toldmefurtherthathedidn’tknowwhatmadehimhangon——butofcoursewemayguess。Hesympathizeddeeplywiththedefencelessgirl，atthemercyofthat“mean，cowardlyscoundrel。“ItappearsCorneliusledheranawfullife，stoppingonlyshortofactualill-usage，forwhichhehadnotthepluck，Isuppose。Heinsisteduponhercallinghimfather——“andwithrespect，too——withrespect，“hewouldscream，shakingalittleyellowfistinherface。“Iamarespectableman，andwhatareyou？Tellme——whatareyou？YouthinkIamgoingtobringupsomebodyelse’schildandnottobetreatedwithrespect？YououghttobegladIletyou。
　　Come——say，Yes，father……No？……Youwaitabit。“Thereuponhewouldbegintoabusethedeadwoman，tillthegirlwouldrunoffwithherhandstoherhead。Hepursuedher，dashinginandoutandroundthehouseandamongstthesheds，woulddriveherintosomecorner，whereshewouldfallonherkneesstoppingherears，andthenhewouldstandatadistanceanddeclaimfilthydenunciationatherbackforhalfanhouratastretch。
　　“Yourmotherwasadevil，adeceitfuldevil——andyou，too，areadevil，“
　　hewouldshriekinafinaloutburst，pickupabitofdryearthorahandfulofmudtherewasplentyofmudaroundthehouse，andflingitintoherhair。Sometimes，though，shewouldholdoutfullofscorn，confrontinghiminsilence，herfacesombreandcontracted，andonlynowandthenutteringawordortwothatwouldmaketheotherjumpandwrithewiththesting。
　　Jimtoldmethesesceneswereterrible。Itwasindeedastrangethingtocomeuponinawilderness。Theendlessnessofsuchasubtlycruelsituationwasappalling——ifyouthinkofit。TherespectableCorneliusInchi’NelyustheMalayscalledhim，withagrimacethatmeantmanythingswasamuchdisappointedman。Idon’tknowwhathehadexpectedwouldbedoneforhiminconsiderationofhismarriage；butevidentlythelibertytosteal，andembezzle，andappropriatetohimselfformanyyearsandinanywaythatsuitedhimbest，thegoodsofStein’sTradingCompanySteinkeptthesupplyupunfalteringlyaslongashecouldgethisskipperstotakeitthere
　　didnotseemtohimafairequivalentforthesacrificeofhishonourablename。JimwouldhaveenjoyedexceedinglythrashingCorneliuswithinaninchofhislife；ontheotherhand，thesceneswereofsopainfulacharacter，soabominable，thathisimpulsewouldbetogetoutofearshot，inordertosparethegirl’sfeelings。Theyleftheragitated，speeches，clutchingherbosomnowandthenwithastony，desperateface，andthenJimwouldloungeupandsayunhappily，“Now——come——really——what’stheuse——youmusttrytoeatabit，“orgivesomesuchmarkofsympathy。Corneliuswouldkeeponslinkingthroughthedoorways，acrosstheverandaandbackagain，asmuteasafish，andwithmalevolent，mistrustful，underhandglances。
　　“Icanstophisgame，“Jimsaidtoheronce。“Justsaytheword。“Anddoyouknowwhatsheanswered？Shesaid——Jimtoldmeimpressively——thatifshehadnotbeensurehewasintenselywretchedhimself，shewouldhavefoundthecouragetokillhimwithherownhands。“Justfancythat!Thepoordevilofagirl，almostachild，beingdriventotalklikethat，“
　　heexclaimedinhorror。Itseemedimpossibletosavehernotonlyfromthatmeanrascalbutevenfromherself!Itwasn’tthathepitiedhersomuch，heaffirmed；itwasmorethanpity；itwasasifhehadsomethingonhisconscience，whilethatlifewenton。Toleavethehousewouldhaveappearedabasedesertion。Hehadunderstoodatlastthattherewasnothingtoexpectfromalongerstay，neitheraccountsnormoney，nortruthofanysort，buthestayedon，exasperatingCorneliustotheverge，Iwon’tsayofinsanity，butalmostofcourage。Meantimehefeltallsortsofdangersgatheringobscurelyabouthim。DoraminhadsentovertwiceatrustyservanttotellhimseriouslythathecoulddonothingforhissafetyunlesshewouldrecrosstheriveragainandliveamongsttheBugisasatfirst。Peopleofeveryconditionusedtocall，ofteninthedeadofnight，inordertodisclosetohimplotsforhisassassination。Hewastobepoisoned。Hewastobestabbedinthebath-house。Arrangementswerebeingmadetohavehimshotfromaboatontheriver。Eachoftheseinformantsprofessedhimselftobehisverygoodfriend。Itwasenough——hetoldme——tospoilafellow’srestforever。Somethingofthekindwasextremelypossible——may，probable——butthelyingwarningsgavehimonlythesenseofdeadlyscheminggoingonallaroundhim，onallsides，inthedark。Nothingmorecalculatedtoshakethebestofnerve。Finally，onenight，Corneliushimself，withagreatapparatusofalarmandsecrecy，unfoldedinsolemnwheedlingtonesalittleplanwhereinforonehundreddollars——orevenforeighty；let’ssayeighty——he，Cornelius，wouldprocureatrustworthymantosmuggleJimoutoftheriver，allsafe。Therewasnothingelseforitnow——ifJimcaredapinforhislife。What’seightydollars？Atrifle。Aninsignificantsum。Whilehe，Cornelius，whohadtoremainbehind，wasabsolutelycourtingdeathbyhisproofofdevotiontoMr。Stein’syoungfriend。Thesightofhisabjectgrimacingwas——Jimtoldme——veryhardtobear：heclutchedathishair，beathisbreast，rockedhimselftoandfrowithhishandspressedtohisstomach，andactuallypretendedtoshedtears。“Yourbloodbeonyourownhead，“hesqueakedatlast，andrushedout。ItisacuriousquestionhowfarCorneliuswassincereinthatperformance。Jimconfessedtomethathedidnotsleepawinkafterthefellowhadgone。Helayonhisbackonathinmatspreadoverthebambooflooring，tryingidlytomakeoutthebarerafters，andlisteningtotherustlingsinthetornthatch。Astarsuddenlytwinkledthroughaholeintheroof。Hisbrainwasinawhirl；
　　but，nevertheless，itwasonthatverynightthathematuredhisplanforovercomingSherifAli。IthadbeenthethoughtofallthemomentshecouldsparefromthehopelessinvestigationintoStein’saffairs，butthenotion——hesays——cametohimthenallatonce。Hecouldsee，asitwere，thegunsmountedonthetopofthehill。Hegotveryhotandexcitedlyingthere；
　　sleepwasoutofthequestionmorethanever。Hejumpedup，andwentoutbarefootedontheveranda。Walkingsilently，hecameuponthegirl，motionlessagainstthewall，asifonthewatch。Inhisthenstateofminditdidnotsurprisehimtoseeherup，noryettohearheraskinananxiouswhisperwhereCorneliuscouldbe。Hesimplysaidhedidnotknow。Shemoanedalittle，andpeeredintothecampong。Everythingwasveryquiet。
　　Hewaspossessedbyhisnewidea，andsofullofitthathecouldnothelptellingthegirlallaboutitatonce。Shelistened，clappedherhandslightly，whisperedsoftlyheradmiration，butwasevidentlyonthealertallthetime。Itseemshehadbeenusedtomakeaconfidantofherallalong——andthatsheonherpartcouldanddidgivehimalotofusefulhintsastoPatusanaffairsthereisnodoubt。Heassuredmemorethanoncethathehadneverfoundhimselftheworseforheradvice。Atanyrate，hewasproceedingtoexplainhisplanfullytoherthereandthen，whenshepressedhisarmonce，andvanishedfromhisside。ThenCorneliusappearedfromsomewhere，and，perceivingJim，duckedsideways，asthoughhehadbeenshotat，andafterwardsstoodverystillinthedusk。Atlasthecameforwardprudently，likeasuspiciouscat。“Thereweresomefishermenthere——withfish，“hesaidinashakyvoice。“Tosellfish——youunderstand。“……
　　Itmusthavebeenthentwoo’clockinthemorning——alikelytimeforanybodytohawkfishabout!
　　`Jim，however，letthestatementpass，anddidnotgiveitasinglethought。Othersmattersoccupiedhismind，andbesideshehadneitherseennorheardanything。Hecontentedhimselfbysaying，“Oh!“absently，gotadrinkofwateroutofapitcherstandingthere，andleavingCorneliusapreytosomeinexplicableemotion——thatmadehimembracewithbotharmstheworm-eatenrailoftheverandaasifhislegshadfailed——wentinagainandlaydownonhismattothink。Byandbyheheardstealthyfootsteps。
　　Theystopped。Avoicewhisperedtremulouslythroughthewall，“Areyouasleep？““No!Whatisit？“heanswered，briskly，andtherewasanabruptmovementoutside，andthenallwasstill，asifthewhispererhadbeenstartled。Extremelyannoyedatthis，Jimcameoutimpetuously，andCorneliuswithafaintshriekfledalongtheverandaasfarasthesteps，wherehehungontothebrokenbanister。Verypuzzled，Jimcalledouttohimfromthedistancetoknowwhatthedevilhemeant。“HaveyougivenyourconsiderationtowhatIspoketoyouabout？“askedCornelius，pronouncingthewordswithdifficulty，likeamaninthecoldfitofafever。“No!“shoutedJiminapassion。“Ididnot，andIdon’tintendto。Iamgoingtolivehere，inPatusan。““Youshalld-d-dieh-h-here，“answeredCornelius，stillshakingviolently，andinasortofexpiringvoice。ThewholeperformancewassoabsurdandprovokingthatJimdidn’tknowwhetherheoughttobeamusedorangry。“NottillIhaveseenyoutuckedaway，youbet，“hecalledout，exasperatedyetreadytolaugh。Halfseriouslybeingexcitedwithhisownthoughts，youknowhewentonshouting，“Nothingcantouchme!Youcandoyourdamnedest。“SomehowtheshadowyCorneliusfaroffthereseemedtobethehatefulembodimentofalltheannoyancesanddifficultieshehadfoundinhispath。Helethimselfgo——hisnerveshadbeenoverwroughtfordays——andcalledhimmanyprettynames，——swindler，liar，sorryrascal：
　　infact，carriedoninanextraordinaryway。Headmitshepassedallbounds，thathewasquitebesidehimself——defiedallPatusantoscarehimaway——declaredhewouldmakethemalldancetohisowntuneyet，andsoon，inamenacing，boastingstrain。Perfectlybombasticandridiculous，hesaid。Hisearsburnedatthebarerecollection。Musthavebeenoffhischumpinsomeway……Thegirl，whowassittingwithus，noddedherlittleheadatmequickly，frownedfaintly，andsaid，“Iheardhim，“withchildlikesolemnity。Helaughedandblushed。Whatstoppedhimatlast，hesaid，wasthesilence，thecompletedeathlikesilence，oftheindistinctfigurefaroverthere，thatseemedtohangcollapsed，doubledovertherailinaweirdimmobility。
　　Hecametohissenses，andceasingsuddenly，wonderedgreatlyathimself。
　　Hewatchedforawhile。Notastir，notasound。“ExactlyasifthechaphaddiedwhileIhadbeenmakingallthatnoise，“hesaid。Hewassoashamedofhimselfthathewentindoorsinahurrywithoutanotherword，andflunghimselfdownagain。Therowseemedtohavedonehimgood，though，becausehewenttosleepfortherestofthenightlikeababy。Hadn’tsleptlikethatforweeks。“ButIdidn’tsleep，“struckinthegirl，oneelbowonthetableandnursinghercheek。“Iwatched。“Herbigeyesflashed，rollingalittle，andthenshefixedthemonmyfaceintently。’
　　mayimaginewithwhatinterestIlistened。Allthesedetailswereperceivedtohavesomesignificancetwenty-fourhourslater。InthemorningCorneliusmadenoallusiontotheeventsofthenight。
　　“Isupposeyouwillcomebacktomypoorhouse，“hemuttered，surlily，slinkingupjustasJimwasenteringthecanoetogoovertoDoramin’scampong。Jimonlynodded，withoutlookingathim。“Youfinditgoodfun，nodoubt，“mutteredtheotherinasourtone。Jimspentthedaywiththeoldnakhoda，preachingthenecessityofvigorousactiontotheprincipalmenoftheBugiscommunity，whohadbeensummonedforabigtalk。
　　Herememberedwithpleasurehowveryeloquentandpersuasivehehadbeen。
　　“Imanagedtoputsomebackboneintothemthattime，andnomistake，“hesaid。SherifAli’slastraidhadswepttheoutskirtsofthesettlement，andsomewomenbelongingtothetownhadbeencarriedofftothestockade。
　　SherifAli’semissarieshadbeenseeninthemarket-placethedaybefore，struttingabouthaughtilyinwhitecloaks，andboastingoftheRajah’sfriendshipfortheirmaster。Oneofthemstoodforwardintheshadeofatree，and，leaningonthelongbarrelofarifle，exhortedthepeopletoprayerandrepentance，advisingthemtokillallthestrangersintheirmidst，someofwhom，hesaid，wereinfidelsandothersevenworse——childrenofSatanintheguiseofMoslems。ItwasreportedthatseveraloftheRajah’speopleamongstthelistenershadloudlyexpressedtheirapprobation。Theterroramongstthecommonpeoplewasintense。Jim，immenselypleasedwithhisday’swork，crossedtheriveragainbeforesunset。
　　`AshehadgottheBugisirretrievablycommittedtoaction，andhadmadehimselfresponsibleforsuccessonhisownhead，hewassoelatedthatinthelightnessofhisheartheabsolutelytriedtobecivilwithCornelius。ButCorneliusbecamewildlyjovialinresponse，anditwasalmostmorethanhecouldstand，hesays，tohearhislittlesqueaksoffalselaughter，toseehimwriggleandblink，andsuddenlycatchholdofhischinandcrouchlowoverthetablewithadistractedstare。Thegirldidnotshowherself，andJimretiredearly。Whenherosetosaygoodnight，Corneliusjumpedup，knockinghischairover，andduckedoutofsightasiftopickupsomethinghehaddropped。Hisgoodnightcamehuskilyfromunderthetable。Jimwasamazedtoseehimemergewithadroppingjaw，andstaring，stupidlyfrightenedeyes。Heclutchedtheedgeofthetable。
　　“What’sthematter？Areyouunwell？“askedJim。“Yes，yes，yes。Agreatcolicinmystomach，“saystheother；anditisJim’sopinionthatitwasperfectlytrue。Ifso，itwas，inviewofhiscontemplatedaction，anabjectsignofastillimperfectcallousnessforwhichhemustbegivenallduecredit。
　　`Beitasitmay，Jim’sslumbersweredisturbedbyadreamofheavenslikebrassresoundingwithagreatvoice，whichcalleduponhimtoAwake!
　　Awake!soloudthat，notwithstandinghisdesperatedeterminationtosleepon，hedidwakeupinreality。Theglareofaredsplutteringconflagrationgoingoninmid-airfellonhiseyes。Coilsofblackthicksmokecurvedroundtheheadofsomeapparition，someunearthlybeing，allinwhite，withasevere，drawn，anxiousface。Afterasecondorsoherecognizedthegirl。Shewasholdingadammartorchatarm’slengthaloft，andinapersistent，urgentmonotoneshewasrepeating，“Getup!Getup!Getup!“
　　`Suddenlyheleapedtohisfeet；atoncesheputintohishandarevolver，hisownrevolver，whichhadbeenhangingonanail，butloadedthistime。
　　Hegrippeditinsilence，bewildered，blinkinginthelight。Hewonderedwhathecoulddoforher。
　　`Sheaskedrapidlyandverylow，“Canyoufacefourmenwiththis？“
　　Helaughedwhilenarratingthispartattherecollectionofhispolitealacrity。Itseemshemadeagreatdisplayofit。“Certainly——ofcourse——certainly——commandme。“Hewasnotproperlyawake，andhadanotionofbeingverycivilintheseextraordinarycircumstances，ofshowinghisunquestioning，devotedreadiness。Shelefttheroom，andhefollowedher；inthepassagetheydisturbedanoldhagwhodidthecasualcookingofthehousehold，thoughshewassodecrepitastobehardlyabletounderstandhumanspeech。Shegotupandhobbledbehindthem，mumblingtoothlessly。Ontheverandaahammockofsailcloth，belongingtoCornelius，swayedlightlytothetouchofJim’selbow。Itwasempty。
　　`ThePatusanestablishment，likeallthepostsofStein’sTradingCompany，hadoriginallyconsistedoffourbuildings。Twoofthemwererepresentedbytwoheapsofsticks，brokenbamboos，rottenthatch，overwhichthefourcorner-postsofhardwoodleanedsadlyatdifferentangles：theprincipalstoreroom，however，stoodyet，facingtheagent’shouse。Itwasanoblonghut，builtofmudandclay：ithadatoneendawidedoorofstoutplanking，whichsofarhadnotcomeoffthehinges，andinoneofthesidewallstherewasasquareaperture，asortofwindow，withthreewoodenbars。