`Hencefortheventsmovefastwithoutacheck，flowingfromtheveryheartsofmenlikeastreamfromadarksource，andweseeJimamongstthem，mostlythroughTamb’Itam’seyes。Thegirl’seyeshadwatchedhimtoo，butherlifeistoomuchentwinedwithhis：thereisherpassion，herwonder，heranger，and，aboveall，herfearandherunforgivinglove。
　　Ofthefaithfulservant，uncomprehendingastherestofthem，itisthefidelityalonethatcomesintoplay；afidelityandabeliefinhislordsostrongthatevenamazementissubduedtoasortofsaddenedacceptanceofamysteriousfailure。Hehaseyesonlyforonefigure，andthroughallthemazesofbewildermenthepreserveshisairofguardianship，ofobedience，ofcare。
　　`Hismastercamebackfromhistalkwiththewhitemen，walkingslowlytowardsthestockadeinthestreet。Everybodywasrejoicedtoseehimreturn，forwhilehewasawayeverymanhadbeenafraidnotonlyofhimbeingkilled，butalsoofwhatwouldcomeafter。Jimwentintooneofthehouses，whereoldDoraminhadretired，andremainedaloneforalongtimewiththeheadoftheBugissettlers。Nodoubthediscussedthecoursetofollowwithhimthen，butnomanwaspresentattheconversation。OnlyTamb’Itam，keepingasclosetothedoorashecould，heardhismastersay：“Yes。I
　　shallletallthepeopleknowthatsuchismywish；butIspoketoyou，ODoramin，beforealltheothers，andalone；foryouknowmyheartaswellasIknowyoursanditsgreatestdesire。AndyouknowwellalsothatI
　　havenothoughtbutforthepeople’sgood。“Thenhismaster，liftingthesheetinginthedoorway，wentout，andhe，Tamb’Itam，hadaglimpseofoldDoraminwithin，sittinginthechairwithhishandsonhisknees，andlookingbetweenhisfeet。Afterwardshefollowedhismastertothefort，wherealltheprincipalBugisandPatusaninhabitantshadbeensummonedforatalk。Tamb’Itamhimselfhopedtherewouldbesomefighting。“Whatwasitbutthetakingofanotherhill？“heexclaimedregretfully。However，inthetownmanyhopedthattherapaciousstrangerswouldbeinduced，bythesightofsomanybravemenreadytofight，togoaway。Itwouldbeagoodthingiftheywentaway。SinceJim’sarrivalhadbeenmadeknownbeforedaylightbythegunfiredfromthefortandthebeatingofabigdrumthere，thefearthathadhungoverPatusanhadbrokenandsubsidedlikeawaveonarock，leavingtheseethingfoamofexcitement，curiosity，andendlessspeculation。Halfofthepopulationhadbeenoustedoutoftheirhomesforpurposesofdefence，andwerelivinginthestreetontheleftsideoftheriver，crowdingroundthefort，andinmomentaryexpectationofseeingtheirabandoneddwellingsonthethreatenedbankburstintoflames。
　　Thegeneralanxietywastoseethemattersettledquickly。Food，throughJewel’scare，hadbeenservedouttotherefugees。Nobodyknewwhattheirwhitemanwoulddo。SomeremarkedthatitwasworsethaninSherifAli’swar。Thenmanypeopledidnotcare；noweverybodyhadsomethingtolose。
　　Themovementsofcanoespassingtoandfrobetweenthetwopartsofthetownwerewatchedwithinterest。AcoupleofBugiswar-boatslayanchoredinthemiddleofthestreamtoprotecttheriver，andathreadofsmokestoodatthebowofeach；themeninthemwerecookingtheirmiddayricewhenJim，afterhisinterviewswithBrownandDoramin，crossedtheriverandenteredbythewater-gateofhisfort。Thepeopleinsidecrowdedroundhimsothathecouldhardlymakehiswaytothehouse。Theyhadnotseenhimbefore，becauseonhisarrivalduringthenighthehadonlyexchangedafewwordswiththegirl，whohadcomedowntothelanding-stageforthepurpose，andhadthengoneonatoncetojointhechiefsandthefightingmenontheotherbank。Peopleshoutedgreetingsafterhim。Oneoldwomanraisedalaughbypushingherwaytothefrontmadlyandenjoininghiminascoldingvoicetoseetoitthathertwosons，whowerewithDoramin，didnotcometoharmatthehandsoftherobbers。Severalofthebystanderstriedtopullheraway，butshestruggledandcried：“Letmego。Whatisthis，OMoslems？Thislaughterisunseemly。Aretheynotcruel，bloodthirstyrobbersbentonkilling？““Letherbe，“saidJim，andasasilencefellsuddenly，hesaidslowly，“Everybodyshallbesafe。“Heenteredthehousebeforethegreatsigh，andtheloudmurmursofsatisfaction，haddiedout。
　　`There’snodoubthismindwasmadeupthatBrownshouldhavehiswayclearbacktothesea。Hisfate，revolted，wasforcinghishand。Hehadforthefirsttimetoaffirmhiswillinthefaceofoutspokenopposition。
　　“Therewasmuchtalk，andatfirstmymasterwassilent，“Tamb’Itamsaid。
　　“Darknesscame，andthenIlitthecandlesonthelongtable。Thechiefssatoneachside，andtheladyremainedbymymaster’srighthand。“
　　`Whenhebegantospeaktheunaccustomeddifficultyseemedonlytofixhisresolvemoreimmovably。Thewhitemenwerenowwaitingforhisansweronthehill。Theirchiefhadspokentohiminthelanguageofhisownpeople，makingclearmanythingsdifficulttoexplaininanyotherspeech。Theywereerringmenwhomsufferinghadmadeblindtorightandwrong。Itistruethatliveshadbeenlostalready，butwhylosemore？Hedeclaredtohishearers，theassembledheadsofthepeople，thattheirwelfarewashiswelfare，theirlosseshislosses，theirmourninghismourning。Helookedroundatthegravelisteningfacesandtoldthemtorememberthattheyhadfoughtandworkedsidebyside。Theyknewhiscourage……Hereamurmurinterruptedhim……Andthathehadneverdeceivedthem。Formanyyearstheyhaddwelttogether。Helovedthelandandthepeoplelivinginitwithaverygreatlove。Hewasreadytoanswerwithhislifeforanyharmthatshouldcometothemifthewhitemenwithbeardswereallowedtoretire。Theywereevil-doers，buttheirdestinyhadbeenevil，too。
　　Hadheeveradvisedthemill？Hadhiswordseverbroughtsufferingtothepeople？heasked。Hebelievedthatitwouldbebesttoletthesewhitesandtheirfollowersgowiththeirlives。Itwouldbeasmallgift。“Iwhomyouhavetiredandfondalwaystrueaskyoutoletthemgo。“HeturnedtoDoramin。Theoldnakodamadenomovement。“Then，“saidJim，“callinDainWaris，yourson，myfriend，forinthisbusinessIshallnotlead。“’
　　LordJim：Chapter43CHAPTERXLIII`TAMB’ITAMbehindhischairwasthunderstruck。Thedeclarationproducedanimmensesensation。“Letthemgobecausethisisbestinmyknowledgewhichhasneverdeceivedyou，“
　　Jiminsisted。Therewasasilence。Inthedarknessofthecourtyardcouldbeheardthesubduedwhispering，shufflingnoiseofmanypeople。Doraminraisedhisheavyheadandsaidthattherewasnomorereadingofheartsthantouchingtheskywiththehand，but——heconsented。Theothersgavetheiropinioninturn：“Itisbest，““Letthemgo，“andsoon。Butmostofthemsimplysaidthatthey“believedTuanJim。“
　　`Inthissimpleformofassenttohiswillliesthewholegistofthesituation；theircreed，histruth；andthetestimonytothatfaithfulnesswhichmadehiminhisowneyestheequaloftheimpeccablemenwhoneverfalloutoftheranks。Stein’swords，“Romantic!——Romantic!“seemtoringoverthosedistancesthatwillnevergivehimupnowtoaworldindifferenttohisfailingandhisvirtues，andtothatardentandclingingaffectionthatrefuseshimthedoleoftearsinthebewildermentofagreatgriefandofeternalseparation。Fromthemomentthesheertruthfulnessofhislastthreeyearsoflifecarriesthedayagainsttheignorance，thefear，andtheangerofmen，heappearsnolongertomeasIsawhimlast——awhitespeckcatchingallthedimlightleftuponasombrecoastandthedarkenedsea——butgreaterandmorepitifulinthelonelinessofhissoul，thatremainsevenforherwholovedhimbestacruelandinsolublemystery。
　　`ItisevidentthathedidnotmistrustBrown；therewasnoreasontodoubtthestory，whosetruthseemedwarrantedbytheroughfrankness，byasortofvirilesincerityinacceptingthemoralityandtheconsequencesofhisacts。ButJimdidnotknowthealmostinconceivableegotismofthemanwhichmadehim，whenresistedandfoiledinhiswill，madwiththeindignantandrevengefulrageofathwartedautocrat。ButifJimdidnotmistrustBrown，hewasevidentlyanxiousthatsomemisunderstandingshouldnotoccur，endingperhapsincollisionandbloodshed。ItwasforthisreasonthatdirectlytheMalaychiefshadgoneheaskedJeweltogethimsomethingtoeat，ashewasgoingoutoftheforttotakecommandinthetown。Onherremonstratingagainstthisonthescoreofhisfatigue，hesaidthatsomethingmighthappenforwhichhewouldneverforgivehimself。“Iamresponsibleforeverylifeintheland，“hesaid。Hewasmoodyatfirst；
　　sheservedhimwithherownhands，takingtheplatesanddishesofthedinner-servicepresentedhimbySteinfromTamb’Itam。Hebrightenedupafterawhile；toldhershewouldbeagainincommandofthefortforanothernight。“There’snosleepforus，oldgirl，“hesaid，“whileourpeopleareindanger。“Lateronhesaidjokinglythatshewasthebestmanofthemall。“IfyouandDainWarishaddonewhatyouwanted，notoneofthesepoordevilswouldbealiveto-day。““Aretheyverybad？“sheasked，leaningoverhischair。“Menactbadlysometimeswithoutbeingmuchworsethanothers，“hesaidaftersomehesitation。
　　`Tamb’Itamfollowedhismastertothelanding-stageoutsidethefort。
　　Thenightwasclear，butwithoutamoon，andthemiddleoftheriverwasdark，whilethewaterundereachbankreflectedthelightofmanyfires“asonanightofRamadan，“Tamb’Itamsaid。War-boatsdriftedsilentlyinthedarklaneor，anchored，floatedmotionlesswithaloudripple。Thatnighttherewasmuchpaddlinginacanoeandwalkingathismaster’sheelsforTamb’Itam：upanddownthestreettheytramped，wherethefireswereburning，inlandontheoutskirtsofthetownwheresmallpartiesofmenkeptguardinthefields。TuanJimgavehisordersandwasobeyed。LastofalltheywenttotheRajah’sstockade，whichadetachmentofJim’speoplemannedonthatnight。TheoldRajahhadfledearlyinthemorningwithmostofhiswomentoasmallhousehehadnearajunglevillageonatributarystream。Kassim，leftbehind，hadattendedthecouncilwithhisairofdiligentactivitytoexplainawaythediplomacyofthedaybefore。Hewasconsiderablycold-shouldered，butmanagedtopreservehissmiling，quietalertness，andprofessedhimselfhighlydelightedwhenJimtoldhimsternlythatheproposedtooccupythestockadeonthatnightwithhisownmen。Afterthecouncilbrokeuphewasheardoutsideaccostingthisandthatdepartingchief，andspeakinginaloud，gratifiedtoneoftheRajah’spropertybeingprotectedintheRajah’sabsence。
　　`AbouttenorsoJim’smenmarchedin。Thestockadecommandedthemouthofthecreek，andJimmeanttoremaintheretillBrownhadpassedbelow。
　　Asmallfirewaslitontheflat，grassypointoutsidethewallofstakes，andTamb’Itamplacedalittlefolding-stoolforhismaster。Jimtoldhimtotryandsleep。Tamb’Itamgotamatandlaydownalittlewayoff；buthecouldnotsleep，thoughheknewhehadtogoonanimportantjourneybeforethenightwasout。Hismasterwalkedtoandfrobeforethefirewithbowedheadandwithhishandsbehindhisback。Hisfacewassad。WheneverhismasterapproachedhimTamb’Itampretendedtosleep，notwishinghismastertoknowhehadbeenwatched。Atlasthismasterstoodstill，lookingdownonhimashelay，andsaidsoftly：`Itistime。“
　　“Tamb’Itamarosedirectlyandmadehispreparations。Hismissionwastogodowntheriver，precedingBrown’sboatbyanhourormore，totellDainWarisfinallyandformallythatthewhitesweretobeallowedtopassoutunmolested。Jimwouldnottrustanybodyelsewiththatservice。BeforestartingTamb’Itam，moreasamatterofformsincehispositionaboutJimmadehimperfectlyknown，askedforatoken。“Because，Tuan，“hesaid，“themessageisimportant，andthesearethyverywordsIcarry。“Hismasterfirstputhishandintoonepocket，thenintoanother，andfinallytookoffhisforefingerStein’ssilverring，whichhehabituallywore，andgaveittoTamb’Itam。WhenTamb’Itamleftonhismission，Brown’scampontheknollwasdarkbutforasinglesmallglowshiningthroughthebranchesofoneofthetreesthewhitemenhadcutdown。
　　`EarlyintheeveningBrownhadreceivedfromJimafoldedpieceofpaperonwhichwaswritten：“Yougettheclearroad。Startassoonasyourboatfloatsonthemorningtide。Letyourmenbecareful。Thebushesonbothsidesofthecreekandthestockadeatthemoutharefullofwell-armedmen。Youwouldhavenochance，butIdon’tbelieveyouwantbloodshed。“
　　Brownreadit，torethepaperintosmallpieces，and，turningtoCornelius，whohadbroughtit，saidjeeringly，“Good-bye，myexcellentfriend。“Corneliushadbeeninthefort，andhadbeensneakingaroundJim’shouseduringtheafternoon。JimchosehimtocarrythenotebecausehecouldspeakEnglish，wasknowntoBrown，andwasnotlikelytobeshotbysomenervousmistakeofoneofthemenasaMalay，approachinginthedusk，perhapsmighthavebeen。
　　`Corneliusdidn’tgoawayafterdeliveringthepaper。Brownwassittingupoveratinyfire；alltheotherswerelyingdown。“Icouldtellyousomethingyouwouldliketoknow，“Corneliusmumbledcrossly。Brownpaidnoattention。“Youdidnotkillhim，“wentontheother，“andwhatdoyougetforit？YoumighthavehadmoneyfromtheRajah，besidesthelootofalltheBugishouses，andnowyougetnothing。““Youhadbetterclearoutfromhere，“growledBrown，