybelievedandsaidasthemostnaturalthingintheworldthatJimhadcarriedthegunsupthehillonhisback——twoatatime。
　　`ThiswouldmakeJimstamphisfootinvexationandexclaimwithanexasperatedlittlelaugh：“Whatcanyoudowithsuchsillybeggars？Theywillsituphalfthenighttalkingballyrot，andthegreatertheliethemoretheyseemtolikeit。“Youcouldtracethesubtleinfluenceofhissurroundingsinthisirritation。Itwaspartofhiscaptivity。Theearnestnessofhisdenialswasamusing，andatlastIsaid：“Mydearfellow，youdon’tsuppose1believethis。“Helookedatmequitestartled。“Well，no!Isupposenot，“hesaid，andburstintoaHomericpealoflaughter。
　　“Well，anyhowthegunswerethere，andwentofftogetheratsunrise。Jove!
　　Youshouldhaveseenthesplintersfly，“hecried。ByhissideDainWaris，listeningwithaquietsmile，droppedhiseyelidsandshuffledhisfeetalittle。ItappearsthatthesuccessinmountingthegunshadgivenJim’speoplesuchafeelingofconfidencethatheventuredtoleavethebatteryunderchargeoftwoelderlyBugiswhohadseensomefightingintheirday，andwenttojoinDainWarisandthestormingpartywhowereconcealedintheravine。Inthesmallhourstheybegancreepingup，andwhentwo-thirdsofthewayup，layinthewetgrasswaitingfortheappearanceofthesun，whichwastheagreedsignal。Hetoldmewithwhatimpatientanguishingemotionhewatchedtheswiftcomingofthedawn；how，heatedwiththeworkandtheclimbing，hefeltthecolddewchillinghisverybones；howafraidhewashewouldbegintoshiverandshakelikealeafbeforethetimecamefortheadvance。“Itwastheslowesthalf-hourinmylife，“hedeclared。
　　Graduallythesilentstockadecameoutontheskyabovehim。Menscatteredalldowntheslopewerecrouchingamongstthedarkstonesanddrippingbushes。DainWariswaslyingflattenedbyhisside。“Welookedateachother，“Jimsaid，restingagentlehandonhisfriend’sshoulder。“Hesmiledatmeascheeryasyouplease，andIdarednotstirmylipsforfearI
　　wouldbreakoutintoashiveringfit。`Ponmyword，it’strue!Ihadbeenstreamingwithperspirationwhenwetookcover——soyoumayimagine……“
　　Hedeclared，andIbelievehim，thathehadnofearsastotheresult。
　　Hewasonlyanxiousastohisabilitytorepresstheseshivers。Hedidn’tbotherabouttheresult。Hewasboundtogettothetopofthathillandstaythere，whatevermighthappen。Therecouldbenogoingbackforhim。
　　Thosepeoplehadtrustedhimimplicitly。Himalone!Hisbareword……
　　`Irememberhow，atthispoint，hepausedwithhiseyesfixeduponme。
　　“Asfarasheknew，theyneverhadanoccasiontoregretityet，“hesaid。
　　“Never。HehopedtoGodtheyneverwould。Meantime——worseluck!——theyhadgotintothehabitoftakinghiswordforanythingandeverything。Icouldhavenoidea!Why!Onlytheotherdayanoldfoolhehadneverseeninhislifecamefromsomevillagemilesawaytofindoutifheshoulddivorcehiswife。Fact。Solemnword。That’sthesortofthing……Hewouldn’thavebelievedit。WouldI？Squattedontheverandachewingbetel-nut，sighingandspittingallovertheplaceformorethananhour，andasglumasanundertakerbeforehecameoutwiththatdashedconundrum。That’sthekindofthingthatisn’tsofunnyasitlooks。Whatwasafellowtosay？——Goodwife？——Yes。Goodwife——oldthough；startedaconfoundedlongstoryaboutsomebrasspots。Beenlivingtogetherforfifteenyears——twentyyears——couldnottell。Along，longtime。Goodwife。Beatheralittle——notmuch——justalittle，whenshewasyoung。Hadto——forthesakeofhishonour。Suddenlyinheroldageshegoesandlendsthreebrasspotstohersister’sson’swife，andbeginstoabusehimeverydayinaloudvoice。Hisenemiesjeeredathim；hisfacewasutterlyblackened。Potstotallylost。Awfullycutupaboutit。Impossibletofathomastorylikethat；toldhimtogohome，andpromisedtocomealongmyselfandsettleitall。It’sallverywelltogrin，butitwasthedashedestnuisance!Aday’sjourneythroughtheforest，anotherdaylostincoaxingalotofsillyvillagerstogetattherightsoftheaffair。Therewasthemakingofasanguinaryshindyinthething。Everyballyidiottooksideswithonefamilyortheother，andonehalfofthevillagewasreadytogofortheotherhalfwithanythingthatcamehandy。Honourbright!Nojoke!……Insteadofattendingtotheirballycrops。Gothimtheinfernalpotsbackofcourse——andpacifiedallhands。Notroubletosettleit。Ofcoursenot。Couldsettlethedeadliestquarrelinthecountrybycrookinghislittlefinger。Thetroublewastogetatthetruthofanything。Wasnotsuretothisdaywhetherhehadbeenfairtoallparties。Itworriedhim。Andthetalk!Jove!Theredidn’tseemtobeanyheadortailtoit。Ratherstormatwenty-foot-higholdstockadeanyday。Much!Child’splaytothatotherjob。Wouldn’ttakesolongeither。
　　Well，yes；afunnyset-out，uponthewhole——thefoollookedoldenoughtobehisgrandfather。Butfromanotherpointofviewitwasnojoke。Hisworddecidedeverything——eversincethesmashingofSherifAli。Anawfulresponsibility，“herepeated。“No，really——jokingapart，haditbeenthreelivesinsteadofthreerottenbrasspotsitwouldhavebeenthesame……“
　　`Thusheillustratedthemoraleffectofhisvictoryinwar。Itwasintruthimmense。Ithadledhimfromstrifetopeace，andthroughdeathintotheinnermostlifeofthepeople；butthegloomofthelandspreadoutunderthesunshinepreserveditsappearanceofinscrutable，ofsecularrepose。Thesoundofhisfreshyoungvoice——it’sextraordinaryhowveryfewsignsofwearheshowed——floatedlightly，andpassedawayovertheunchangedfaceoftheforestslikethesoundofthebiggunsonthatcolddewymorningwhenhehadnootherconcernonearthbutthepropercontrolofthechillsinhisbody。Withthefirstslantofsun-raysalongtheseimmovabletree-topsthesummitofonehillwreatheditself，withheavyreports，inwhitecloudsofsmoke，andtheotherburstintoanamazingnoiseofyells，war-cries，shoutsofanger，ofsurprise，ofdismay。JimandDainWariswerethefirsttolaytheirhandsonthestakes。ThepopularstoryhasitthatJimwithatouchofonefingerhadthrowndownthegate。