PartOneTheNellie，acruisingyawl，swungtoheranchorwith-
　　outaflutterofthesails，andwasatrest。Thefloodhadmade，thewindwasnearlycalm，andbeingbounddowntheriver，theonlythingforitwastocometoandwaitfortheturnofthetide。
　　Thesea-reachoftheThamesstretchedbeforeuslikethebeginningofaninterminablewaterway。Intheoffingtheseaandtheskywereweldedtogetherwithoutajoint，andintheluminousspacethetannedsailsofthebargesdriftingupwiththetideseemedtostandstillinredclustersofcanvassharplypeaked，withgleamsofvarnishedsprits。Ahazerestedonthelowshoresthatranouttoseainvanishingflatness。TheairwasdarkaboveGravesend，andfartherbackstillseemedcondensedintoamournfulgloom，broodingmo-
　　tionlessoverthebiggest，andthegreatest，townonearth。
　　TheDirectorofCompanieswasourcaptainandourhost。Wefouraffectionatelywatchedhisbackashestoodinthebowslookingtoseaward。Onthewholerivertherewasnothingthatlookedhalfsonautical。Heresembledapilot，whichtoaseamanistrustworthinesspersonified。Itwasdifficulttorealizehisworkwasnotoutthereintheluminousestuary，butbehindhim，withinthebroodinggloom。
　　Betweenustherewas，asIhavealreadysaidsome-
　　where，thebondofthesea。Besidesholdingourheartstogetherthroughlongperiodsofseparation，ithadtheeffectofmakingustolerantofeachother’syarns——andevenconvictions。TheLawyer——thebestofoldfellows——had，becauseofhismanyyearsandmanyvirtues，theonlycushionondeck，andwaslyingontheonlyrug。
　　TheAccountanthadbroughtoutalreadyaboxofdominoes，andwastoyingarchitecturallywiththebones。
　　Marlowsatcross-leggedrightaft，leaningagainstthemizzen-mast。Hehadsunkencheeks，ayellowcomplex-
　　ion，astraightback，anasceticaspect，and，withhisarmsdropped，thepalmsofhandsoutwards，resembledanidol。TheDirector，satisfiedtheanchorhadgoodhold，madehiswayaftandsatdownamongstus。Weexchangedafewwordslazily。Afterwardstherewassilenceonboardtheyacht。Forsomereasonorotherwedidnotbeginthatgameofdominoes。Wefeltmedi-
　　tative，andfitfornothingbutplacidstaring。Thedaywasendinginaserenityofstillandexquisitebrilliance。
　　Thewatershonepacifically;thesky，withoutaspeck，wasabenignimmensityofunstainedlight;theverymistontheEssexmarsheswaslikeagauzyandradiantfabric，hungfromthewoodedrisesinland，anddrapingthelowshoresindiaphanousfolds。Onlythegloomtothewest，broodingovertheupperreaches，becamemoresombereveryminute，asifangeredbytheapproachofthesun。
　　Andatlast，initscurvedandimperceptiblefall，thesunsanklow，andfromglowingwhitechangedtoadullredwithoutraysandwithoutheat，asifabouttogooutsuddenly，strickentodeathbythetouchofthatgloombroodingoveracrowdofmen。
　　Forthwithachangecameoverthewaters，andtheserenitybecamelessbrilliantbutmoreprofound。Theoldriverinitsbroadreachrestedunruffledatthedeclineofday，afteragesofgoodservicedonetotheracethatpeopleditsbanks，spreadoutinthetranquildignityofawaterwayleadingtotheuttermostendsoftheearth。
　　Welookedatthevenerablestreamnotinthevividflushofashortdaythatcomesanddepartsforever，butintheaugustlightofabidingmemories。Andindeednothingiseasierforamanwhohas，asthephrasegoes，"followedthesea"withreverenceandaffection，thantoevokethegreatspiritofthepastuponthelowerreachesoftheThames。Thetidalcurrentrunstoandfroinitsunceasingservice，crowdedwithmemoriesofmenandshipsithadbornetotherestofhomeortothebattlesofthesea。Ithadknownandservedallthemenofwhomthenationisproud，fromSirFrancisDraketoSirJohnFranklin，knightsall，titledandun-
　　titled——thegreatknights-errantofthesea。Ithadbornealltheshipswhosenamesarelikejewelsflashinginthenightoftime，fromtheGoldenHindreturningwithherroundflanksfulloftreasure，tobevisitedbytheQueen’sHighnessandthuspassoutofthegigantictale，totheErebusandTerror，boundonotherconquests——andthatneverreturned。Ithadknowntheshipsandthemen。TheyhadsailedfromDeptford，fromGreen-
　　wich，fromErith——theadventurersandthesettlers;
　　kings’shipsandtheshipsofmenon’Change;captains，admirals，thedark"interlopers"oftheEasterntrade，andthecommissioned"generals"ofEastIndiafleets。
　　Huntersforgoldorpursuersoffame，theyallhadgoneoutonthatstream，bearingthesword，andoftenthetorch，messengersofthemightwithintheland，bearersofasparkfromthesacredfire。Whatgreatnesshadnotfloatedontheebbofthatriverintothemysteryofanunknownearth！……Thedreamsofmen，theseedofcommonwealths，thegermsofempires。
　　Thesunset;theduskfellonthestream，andlightsbegantoappearalongtheshore。TheChapmanlight-
　　house，athree-leggedthingerectonamud-flat，shonestrongly。Lightsofshipsmovedinthefairway——agreatstiroflightsgoingupandgoingdown。Andfartherwestontheupperreachestheplaceofthemon-
　　stroustownwasstillmarkedominouslyonthesky，abroodinggloominsunshine，aluridglareunderthestars。
　　"Andthisalso，"saidMarlowsuddenly，"hasbeenoneofthedarkplacesoftheearth。"
　　Hewastheonlymanofuswhostill"followedthesea。"Theworstthatcouldbesaidofhimwasthathedidnotrepresenthisclass。Hewasaseaman，buthewasawanderer，too，whilemostseamenlead，ifonemaysoexpressit，asedentarylife。Theirmindsareofthestay-at-homeorder，andtheirhomeisalwayswiththem——theship;andsoistheircountry——thesea。Oneshipisverymuchlikeanother，andtheseaisalwaysthesame。
　　Intheimmutabilityoftheirsurroundingstheforeignshores，theforeignfaces，thechangingimmensityoflife，glidepast，veilednotbyasenseofmysterybutbyaslightlydisdainfulignorance;forthereisnothingmys-
　　terioustoaseamanunlessitbetheseaitself，whichisthemistressofhisexistenceandasinscrutableasDestiny。
　　Fortherest，afterhishoursofwork，acasualstrolloracasualspreeonshoresufficestounfoldforhimthesecretofawholecontinent，andgenerallyhefindsthesecretnotworthknowing。Theyarnsofseamenhaveadirectsimplicity，thewholemeaningofwhichlieswithintheshellofacrackednut。ButMarlowwasnottypical（ifhispropensitytospinyarnsbeexcepted），andtohimthemeaningofanepisodewasnotinsidelikeakernelbutoutside，envelopingthetalewhichbroughtitoutonlyasaglowbringsoutahaze，inthelikenessofoneofthesemistyhalosthatsometimesaremadevisiblebythespectralilluminationofmoonshine。
　　Hisremarkdidnotseematallsurprising。ItwasjustlikeMarlow。Itwasacceptedinsilence。Noonetookthetroubletogrunteven;andpresentlyhesaid，veryslow——
　　"Iwasthinkingofveryoldtimes，whentheRomansfirstcamehere，nineteenhundredyearsago——theotherday……Lightcameoutofthisriversince——yousayKnights？Yes;butitislikearunningblazeonaplain，likeaflashoflightningintheclouds。Weliveintheflicker——mayitlastaslongastheoldearthkeepsrolling！Butdarknesswashereyesterday。Imaginethefeelingsofacommanderofafine——whatd’yecall’em？——triremeintheMediterranean，orderedsuddenlytothenorth;runoverlandacrosstheGaulsinahurry;
　　putinchargeofoneofthesecraftthelegionaries，——awonderfullotofhandymentheymusthavebeentoo——
　　usedtobuild，apparentlybythehundred，inamonthortwo，ifwemaybelievewhatweread。Imaginehimhere——theveryendoftheworld，aseathecoloroflead，askythecolorofsmoke，akindofshipaboutasrigidasaconcertina——andgoingupthisriverwithstores，ororders，orwhatyoulike。Sandbanks，marshes，forests，savages，——preciouslittletoeatfitforacivilizedman，nothingbutThameswatertodrink。NoFalernianwinehere，nogoingashore。Hereandthereamilitarycamplostinawilderness，likeaneedleinabundleofhay——
　　cold，fog，tempests，disease，exile，anddeath，——deathskulkingintheair，inthewater，inthebush。Theymusthavebeendyinglikeflieshere。Ohyes——hedidit。
　　Diditverywell，too，nodoubt，andwithoutthinkingmuchaboutiteither，exceptafterwardstobragofwhathehadgonethroughinhistime，perhaps。Theyweremenenoughtofacethedarkness。AndperhapshewascheeredbykeepinghiseyeonachanceofpromotiontothefleetatRavennaby-and-by，ifhehadgoodfriendsinRomeandsurvivedtheawfulclimate。Orthinkofadecentyoungcitizeninatoga——perhapstoomuchdice，youknow——comingouthereinthetrainofsomeprefect，ortax-gatherer，ortradereven，tomendhisfortunes。Landinaswamp，marchthroughthewoods，andinsomeinlandpostfeelthesavagery，theuttersavagery，hadclosedroundhim，——allthatmysteriouslifeofthewildernessthatstirsintheforest，inthejungles，intheheartsofwildmen。There’snoinitiationeitherintosuchmysteries。Hehastoliveinthemidstoftheincomprehensible，whichisalsodetestable。Andithasafascination，too，thatgoestoworkuponhim。
　　Thefascinationoftheabomination——youknow。
　　Imaginethegrowingregrets，thelongingtoescape，thepowerlessdisgust，thesurrender，thehate。"
　　Hepaused。
　　"Mind，"hebeganagain，liftingonearmfromtheelbow，thepalmofthehandoutwards，sothat，withhislegsfoldedbeforehim，hehadtheposeofaBuddhapreachinginEuropeanclothesandwithoutalotus-
　　flower——"Mind，noneofuswouldfeelexactlylikethis。
　　Whatsavesusisefficiency——thedevotiontoefficiency。
　　Butthesechapswerenotmuchaccount，really。Theywerenocolonists;theiradministrationwasmerelyasqueeze，andnothingmore，Isuspect。Theywerecon-
　　querors，andforthatyouwantonlybruteforce——nothingtoboastof，whenyouhaveit，sinceyourstrengthisjustanaccidentarisingfromtheweaknessofothers。
　　Theygrabbedwhattheycouldgetforthesakeofwhatwastobegot。Itwasjustrobberywithviolence，aggra-
　　vatedmurderonagreatscale，andmengoingatitblind——asisveryproperforthosewhotackleadarkness。Theconquestoftheearth，whichmostlymeansthetakingitawayfromthosewhohaveadifferentcomplexionorslightlyflatternosesthanourselves，isnotaprettythingwhenyoulookintoittoomuch。Whatredeemsitistheideaonly。Anideaatthebackofit;notasentimentalpretensebutanidea;andanunselfishbeliefintheidea——somethingyoucansetup，andbowdownbefore，andofferasacrificeto……"
　　Hebrokeoff。Flamesglidedintheriver，smallgreenflames，redflames，whiteflames，pursuing，overtaking，joining，crossingeachother——thenseparatingslowlyorhastily。Thetrafficofthegreatcitywentoninthedeepeningnightuponthesleeplessriver。Welookedon，waitingpatiently——therewasnothingelsetodotilltheendoftheflood;butitwasonlyafteralongsilence，whenhesaid，inahesitatingvoice，"Isupposeyoufel-
　　lowsrememberIdidonceturnfresh-watersailorforabit，"thatweknewwewerefated，beforetheebbbegantorun，tohearaboutoneofMarlow’sinconclusiveex-
　　periences。
　　"Idon’twanttobotheryoumuchwithwhathap-
　　penedtomepersonally，"hebegan，showinginthisre-
　　marktheweaknessofmanytellersoftaleswhoseemsooftenunawareofwhattheiraudiencewouldbestliketohear;"yettounderstandtheeffectofitonmeyououghttoknowhowIgotoutthere，whatIsaw，howI
　　wentupthatrivertotheplacewhereIfirstmetthepoorchap。Itwasthefarthestpointofnavigationandtheculminatingpointofmyexperience。Itseemedsome-
　　howtothrowakindoflightoneverythingaboutme——
　　andintomythoughts。Itwassomberenoughtoo——andpitiful——notextraordinaryinanyway——notverycleareither。No，notveryclear。Andyetitseemedtothrowakindoflight。
　　"Ihadthen，asyouremember，justreturnedtoLon-
　　donafteralotofIndianOcean，Pacific，ChinaSeas——
　　aregulardoseoftheEast——sixyearsorso，andIwasloafingabout，hinderingyoufellowsinyourworkandinvadingyourhomes，justasthoughIhadgotaheavenlymissiontocivilizeyou。Itwasveryfineforatime，butafterabitIdidgettiredofresting。ThenIbegantolookforaship——Ishouldthinkthehardestworkonearth。Buttheshipswouldn’tevenlookatme。
　　AndIgottiredofthatgametoo。
　　"NowwhenIwasalittlechapIhadapassionformaps。IwouldlookforhoursatSouthAmerica，orAfrica，orAustralia，andlosemyselfinallthegloriesofexploration。Atthattimethereweremanyblankspacesontheearth，andwhenIsawonethatlookedparticularlyinvitingonamap（buttheyalllookthat）
　　Iwouldputmyfingeronitandsay，WhenIgrowupIwillgothere。TheNorthPolewasoneoftheseplaces，Iremember。Well，Ihaven’tbeenthereyet，andshallnottrynow。Theglamour’soff。OtherplaceswerescatteredabouttheEquator，andineverysortoflati-
　　tudealloverthetwohemispheres。Ihavebeeninsomeofthem，and……well，wewon’ttalkaboutthat。Buttherewasoneyet——thebiggest，themostblank，sotospeak——thatIhadahankeringafter。
　　"True，bythistimeitwasnotablankspaceanymore。Ithadgotfilledsincemyboyhoodwithriversandlakesandnames。Ithadceasedtobeablankspaceofdelightfulmystery——awhitepatchforaboytodreamgloriouslyover。Ithadbecomeaplaceofdarkness。Buttherewasinitoneriverespecially，amightybigriver，thatyoucouldseeonthemap，resemblinganimmensesnakeuncoiled，withitsheadinthesea，itsbodyatrestcurvingafaroveravastcountry，anditstaillostinthedepthsoftheland。AndasIlookedatthemapofitinashop-window，itfascinatedmeasasnakewouldabird——asillylittlebird。ThenIrememberedtherewasabigconcern，aCompanyfortradeonthatriver。Dashitall！Ithoughttomyself，theycan’ttradewithoutusingsomekindofcraftonthatlotoffreshwater——
　　steamboats！Whyshouldn’tItrytogetchargeofone。IwentonalongFleetStreet，butcouldnotshakeofftheidea。Thesnakehadcharmedme。
　　"YouunderstanditwasaContinentalconcern，thatTradingsociety;butIhavealotofrelationslivingontheContinent，becauseit’scheapandnotsonastyasitlooks，theysay。
　　"IamsorrytoownIbegantoworrythem。Thiswasalreadyafreshdepartureforme。Iwasnotusedtogetthingsthatway，youknow。IalwayswentmyownroadandonmyownlegswhereIhadamindtogo。I
　　wouldn’thavebelieveditofmyself;but，then——yousee——IfeltsomehowImustgettherebyhookorbycrook。
　　SoIworriedthem。Themensaid’Mydearfellow，’anddidnothing。Then——wouldyoubelieveit？——Itriedthewomen。I，CharlieMarlow，setthewomentowork——togetajob。Heavens！Well，yousee，thenotiondroveme。Ihadanaunt，adearenthusiasticsoul。Shewrote：
　　’Itwillbedelightful。Iamreadytodoanything，any-
　　thingforyou。Itisagloriousidea。IknowthewifeofaveryhighpersonageintheAdministration，andalsoamanwhohaslotsofinfluencewith，’&c。，&c。Shewasdeterminedtomakenoendoffusstogetmeap-
　　pointedskipperofariversteamboat，ifsuchwasmyfancy。
　　"Igotmyappointment——ofcourse;andIgotitveryquick。ItappearstheCompanyhadreceivednewsthatoneoftheircaptainshadbeenkilledinascufflewiththenatives。Thiswasmychance，anditmademethemoreanxioustogo。Itwasonlymonthsandmonthsafterwards，whenImadetheattempttorecoverwhatwasleftofthebody，thatIheardtheoriginalquarrelarosefromamisunderstandingaboutsomehens。Yes，twoblackhens。Fresleven——thatwasthefellow’sname，aDane——thoughthimselfwrongedsomehowinthebar-
　　gain，sohewentashoreandstartedtohammerthechiefofthevillagewithastick。Oh，itdidn’tsurprisemeintheleasttohearthis，andatthesametimetobetoldthatFreslevenwasthegentlest，quietestcreaturethateverwalkedontwolegs。Nodoubthewas;buthehadbeenacoupleofyearsalreadyoutthereengagedinthenoblecause，youknow，andheprobablyfelttheneedatlastofassertinghisself-respectinsomeway。
　　Thereforehewhackedtheoldniggermercilessly，whileabigcrowdofhispeoplewatchedhim，thunderstruck，tillsomeman，——Iwastoldthechief’sson，——indespera-
　　tionathearingtheoldchapyell，madeatentativejabwithaspearatthewhiteman——andofcourseitwentquiteeasybetweentheshoulder-blades。Thenthewholepopulationclearedintotheforest，expectingallkindsofcalamitiestohappen，while，ontheotherhand，thesteamerFreslevencommandedleftalsoinabadpanic，inchargeoftheengineer，Ibelieve。AfterwardsnobodyseemedtotroublemuchaboutFresleven’sremains，tillIgotoutandsteppedintohisshoes。Icouldn’tletitrest，though;butwhenanopportunityofferedatlasttomeetmypredecessor，thegrassgrowingthroughhisribswastallenoughtohidehisbones。Theywereallthere。Thesupernaturalbeinghadnotbeentouchedafterhefell。Andthevillagewasdeserted，thehutsgapedblack，rotting，allaskewwithinthefallenen-
　　closures。Acalamityhadcometoit，sureenough。Thepeoplehadvanished。Madterrorhadscatteredthem，men，women，andchildren，throughthebush，andtheyhadneverreturned。WhatbecameofthehensIdon’tknoweither。Ishouldthinkthecauseofprogressgotthem，anyhow。However，throughthisgloriousaffairI
　　gotmyappointment，beforeIhadfairlybeguntohopeforit。
　　"Iflewaroundlikemadtogetready，andbeforeforty-
　　eighthoursIwascrossingtheChanneltoshowmyselftomyemployers，andsignthecontract。InaveryfewhoursIarrivedinacitythatalwaysmakesmethinkofawhitedsepulcher。Prejudicenodoubt。IhadnodifficultyinfindingtheCompany’soffices。Itwasthebiggestthinginthetown，andeverybodyImetwasfullofit。Theyweregoingtorunanover-seaempire，andmakenoendofcoinbytrade。
　　"Anarrowanddesertedstreetindeepshadow，highhouses，innumerablewindowswithvenetianblinds，adeadsilence，grasssproutingbetweenthestones，imposingcarriagearchwaysrightandleft，immensedoubledoorsstandingponderouslyajar。Islippedthroughoneofthesecracks，wentupasweptandungarnishedstaircase，asaridasadesert，andopenedthefirstdoorIcameto。
　　Twowomen，onefatandtheotherslim，satonstraw-
　　bottomedchairs，knittingblackwool。Theslimonegotupandwalkedstraightatme——stillknittingwithdown-
　　casteyes——andonlyjustasIbegantothinkofgettingoutofherway，asyouwouldforasomnambulist，stoodstill，andlookedup。Herdresswasasplainasanum-
　　brella-cover，andsheturnedroundwithoutawordandprecededmeintoawaiting-room。Igavemyname，andlookedabout。Dealtableinthemiddle，plainchairsallroundthewalls，ononeendalargeshiningmap，markedwithallthecolorsofarainbow。Therewasavastamountofred——goodtoseeatanytime，becauseoneknowsthatsomerealworkisdoneinthere，adeuceofalotofblue，alittlegreen，smearsoforange，and，ontheEastCoast，apurplepatch，toshowwherethejollypioneersofprogressdrinkthejollylager-beer。How-
　　ever，Iwasn’tgoingintoanyofthese。Iwasgoingintotheyellow。Deadinthecenter。Andtheriverwasthere——fascinating——deadly——likeasnake。Ough！
　　Adooropened，awhite-hairedsecretarialhead，butwearingacompassionateexpression，appeared，andaskinnyforefingerbeckonedmeintothesanctuary。Itslightwasdim，andaheavywriting-desksquattedinthemiddle。Frombehindthatstructurecameoutanim-
　　pressionofpaleplumpnessinafrock-coat。Thegreatmanhimself。Hewasfivefeetsix，Ishouldjudge，andhadhisgriponthehandle-endofeversomanymillions。
　　Heshookhands，Ifancy，murmuredvaguely，wassatis-
　　fiedwithmyFrench。Bonvoyage。
　　"Inaboutforty-fivesecondsIfoundmyselfagaininthewaiting-roomwiththecompassionatesecretary，who，fullofdesolationandsympathy，mademesignsomedocument。IbelieveIundertookamongstotherthingsnottodiscloseanytradesecrets。Well，Iamnotgoingto。
　　"Ibegantofeelslightlyuneasy。YouknowIamnotusedtosuchceremonies，andtherewassomethingominousintheatmosphere。ItwasjustasthoughI
　　hadbeenletintosomeconspiracy——Idon’tknow——some-
　　thingnotquiteright;andIwasgladtogetout。Intheouterroomthetwowomenknittedblackwoolfever-
　　ishly。Peoplewerearriving，andtheyoungeronewaswalkingbackandforthintroducingthem。Theoldonesatonherchair。Herflatclothslipperswereproppeduponafoot-warmer，andacatreposedonherlap。Sheworeastarchedwhiteaffaironherhead，hadawartononecheek，andsilver-rimmedspectacleshungonthetipofhernose。Sheglancedatmeabovetheglasses。Theswiftandindifferentplacidityofthatlooktroubledme。Twoyouthswithfoolishandcheerycountenanceswerebeingpilotedover，andshethrewatthemthesamequickglanceofunconcernedwisdom。Sheseemedtoknowallaboutthemandaboutmetoo。Aneeriefeelingcameoverme。Sheseemeduncannyandfateful。OftenfarawaythereIthoughtofthesetwo，guardingthedoorofDarkness，knittingblackwoolasforawarmpall，oneintroducing，introducingcontinu-
　　ouslytotheunknown，theotherscrutinizingthecheeryandfoolishfaceswithunconcernedoldeyes。Ave！Oldknitterofblackwool。Morituritesalutant。Notmanyofthoseshelookedateversawheragain——nothalf，byalongway。
　　"Therewasyetavisittothedoctor。’Asimplefor-
　　mality，’assuredmethesecretary，withanairoftakinganimmensepartinallmysorrows。Accordinglyayoungchapwearinghishatoverthelefteyebrow，someclerkIsuppose，——theremusthavebeenclerksinthebusi-
　　ness，thoughthehousewasasstillasahouseinacityofthedead，——camefromsomewhereup-stairs，andledmeforth。Hewasshabbyandcareless，withink-stainsonthesleevesofhisjacket，andhiscravatwaslargeandbillowy，underachinshapedlikethetoeofanoldboot。
　　Itwasalittletooearlyforthedoctor，soIproposedadrink，andthereuponhedevelopedaveinofjoviality。
　　AswesatoverourvermouthsheglorifiedtheCompany’sbusiness，andby-and-byIexpressedcasuallymysur-
　　priseathimnotgoingoutthere。Hebecameverycoolandcollectedallatonce。’IamnotsuchafoolasI
　　look，quothPlatotohisdisciples，’hesaidsententiously，emptiedhisglasswithgreatresolution，andwerose。
　　"Theolddoctorfeltmypulse，evidentlythinkingofsomethingelsethewhile。’Good，goodforthere，’hemumbled，andthenwithacertaineagernessaskedmewhetherIwouldlethimmeasuremyhead。Rathersur-
　　prised，IsaidYes，whenheproducedathinglikecalipersandgotthedimensionsbackandfrontandeveryway，takingnotescarefully。Hewasanunshavenlittlemaninathreadbarecoatlikeagaberdine，withhisfeetinslippers，andIthoughthimaharmlessfool。’Ialwaysaskleave，intheinterestsofscience，tomeasurethecraniaofthosegoingoutthere，’hesaid。’Andwhentheycomebacktoo？’Iasked。"Oh，Ineverseethem，’
　　heremarked;’and，moreover，thechangestakeplacein-
　　side，youknow。’Hesmiled，asifatsomequietjoke。
　　’Soyouaregoingoutthere。Famous。Interestingtoo。’
　　Hegavemeasearchingglance，andmadeanothernote。
　　’Everanymadnessinyourfamily？’heasked，inamatter-of-facttone。Ifeltveryannoyed。’Isthatquestionintheinterestsofsciencetoo？’’Itwouldbe，’
　　hesaid，withouttakingnoticeofmyirritation，’interest-
　　ingforsciencetowatchthementalchangesofindivid-
　　uals，onthespot，but……’’Areyouanalienist？’I
　　interrupted。’Everydoctorshouldbe——alittle，’an-
　　sweredthatoriginal，imperturbably。’IhavealittletheorywhichyouMessieurswhogoouttheremusthelpmetoprove。Thisismyshareintheadvantagesmycountryshallreapfromthepossessionofsuchamag-
　　nificentdependency。ThemerewealthIleavetoothers。
　　Pardonmyquestions，butyouarethefirstEnglishmancomingundermyobservation……’IhastenedtoassurehimIwasnotintheleasttypical。’IfIwere，’
　　saidI，’Iwouldn’tbetalkinglikethiswithyou。’’Whatyousayisratherprofound，andprobablyerroneous，’hesaid，withalaugh。’Avoidirritationmorethanexpos-
　　uretothesun。Adieu。HowdoyouEnglishsay，eh？
　　Good-by。Ah！Good-by。Adieu。Inthetropicsonemustbeforeeverythingkeepcalm。’……Heliftedawarningforefinger……’Ducalme，ducalme。
　　Adieu。’
　　"Onethingmoreremainedtodo——saygood-bytomyexcellentaunt。Ifoundhertriumphant。Ihadacupoftea——thelastdecentcupofteaformanydays——andinaroomthatmostsoothinglylookedjustasyouwouldexpectalady’sdrawing-roomtolook，wehadalongquietchatbythefireside。InthecourseoftheseconfidencesitbecamequiteplaintomeIhadbeenrepre-
　　sentedtothewifeofthehighdignitary，andgoodnessknowstohowmanymorepeoplebesides，asanexcep-
　　tionalandgiftedcreature——apieceofgoodfortunefortheCompany——amanyoudon’tgetholdofeveryday。
　　Goodheavens！andIwasgoingtotakechargeofatwo-penny-halfpennyriver-steamboatwithapennywhistleattached！Itappeared，however，IwasalsooneoftheWorkers，withacapital——youknow。Somethinglikeanemissaryoflight，somethinglikealowersortofapostle。Therehadbeenalotofsuchrotletlooseinprintandtalkjustaboutthattime，andtheexcellentwoman，livingrightintherushofallthathumbug，gotcarriedoffherfeet。Shetalkedabout’weaningthoseignorantmillionsfromtheirhorridways，’till，uponmyword，shemademequiteuncomfortable。IventuredtohintthattheCompanywasrunforprofit。
　　"’Youforget，dearCharlie，thatthelaborerisworthyofhishire，’shesaid，brightly。It’squeerhowoutoftouchwithtruthwomenare。Theyliveinaworldoftheirown，andtherehadneverbeenanythinglikeit，andnevercanbe。Itistoobeautifulaltogether，andiftheyweretosetitupitwouldgotopiecesbeforethefirstsunset。Someconfoundedfactwemenhavebeenlivingcontentedlywitheversincethedayofcre-
　　ationwouldstartupandknockthewholethingover。
　　"AfterthisIgotembraced，toldtowearflannel，besuretowriteoften，andsoon——andIleft。Inthestreet——Idon’tknowwhy——aqueerfeelingcametomethatI
　　wasanimpostor。OddthingthatI，whousedtoclearoutforanypartoftheworldattwenty-fourhours’
　　notice，withlessthoughtthanmostmengivetothecross-
　　ingofastreet，hadamoment——Iwon’tsayofhesitation，butofstartledpause，beforethiscommonplaceaffair。
　　ThebestwayIcanexplainittoyouisbysayingthat，forasecondortwo，Ifeltasthough，insteadofgoingtothecenterofacontinent，Iwereabouttosetoffforthecenteroftheearth。
　　"IleftinaFrenchsteamer，andshecalledineveryblamedporttheyhaveoutthere，for，asfarasIcouldsee，thesolepurposeoflandingsoldiersandcustom-
　　houseofficers。Iwatchedthecoast。Watchingacoastasitslipsbytheshipislikethinkingaboutanenigma。
　　Thereitisbeforeyou——smiling，frowning，inviting，grand，mean，insipid，orsavage，andalwaysmutewithanairofwhispering，Comeandfindout。Thisonewasalmostfeatureless，asifstillinthemaking，withanaspectofmonotonousgrimness。Theedgeofacolossaljungle，sodark-greenastobealmostblack，fringedwithwhitesurf，ranstraight，likearuledline，far，farawayalongablueseawhoseglitterwasblurredbyacreepingmist。Thesunwasfierce，thelandseemedtoglistenanddripwithsteam。Hereandtheregrayish-
　　whitishspecksshowedup，clusteredinsidethewhitesurf，withaflagflyingabovethemperhaps。Settlementssomecenturiesold，andstillnobiggerthanpin-headsontheuntouchedexpanseoftheirbackground。Wepoundedalong，stopped，landedsoldiers;wenton，landedcustom-
　　houseclerkstolevytollinwhatlookedlikeaGod-for-
　　sakenwilderness，withatinshedandaflag-polelostinit;landedmoresoldiers——totakecareofthecustom-
　　houseclerks，presumably。Some，Iheard，gotdrownedinthesurf;butwhethertheydidornot，nobodyseemedparticularlytocare。Theywerejustflungoutthere，andonwewent。Everydaythecoastlookedthesame，asthoughwehadnotmoved;butwepassedvariousplaces——tradingplaces——withnameslikeGran’BassamLittlePopo，namesthatseemedtobelongtosomesordidfarceactedinfrontofasinisterbackcloth。Theidle-
　　nessofapassenger，myisolationamongstallthesemenwithwhomIhadnopointofcontact，theoilyandlan-
　　guidsea，theuniformsombernessofthecoast，seemedtokeepmeawayfromthetruthofthings，withinthetoilofamournfulandsenselessdelusion。Thevoiceofthesurfheardnowandthenwasapositivepleasure，likethespeechofabrother。Itwassomethingnatural，thathaditsreason，thathadameaning。Nowandthenaboatfromtheshoregaveoneamomentarycontactwithreality。Itwaspaddledbyblackfellows。Youcouldseefromafarthewhiteoftheireyeballsglisten-
　　ing。Theyshouted，sang;theirbodiesstreamedwithperspiration;theyhadfaceslikegrotesquemasks——thesechaps;buttheyhadbone，muscle，awildvitality，anin-
　　tenseenergyofmovement，thatwasasnaturalandtrueasthesurfalongtheircoast。Theywantednoexcuseforbeingthere。Theywereagreatcomforttolookat。
　　ForatimeIwouldfeelIbelongedstilltoaworldofstraightforwardfacts;butthefeelingwouldnotlastlong。Somethingwouldturnuptoscareitaway。Once，Iremember，wecameuponaman-of-waranchoredoffthecoast。Therewasn’tevenashedthere，andshewasshellingthebush。ItappearstheFrenchhadoneoftheirwarsgoingonthereabouts。Herensigndroppedlimplikearag;themuzzlesofthelongeight-inchgunsstuckoutalloverthelowhull;thegreasy，slimyswellswungheruplazilyandletherdown，swayingherthinmasts。Intheemptyimmensityofearth，sky，andwater，thereshewas，incomprehensible，firingintoacontinent。
　　Pop，wouldgooneoftheeight-inchguns;asmallflamewoulddartandvanish，alittlewhitesmokewoulddis-
　　appear，atinyprojectilewouldgiveafeeblescreech——
　　andnothinghappened。Nothingcouldhappen。Therewasatouchofinsanityintheproceeding，asenseoflugubriousdrolleryinthesight;anditwasnotdissi-
　　patedbysomebodyonboardassuringmeearnestlytherewasacampofnatives——hecalledthemenemies！——hiddenoutofsightsomewhere。
　　"Wegaveherherletters（Iheardthemeninthatlonelyshipweredyingoffeverattherateofthreeaday）andwenton。Wecalledatsomemoreplaceswithfarcicalnames，wherethemerrydanceofdeathandtradegoesoninastillandearthyatmosphereasofanoverheatedcatacomb;allalongtheformlesscoastbor-
　　deredbydangeroussurf，asifNatureherselfhadtriedtowardoffintruders;inandoutofrivers，streamsofdeathinlife，whosebankswererottingintomud，whosewaters，thickenedintoslime，invadedthecontortedman-
　　groves，thatseemedtowritheatusintheextremityofanimpotentdespair。Nowheredidwestoplongenoughtogetaparticularizedimpression，butthegeneralsenseofvagueandoppressivewondergrewuponme。Itwaslikeawearypilgrimageamongsthintsfornight-
　　mares。
　　"ItwasupwardofthirtydaysbeforeIsawthemouthofthebigriver。Weanchoredofftheseatofthegov-
　　ernment。Butmyworkwouldnotbegintillsometwohundredmilesfartheron。SoassoonasIcouldImadeastartforaplacethirtymileshigherup。
　　"Ihadmypassageonalittlesea-goingsteamer。HercaptainwasaSwede，andknowingmeforaseaman，invitedmeonthebridge。Hewasayoungman，lean，fair，andmorose，withlankyhairandashufflinggait。
　　Asweleftthemiserablelittlewharf，hetossedhisheadcontemptuouslyattheshore。’Beenlivingthere？’heasked。Isaid，’Yes。’’Finelotthesegovernmentchaps——aretheynot？’hewenton，speakingEnglishwithgreatprecisionandconsiderablebitterness。’Itisfunnywhatsomepeoplewilldoforafewfrancsamonth。I
　　wonderwhatbecomesofthatkindwhenitgoesupcoun-
　　try？’IsaidtohimIexpectedtoseethatsoon。’So-o-o！’
　　heexclaimed。Heshuffledathwart，keepingoneeyeaheadvigilantly。’Don’tbetoosure，’hecontinued。
　　’TheotherdayItookupamanwhohangedhimselfontheroad。HewasaSwede，too。’’Hangedhimself！
　　Why，inGod’sname？’Icried。Hekeptonlookingoutwatchfully。’Whoknows？Thesuntoomuchforhim，orthecountryperhaps。’
　　"Atlastweopenedareach。Arockycliffappeared，moundsofturned-upearthbytheshore，housesonahill，others，withironroofs，amongstawasteofexcava-
　　tions，orhangingtothedeclivity。Acontinuousnoiseoftherapidsabovehoveredoverthissceneofinhabiteddevastation。Alotofpeople，mostlyblackandnaked，movedaboutlikeants。Ajettyprojectedintotheriver。
　　Ablindingsunlightdrownedallthisattimesinasuddenrecrudescenceofglare。’There’syourCompany’ssta-
　　tion，’saidtheSwede，pointingtothreewoodenbarrack-
　　likestructuresontherockyslope。’Iwillsendyourthingsup。Fourboxesdidyousay？So。Farewell。’
　　"Icameuponaboilerwallowinginthegrass，thenfoundapathleadingupthehill。Itturnedasideforthebowlders，andalsoforanundersizedrailway-trucklyingthereonitsbackwithitswheelsintheair。Onewasoff。Thethinglookedasdeadasthecarcassofsomeanimal。Icameuponmorepiecesofdecayingma-
　　chinery，astackofrustyrails。Totheleftaclumpoftreesmadeashadyspot，wheredarkthingsseemedtostirfeebly。Iblinked，thepathwassteep。Ahorntootedtotheright，andIsawtheblackpeoplerun。Aheavyanddulldetonationshooktheground，apuffofsmokecameoutofthecliff，andthatwasall。Nochangeap-
　　pearedonthefaceoftherock。Theywerebuildingarailway。Thecliffwasnotinthewayoranything;butthisobjectlessblastingwasalltheworkgoingon。
　　"Aslightclinkingbehindmemademeturnmyhead。
　　Sixblackmenadvancedinafile，toilingupthepath。
　　Theywalkederectandslow，balancingsmallbasketsfullofearthontheirheads，andtheclinkkepttimewiththeirfootsteps。Blackragswerewoundroundtheirloins，andtheshortendsbehindwaggedtoandfroliketails。Icouldseeeveryrib，thejointsoftheirlimbswerelikeknotsinarope;eachhadanironcollaronhisneck，andallwereconnectedtogetherwithachainwhosebightsswungbetweenthem，rhythmicallyclinking。
　　AnotherreportfromthecliffmademethinksuddenlyofthatshipofwarIhadseenfiringintoacontinent。
　　Itwasthesamekindofominousvoice;butthesemencouldbynostretchofimaginationbecalledenemies。
　　Theywerecalledcriminals，andtheoutragedlaw，liketheburstingshells，hadcometothem，aninsolublemys-
　　teryfromoverthesea。Alltheirmeagerbreastspantedtogether，theviolentlydilatednostrilsquivered，theeyesstaredstonilyuphill。Theypassedmewithinsixinches，withoutaglance，withthatcomplete，deathlikeindif-
　　ferenceofunhappysavages。Behindthisrawmatteroneofthereclaimed，theproductofthenewforcesatwork，strolleddespondently，carryingariflebyitsmiddle。Hehadauniformjacketwithonebuttonoff，andseeingawhitemanonthepath，hoistedhisweapontohisshoulderwithalacrity。Thiswassimpleprudence，whitemenbeingsomuchalikeatadistancethathecouldnottellwhoImightbe。Hewasspeedilyreassured，andwithalarge，white，rascallygrin，andaglanceathischarge，seemedtotakemeintopartnershipinhisexaltedtrust。Afterall，Ialsowasapartofthegreatcauseofthesehighandjustproceedings。
　　"Insteadofgoingup，Iturnedanddescendedtotheleft。Myideawastoletthatchain-ganggetoutofsightbeforeIclimbedthehill。YouknowIamnotpar-
　　ticularlytender;I’vehadtostrikeandtofendoff。I’vehadtoresistandtoattacksometimes——that’sonlyonewayofresisting——withoutcountingtheexactcost，ac-
　　cordingtothedemandsofsuchsortoflifeasIhadblun-
　　deredinto。I’veseenthedevilofviolence，andthedevilofgreed，andthedevilofhotdesire;but，byallthestars！thesewerestrong，lusty，red-eyeddevils，thatswayedanddrovemen——men，Itellyou。ButasIstoodonthishillside，IforesawthatintheblindingsunshineofthatlandIwouldbecomeacquaintedwithaflabby，pretending，weak-eyeddevilofarapaciousandpitilessfolly。Howinsidioushecouldbe，too，Iwasonlytofindoutseveralmonthslaterandathousandmilesfarther。ForamomentIstoodappalled，asthoughbyawarning。FinallyIdescendedthehill，obliquely，to-
　　wardsthetreesIhadseen。
　　"Iavoidedavastartificialholesomebodyhadbeendiggingontheslope，thepurposeofwhichIfounditimpossibletodivine。Itwasn’taquarryorasandpit，anyhow。Itwasjustahole。Itmighthavebeencon-
　　nectedwiththephilanthropicdesireofgivingthecrim-
　　inalssomethingtodo。Idon’tknow。ThenInearlyfellintoaverynarrowravine，almostnomorethanascarinthehillside。Idiscoveredthatalotofimporteddrainage-pipesforthesettlementhadbeentumbledinthere。Therewasn’tonethatwasnotbroken。Itwasawantonsmash-up。AtlastIgotunderthetrees。Mypurposewastostrollintotheshadeforamoment;butnosoonerwithinthanitseemedtomeIhadsteppedintoagloomycircleofsomeInferno。Therapidswerenear，andanuninterrupted，uniform，headlong，rushingnoisefilledthemournfulstillnessofthegrove，wherenotabreathstirred，notaleafmoved，withamysterioussound——asthoughthetearingpaceofthelaunchedearthhadsuddenlybecomeaudible。
　　"Blackshapescrouched，lay，satbetweenthetrees，leaningagainstthetrunks，clingingtotheearth，halfcomingout，halfeffacedwithinthedimlight，inalltheattitudesofpain，abandonment，anddespair。Anothermineonthecliffwentoff，followedbyaslightshudderofthesoilundermyfeet。Theworkwasgoingon。Thework！Andthiswastheplacewheresomeofthehelpershadwithdrawntodie。
　　"Theyweredyingslowly——itwasveryclear。Theywerenotenemies，theywerenotcriminals，theywerenothingearthlynow，——nothingbutblackshadowsofdiseaseandstarvation，lyingconfusedlyinthegreenishgloom。Broughtfromalltherecessesofthecoastinallthelegalityoftimecontracts，lostinuncongenialsur-
　　roundings，fedonunfamiliarfood，theysickened，be-
　　cameinefficient，andwerethenallowedtocrawlawayandrest。Thesemoribundshapeswerefreeasair——andnearlyasthin。Ibegantodistinguishthegleamofeyesunderthetrees。Then，glancingdown，Isawafacenearmyhand。Theblackbonesreclinedatfulllengthwithoneshoulderagainstthetree，andslowlytheeye-
　　lidsroseandthesunkeneyeslookedupatme，enormousandvacant，akindofblind，whiteflickerinthedepthsoftheorbs，whichdiedoutslowly。Themanseemedyoung——almostaboy——butyouknowwiththemit’shardtotell。IfoundnothingelsetodobuttoofferhimoneofmygoodSwede’sship’sbiscuitsIhadinmypocket。
　　Thefingersclosedslowlyonitandheld——therewasnoothermovementandnootherglance。Hehadtiedabitofwhiteworstedroundhisneck——Why？Wheredidhegetit？Wasitabadge——anornament——acharm——apropitiatoryact？Wasthereanyideaatallconnectedwithit？Itlookedstartlingroundhisblackneck，thisbitofwhitethreadfrombeyondtheseas。
　　"Nearthesametreetwomorebundlesofacuteanglessatwiththeirlegsdrawnup。One，withhischinproppedonhisknees，staredatnothing，inanintoler-
　　ableandappallingmanner：hisbrotherphantomresteditsforehead，asifovercomewithagreatweariness;andallaboutotherswerescatteredineveryposeofcontortedcollapse，asinsomepictureofamassacreorapestilence。
　　WhileIstoodhorror-struck，oneofthesecreaturesrosetohishandsandknees，andwentoffonall-fourstowardstherivertodrink。Helappedoutofhishand，thensatupinthesunlight，crossinghisshinsinfrontofhim，andafteratimelethiswoollyheadfallonhisbreast-
　　bone。
　　"Ididn’twantanymoreloiteringintheshade，andImadehastetowardsthestation。Whennearthebuild-
　　ingsImetawhiteman，insuchanunexpectedeleganceofget-upthatinthefirstmomentItookhimforasortofvision。Isawahighstarchedcollar，whitecuffs，alightalpacajacket，snowytrousers，aclearnecktie，andvarnishedboots。Nohat。Hairparted，brushed，oiled，underagreen-linedparasolheldinabigwhitehand。
　　Hewasamazing，andhadapenholderbehindhisear。
　　"Ishookhandswiththismiracle，andIlearnedhewastheCompany’schiefaccountant，andthatallthebook-
　　keepingwasdoneatthisstation。Hehadcomeoutforamoment，hesaid，’togetabreathoffreshair。’Theexpressionsoundedwonderfullyodd，withitssuggestionofsedentarydesk-life。Iwouldn’thavementionedthefellowtoyouatall，onlyitwasfromhislipsthatI
　　firstheardthenameofthemanwhoissoindissolublyconnectedwiththememoriesofthattime。Moreover，I
　　respectedthefellow。Yes;Irespectedhiscollars，hisvastcuffs，hisbrushedhair。Hisappearancewascer-
　　tainlythatofahairdresser’sdummy;butinthegreatdemoralizationofthelandhekeptuphisappearance。
　　That’sbackbone。Hisstarchedcollarsandgot-upshirt-
　　frontswereachievementsofcharacter。Hehadbeenoutnearlythreeyears;and，lateron，Icouldnothelpask-
　　inghimhowhemanagedtosportsuchlinen。Hehadjustthefaintestblush，andsaidmodestly，’I’vebeenteachingoneofthenativewomenaboutthestation。Itwasdifficult。Shehadadistasteforthework。’Thismanhadverilyaccomplishedsomething。Andhewasdevotedtohisbooks，whichwereinapple-pieorder。
　　"Everythingelseinthestationwasinamuddle，——
　　heads，things，buildings。Stringsofdustyniggerswithsplayfeetarrivedanddeparted;astreamofmanu-
　　facturedgoods，rubbishycottons，beads，andbrass-wiresetintothedepthsofdarkness，andinreturncameaprecioustrickleofivory。
　　"Ihadtowaitinthestationfortendays——aneternity。
　　Ilivedinahutintheyard，buttobeoutofthechaosIwouldsometimesgetintotheaccountant’soffice。Itwasbuiltofhorizontalplanks，andsobadlyputtogetherthat，ashebentoverhishighdesk，hewasbarredfromnecktoheelswithnarrowstripsofsunlight。Therewasnoneedtoopenthebigshuttertosee。Itwashottheretoo;bigfliesbuzzedfiendishly，anddidnotsting，butstabbed。Isatgenerallyonthefloor，while，offaultlessappearance（andevenslightlyscented），perch-
　　ingonahighstool，hewrote，hewrote。Sometimeshestoodupforexercise。Whenatruckle-bedwithasickman（someinvalidedagentfromup-country）wasputinthere，heexhibitedagentleannoyance。’Thegroansofthissickperson，’hesaid，distractmyattention。Andwithoutthatitisextremelydifficulttoguardagainstclericalerrorsinthisclimate。’
　　"Onedayheremarked，withoutliftinghishead，"IntheinterioryouwillnodoubtmeetMr。Kurtz。’OnmyaskingwhoMr。Kurtzwas，hesaidhewasafirst-classagent;andseeingmydisappointmentatthisinforma-
　　tion，headdedslowly，layingdownhispen，’Heisaveryremarkableperson。’FurtherquestionselicitedfromhimthatMr。Kurtzwasatpresentinchargeofatradingpost，averyimportantone，inthetrueivory-country，at’theverybottomofthere。Sendsinasmuchivoryasalltheothersputtogether……’Hebegantowriteagain。Thesickmanwastooilltogroan。Thefliesbuzzedinagreatpeace。
　　"Suddenlytherewasagrowingmurmurofvoicesandagreattrampingoffeet。Acaravanhadcomein。A
　　violentbabbleofuncouthsoundsburstoutontheothersideoftheplanks。Allthecarrierswerespeakingto-
　　gether，andinthemidstoftheuproarthelamentablevoiceofthechiefagentwasheard’givingitup’tear-
　　fullyforthetwentiethtimethatday……Heroseslowly。’Whatafrightfulrow，’hesaid。Hecrossedtheroomgentlytolookatthesickman，andreturning，saidtome，’Hedoesnothear。’’What！Dead？’I
　　asked，startled。’No，notyet，’heanswered，withgreatcomposure。Then，alludingwithatossoftheheadtothetumultinthestation-yard，’Whenonehasgottomakecorrectentries，onecomestohatethosesavages——
　　hatethemtothedeath。’Heremainedthoughtfulforamoment。’WhenyouseeMr。Kurtz，’hewenton，’tellhimfrommethateverythinghere’——heglancedatthedesk——’isverysatisfactory。Idon’tliketowritetohim——withthosemessengersofoursyouneverknowwhomaygetholdofyourletter——atthatCentralStation。’
　　Hestaredatmeforamomentwithhismild，bulgingeyes。’Oh，hewillgofar，veryfar，’hebeganagain。
　　’HewillbeasomebodyintheAdministrationbeforelong。They，above——theCouncilinEurope，youknow——meanhimtobe。’
　　"Heturnedtohiswork。Thenoiseoutsidehadceased，andpresentlyingoingoutIstoppedatthedoor。Inthesteadybuzzoffliesthehomeward-boundagentwaslyingflushedandinsensible;theother，bentoverhisbooks，wasmakingcorrectentriesofperfectlycorrecttransactions;andfiftyfeetbelowthedoorstepIcouldseethestilltree-topsofthegroveofdeath。
　　"NextdayIleftthatstationatlast，withacaravanofsixtymen，foratwo-hundred-miletramp。
　　"Nousetellingyoumuchaboutthat。Paths，paths，everywhere;astamped-innetworkofpathsspreadingovertheemptyland，throughlonggrass，throughburntgrass，throughthickets，downandupchillyravines，upanddownstonyhillsablazewithheat;andasolitude，asolitude，nobody，notahut。Thepopulationhadclearedoutalongtimeago。Well，ifalotofmysteriousniggersarmedwithallkindsoffearfulweaponssud-
　　denlytooktotravelingontheroadbetweenDealandGravesend，catchingtheyokelsrightandlefttocarryheavyloadsforthem，Ifancyeveryfarmandcottagethereaboutswouldgetemptyverysoon。Onlyherethedwellingsweregonetoo。StillIpassedthroughseveralabandonedvillages。There’ssomethingpatheticallychildishintheruinsofgrasswalls。Dayafterday，withthestampandshuffleofsixtypairofbarefeetbehindme，eachpairundera60-lb。load。Camp，cook，sleep，strikecamp，march。Nowandthenacarrierdeadinharness，atrestinthelonggrassnearthepath，withanemptywater-gourdandhislongstafflyingbyhisside。Agreatsilencearoundandabove。Perhapsonsomequietnightthetremoroffar-offdrums，sinking，swelling，atremorvast，faint;asoundweird，appealing，suggestive，andwild——andperhapswithasprofoundameaningasthesoundofbellsinaChristiancountry。
　　Onceawhitemaninanunbuttoneduniform，campingonthepathwithanarmedescortoflankZanzibaris，veryhospitableandfestive——nottosaydrunk。Waslookingaftertheupkeepoftheroad，hedeclared。Can’tsayIsawanyroadoranyupkeep，unlessthebodyofamiddle-agednegro，withabullet-holeintheforehead，uponwhichIabsolutelystumbledthreemilesfartheron，maybeconsideredasapermanentimprovement。Ihadawhitecompaniontoo，notabadchap，butrathertoofleshyandwiththeexasperatinghabitoffaintingonthehothillsides，milesawayfromtheleastbitofshadeandwater。Annoying，youknow，toholdyourowncoatlikeaparasoloveraman’sheadwhileheiscoming-to。
　　Icouldn’thelpaskinghimoncewhathemeantbycomingthereatall。’Tomakemoney，ofcourse。Whatdoyouthink？’hesaid，scornfully。Thenhegotfever，andhadtobecarriedinahammockslungunderapole。AsheweighedsixteenstoneIhadnoendofrowswiththecarriers。Theyjibbed，ranaway，sneakedoffwiththeirloadsinthenight——quiteamutiny。So，oneevening，ImadeaspeechinEnglishwithgestures，notoneofwhichwaslosttothesixtypairsofeyesbeforeme，andthenextmorningIstartedthehammockoffinfrontallright。AnafterwardsIcameuponthewholecon-
　　cernwreckedinabush——man，hammock，groans，blankets，horrors。Theheavypolehadskinnedhispoornose。Hewasveryanxiousformetokillsomebody，buttherewasn’ttheshadowofacarriernear。Irememberedtheolddoctor，——’Itwouldbeinterestingforsciencetowatchthementalchangesofindividuals，onthespot。’
　　IfeltIwasbecomingscientificallyinteresting。How-
　　ever，allthatistonopurpose。OnthefifteenthdayI
　　cameinsightofthebigriveragain，andhobbledintotheCentralStation。Itwasonabackwatersurroundedbyscrubandforest，withaprettyborderofsmellymudononeside，andonthethreeothersinclosedbyacrazyfenceofrushes。Aneglectedgapwasallthegateithad，andthefirstglanceattheplacewasenoughtoletyouseetheflabbydevilwasrunningthatshow。Whitemenwithlongstavesintheirhandsappearedlanguidlyfromamongstthebuildings，strollinguptotakealookatme，andthenretiredoutofsightsomewhere。Oneofthem，astout，excitablechapwithblackmustaches，informedmewithgreatvolubilityandmanydigressions，assoonasItoldhimwhoIwas，thatmysteamerwasatthebottomoftheriver。Iwasthunderstruck。What，how，why？Oh，itwas’allright。’The’managerhim-
　　self’wasthere。Allquitecorrect。’Everybodyhadbehavedsplendidly！splendidly！’——’youmust，’hesaidinagitation，’goandseethegeneralmanageratonce。
　　Heiswaiting！’
　　"Ididnotseetherealsignificanceofthatwreckatonce。IfancyIseeitnow，butIamnotsure——notatall。Certainlytheaffairwastoostupid——whenIthinkofit——tobealtogethernatural。Still……Butatthemomentitpresenteditselfsimplyasaconfoundednui-
　　sance。Thesteamerwassunk。Theyhadstartedtwodaysbeforeinasuddenhurryuptheriverwiththemanageronboard，inchargeofsomevolunteerskipper，andbeforetheyhadbeenoutthreehourstheytorethebottomoutofheronstones，andshesanknearthesouthbank。IaskedmyselfwhatIwastodothere，nowmyboatwaslost。Asamatteroffact，Ihadplentytodoinfishingmycommandoutoftheriver。Ihadtosetaboutittheverynextday。That，andtherepairswhenIbroughtthepiecestothestation，tooksomemonths。
　　"Myfirstinterviewwiththemanagerwascurious。Hedidnotaskmetositdownaftermytwenty-milewalkthatmorning。Hewascommonplaceincomplexion，infeature，inmanners，andinvoice。Hewasofmiddlesizeandofordinarybuild。Hiseyes，oftheusualblue，wereperhapsremarkablycold，andhecertainlycouldmakehisglancefallononeastrenchantandheavyasanax。Butevenatthesetimestherestofhispersonseemedtodisclaimtheintention。Otherwisetherewasonlyanindefinable，faintexpressionofhislips，some-
　　thingstealthy——asmile——notasmile——Irememberit，butIcan’texplain。Itwasunconscious，thissmilewas，thoughjustafterhehadsaidsomethingitgotintensifiedforaninstant。Itcameattheendofhisspeecheslikeasealappliedonthewordstomakethemeaningofthecommonestphraseappearabsolutelyinscrutable。Hewasacommontrader，fromhisyouthupemployedintheseparts——nothingmore。Hewasobeyed，yethein-
　　spiredneitherlovenorfear，norevenrespect。Hein-
　　spireduneasiness。Thatwasit！Uneasiness。Notadefinitemistrust——justuneasiness——nothingmore。Youhavenoideahoweffectivesucha……a……fac-
　　ultycanbe。Hehadnogeniusfororganizing，forinitiative，orforordereven。Thatwasevidentinsuchthingsasthedeplorablestateofthestation。Hehadnolearning，andnointelligence。Hispositionhadcometohim——why？Perhapsbecausehewasneverill……
　　Hehadservedthreetermsofthreeyearsoutthere……
　　Becausetriumphanthealthinthegeneralroutofcon-
　　stitutionsisakindofpowerinitself。Whenhewenthomeonleaveheriotedonalargescale——pompously。
　　Jackashore——withadifference——inexternalsonly。Thisonecouldgatherfromhiscasualtalk。Heoriginatednothing，hecouldkeeptheroutinegoing——that’sall。
　　Buthewasgreat。Hewasgreatbythislittlethingthatitwasimpossibletotellwhatcouldcontrolsuchaman。
　　Henevergavethatsecretaway。Perhapstherewasnothingwithinhim。Suchasuspicionmadeonepause——forouttheretherewerenoexternalchecks。Oncewhenvarioustropicaldiseaseshadlaidlowalmostevery’agent’inthestation，hewasheardtosay，’Menwhocomeouthereshouldhavenoentrails。’Hesealedtheutterancewiththatsmileofhis，asthoughithadbeenadooropeningintoadarknesshehadinhiskeeping。