“Whatbecameofhim？“Iasked。Tamb’Itam，staringatme，madeanexpressivegesturewithhisrightarm。“TwiceIstruck，tuan，“hesaid。“Whenhebeheldmeapproachinghecasthimselfviolentlyonthegroundandmadeagreatoutcry，kicking。Hescreechedlikeafrightenedhentillhefeltthepoint；thenhewasstill，andlaystaringatmewhilehislifewentoutofhiseyes。“
　　`Thisdone，Tamb’Itamdidnottarry。Heunderstoodtheimportanceofbeingthefirstwiththeawfulnewsatthefort。Therewere，ofcourse，manysurvivorsofDainWaris’sparty；butintheextremityofpanicsomehadswumacrosstheriver，othershadboltedintothebush。Thefactisthattheydidnotknowreallywhostruckthatblow——whethermorewhiterobberswerenotcoming，whethertheyhadnotalreadygotholdofthewholeland。Theyimaginedthemselvestobethevictimsofavasttreachery，andutterlydoomedtodestruction。Itissaidthatsomesmallpartiesdidnotcomeintillthreedaysafterwards。However，afewtriedtomaketheirwaybacktoPatusanatonce，andoneofthecanoesthatwerepatrollingtheriverthatmorningwasinsightofthecampattheverymomentoftheattack。Itistruethatatfirstthemeninherleapedoverboardandswamtotheoppositebank，butafterwardstheyreturnedtotheirboatandstartedfearfullyupstream。OftheseTamb’Itamhadanhour’sadvance。“
　　Tamb’Itam，paddlingmadly，cameintothetown-reach，thewomen，throngingtheplatformsbeforethehouses，werelookingoutforthereturnofDainWaris’slittlefleetofboats。Thetownhadafestiveair；hereandtheremen，stillwithspearsorgunsintheirhands，couldbeseenmovingorstandingontheshoreingroups。Chinamen’sshopshadbeenopenedearly；butthemarket-placewasempty，andasentry，stillpostedatthecornerofthefort，madeoutTamb’Itam，andshoutedtothosewithin。Thegatewaswideopen。Tamb’Itamjumpedashoreandraninheadlong。
　　Thefirstpersonhemetwasthegirlcomingdownfromthehouse。
　　`Tamb’Itam，disordered，panting，withtremblinglipsandwildeyes，stoodforatimebeforeherasifasuddenspellhadbeenlaidonhim。
　　Thenhebrokeoutveryquickly：“TheyhavekilledDainWarisandmanymore。“
　　Sheclappedherhands，andherfirstwordswere，“Shutthegates。“Mostofthefortmenhadgonebacktotheirhouses，butTamb’Itamhurriedonthefewwhoremainedfortheirturnofdutywithin。Thegirlstoodinthemiddleofthecourtyardwhiletheothersranabout。“Doramin，“shecrieddespairingly，asTamb’Itampassedher。Nexttimehewentbyheansweredherthoughtrapidly，“Yes。ButwehaveallthepowderinPatusan。“Shecaughthimbythearm，and，pointingatthehouse，“Callhimout，“shewhispered，trembling。
　　`Tamb’Itamranupthesteps。Hismasterwassleeping。“ItisI，Tamb’
　　Itam，“hecriedatthedoor，“withtidingsthatcannotwait。“HesawJimturnoveronthepillowandopenhiseyes，andheburstoutatonce：“This，tuan，isadayofevil，anaccursedday。“Hismasterraisedhimselfonhiselbowtolisten——justasDainWarishaddone。AndthenTamb’Itambeganhistale，tryingtorelatethestoryinorder，callingDainWarisPanglima，andsaying：“ThePanglimathencalledouttothechiefofhisownboatmen：`GiveTamb’Itamsomethingtoeat“’——whenhismasterputhisfeettothegroundandlookedathimwithsuchadiscomposedfacethatthewordsremainedinhisthroat。
　　“`Speakout，“saidJim。“Ishedead？““Mayyoulivelong，“criedTamb’
　　Itam。“Itwasamostcrueltreachery。Heranoutatthefirstshotsandfell。“……Hismasterwalkedtothewindowandwithhisfiststruckattheshutter。Theroomwasmadelight；andtheninasteadyvoice，butspeakingfast，hebegantogivehimorderstoassembleafleetofboatsforimmediatepursuit，gotothisman，totheother——sendmessengers；andashetalkedhesatdownonthebed，stoopingtolacehisbootshurriedly，andsuddenlylookedup。“Whydoyoustandhere？“heaskedveryred-faced。“Wastenotime。“Tamb’Itamdidnotmove。“Forgiveme，tuan，but……but，“
　　hebegantostammer。“What？“criedhismasteraloud，lookingterrible，leaningforwardwithhishandsgrippingtheedgeofthebed。“Itisnotsafeforthyservanttogooutamongstthepeople，“saidTamb’Itam，afterhesitatingamoment。
　　`ThenJimunderstood。Hehadretreatedfromoneworld，forasmallmatterofanimpulsivejump，andnowtheother，theworkofhisownhands，hadfalleninruinsuponhishead。Itwasnotsafeforhisservanttogooutamongsthisownpeople!Ibelievethatinthatverymomenthehaddecidedtodefythedisasterintheonlywayitoccurredtohimsuchadisastercouldbedefied；butallIknowisthat，withoutaword，hecameoutofhisroomandsatbeforethelongtable，attheheadofwhichhewasaccustomedtoregulatetheaffairsofhisworld，proclaimingdailythetruththatsurelylivedinhisheart。Thedarkpowersshouldnotrobhimtwiceofhispeace。Hesatlikeastonefigure。Tamb’Itam，deferential，hintedatpreparationsfordefence。Thegirlhelovedcameinandspoketohim，buthemadeasignwithhishand，andshewasawedbythedumbappealforsilenceinit。Shewentoutontheverandaandsatonthethreshold，asiftoguardhimwithherbodyfromdangersoutside。
　　`Whatthoughtspassedthroughhishead——whatmemories？Whocantell？
　　Everythingwasgone，andhewhohadbeenonceunfaithfultohistrusthadlostagainallmen’sconfidence。Itwasthen，Ibelieve，hetriedtowrite——tosomebody——andgaveitup。Lonelinesswasclosingonhim。Peoplehadtrustedhimwiththeirlives——onlyforthat；andyettheycouldnever，ashehadsaid，neverbemadetounderstandhim。Thosewithoutdidnothearhimmakeasound。Later，towardstheevening，hecametothedoorandcalledforTamb’Itam。“Well？“heasked。“Thereismuchweeping。Muchanger，too，“
　　saidTamb’Itam。Jimlookedupathim。“Youknow，“hemurmured。“Yes，tuan，“
　　saidTamb’Itam。“Thyservantdoesknow，andthegatesareclosed。Weshallhavetofight。““Fight!Whatfor？“heasked。“Forourlives。““Ihavenolife，“hesaid。Tamb’Itamheardacryfromthegirlatthedoor。“Whoknows？“saidTamb’Itam。“Byaudacityandcunningwemayevenescape。Thereismuchfearinmen’shearts，too。“Hewentout，thinkingvaguelyofboatsandofopensea，leavingJimandthegirltogether。
　　`Ihaven’tthehearttosetdownheresuchglimpsesasshehasgivenmeofthehourormoreshehadpassedintherewrestlingwithhimforthepossessionofherhappiness。Whetherhehadanyhope——whatheexpected，whatheimagined——itisimpossibletosay。Hewasinflexible，andwiththegrowinglonelinessofhisobstinacyhisspiritseemedtoriseabovetheruinsofhisexistence。Shecried“Fight!“intohisear。Shecouldnotunderstand。Therewasnothingtofightfor。Hewasgoingtoprovehispowerinanotherwayandconquerthefataldestinyitself。Hecomeoutintothecourtyard，andbehindhim，withstreaminghair，wildofface，breathless，shestaggeredoutandleanedonthesideofthedoorway。“Openthegates，“heordered。Afterwards，turningtothoseofhismenwhowereinside，hegavethemleavetodeparttotheirhomes。“Forhowlong，tuan？“
　　askedoneofthemtimidly。“Foralllife，“hesaid，inasombretone。
　　`Ahushhadfallenuponthetownaftertheoutburstofwailingandlamentationthathadsweptovertheriver，likeagustofwindfromtheopenedabodeofsorrow。Butrumoursflewinwhispers，fillingtheheartswithconsternationandhorribledoubts。Therobberswerecomingback，bringingmanyotherswiththem，inagreatship，andtherewouldbenorefugeinthelandforanyone。Asenseofutterinsecurityasduringanearthquakepervadedthemindsofmen，whowhisperedtheirsuspicions，lookingateachotherasifinthepresenceofsomeawfulportent。
　　`ThesunwassinkingtowardstheforestswhenDainWaris’sbodywasbroughtintoDoramin’scampong。Fourmencarrieditin，covereddecentlywithawhitesheetwhichtheoldmotherhadsentoutdowntothegatetomeethersononhisreturn。TheylaidhimatDoramin’sfeet，andtheoldmansatstillforalongtime，onehandoneachknee，lookingdown。
　　Thefrondsofpalmsswayedgently，andthefoliageoffruittreesstirredabovehishead。Everysinglemanofhispeoplewasthere，fullyarmed，whentheoldnakhodaatlastraisedhiseyes。Hemovedthemslowlyoverthecrowd，asifseekingforamissingface。Againhischinsankonhisbreast。Thewhispersofmanymenmingledwiththeslightrustlingoftheleaves。
　　`TheMalaywhohadbroughtTamb’ItamandthegirltoSamarangwasthere，too。“Notsoangryasmany，“hesaidtome，butstruckwithagreataweandwonderatthe“suddennessofmen’sfate，whichhangsovertheirheadslikeacloudchargedwiththunder。“HetoldmethatwhenDainWaris’sbodywasuncoveredatasignofDoramin’s，hewhomtheyoftencalledthewhitelord’sfriendwasdisclosedlyingunchangedwithhiseyelidsalittleopenasifabouttowake。Doraminleanedforwardalittlemore，likeonelookingforsomethingfallenontheground。Hiseyessearchedthebodyfromitsfeettoitshead，forthewoundmaybe。Itwasintheforeheadandsmall；
　　andtherewasnowordspokenwhileoneofthebystanders，stooping，tookoffthesilverringfromthecoldstiffhand。InsilencehehelditupbeforeDoramin。Amurmurofdismayandhorrorranthroughthecrowdatthesightofthatfamiliartoken。Theoldnakhodastaredatit，andsuddenlyletoutonegreatfiercecry，deepfromthechest，aroarofpainandfury，asmightyasthebellowofawoundedbull，bringinggreatfearintomen’shearts，bythemagnitudeofhisangerandhissorrowthatcouldbeplainlydiscernedwithoutwords。Therewasagreatstillnessafterwardsforaspace，whilethebodywasbeingborneasidebyfourmen。Theylaiditdownunderatree，andontheinstant，withonelongshriek，allthewomenofthehouseholdbegantowailtogether；theymournedwithshrillcries；thesunwassetting，andintheintervalsofscreamedlamentationsthehighsingsongvoicesoftwooldmenintoningtheKoranchantedalone。
　　`AboutthistimeJim，leaningonagun-carriage，lookedattheriver，andturnedhisbackonthehouse；andthegirl，inthedoorway，pantingasifshehadrunherselftoastandstill，waslookingathimacrosstheyard。Tamb’Itamstoodnotfarfromhismaster，waitingpatientlyforwhatmighthappen。AllatonceJim，whoseemedtobelostinquietthought，turnedtohimandsaid：“Timetofinishthis。“
　　`“Tuan？“saidTamb’Itam，advancingwithalacrity。Hedidnotknowwhathismastermeant，butassoonasJimmadeamovementthegirlstarted，too，andwalkeddownintotheopenspace。Itseemsthatnooneelseofthepeopleofthehousewasinsight。Shetotteredslightly，andabouthalf-waydowncalledouttoJim，whohadapparentlyresumedhispeacefulcontemplationoftheriver。Heturnedround，settinghisbackagainstthegun。“Willyoufight？“shecried。“Thereisnothingtofightfor，“hesaid；
　　“nothingislost。“Sayingthishemadeasteptowardsher。“Willyoufly？“
　　shecriedagain。“Thereisnoescape，“hesaid，stoppingshort，andshestoodstillalso，silent，devouringhimwithhereyes。“Andyoushallgo？“
　　shesaid，slowly。Hebenthishead。“Ah!“sheexclaimed，peeringathimasitwere，“youaremadorfalse。DoyourememberthenightIprayedyoutoleaveme，andyousaidthatyoucouldnot？Thatitwasimpossible!Impossible!
　　Doyourememberyousaidyouwouldneverleaveme？Why？Iaskedyoufornopromise。Youpromisedunasked——remember。““Enough，poorgirl，“hesaid。
　　“Ishouldnotbeworthhaving。“
　　`Tamb’ItamsaidthatwhiletheyweretalkingshewouldlaughloudandsenselesslylikeoneunderthevisitationofGod。Hismasterputhishandstohishead。Hewasfullydressedasforeveryday，butwithoutahat。
　　Shestoppedlaughingsuddenly。“Forthelasttime，“shecried，menacingly，“willyoudefendyouself？““Nothingcantouchme，“hesaidinalastflickerofsuperbegoism。Tamb’Itamsawherleanforwardwhereshestood，openherarms，andrunathimswiftly。Sheflungherselfuponhisbreastandclaspedhimroundtheneck。
　　“`Ah!butIshallholdtheethus，“shecried……“Thouartmine!“
　　`Shesobbedonhisshoulder。TheskyoverPatusanwasblood-red，immense，streaminglikeanopenvein。Anenormoussunnestledcrimsonamongstthetree-tops，andtheforestbelowhadablackandforbiddingface。
　　`Tamb’Itamtellsmethatonthateveningtheaspectoftheheavenswasangryandfrightful。Imaywellbelieveit，forIknowthatonthatverydayacyclonepassedwithinsixtymilesofthecoast，thoughtherewashardlymorethanalanguidstirofairintheplace。
　　`SuddenlyTamb’ItamsawJimcatchherarms，tryingtounclaspherhands。
　　Shehungonthemwithherheadfallenback；herhairtouchedtheground。
　　“Comehere!“hismastercalled，andTamb’Itamhelpedtoeaseherdown。
　　Itwasdifficulttoseparateherfingers。Jim，bendingoverher，lookedearnestlyuponherface，andallatoncerantothelanding-stage。Tamb’
　　Itamfollowedhim，butturninghishead，hesawthatshehadstruggleduptoherfeet。Sheranafterthemafewsteps，thenfelldownheavilyonherknees。“Tuan!Tuan!“calledTamb’Itam，“lookback“；butJimwasalreadyinacanoe，standinguppaddleinhand。Hedidnotlookback。Tamb’Itamhadjusttimetoscrambleinafterhimwhenthecanoefloatedclear。Thegirlwasthenonherknees，withclaspedhands，atthewater-gate。Sheremainedthusforatimeinasupplicatingattitudebeforeshesprangup。“Youarefalse!“shescreamedoutafterJim。“Forgiveme，“
　　hecried。“Never!Never!“shecalledback。