periencetoteachthemasitwere），andofcourse，aslongastherewasapieceofpaperwrittenoverinac-
　　cordancewithsomefarcicallaworothermadedowntheriver，itdidn’tenteranybody’sheadtotroublehowtheywouldlive。Certainlytheyhadbroughtwiththemsomerottenhippo-meat，whichcouldn’thavelastedverylong，anyway，evenifthepilgrimshadn’t，inthemidstofashockinghullabaloo，thrownaconsiderablequantityofitoverboard。Itlookedlikeahigh-handedproceed-
　　ing;butitwasreallyacaseoflegitimateself-defense。
　　Youcan’tbreathedeadhippowaking，sleeping，andeating，andatthesametimekeepyourprecariousgriponexistence。Besidesthat，theyhadgiventhemeveryweekthreepiecesofbrasswire，eachaboutnineincheslong;andthetheorywastheyweretobuytheirpro-
　　visionswiththatcurrencyinriver-sidevillages。YoucanseehowTHATworked。Therewereeithernovillages，orthepeoplewerehostile，orthedirector，wholiketherestofusfedoutoftins，withanoccasionaloldhe-goatthrownin，didn’twanttostopthesteamerforsomemoreorlessreconditereason。So，unlesstheyswallowedthewireitself，ormadeloopsofittosnarethefisheswith，Idon’tseewhatgoodtheirextravagantsalarycouldbetothem。Imustsayitwaspaidwitharegularityworthyofalargeandhonorabletradingcompany。Fortherest，theonlythingtoeat——thoughitdidn’tlookeat-
　　ableintheleast——Isawintheirpossessionwasafewlumpsofsomestufflikehalf-cookeddough，ofadirtylavendercolor，theykeptwrappedinleaves，andnowandthenswallowedapieceof，butsosmallthatitseemeddonemoreforthelooksofthethingthanforanyseri-
　　ouspurposeofsustenance。Whyinthenameofallthegnawingdevilsofhungertheydidn’tgoforus——theywerethirtytofive——andhaveagoodtuckinforonce，amazesmenowwhenIthinkofit。Theywerebigpowerfulmen，withnotmuchcapacitytoweighthecon-
　　sequences，withcourage，withstrength，evenyet，thoughtheirskinswerenolongerglossyandtheirmusclesnolongerhard。AndIsawthatsomethingrestraining，oneofthosehumansecretsthatbaffleprobability，hadcomeintoplaythere。Ilookedatthemwithaswiftquicken-
　　ingofinterest——notbecauseitoccurredtomeImightbeeatenbythembeforeverylong，thoughIowntoyouthatjustthenIperceived——inanewlight，asitwere——
　　howunwholesomethepilgrimslooked，andIhoped，yes，Ipositivelyhoped，thatmyaspectwasnotso——whatshallIsay？——so——unappetizing：atouchoffantasticvanitywhichfittedwellwiththedream-sensationthatpervadedallmydaysatthattime。PerhapsIhadalittlefevertoo。Onecan’tlivewithone’sfingereverlastinglyonone’spulse。Ihadoften’alittlefever，’oralittletouchofotherthings——theplayfulpaw-strokesofthewilder-
　　ness，thepreliminarytriflingbeforethemoreseriousonslaughtwhichcameinduecourse。Yes;Ilookedatthemasyouwouldonanyhumanbeing，withacuriosityoftheirimpulses，motives，capacities，weaknesses，whenbroughttothetestofaninexorablephysicalnecessity。
　　Restraint！Whatpossiblerestraint？Wasitsupersti-
　　tion，disgust，patience，fear——orsomekindofprimitivehonor？Nofearcanstanduptohunger，nopatiencecanwearitout，disgustsimplydoesnotexistwherehungeris;andastosuperstition，beliefs，andwhatyoumaycallprinciples，theyarelessthanchaffinabreeze。
　　Don’tyouknowthedevilryoflingeringstarvation，itsexasperatingtorment，itsblackthoughts，itssomberandbroodingferocity？Well，Ido。Ittakesamanallhisinbornstrengthtofighthungerproperly。It’sreallyeasiertofacebereavement，dishonor，andtheperditionofone’ssoul——thanthiskindofprolongedhunger。Sad，buttrue。Andthesechapstoohadnoearthlyreasonforanykindofscruple。Restraint！Iwouldjustassoonhaveexpectedrestraintfromahyenaprowlingamongstthecorpsesofabattlefield。Buttherewasthefactfacingme——thefactdazzling，tobeseen，likethefoamonthedepthsofthesea，likearippleonanun-
　　fathomableenigma，amysterygreater——whenIthoughtofit——thanthecurious，inexplicablenoteofdesperategriefinthissavageclamorthathadsweptbyusontheriver-bank，behindtheblindwhitenessofthefog。
　　"Twopilgrimswerequarrelinginhurriedwhispersastowhichbank。’Left。’’No，no;howcanyou？
　　Right，right，ofcourse。’’Itisveryserious，’saidthemanager’svoicebehindme;’IwouldbedesolatedifanythingshouldhappentoMr。Kurtzbeforewecameup。’Ilookedathim，andhadnottheslightestdoubthewassincere。Hewasjustthekindofmanwhowouldwishtopreserveappearances。Thatwashisrestraint。
　　Butwhenhemutteredsomethingaboutgoingonatonce，Ididnoteventakethetroubletoanswerhim。Iknew，andheknew，thatitwasimpossible。Werewetoletgoourholdofthebottom，wewouldbeabsolutelyintheair——inspace。Wewouldn’tbeabletotellwhereweweregoingto——whetherupordownstream，oracross——tillwefetchedagainstonebankortheother，——andthenwewouldn’tknowatfirstwhichitwas。OfcourseImadenomove。Ihadnomindforasmash-up。Youcouldn’timagineamoredeadlyplaceforashipwreck。
　　Whetherdrownedatonceornot，weweresuretoperishspeedilyinonewayoranother。’Iauthorizeyoutotakealltherisks，’hesaid，afterashortsilence。’Irefusetotakeany，’Isaidshortly;whichwasjusttheanswerheexpected，thoughitstonemighthavesurprisedhim。
　　’Well，Imustdefertoyourjudgment。Youarecap-
　　tain，’hesaid，withmarkedcivility。Iturnedmyshoul-
　　dertohiminsignofmyappreciation，andlookedintothefog。Howlongwoulditlast？Itwasthemosthope-
　　lesslook-out。TheapproachtothisKurtzgrubbingforivoryinthewretchedbushwasbesetbyasmanydangersasthoughhehadbeenanenchantedprincesssleepinginafabulouscastle。’Willtheyattack，doyouthink？’askedthemanager，inaconfidentialtone。
　　"Ididnotthinktheywouldattack，forseveralobviousreasons。Thethickfogwasone。Iftheyleftthebankintheircanoestheywouldgetlostinit，aswewouldbeifweattemptedtomove。Still，Ihadalsojudgedthejungleofbothbanksquiteimpenetrable——andyeteyeswereinit，eyesthathadseenus。Theriver-sidebusheswerecertainlyverythick;buttheundergrowthbehindwasevidentlypenetrable。However，duringtheshortliftIhadseennocanoesanywhereinthereach——cer-
　　tainlynotabreastofthesteamer。Butwhatmadetheideaofattackinconceivabletomewasthenatureofthenoise——ofthecrieswehadheard。Theyhadnotthefiercecharacterbodingofimmediatehostileintention。
　　Unexpected，wild，andviolentastheyhadbeen，theyhadgivenmeanirresistibleimpressionofsorrow。Theglimpseofthesteamboathadforsomereasonfilledthosesavageswithunrestrainedgrief。Thedanger，ifany，Iexpounded，wasfromourproximitytoagreathu-
　　manpassionletloose。Evenextremegriefmayulti-
　　matelyventitselfinviolence——butmoregenerallytakestheformofapathy……
　　"Youshouldhaveseenthepilgrimsstare！Theyhadnohearttogrin，oreventorevileme;butIbelievetheythoughtmegonemad——withfright，maybe。Ideliveredaregularlecture。Mydearboys，itwasnogoodbother-
　　ing。Keepalook-out？Well，youmayguessIwatchedthefogforthesignsofliftingasacatwatchesamouse;
　　butforanythingelseoureyeswereofnomoreusetousthanifwehadbeenburiedmilesdeepinaheapofcotton-wool。Itfeltlikeittoo——choking，warm，stifling。
　　Besides，allIsaid，thoughitsoundedextravagant，wasabsolutelytruetofact。Whatweafterwardsalludedtoasanattackwasreallyanattemptatrepulse。Theactionwasveryfarfrombeingaggressive——itwasnotevendefensive，intheusualsense：itwasundertakenunderthestressofdesperation，andinitsessencewaspurelyprotective。
　　"Itdevelopeditself，Ishouldsay，twohoursafterthefoglifted，anditscommencementwasataspot，roughlyspeaking，aboutamileandahalfbelowKurtz’sstation。
　　Wehadjustflounderedandfloppedroundabend，whenIsawanislet，ameregrassyhummockofbrightgreen，inthemiddleofthestream。Itwastheonlythingofthekind;butasweopenedthereachmore，Iperceiveditwastheheadofalongsandbank，orratherofachainofshallowpatchesstretchingdownthemiddleoftheriver。Theywerediscolored，justawash，andthewholelotwasseenjustunderthewater，exactlyasaman’sbackboneisseenrunningdownthemiddleofhisbackundertheskin。Now，asfarasIdidsee，Icouldgototherightortotheleftofthis。Ididn’tknoweitherchannel，ofcourse。Thebankslookedprettywellalike，thedepthappearedthesame;butasIhadbeeninformedthestationwasonthewestside，Inaturallyheadedforthewesternpassage。
　　"NosoonerhadwefairlyentereditthanIbecameawareitwasmuchnarrowerthanIhadsupposed。Totheleftofustherewasthelonguninterruptedshoal，andtotherightahigh，steepbankheavilyovergrownwithbushes。Abovethebushthetreesstoodinserriedranks。Thetwigsoverhungthecurrentthickly，andfromdistancetodistancealargelimbofsometreepro-
　　jectedrigidlyoverthestream。Itwasthenwellonintheafternoon，thefaceoftheforestwasgloomy，andabroadstripofshadowhadalreadyfallenonthewater。
　　Inthisshadowwesteamedup——veryslowly，asyoumayimagine。Isheeredherwellinshore——thewaterbeingdeepestnearthebank，asthesounding-poleinformedme。
　　"Oneofmyhungryandforbearingfriendswassound-
　　inginthebowsjustbelowme。Thissteamboatwasexactlylikeadeckedscow。Onthedeckthereweretwolittleteak-woodhouses，withdoorsandwindows。Theboilerwasinthefore-end，andthemachineryrightastern。Overthewholetherewasalightroof，supportedonstanchions。Thefunnelprojectedthroughthatroof，andinfrontofthefunnelasmallcabinbuiltoflightplanksservedforapilot-house。Itcontainedacouch，twocamp-stools，aloadedMartini-Henryleaninginonecorner，atinytable，andthesteering-wheel。Ithadawidedoorinfrontandabroadshutterateachside。Allthesewerealwaysthrownopen，ofcourse。Ispentmydaysperchedupthereontheextremefore-endofthatroof，beforethedoor。AtnightIslept，ortriedto，onthecouch。Anathleticblackbelongingtosomecoasttribe，andeducatedbymypoorpredecessor，wasthehelmsman。Hesportedapairofbrassearrings，woreablueclothwrapperfromthewaisttotheankles，andthoughtalltheworldofhimself。HewasthemostunstablekindoffoolIhadeverseen。Hesteeredwithnoendofaswaggerwhileyouwereby;butifhelostsightofyou，hebecameinstantlythepreyofanabjectfunk，andwouldletthatcrippleofasteamboatgettheupperhandofhiminaminute。
　　"Iwaslookingdownatthesounding-pole，andfeel-
　　ingmuchannoyedtoseeateachtryalittlemoreofitstickoutofthatriver，whenIsawmypolemangiveupthebusinesssuddenly，andstretchhimselfflatonthedeck，withouteventakingthetroubletohaulhispolein。Hekeptholdonitthough，andittrailedinthewater。Atthesametimethefireman，whomIcouldalsoseebelowme，satdownabruptlybeforehisfurnaceandduckedhishead。Iwasamazed。ThenIhadtolookattherivermightyquick，becausetherewasasnaginthefairway。Sticks，littlesticks，wereflyingabout——
　　thick：theywerewhizzingbeforemynose，droppingbe-
　　lowme，strikingbehindmeagainstmypilot-house。Allthistimetheriver，theshore，thewoods，wereveryquiet——
　　perfectlyquiet。Icouldonlyheartheheavysplashingthumpofthestern-wheelandthepatterofthesethings。
　　Weclearedthesnagclumsily。Arrows，byJove！Wewerebeingshotat！Isteppedinquicklytoclosetheshutteronthelandside。Thatfool-helmsman，hishandsonthespokes，wasliftinghiskneeshigh，stampinghisfeet，champinghismouth，likeareined-inhorse。Con-
　　foundhim！Andwewerestaggeringwithintenfeetofthebank。Ihadtoleanrightouttoswingtheheavyshutter，andIsawafaceamongsttheleavesonthelevelwithmyown，lookingatmeveryfierceandsteady;
　　andthensuddenly，asthoughaveilhadbeenremovedfrommyeyes，Imadeout，deepinthetangledgloom，nakedbreasts，arms，legs，glaringeyes，——thebushwasswarmingwithhumanlimbsinmovement，glistening，ofbronzecolor。Thetwigsshook，swayed，andrustled，thearrowsflewoutofthem，andthentheshuttercameto。
　　’Steerherstraight，’Isaidtothehelmsman。Heheldhisheadrigid，faceforward;buthiseyesrolled，hekeptonliftingandsettingdownhisfeetgently，hismouthfoamedalittle。’Keepquiet！’Isaidinafury。
　　Imightjustaswellhaveorderedatreenottoswayinthewind。Idartedout。Belowmetherewasagreatscuffleoffeetontheirondeck;confusedexclamations;
　　avoicescreamed，’Canyouturnback？’IcaughtshapeofaV-shapedrippleonthewaterahead。What？An-
　　othersnag！Afusilladeburstoutundermyfeet。ThepilgrimshadopenedwiththeirWinchesters，andweresimplysquirtingleadintothatbush。Adeuceofalotofsmokecameupanddroveslowlyforward。I
　　sworeatit。NowIcouldn’tseetherippleorthesnageither。Istoodinthedoorway，peering，andthearrowscameinswarms。Theymighthavebeenpoisoned，buttheylookedasthoughtheywouldn’tkillacat。Thebushbegantohowl。Ourwood-cuttersraisedawarlikewhoop;thereportofariflejustatmybackdeafenedme。Iglancedovermyshoulder，andthepilot-housewasyetfullofnoiseandsmokewhenImadeadashatthewheel。Thefool-niggerhaddroppedeverything，tothrowtheshutteropenandletoffthatMartini-Henry。
　　Hestoodbeforethewideopening，glaring，andIyelledathimtocomeback，whileIstraightenedthesuddentwistoutofthatsteamboat。TherewasnoroomtoturnevenifIhadwantedto，thesnagwassomewhereverynearaheadinthatconfoundedsmoke，therewasnotimetolose，soIjustcrowdedherintothebank——rightintothebank，whereIknewthewaterwasdeep。
　　"Wetoreslowlyalongtheoverhangingbushesinawhirlofbrokentwigsandflyingleaves。Thefusilladebelowstoppedshort，asIhadforeseenitwouldwhenthesquirtsgotempty。Ithrewmyheadbacktoaglint-
　　ingwhizzthattraversedthepilot-house，inatoneshutter-
　　holeandoutattheother。Lookingpastthatmadhelms-
　　man，whowasshakingtheemptyrifleandyellingattheshore，Isawvagueformsofmenrunningbentdouble，leaping，gliding，distinct，incomplete，evanescent。Some-
　　thingbigappearedintheairbeforetheshutter，theriflewentoverboard，andthemansteppedbackswiftly，lookedatmeoverhisshoulderinanextraordinary，pro-
　　found，familiarmanner，andfelluponmyfeet。Thesideofhisheadhitthewheeltwice，andtheendofwhatappearedalongcaneclatteredroundandknockedoveralittlecamp-stool。Itlookedasthoughafterwrench-
　　ingthatthingfromsomebodyashorehehadlosthisbalanceintheeffort。Thethinsmokehadblownaway，wewereclearofthesnag，andlookingaheadIcouldseethatinanotherhundredyardsorsoIwouldbefreetosheeroff，awayfromthebank;butmyfeetfeltsoverywarmandwetthatIhadtolookdown。Themanhadrolledonhisbackandstaredstraightupatme;bothhishandsclutchedthatcane。Itwastheshaftofaspearthat，eitherthrownorlungedthroughtheopen-
　　ing，hadcaughthiminthesidejustbelowtheribs;thebladehadgoneinoutofsight，aftermakingafrightfulgash;myshoeswerefull;apoolofbloodlayverystill，gleamingdark-redunderthewheel;hiseyesshonewithanamazingluster。Thefusilladeburstoutagain。Helookedatmeanxiously，grippingthespearlikesome-
　　thingprecious，withanairofbeingafraidIwouldtrytotakeitawayfromhim。Ihadtomakeanefforttofreemyeyesfromhisgazeandattendtothesteering。
　　WithonehandIfeltabovemyheadforthelineofthesteam-whistled，andjerkedoutscreechafterscreechhur-
　　riedly。Thetumultofangryandwarlikeyellswascheckedinstantly，andthenfromthedepthsofthewoodswentoutsuchatremulousandprolongedwailofmourn-
　　fulfearandutterdespairasmaybeimaginedtofollowtheflightofthelasthopefromtheearth。Therewasagreatcommotioninthebush;theshowerofarrowsstopped，afewdroppingshotsrangoutsharply——thensilence，inwhichthelanguidbeatofthestern-wheelcameplainlytomyears。Iputthehelmharda-star-
　　boardatthemomentwhenthepilgriminpinkpyjamas，veryhotandagitated，appearedinthedoorway。’Themanagersendsme——’hebeganinanofficialtone，andstoppedshort。’GoodGod！’hesaid，glaringatthewoundedman。
　　"Wetwowhitesstoodoverhim，andhislustrousandinquiringglanceenvelopedusboth。Ideclareitlookedasthoughhewouldpresentlyputtoussomequestioninanunderstandablelanguage;buthediedwithoututter-
　　ingasound，withoutmovingalimb，withouttwitchingamuscle。Onlyintheverylastmoment，asthoughinresponsetosomesignwecouldnotsee，tosomewhisperwecouldnothear，hefrownedheavily，andthatfrowngavetohisblackdeath-maskaninconceivablysomber，brooding，andmenacingexpression。Thelusterofin-
　　quiringglancefadedswiftlyintovacantglassiness。’Canyousteer？’Iaskedtheagenteagerly。Helookedverydubious;butImadeagrabathisarm，andheunder-
　　stoodatonceImeanthimtosteerwhetherorno。Totellyouthetruth，Iwasmorbidlyanxioustochangemyshoesandsocks。’Heisdead，’murmuredthefel-
　　low，immenselyimpressed。’Nodoubtaboutit，’saidI，tugginglikemadattheshoe-laces。’And，bytheway，IsupposeMr。Kurtzisdeadaswellbythistime。’
　　"Forthemomentthatwasthedominantthought。
　　Therewasasenseofextremedisappointment，asthoughIhadfoundoutIhadbeenstrivingaftersomethingal-
　　togetherwithoutasubstance。Icouldn’thavebeenmoredisgustedifIhadtraveledallthiswayforthesolepurposeoftalkingwithMr。Kurtz。Talkingwith……Iflungoneshoeoverboard，andbecameawarethatthatwasexactlywhatIhadbeenlookingforwardto——atalkwithKurtz。ImadethestrangediscoverythatIhadneverimaginedhimasdoing，youknow，butasdiscoursing。Ididn’tsaytomyself，’NowIwillneverseehim，’or’NowIwillnevershakehimbythehand，’but，’NowIwillneverhearhim。’Themanpre-
　　sentedhimselfasavoice。NotofcoursethatIdidnotconnecthimwithsomesortofaction。Hadn’tIbeentoldinallthetonesofjealousyandadmirationthathehadcollected，bartered，swindled，orstolenmoreivorythanalltheotheragentstogether。Thatwasnotthepoint。Thepointwasinhisbeingagiftedcreature，andthatofallhisgiftstheonethatstoodoutpre-
　　eminently，thatcarriedwithitasenseofrealpresence，washisabilitytotalk，hiswords——thegiftofexpression，thebewildering，theilluminating，themostexaltedandthemostcontemptible，thepulsatingstreamoflight，orthedeceitfulflowfromtheheartofanimpenetrabledarkness。
　　"Theothershoewentflyinguntothedevil-godofthatriver。Ithought，ByJove！it’sallover。Wearetoolate;hehasvanished——thegifthasvanished，bymeansofsomespear，arrow，orclub。Iwillneverhearthatchapspeakafterall，——andmysorrowhadastartlingextravaganceofemotion，evensuchasIhadnoticedinthehowlingsorrowofthesesavagesinthebush。I
　　couldn’thavefeltmoreoflonelydesolationsomehow，hadIbeenrobbedofabelieforhadmissedmydestinyinlife……Whydoyousighinthisbeastlyway，somebody？Absurd？Well，absurd。GoodLord！
　　mustn’tamanever——Here，givemesometo-
　　bacco。"……
　　Therewasapauseofprofoundstillness，thenamatchflared，andMarlow’sleanfaceappeared，worn，hollow，withdownwardfoldsanddroppedeyelids，withanaspectofconcentratedattention;andashetookvigorousdrawsathispipe，itseemedtoretreatandadvanceoutofthenightintheregularflickerofthetinyflame。Thematchwentout。
　　"Absurd！"hecried。"Thisistheworstoftryingtotell……Hereyouallare，eachmooredwithtwogoodaddresses，likeahulkwithtwoanchors，abutcherroundonecorner，apolicemanroundanother，excellentappetites，andtemperaturenormal——youhear——normalfromyear’sendtoyear’send。Andyousay，Absurd！
　　Absurdbe——exploded！Absurd！Mydearboys，whatcanyouexpectfromamanwhooutofsheernervous-
　　nesshadjustflungoverboardapairofnewshoes。
　　NowIthinkofit，itisamazingIdidnotshedtears。
　　Iam，uponthewhole，proudofmyfortitude。IwascuttothequickattheideaofhavinglosttheinestimableprivilegeoflisteningtothegiftedKurtz。OfcourseIwaswrong。Theprivilegewaswaitingforme。Ohyes，Iheardmorethanenough。AndIwasright，too。
　　Avoice。Hewasverylittlemorethanavoice。AndIheard——him——it——thisvoice——othervoices——allofthemweresolittlemorethanvoices——andthememoryofthattimeitselflingersaroundme，impalpable，likeadyingvibrationofoneimmensejabber，silly，atrocious，sordid，savage，orsimplymean，withoutanykindofsense。
　　Voices，voices——eventhegirlherself——now——"
　　Hewassilentforalongtime。
　　"Ilaidtheghostofhisgiftsatlastwithalie，"hebegansuddenly。"Girl！What？DidImentionagirl？Oh，sheisoutofit——completely。They——thewomenImean——areoutofit——shouldbeoutofit。Wemusthelpthemtostayinthatbeautifulworldoftheirown，lestoursgetsworse。Oh，shehadtobeoutofit。
　　YoushouldhaveheardthedisinterredbodyofMr。
　　Kurtzsaying，’MyIntended。’Youwouldhaveper-
　　ceiveddirectlythenhowcompletelyshewasoutofit。
　　AndtheloftyfrontalboneofMr。Kurtz！Theysaythehairgoesongrowingsometimes，butthis——ah——
　　specimen，wasimpressivelybald。Thewildernesshadpattedhimonthehead，and，behold，itwaslikeaball——anivoryball;ithadcaressedhim，and——lo！——hehadwithered;ithadtakenhim，lovedhim，embracedhim，gotintohisveins，consumedhisflesh，andsealedhissoultoitsownbytheinconceivableceremoniesofsomedevilishinitiation。Hewasitsspoiledandpamperedfavorite。Ivory？Ishouldthinkso。Heapsofit，stacksofit。Theoldmudshantywasburstingwithit。
　　Youwouldthinktherewasnotasingletusklefteitheraboveorbelowthegroundinthewholecountry。’Mostlyfossil，’themanagerhadremarkeddisparagingly。ItwasnomorefossilthanIam;buttheycallitfossilwhenitisdugup。Itappearstheseniggersdoburythetuskssometimes——butevidentlytheycouldn’tburythisparceldeepenoughtosavethegiftedMr。Kurtzfromhisfate。Wefilledthesteamboatwithit，andhadtopilealotonthedeck。Thushecouldseeandenjoyaslongashecouldsee，becausetheappreciationofthisfavorhadremainedwithhimtothelast。Youshouldhaveheardhimsay，’Myivory。’Ohyes，Iheardhim。
　　’MyIntended，myivory，mystation，myriver，my——’
　　everythingbelongedtohim。Itmademeholdmybreathinexpectationofhearingthewildernessburstintoaprodigiouspealoflaughterthatwouldshakethefixedstarsintheirplaces。Everythingbelongedtohim——butthatwasatrifle。Thethingwastoknowwhathebe-
　　longedto，howmanypowersofdarknessclaimedhimfortheirown。Thatwasthereflectionthatmadeyoucreepyallover。Itwasimpossible——itwasnotgoodforoneeither——tryingtoimagine。Hehadtakenahighseatamongstthedevilsoftheland——Imeanliterally。
　　Youcan’tunderstand。Howcouldyou？——withsolidpavementunderyourfeet，surroundedbykindneigh-
　　borsreadytocheeryouortofallonyou，steppingdelicatelybetweenthebutcherandthepoliceman，intheholyterrorofscandalandgallowsandlunaticasylums——howcanyouimaginewhatparticularregionofthefirstagesaman’suntrammeledfeetmaytakehimintobythewayofsolitude——uttersolitudewithoutapolice-
　　man——bythewayofsilence，uttersilence，wherenowarningvoiceofakindneighborcanbeheardwhisper-
　　ingofpublicopinion？Theselittlethingsmakeallthegreatdifference。Whentheyaregoneyoumustfallbackuponyourowninnatestrength，uponyourowncapacityforfaithfulness。Ofcourseyoumaybetoomuchofafooltogowrong——toodulleventoknowyouarebeingassaultedbythepowersofdarkness。Itakeit，nofoolevermadeabargainforhissoulwiththedevil：thefoolistoomuchofafool，orthedeviltoomuchofadevil——Idon’tknowwhich。Oryoumaybesuchathunderinglyexaltedcreatureastobealtogetherdeafandblindtoanythingbutheavenlysightsandsounds。Thentheearthforyouisonlyastandingplace——andwhethertobelikethisisyourlossoryourgainI
　　won’tpretendtosay。Butmostofusareneitheronenortheother。Theearthforusisaplacetolivein，wherewemustputupwithsights，withsounds，withsmellstoo，byJove！——breathedeadhippo，sotospeak，andnotbecontaminated。Andthere，don’tyousee？
　　yourstrengthcomesin，thefaithinyourabilityforthediggingofunostentatiousholestoburythestuffin——
　　yourpowerofdevotion，nottoyourself，buttoanobscure，back-breakingbusiness。Andthat’sdifficultenough。Mind，Iamnottryingtoexcuseorevenex-
　　plain——Iamtryingtoaccounttomyselffor——for——Mr。
　　Kurtz——fortheshadeofMr。Kurtz。ThisinitiatedwraithfromthebackofNowherehonoredmewithitsamazingconfidencebeforeitvanishedaltogether。ThiswasbecauseitcouldspeakEnglishtome。TheoriginalKurtzhadbeeneducatedpartlyinEngland，and——ashewasgoodenoughtosayhimself——hissympathieswereintherightplace。Hismotherwashalf-English，hisfatherwashalf-French。AllEuropecontributedtothemakingofKurtz;andby-and-byIlearnedthat，mostappropriately，theInternationalSocietyfortheSup-
　　pressionofSavageCustomshadintrustedhimwiththemakingofareport，foritsfutureguidance。Andhehadwrittenittoo。I’veseenit。I’vereadit。Itwaseloquent，vibratingwitheloquence，buttoohigh-strung，Ithink。Seventeenpagesofclosewritinghehadfoundtimefor！Butthismusthavebeenbeforehis——letussay——nerves，wentwrong，andcausedhimtopresideatcertainmidnightdancesendingwithunspeakablerites，which——asfarasIreluctantlygatheredfromwhatI
　　heardatvarioustimes——wereoffereduptohim——doyouunderstand？——toMr。Kurtzhimself。Butitwasabeau-
　　tifulpieceofwriting。Theopeningparagraph，how-
　　ever，inthelightoflaterinformation，strikesmenowasominous。Hebeganwiththeargumentthatwewhites，fromthepointofdevelopmentwehadarrivedat，’mustnecessarilyappeartothem[savages]inthenatureofsupernaturalbeings——weapproachthemwiththemightasofadeity，’andsoon，andsoon。’Bythesimpleexerciseofourwillwecanexertapowerforgoodpracticallyunbounded，’&c。，&c。Fromthatpointhesoaredandtookmewithhim。Theperorationwasmag-
　　nificent，thoughdifficulttoremember，youknow。ItgavemethenotionofanexoticImmensityruledbyanaugustBenevolence。Itmademetinglewithen-
　　thusiasm。Thiswastheunboundedpowerofeloquence——ofwords——ofburningnoblewords。Therewerenopracticalhintstointerruptthemagiccurrentofphrases，unlessakindofnoteatthefootofthelastpage，scrawledevidentlymuchlater，inanunsteadyhand，mayberegardedastheexpositionofamethod。Itwasverysimple，andattheendofthatmovingappealtoeveryaltruisticsentimentitblazedatyou，luminousandterrifying，likeaflashoflightninginaserenesky：
　　’Exterminateallthebrutes！’Thecuriouspartwasthathehadapparentlyforgottenallaboutthatvalu-
　　ablepostscriptum，because，lateron，whenheinasensecametohimself，herepeatedlyentreatedmetotakegoodcareof’mypamphlet’（hecalledit），asitwassuretohaveinthefutureagoodinfluenceuponhiscareer。Ihadfullinformationaboutallthesethings，and，besides，asitturnedout，Iwastohavethecareofhismemory。I’vedoneenoughforittogivemetheindisputablerighttolayit，ifIchoose，foraneverlast-
　　ingrestinthedust-binofprogress，amongstallthesweepingsand，figurativelyspeaking，allthedeadcatsofcivilization。Butthen，yousee，Ican’tchoose。Hewon’tbeforgotten。Whateverhewas，hewasnotcom-
　　mon。Hehadthepowertocharmorfrightenrudi-
　　mentarysoulsintoanaggravatedwitch-danceinhishonor;hecouldalsofillthesmallsoulsofthepilgrimswithbittermisgivings：hehadonedevotedfriendatleast，andhehadconqueredonesoulintheworldthatwasneitherrudimentarynortaintedwithself-seeking。
　　No;Ican’tforgethim，thoughIamnotpreparedtoaffirmthefellowwasexactlyworththelifewelostingettingtohim。Imissedmylatehelmsmanawfully，——
　　Imissedhimevenwhilehisbodywasstilllyinginthepilot-house。PerhapsyouwillthinkitpassingstrangethisregretforasavagewhowasnomoreaccountthanagrainofsandinablackSahara。Well，don’tyousee，hehaddonesomething，hehadsteered;formonthsI
　　hadhimatmyback——ahelp——aninstrument。Itwasakindofpartnership。Hesteeredforme——Ihadtolookafterhim，Iworriedabouthisdeficiencies，andthusasubtlebondhadbeencreated，ofwhichIonlybecameawarewhenitwassuddenlybroken。Andtheintimateprofundityofthatlookhegavemewhenhereceivedhishurtremainstothisdayinmymemory——likeaclaimofdistantkinshipaffirmedinasuprememoment。
　　"Poorfool！Ifhehadonlyleftthatshutteralone。
　　Hehadnorestraint，norestraint——justlikeKurtz——atreeswayedbythewind。AssoonasIhadputonadrypairofslippers，Idraggedhimout，afterfirstjerkingthespearoutofhisside，whichoperationIconfessI
　　performedwithmyeyesshuttight。Hisheelsleapedtogetheroverthelittledoor-step;hisshoulderswerepressedtomybreast;Ihuggedhimfrombehinddes-
　　perately。Oh！hewasheavy，heavy;heavierthananymanonearth，Ishouldimagine。ThenwithoutmoreadoItippedhimoverboard。Thecurrentsnatchedhimasthoughhehadbeenawispofgrass，andIsawthebodyrollovertwicebeforeIlostsightofitforever。
　　Allthepilgrimsandthemanagerwerethencongregatedontheawning-deckaboutthepilot-house，chatteringateachotherlikeaflockofexcitedmagpies，andtherewasascandalizedmurmuratmyheartlesspromptitude。
　　WhattheywantedtokeepthatbodyhangingaboutforIcan’tguess。Embalmit，maybe。ButIhadalsoheardanother，andaveryominous，murmuronthedeckbelow。
　　Myfriendsthewood-cutterswerelikewisescandalized，andwithabettershowofreason——thoughIadmitthatthereasonitselfwasquiteinadmissible。Oh，quite！I
　　hadmadeupmymindthatifmylatehelmsmanwastobeeaten，thefishesaloneshouldhavehim。Hehadbeenaverysecond-ratehelmsmanwhilealive，butnowhewasdeadhemighthavebecomeafirst-classtempta-
　　tion，andpossiblycausesomestartlingtrouble。Besides，Iwasanxioustotakethewheel，themaninpinkpyjamasshowinghimselfahopelessdufferatthebusiness。
　　"ThisIdiddirectlythesimplefuneralwasover。Weweregoinghalf-speed，keepingrightinthemiddleofthestream，andIlistenedtothetalkaboutme。TheyhadgivenupKurtz，theyhadgivenupthestation;
　　Kurtzwasdead，andthestationhadbeenburnt——andsoon——andsoon。Thered-hairedpilgrimwasbesidehimselfwiththethoughtthatatleastthispoorKurtzhadbeenproperlyrevenged。’Say！Wemusthavemadeagloriousslaughteroftheminthebush。Eh？
　　Whatdoyouthink？Say？’Hepositivelydanced，thebloodthirstylittlegingerybeggar。Andhehadnearlyfaintedwhenhesawthewoundedman！Icouldnothelpsaying，’Youmadeagloriouslotofsmoke，any-
　　how。’Ihadseen，fromthewaythetopsofthebushesrustledandflew，thatalmostalltheshotshadgonetoohigh。Youcan’thitanythingunlessyoutakeaimandfirefromtheshoulder;butthesechapsfiredfromthehipwiththeireyesshut。Theretreat，Imaintained——
　　andIwasright——wascausedbythescreechingofthesteam-whistle。UponthistheyforgotKurtz，andbegantohowlatmewithindignantprotests。
　　"Themanagerstoodbythewheelmurmuringconfi-
　　dentiallyaboutthenecessityofgettingwellawaydowntheriverbeforedarkatallevents，whenIsawinthedistanceaclearingontheriver-sideandtheoutlinesofsomesortofbuilding。’What’sthis？’Iasked。Heclappedhishandsinwonder。’Thestation！’hecried。
　　Iedgedinatonce，stillgoinghalf-speed。
　　"ThroughmyglassesIsawtheslopeofahillinter-
　　spersedwithraretreesandperfectlyfreefromunder-
　　growth。Alongdecayingbuildingonthesummitwashalfburiedinthehighgrass;thelargeholesinthepeakedroofgapedblackfromafar;thejungleandthewoodsmadeabackground。Therewasnoinclosureorfenceofanykind;buttherehadbeenoneapparently，fornearthehousehalf-a-dozenslimpostsremainedinarow，roughlytrimmed，andwiththeirupperendsorna-
　　mentedwithroundcarvedballs。Therails，orwhat-
　　evertherehadbeenbetween，haddisappeared。Ofcoursetheforestsurroundedallthat。Theriver-bankwasclear，andonthewater-sideIsawawhitemanunderahatlikeacart-wheelbeckoningpersistentlywithhiswholearm。Examiningtheedgeoftheforestaboveandbelow，IwasalmostcertainIcouldseemovements——
　　humanformsglidinghereandthere。Isteamedpastprudently，thenstoppedtheenginesandletherdriftdown。Themanontheshorebegantoshout，urgingustoland。’Wehavebeenattacked，’screamedtheman-
　　ager。’Iknow——Iknow。It’sallright，’yelledbacktheother，ascheerfulasyouplease。’Comealong。It’sallright。Iamglad。’
　　"HisaspectremindedmeofsomethingIhadseen——
　　somethingfunnyIhadseensomewhere。AsImaneuveredtogetalongside，Iwasaskingmyself，’Whatdoesthisfellowlooklike？’SuddenlyIgotit。Helookedlikeaharlequin。Hisclotheshadbeenmadeofsomestuffthatwasbrownhollandprobably，butitwascoveredwithpatchesallover，withbrightpatches，blue，red，andyel-
　　low，——patchesontheback，patchesonfront，patchesonelbows，onknees;coloredbindingroundhisjacket，scar-
　　letedgingatthebottomofhistrousers;andthesun-
　　shinemadehimlookextremelygayandwonderfullyneatwithal，becauseyoucouldseehowbeautifullyallthispatchinghadbeendone。Abeardless，boyishface，veryfair，nofeaturestospeakof，nosepeeling，littleblueeyes，smilesandfrownschasingeachotheroverthatopencountenancelikesunshineandshadowonawind-
　　sweptplain。’Lookout，captain！’hecried;’there’sasnaglodgedinherelastnight。’What！Anothersnag？IconfessIsworeshamefully。Ihadnearlyholedmycripple，tofinishoffthatcharmingtrip。Theharle-
　　quinonthebankturnedhislittlepugnoseuptome。
　　’YouEnglish？’heasked，allsmiles。’Areyou？’I
　　shoutedfromthewheel。Thesmilesvanished，andheshookhisheadasifsorryformydisappointment。Thenhebrightenedup。’Nevermind！’hecriedencourag-
　　ingly。’Areweintime？’Iasked。’Heisupthere，’
　　hereplied，withatossoftheheadupthehill，andbecominggloomyallofasudden。Hisfacewasliketheautumnsky，overcastonemomentandbrightthenext。
　　"Whenthemanager，escortedbythepilgrims，allofthemarmedtotheteeth，hadgonetothehouse，thischapcameonboard。’Isay，Idon’tlikethis。Thesenativesareinthebush，’Isaid。Heassuredmeearnestlyitwasallright。’Theyaresimplepeople，’headded;
　　’well，Iamgladyoucame。Ittookmeallmytimetokeepthemoff。’’Butyousaiditwasallright，’Icried。
　　’Oh，theymeantnoharm，’hesaid;andasIstaredhecorrectedhimself，’Notexactly。’Thenvivaciously，’Myfaith，yourpilot-housewantsacleanup！’Inthenextbreathheadvisedmetokeepenoughsteamontheboilertoblowthewhistleincaseofanytrouble。’Onegoodscreechwilldomoreforyouthanallyourrifles。
　　Theyaresimplepeople，’herepeated。Herattledawayatsucharatehequiteoverwhelmedme。Heseemedtobetryingtomakeupforlotsofsilence，andactuallyhinted，laughing，thatsuchwasthecase。’Don’tyoutalkwithMr。Kurtz？’Isaid。’Youdon’ttalkwiththatman——youlistentohim，’heexclaimedwithsevereexaltation。’Butnow——’Hewavedhisarm，andinthetwinklingofaneyewasintheuttermostdepthsofdespondency。Inamomenthecameupagainwithajump，possessedhimselfofbothmyhands，shookthemcontinuously，whilehegabbled：’Brothersailor……
　　honor……pleasure……delight……introducemyself……Russian……sonofanarch-priest……GovernmentofTambov……What？Tobacco！
　　Englishtobacco;theexcellentEnglishtobacco！Now，that’sbrotherly。Smoke？Where’sasailorthatdoesnotsmoke？’
　　"Thepipesoothedhim，andgraduallyImadeouthehadrunawayfromschool，hadgonetoseainaRussianship;ranawayagain;servedsometimeinEnglishships;wasnowreconciledwiththearch-priest。Hemadeapointofthat。’Butwhenoneisyoungonemustseethings，gatherexperience，ideas;enlargethemind。’
　　’Here！’Iinterrupted。’Youcannevertell！HereI
　　havemetMr。Kurtz，’hesaid，youthfullysolemnandreproachful。Iheldmytongueafterthat。ItappearshehadpersuadedaDutchtrading-houseonthecoasttofithimoutwithstoresandgoods，andhadstartedfortheinteriorwithalightheart，andnomoreideaofwhatwouldhappentohimthanababy。Hehadbeenwan-
　　deringaboutthatriverfornearlytwoyearsalone，cutofffromeverybodyandeverything。’IamnotsoyoungasIlook。Iamtwenty-five，’hesaid。’AtfirstoldVanShuytenwouldtellmetogotothedevil，’henarratedwithkeenenjoyment;’butIstucktohim，andtalkedandtalked，tillatlasthegotafraidIwouldtalkthehind-legoffhisfavoritedog，sohegavemesomecheapthingsandafewguns，andtoldmehehopedhewouldneverseemyfaceagain。GoodoldDutchman，VanShuyten。I’vesenthimonesmalllotofivoryayearago，sothathecan’tcallmealittlethiefwhenIgetback。Ihopehegotit。AndfortherestIdon’tcare。
　　Ihadsomewoodstackedforyou。Thatwasmyoldhouse。Didyousee？’
　　"IgavehimTowson’sbook。Hemadeasthoughhewouldkissme，butrestrainedhimself。’TheonlybookIhadleft，andIthoughtIhadlostit，’hesaid，lookingatitecstatically。’Somanyaccidentshappentoamangoingaboutalone，youknow。Canoesgetupsetsome-
　　times——andsometimesyou’vegottoclearoutsoquickwhenthepeoplegetangry。’Hethumbedthepages。
　　’YoumadenotesinRussian？’Iasked。Henodded。
　　’Ithoughttheywerewrittenincipher，’Isaid。Helaughed，thenbecameserious。’Ihadlotsoftroubletokeepthesepeopleoff，’hesaid。’Didtheywanttokillyou？’Iasked。’Ohno！’hecried，andcheckedhim-
　　self。’Whydidtheyattackus？’Ipursued。Hehesi-
　　tated，thensaidshamefacedly，’Theydon’twanthimtogo。’’Don’tthey？’Isaid，curiously。Henoddedanodfullofmysteryandwisdom。’Itellyou，’hecried，’thismanhasenlargedmymind。’Heopenedhisarmswide，staringatmewithhislittleblueeyesthatwereperfectlyround。"
　　part3
　　PartThree"Ilookedathim，lostinastonishment。Therehewasbeforeme，inmotley，asthoughhehadabscondedfromatroupeofmimes，enthusiastic，fabulous。Hisveryexistencewasimprobable，inexplicable，andalto-
　　getherbewildering。Hewasaninsolubleproblem。Itwasinconceivablehowhehadexisted，howhehadsuc-
　　ceededingettingsofar，howhehadmanagedtoremain——whyhedidnotinstantlydisappear。’Iwentalittlefarther，’hesaid，’thenstillalittlefarther——tillIhadgonesofarthatIdon’tknowhowI’llevergetback。
　　Nevermind。Plentytime。Icanmanage。YoutakeKurtzawayquick——quick——Itellyou。’Theglamourofyouthenvelopedhisparticoloredrags，hisdestitution，hisloneliness，theessentialdesolationofhisfutilewander-
　　ings。Formonths——foryears——hislifehadn’tbeenworthaday’spurchase;andtherehewasgallantly，thoughtlesslyalive，toallappearanceindestructiblesolelybythevirtueofhisfewyearsandofhisunreflectingaudacity。Iwasseducedintosomethinglikeadmiration——likeenvy。Glamoururgedhimon，glamourkepthimunscathed。Hesurelywantednothingfromthewilder-
　　nessbutspacetobreatheinandtopushonthrough。
　　Hisneedwastoexist，andtomoveonwardsatthegreat-
　　estpossiblerisk，andwithamaximumofprivation。Iftheabsolutelypure，uncalculating，unpracticalspiritofadventurehadeverruledahumanbeing，itruledthisbe-patchedyouth。Ialmostenviedhimthepossessionofthismodestandclearflame。Itseemedtohavecon-
　　sumedallthoughtofselfsocompletely，that，evenwhilehewastalkingtoyou，youforgotthatitwashe——themanbeforeyoureyes——whohadgonethroughthesethings。IdidnotenvyhimhisdevotiontoKurtz，though。Hehadnotmeditatedoverit。Itcametohim，andheaccepteditwithasortofeagerfatalism。Imustsaythattomeitappearedaboutthemostdangerousthingineverywayhehadcomeuponsofar。
　　"Theyhadcometogetherunavoidably，liketwoshipsbecalmedneareachother，andlayrubbingsidesatlast。
　　IsupposeKurtzwantedanaudience，becauseonacer-
　　tainoccasion，whenencampedintheforest，theyhadtalkedallnight，ormoreprobablyKurtzhadtalked。
　　’Wetalkedofeverything，’hesaid，quitetransportedattherecollection。’Iforgottherewassuchathingassleep。Thenightdidnotseemtolastanhour。Every-
　　thing！Everything！……Oflovetoo。’’Ah，hetalkedtoyouoflove！’Isaid，muchamused。’Itisn’twhatyouthink，’hecried，almostpassionately。’Itwasingeneral。Hemademeseethings——things。’
　　"Hethrewhisarmsup。Wewereondeckatthetime，andtheheadmanofmywood-cutters，loungingnearby，turneduponhimhisheavyandglitteringeyes。Ilookedaround，andIdon’tknowwhy，butIassureyouthatnever，neverbefore，didthisland，thisriver，thisjungle，theveryarchofthisblazingsky，appeartomesohope-
　　lessandsodark，soimpenetrabletohumanthought，sopitilesstohumanweakness。’And，eversince，youhavebeenwithhim，ofcourse？’Isaid。
　　"Onthecontrary。Itappearstheirintercoursehadbeenverymuchbrokenbyvariouscauses。Hehad，asheinformedmeproudly，managedtonurseKurtzthroughtwoillnesses（healludedtoitasyouwouldtosomeriskyfeat），butasaruleKurtzwanderedalone，farinthedepthsoftheforest。’Veryoftencomingtothisstation，Ihadtowaitdaysanddaysbeforehewouldturnup，’hesaid。’Ah，itwasworthwaitingfor！——
　　sometimes。’’Whatwashedoing？exploringorwhat？’
　　Iasked。’Ohyes，ofcourse;’hehaddiscoveredlotsofvillages，alaketoo——hedidnotknowexactlyinwhatdirection;itwasdangeroustoinquiretoomuch——butmostlyhisexpeditionshadbeenforivory。’Buthehadnogoodstotradewithbythattime，’Iobjected。’There’sagoodlotofcartridgesleftevenyet，’heanswered，look-
　　ingaway。’Tospeakplainly，heraidedthecountry，’
　　Isaid。Henodded。’Notalone，surely！’Hemutteredsomethingaboutthevillagesroundthatlake。’Kurtzgotthetribetofollowhim，didhe？’Isuggested。Hefidgetedalittle。’Theyadoredhim，’hesaid。ThetoneofthesewordswassoextraordinarythatIlookedathimsearchingly。Itwascurioustoseehismingledeager-
　　nessandreluctancetospeakofKurtz。Themanfilledhislife，occupiedhisthoughts，swayedhisemotions。
　　’Whatcanyouexpect？’heburstout;’hecametothemwiththunderandlightning，youknow——andtheyhadneverseenanythinglikeit——andveryterrible。Hecouldbeveryterrible。Youcan’tjudgeMr。Kurtzasyouwouldanordinaryman。No，no，no！Now——justtogiveyouanidea——Idon’tmindtellingyou，hewantedtoshootmetoooneday——butIdon’tjudgehim。’
　　’Shootyou！’Icried。’Whatfor？’’Well，Ihadasmalllotofivorythechiefofthatvillagenearmyhousegaveme。YouseeIusedtoshootgameforthem。Well，hewantedit，andwouldn’thearreason。HedeclaredhewouldshootmeunlessIgavehimtheivoryandthenclearedoutofthecountry，becausehecoulddoso，andhadafancyforit，andtherewasnothingonearthtopreventhimkillingwhomhejollywellpleased。Anditwastruetoo。Igavehimtheivory。WhatdidIcare！
　　ButIdidn’tclearout。No，no。Icouldn’tleavehim。
　　Ihadtobecareful，ofcourse，tillwegotfriendlyagainforatime。Hehadhissecondillnessthen。AfterwardsIhadtokeepoutoftheway;butIdidn’tmind。Hewaslivingforthemostpartinthosevillagesonthelake。Whenhecamedowntotheriver，sometimeshewouldtaketome，andsometimesitwasbetterformetobecareful。Thismansufferedtoomuch。Hehatedallthis，andsomehowhecouldn’tgetaway。WhenIhadachanceIbeggedhimtotryandleavewhiletherewastime;Iofferedtogobackwithhim。Andhewouldsayyes，andthenhewouldremain;gooffonanotherivoryhunt;disappearforweeks;forgethimselfamongstthesepeople——forgethimself——youknow。’’Why！he’smad，’Isaid。Heprotestedindignantly。Mr。Kurtzcouldn’tbemad。IfIhadheardhimtalk，onlytwodaysago，Iwouldn’tdarehintatsuchathing……
　　Ihadtakenupmybinocularswhilewetalkedandwaslookingattheshore，sweepingthelimitoftheforestateachsideandatthebackofthehouse。Theconsciousnessoftherebeingpeopleinthatbush，sosilent，soquiet——assilentandquietastheruinedhouseonthehill——mademeuneasy。Therewasnosignonthefaceofnatureofthisamazingtalethatwasnotsomuchtoldassuggestedtomeindesolateexclamations，com-
　　pletedbyshrugs，ininterruptedphrases，inhintsendingindeepsighs。Thewoodswereunmoved，likeamask——
　　heavy，likethecloseddoorofaprison——theylookedwiththeirairofhiddenknowledge，ofpatientexpectation，ofunapproachablesilence。TheRussianwasexplainingtomethatitwasonlylatelythatMr。Kurtzhadcomedowntotheriver，bringingalongwithhimallthefight-
　　ingmenofthatlaketribe。Hehadbeenabsentforseveralmonths——gettinghimselfadored，Isuppose——andhadcomedownunexpectedly，withtheintentiontoallappearanceofmakingaraideitheracrosstheriverordownstream。Evidentlytheappetiteformoreivoryhadgotthebetterofthe——whatshallIsay？——lessma-
　　terialaspirations。Howeverhehadgotmuchworsesuddenly。’Iheardhewaslyinghelpless，andsoIcameup——tookmychance，’saidtheRussian。’Oh，heisbad，verybad。’Idirectedmyglasstothehouse。Therewerenosignsoflife，buttherewastheruinedroof，thelongmudwallpeepingabovethegrass，withthreelittlesquarewindow-holes，notwoofthesamesize;allthisbroughtwithinreachofmyhand，asitwere。AndthenImadeabrusquemovement，andoneoftheremain-
　　ingpostsofthatvanishedfenceleapedupinthefieldofmyglass。YourememberItoldyouIhadbeenstruckatthedistancebycertainattemptsatornamenta-
　　tion，ratherremarkableintheruinousaspectoftheplace。
　　NowIhadsuddenlyanearerview，anditsfirstresultwastomakemethrowmyheadbackasifbeforeablow。
　　ThenIwentcarefullyfromposttopostwithmyglass，andIsawmymistake。Theseroundknobswerenotornamentalbutsymbolic;theywereexpressiveandpuzzling，strikinganddisturbing——foodforthoughtandalsoforthevulturesiftherehadbeenanylookingdownfromthesky;butatalleventsforsuchantsaswereindustriousenoughtoascendthepole。Theywouldhavebeenevenmoreimpressive，thoseheadsonthestakes，iftheirfaceshadnotbeenturnedtothehouse。
　　Onlyone，thefirstIhadmadeout，wasfacingmyway。
　　Iwasnotsoshockedasyoumaythink。ThestartbackIhadgivenwasreallynothingbutamovementofsur-
　　prise。Ihadexpectedtoseeaknobofwoodthere，youknow。IreturneddeliberatelytothefirstIhadseen——
　　andthereitwas，black，dried，sunken，withclosedeye-
　　lids，——aheadthatseemedtosleepatthetopofthatpole，and，withtheshrunkendrylipsshowinganarrowwhitelineoftheteeth，wassmilingtoo，smilingcontinuouslyatsomeendlessandjocosedreamofthateternalslumber。
　　"Iamnotdisclosinganytradesecrets。InfactthemanagersaidafterwardsthatMr。Kurtz’smethodshadruinedthedistrict。Ihavenoopiniononthatpoint，butIwantyouclearlytounderstandthattherewasnothingexactlyprofitableintheseheadsbeingthere。
　　TheyonlyshowedthatMr。Kurtzlackedrestraintinthegratificationofhisvariouslusts，thattherewassome-
　　thingwantinginhim——somesmallmatterwhich，whenthepressingneedarose，couldnotbefoundunderhismagnificenteloquence。Whetherheknewofthisde-
　　ficiencyhimselfIcan’tsay。Ithinktheknowledgecametohimatlast——onlyattheverylast。Butthewilder-
　　nesshadfoundhimoutearly，andhadtakenonhimaterriblevengeanceforthefantasticinvasion。Ithinkithadwhisperedtohimthingsabouthimselfwhichhedidnotknow，thingsofwhichhehadnoconceptiontillhetookcounselwiththisgreatsolitude——andthewhisperhadprovedirresistiblyfascinating。Itechoedloudlywithinhimbecausehewashollowatthecore……I
　　putdowntheglass，andtheheadthathadappearednearenoughtobespokentoseemedatoncetohaveleapedawayfrommeintoinaccessibledistance。
　　"TheadmirerofMr。Kurtzwasabitcrestfallen。Inahurried，indistinctvoicehebegantoassuremehehadnotdaredtotakethese——say，symbols——down。Hewasnotafraidofthenatives;theywouldnotstirtillMr。
　　Kurtzgavetheword。Hisascendencywasextraor-
　　dinary。Thecampsofthesepeoplesurroundedtheplace，andthechiefscameeverydaytoseehim。Theywouldcrawl……’Idon’twanttoknowanythingoftheceremoniesusedwhenapproachingMr。Kurtz，’I
　　shouted。Curious，thisfeelingthatcameovermethatsuchdetailswouldbemoreintolerablethanthoseheadsdryingonthestakesunderMr。Kurtz’swindows。Afterall，thatwasonlyasavagesight，whileIseemedatoneboundtohavebeentransportedintosomelightlessregionofsubtlehorrors，wherepure，uncomplicatedsavagerywasapositiverelief，beingsomethingthathadarighttoexist——obviously——inthesunshine。Theyoungmanlookedatmewithsurprise。IsupposeitdidnotoccurtohimMr。Kurtzwasnoidolofmine。
　　HeforgotIhadn’theardanyofthesesplendidmono-
　　logueson，whatwasit？onlove，justice，conductoflife——orwhatnot。IfithadcometocrawlingbeforeMr。
　　Kurtz，hecrawledasmuchastheveriestsavageofthemall。Ihadnoideaoftheconditions，hesaid：theseheadsweretheheadsofrebels。Ishockedhimexcessivelybylaughing。Rebels！WhatwouldbethenextdefinitionIwastohear？Therehadbeenenemies，criminals，work-
　　ers——andthesewererebels。Thoserebelliousheadslookedverysubduedtomeontheirsticks。’Youdon’tknowhowsuchalifetriesamanlikeKurtz，’criedKurtz’slastdisciple。’Well，andyou？’Isaid。’I！I！I
　　amasimpleman。Ihavenogreatthoughts。Iwantnothingfromanybody。Howcanyoucomparemeto……？"
　　Hisfeelingsweretoomuchforspeech，andsuddenlyhebrokedown。’Idon’tunderstand，’hegroaned。’I’vebeendoingmybesttokeephimalive，andthat’senough。
　　Ihadnohandinallthis。Ihavenoabilities。Therehasn’tbeenadropofmedicineoramouthfulofinvalidfoodformonthshere。Hewasshamefullyabandoned。
　　Amanlikethis，withsuchideas。Shamefully！
　　Shamefully！I——I——haven’tsleptforthelasttennights……’
　　"Hisvoicelostitselfinthecalmoftheevening。Thelongshadowsoftheforesthadslippeddownhillwhilewetalked，hadgonefarbeyondtheruinedhovel，be-
　　yondthesymbolicrowofstakes。Allthiswasinthegloom，whilewedowntherewereyetinthesunshine，andthestretchoftheriverabreastoftheclearingglitteredinastillanddazzlingsplendor，withamurkyandover-shadowedbendaboveandbelow。Notalivingsoulwasseenontheshore。Thebushesdidnotrustle。
　　"Suddenlyroundthecornerofthehouseagroupofmenappeared，asthoughtheyhadcomeupfromtheground。Theywadedwaist-deepinthegrass，inacompactbody，bearinganimprovisedstretcherintheirmidst。Instantly，intheemptinessofthelandscape，acryarosewhoseshrillnesspiercedthestillairlikeasharparrowflyingstraighttotheveryheartoftheland;and，asifbyenchantment，streamsofhumanbeings——ofnakedhumanbeings——withspearsintheirhands，withbows，withshields，withwildglancesandsavagemove-
　　ments，werepouredintotheclearingbythedark-facedandpensiveforest。Thebushesshook，thegrassswayedforatime，andtheneverythingstoodstillinattentiveimmobility。