Shefixedhereyesonit。Shethought："Ishan’ttellhimanything。Impossible。No！Ishalltelleverything。"Sheexpectedeverymomenttohearherhusband’svoiceandthesuspensewasintolerablebecauseshefeltthatthenshemustdecide。Somebodyondeckwasbabblingexcitedly。Shedevoutlyhopedd’Alcacerwouldspeakfirstandthusputoffthefatalmoment。Avoicesaidroughly："What’sthat？"AndinthemidstofherdistresssherecognizedCarter’svoice，havingnoticedthatyoungmanwhowasofadifferentstampfromtherestofthecrew。Shecametotheconclusionthatthemattercouldberelatedjocularly，or——whynotpretendfear？Atthatmomentthebrig’syard—armlightshewaslookingattrembleddistinctly，andshewasdumfoundedasifshehadseenacommotioninthefirmament。Withherlipsopenforacryshesawitfallstraightdownseveralfeet，flicker，andgoout。Allperplexitypassedfromhermind。Thisfirstfactofthedangergaveherathrillofquiteanewemotion。Somethinghadtobedoneatonce。Forsomeremotereasonshefeltashamedofherhesitations。
　　ShemovedswiftlyforwardandunderthelampcamefacetofacewithCarterwhowascomingaft。Bothstopped，staring，thelightfellontheirfaces，andbothwerestruckbyeachother’sexpression。Thefoureyesshonewide。
　　"Youhaveseen？"sheasked，beginningtotremble。
　　"Howdoyouknow？"hesaid，atthesametime，evidentlysurprised。
　　Suddenlyshesawthateverybodywasondeck。
　　"Thelightisdown，"shestammered。
　　"Thegentlemenarelost，"saidCarter。Thenheperceivedshedidnotseemtounderstand。"Kidnappedoffthesandbank，"hecontinued，lookingatherfixedlytoseehowshewouldtakeit。
　　Sheseemedcalm。"Kidnappedlikeapairoflambs！Notasqueak，"
　　heburstoutwithindignation。"Butthesandbankislongandtheymighthavebeenattheotherend。Youwereondeck，ma’am？"heasked。
　　"Yes，"shemurmured。"Inthechairhere。"
　　"Wewerealldownbelow。Ihadtorestalittle。WhenIcameupthewatchmanwasasleep。Heswearshewasn’t，butIknowbetter。
　　Nobodyheardanynoise，unlessyoudid。Butperhapsyouwereasleep？"heasked，deferentially。
　　"Yes——no——Imusthavebeen，"shesaid，faintly。
　　VIII
　　Lingard’ssoulwasexaltedbyhistalkwithMrs。Travers，bythestrainofincertitudeandbyextremefatigue。OnreturningonboardheaskedafterHassimandwastoldthattheRajahandhissisterhadgoneoffintheircanoepromisingtoreturnbeforemidnight。Theboatssenttoscoutbetweentheisletsnorthandsouthoftheanchoragehadnotcomebackyet。Hewentintohiscabinandthrowinghimselfonthecouchclosedhiseyesthinking：
　　"ImustsleeporIshallgomad。"
　　AttimeshefeltanunshakenconfidenceinMrs。Travers——thenherememberedherface。Nextmomentthefacewouldfade，hewouldmakeanefforttoholdontotheimage，fail——andthenbecomeconvincedwithouttheshadowofadoubtthathewasutterlylost，unlessheletallthesepeoplebewipedoffthefaceoftheearth。
　　"Theyallheardthatmanordermeoutofhisship，"hethought，andthereuponforasecondorsohecontemplatedwithoutflinchingtheluridimageofamassacre。"AndyetIhadtotellherthatnotahairofherheadshallbetouched。Notahair。"
　　Andirrationallyattherecollectionofthesewordsthereseemedtobenotroubleofanykindleftintheworld。Nowandthen，however，therewereblackinstantswhenfromsheerwearinesshethoughtofnothingatall；andduringoneofthesehefellasleep，losingtheconsciousnessofexternalthingsassuddenlyasifhehadbeenfelledbyablowonthehead。
　　Whenhesatup，almostbeforehewasproperlyawake，hisfirstalarmedconvictionwasthathehadsleptthenightthrough。TherewasalightinthecuddyandthroughtheopendoorofhiscabinhesawdistinctlyMrs。Traverspassoutofviewacrossthelightedspace。
　　"Theydidcomeonboardafterall，"hethought——"howisitI
　　haven’tbeencalled！"
　　Hedartedintothecuddy。Nobody！Lookingupattheclockintheskylighthewasvexedtoseeithadstoppedtillhisearcaughtthefaintbeatofthemechanism。Itwasgoingthen！Hecouldnothavebeenasleepmorethantenminutes。Hehadnotbeenonboardmorethantwenty！
　　Soitwasonlyadeception；hehadseennoone。Andyetherememberedtheturnofthehead，thelineoftheneck，thecolourofthehair，themovementofthepassingfigure。Hereturnedspiritlesslytohisstate—roommuttering，"Nomoresleepformeto—night，"andcameoutdirectly，holdingafewsheetsofpapercoveredwithahigh，angularhandwriting。
　　ThiswasJorgenson’sletterwrittenthreedaysbeforeandentrustedtoHassim。Lingardhadreaditalreadytwice，butheturnedupthelampalittlehigherandsatdowntoreaditagain。
　　Ontheredshieldabovehisheadthegiltsheafofthunderboltsdartingbetweentheinitialsofhisnameseemedtobeaimedstraightatthenapeofhisneckashesatwithbaredelbowsspreadonthetable，poringoverthecrumpledsheets。Theletterbegan：
　　HassimandImmadaaregoingoutto—nighttolookforyou。Youarebehindyourtimeandeverypassingdaymakesthingsworse。
　　TendaysagothreeofBelarab’smen，whohadbeencollectingturtles’eggsontheislets，cameflyingbackwithastoryofashipstrandedontheoutermudflats。Belarabatonceforbadeanyboatfromleavingthelagoon。Sofargood。Therewasagreatexcitementinthevillage。Ijudgeitmustbeaschooner——
　　probablysomefoolofatrader。However，youwillknowallaboutherwhenyoureadthis。YoumaysayImighthavepulledouttoseatohavealookformyself。ButbesidesBelarab’sorderstothecontrary，whichIwouldattendtoforthesakeofexample，allyouareworthinthisworld，Tom，ishereintheEmma，undermyfeet，andIwouldnotleavemychargeevenforhalfaday。
　　HassimattendedthecouncilheldeveryeveningintheshedoutsideBelarab’sstockade。ThatholymanNingratwasforlootingthatvessel。Hassimreprovedhimsayingthatthevesselprobablywassentbyyoubecausenowhitemenwereknowntocomeinsidetheshoals。BelarabbackedupHassim。NingratwasveryangryandreproachedBelarabforkeepinghim，Ningrat，shortofopiumtosmoke。Hebeganbycallinghim"O！son，"andendedbyshouting，"O！youworsethananunbeliever！"Therewasahullabaloo。ThefollowersofTenggawerereadytointerfereandyouknowhowitisbetweenTenggaandBelarab。TenggaalwayswantedtooustBelarab，andhischancesweregettingprettygoodbeforeyouturnedupandarmedBelarab’sbodyguardwithmuskets。However，Hassimstoppedthatrow，andnoonewashurtthattime。Nextday，whichwasFriday，Ningratafterreadingtheprayersinthemosquetalkedtothepeopleoutside。Hebleatedandcaperedlikeanoldgoat，prophesyingmisfortune，ruin，andexterminationifthesewhiteswereallowedtogetaway。Heismadbutthentheythinkhimasaint，andhehadbeenfightingtheDutchforyearsinhisyoungdays。SixofBelarab’sguardmarcheddownthevillagestreetcarryingmusketsatfullcockandthecrowdclearedout。
　　NingratwasspiritedawaybyTengga’smenintotheirmaster’sstockade。Ifitwasnotforthefearofyouturningupanymomenttherewouldhavebeenaparty—fightthatevening。IthinkitisapityTenggaisnotchiefofthelandinsteadofBelarab。Abraveandforesightedman，howevertreacherousatheart，canalwaysbetrustedtoacertainextent。OnecannevergetanythingclearfromBelarab。Peace！Peace！Youknowhisfad。Andthisfadmakeshimactsilly。Thepeaceracketwillgethimintoarow。Itmaycosthimhislifeintheend。However，TenggadoesnotfeelhimselfstrongenoughyettoactwithhisownfollowersonlyandBelarabhas，onmyadvice，disarmedallvillagers。Hismenwentintothehousesandtookawaybyforceallthefirearmsandasmanyspearsastheycouldlayhandson。Thewomenscreamedabuseofcourse，buttherewasnoresistance。Afewmenwereseenclearingoutintotheforestwiththeirarms。Notethis，foritmeansthereisanotherpowerbesideBelarab’sinthevillage：thegrowingpowerofTengga。
　　Onemorning——fourdaysago——IwenttoseeTengga。Ifoundhimbytheshoretrimmingaplankwithasmallhatchetwhileaslaveheldanumbrellaoverhishead。Heisamusinghimselfinbuildingaboatjustnow。Hethrewhishatchetdowntomeetmeandledmebythehandtoashadyspot。Hetoldmefranklyhehadsentouttwogoodswimmerstoobservethestrandedvessel。Thesemenstoledownthecreekinacanoeandwhenontheseacoastswamfromsandbanktosandbankuntiltheyapproachedunobserved——I
　　think——toaboutfiftyyardsfromthatschoonerWhatcanthatcraftbe？Ican’tmakeitout。Themenreportedtherewerethreechiefsonboard。Onewithaglitteringeye，onealeanmaninwhite，andanotherwithoutanyhaironthefaceanddressedinadifferentstyle。Coulditbeawoman？Idon’tknowwhattothink。
　　Iwishyouwerehere。AfteralotofchatterTenggasaid："SixyearsagoIwasrulerofacountryandtheDutchdrovemeout。
　　Thecountrywassmallbutnothingistoosmallforthemtotake。
　　Theypretendedtogiveitbacktomynephew——mayheburn！Iranawayortheywouldhavekilledme。Iamnothinghere——butI
　　remember。Thesewhitepeopleouttherecannotrunawayandtheyareveryfew。Thereisperhapsalittletoloot。IwouldgiveittomymenwhofollowedmeinmycalamitybecauseIamtheirchiefandmyfatherwasthechiefoftheirfathers。"Ipointedouttheimprudenceofthis。Hesaid："Thedeaddonotshowtheway。"TothisIremarkedthattheignorantdonotgiveinformation。Tenggakeptquietforawhile，thensaid："Wemustnottouchthembecausetheirskinislikeyoursandtokillthemwouldbewrong，butatthebiddingofyouwhiteswemaygoandfightwithpeopleofourownskinandourownfaith——andthatisgood。IhavepromisedtoTuanLingardtwentymenandaprautomakewarinWajo。Themenaregoodandlookattheprau；itisswiftandstrong。"Imustsay，Tom，theprauisthebestcraftofthekindIhaveeverseen。Isaidyoupaidhimwellforthehelp。"AndI
　　alsowouldpay，"sayshe，"ifyouletmehaveafewgunsandalittlepowderformymen。YouandIshallsharethelootofthatshipoutside，andTuanLingardwillnotknow。Itisonlyalittlegame。Youhaveplentyofgunsandpowderunderyourcare。"HemeantintheEmma。OnthatIspokeoutprettystraightandwegotratherwarmuntilatlasthegavemetounderstandthatashehadaboutfortyfollowersofhisownandIhadonlynineofHassim’schapstodefendtheEmmawith，hecouldverywellgoformeandgetthelot。"Andthen，"sayshe，"Iwouldbesostrongthateverybodywouldbeonmyside。"Idiscoveredinthecourseoffurthertalkthatthereisanotionamongstmanypeoplethatyouhavecometogriefinsomewayandwon’tshowuphereanymore。
　　AfterthisIsawthepositionwasseriousandIwasinahurrytogetbacktotheEmma，butpretendingIdidnotcareIsmiledandthankedTenggaforgivingmewarningofhisintentionsaboutmeandtheEmma。Atthishenearlychokedhimselfwithhisbetelquidandfixingmewithhislittleeyes，muttered："Evenalizardwillgiveaflythetimetosayitsprayers。"Iturnedmybackonhimandwasverythankfultogetbeyondthethrowofaspear。I
　　haven’tbeenoutoftheEmmasince。
　　IX
　　TheletterwentontoenlargeontheintriguesofTengga，thewaveringconductofBelarab，andthestateofthepublicmind。Itnotedeverygustofopinionandeveryevent，withanearnestnessofbeliefintheirimportancebefittingthechronicleofacrisisinthehistoryofanempire。TheshadeofJorgensonhad，indeed，steppedbackintothelifeofmen。Theoldadventurerlookedonwithaperfectunderstandingofthevalueoftrifles，usinghiseyesforthatothermanwhoseconsciencewouldhavethetasktounravelthetangle。LingardlivedthroughthosedaysintheSettlementandwasthankfultoJorgenson；onlyashelivednotfromdaytodaybutfromsentencetosentenceofthewriting，therewasaneffectofbewilderingrapidityinthesuccessionofeventsthatmadehimgruntwithsurprisesometimesorgrowl——"What？"tohimselfangrilyandturnbackseverallinesorawholepagemorethanonce。Towardtheendhehadaheavyfrownofperplexityandfidgetedasheread：
　　——andIbegantothinkIcouldkeepthingsquiettillyoucameorthosewretchedwhitepeoplegottheirschooneroff，whenSherifDamanarrivedfromthenorthontheverydayhewasexpected，withtwoIllanunpraus。HelookslikeanArab。ItwasveryevidenttomehecanwindthetwoIllanunpangeransroundhislittlefinger。Thetwoprausarelargeandarmed。Theycameupthecreek，flagsandstreamersflying，beatingdrumsandgongs，andenteredthelagoonwiththeirdecksfullofarmedmenbrandishingtwo—handedswordsandsoundingthewarcry。Itisafineforceforyou，onlyBelarabwhoisaperversedevilwouldnotreceiveSherifDamanatonce。SoDamanwenttoseeTenggawhodetainedhimaverylongtime。LeavingTenggahecameonboardtheEmma，andIcouldseedirectlytherewassomethingup。
　　Hebeganbyaskingmefortheammunitionandweaponstheyaretogetfromyou，sayinghewasanxioustosailatoncetowardWajo，sinceitwasagreedhewastoprecedeyoubyafewdays。I
　　repliedthatthatwastrueenoughbutthatIcouldnotthinkofgivinghimthepowderandmusketstillyoucame。Hebegantotalkaboutyouandhintedthatperhapsyouwillnevercome。"Andnomatter，"sayshe，"hereisRajahHassimandtheLadyImmadaandwewouldfightforthemifnowhitemanwasleftintheworld。
　　Onlywemusthavesomethingtofightwith。"HepretendedthentoforgetmealtogetherandtalkedwithHassimwhileIsatlistening。HebegantoboasthowwellhegotalongtheBrunicoast。NoIllanunprauhadpasseddownthatcoastforyears。
　　Immadawantedmetogivethearmshewasaskingfor。ThegirlisbesideherselfwithfearofsomethinghappeningthatwouldputastopperontheWajoexpedition。Shehassethermindongettinghercountryback。Hassimisveryreservedbutheisveryanxious，too。Damangotnothingfromme，andthatveryeveningtheprauswereorderedbyBelarabtoleavethelagoon。HedoesnottrusttheIllanuns——andsmallblametohim。SherifDamanwentlikealamb。Hehasnopowderforhisguns。AstheprauspassedbytheEmmaheshoutedtomehewasgoingtowaitforyououtsidethecreek。Tenggahasgivenhimamanwhowouldshowhimtheplace。
　　Allthislooksveryqueertome。
　　Lookoutoutsidethen。Theprausaredodgingamongsttheislets。
　　DamanvisitsTengga。TenggacalledonmeasagoodfriendtotryandpersuademetogiveDamanthearmsandgunpowderheissoanxioustoget。SomehoworothertheytriedtogetaroundBelarab，whocametoseemelastnightandhintedIhadbetterdoso。HeisanxiousfortheseIllanunstoleavetheneighbourhood。
　　Hethinksthatiftheyloottheschoonertheywillbeoffatonce。That’sallhewantsnow。ImmadahasbeentoseeBelarab’swomenandstoppedtwonightsinthestockade。Belarab’syoungestwife——hegotmarriedsixweeksago——isonthesideofTengga’spartybecauseshethinksBelarabwouldgetashareofthelootandshegotintohersillyheadtherearejewelsandsilksinthatschooner。WhatbetweenTenggaworryinghimoutsideandthewomenworryinghimathome，Belarabhadsuchalivelytimeofitthatheconcludedhewouldgotoprayathisfather’stomb。Soforthelasttwodayshehasbeenawaycampinginthatunhealthyplace。Whenhecomesbackhewillbedownwithfeverassureasfateandthenhewillbenogoodforanything。Tenggalightsupsmokyfiresoften。SomesignaltoDaman。IgoashorewithHassim’smenandputthemout。Thisisriskingafighteverytime——forTengga’smenlookveryblackatus。Idon’tknowwhatthenextmovemaybe。Hassim’sastrueassteel。Immadaisveryunhappy。TheywilltellyoumanydetailsIhavenotimetowrite。
　　ThelastpageflutteredonthetableoutofLingard’sfingers。Hesatverystillforamomentlookingstraightbeforehim，thenwentondeck。
　　"Ourboatsbackyet？"heaskedShaw，whomhesawprowlingonthequarter—deck。
　　"No，sir，Iwishtheywere。Iamwaitingforthemtogoandturnin，"answeredthemateinanaggrievedmanner。
　　"Lowerthatlanternforwardthere，"criedLingard，suddenly，inMalay。
　　"Thistradeisn’tfitforadecentman，"mutteredShawtohimself，andhemovedawaytoleanontherail，lookingmoodilytoseaward。Afterawhile："Thereseemstobecommotiononboardthatyacht，"hesaid。"Iseealotoflightsmovingaboutherdecks。Anythingwrong，doyouthink，sir？"
　　"No，Iknowwhatitis，"saidLingardinatoneofelation。Shehasdoneit！hethought。
　　Hereturnedtothecabin，putawayJorgenson’sletterandpulledoutthedrawerofthetable。Itwasfullofcartridges。Hetookamusketdown，loadedit，thentookanotherandanother。Hehammeredatthewaddingswithfiercejoyousness。Theramrodsrangandjumped。Itseemedtohimhewasdoinghisshareofsomeworkinwhichthatwomanwasplayingherpartfaithfully。"Shehasdoneit，"herepeated，mentally。"Shewillsitinthecuddy。Shewillsleepinmyberth。Well，I’mnotashamedofthebrig。Byheavens——no！Ishallkeepaway：nevercomenearthemasI’vepromised。Nowthere’snothingmoretosay。I’vetoldhereverythingatonce。There’snothingmore。"
　　Hefeltaheavinessinhisburningbreast，inallhislimbsasifthebloodinhisveinshadbecomemoltenlead。
　　"Ishallgettheyachtoff。Three，fourdays——no，aweek。"
　　Hefoundhecouldn’tdoitunderaweek。Itoccurredtohimhewouldseehereverydaytilltheyachtwasafloat。No，hewouldn’tintrude，buthewasmasterandownerofthebrigafterall。Hedidn’tmeantoskulklikeawhippedcurabouthisowndecks。
　　"It’llbetendaysbeforetheschoonerisready。I’lltakeeveryscrapofballastoutofher。I’llstripher——I’lltakeherlowermastsoutofher，byheavens！I’llmakesure。Thenanotherweektofitout——and——goodbye。WishIhadneverseenthem。
　　Good—bye——forever。Home’stheplaceforthem。Notforme。Onanothercoastshewouldnothavelistened。Ah，butsheisawoman——everyinchofher。Ishallshakehands。Yes。Ishalltakeherhand——justbeforeshegoes。Whythedevilnot？Iammasterhereafterall——inthisbrig——asgoodasanyone——byheavens，betterthananyone——betterthananyoneonearth。"
　　HeheardShawwalksmartlyforwardabovehisheadhailing：
　　"What’sthat——aboat？"
　　Avoiceansweredindistinctly。
　　"Oneofmyboatsisback，"thoughtLingard。"NewsaboutDamanperhaps。Idon’tcareifhekicks。Iwishhewould。IwouldsoonshowherIcanfightaswellasIcanhandlethebrig。Twopraus。
　　Onlytwopraus。Iwouldn’tmindifthereweretwenty。Iwouldsweep’emoffthesea——Iwouldblow’emoutofthewater——Iwouldmakethebrigwalkoverthem。’Now，’I’dsaytoher，’youwhoarenotafraid，lookhowit’sdone！’"
　　Hefeltlight。Hehadthesensationofbeingwhirledhighinthemidstofanuproarandaspowerlessasafeatherinahurricane。
　　Heshudderedprofoundly。Hisarmshungdown，andhestoodbeforethetablestaringlikeamanovercomebysomefatalintelligence。
　　Shaw，goingintothewaisttoreceivewhathethoughtwasoneofthebrig’sboats，cameagainstCartermakinghiswayafthurriedly。
　　"Hullo！Isityouagain？"hesaid，swiftly，barringtheway。
　　"Icomefromtheyacht，"beganCarterwithsomeimpatience。
　　"Whereelsecouldyoucomefrom？"saidShaw。"Andwhatmightyouwantnow？"
　　"Iwanttoseeyourskipper。"
　　"Well，youcan’t，"declaredShaw，viciously。"He’sturnedinforthenight。"
　　"Heexpectsme，"saidCarter，stampinghisfoot。"I’vegottotellhimwhathappened。"
　　"Don’tyoufretyourself，youngman，"saidShawinasuperiormanner；"heknowsallaboutit。"
　　Theystoodsuddenlysilentinthedark。Carterseemedatalosswhattodo。Shaw，thoughsurprisedbyit，enjoyedtheeffecthehadproduced。
　　"Damnme，ifIdidnotthinkso，"murmuredCartertohimself；
　　thendrawlingcoollyasked——"Andperhapsyouknow，too？"
　　"Whatdoyouthink？ThinkIamadummyhere？Iain’tmateofthisbrigfornothing。"
　　"No，youarenot，"saidCarterwithacertainbitternessoftone。
　　"Peopledoallkindsofqueerthingsforaliving，andIamnotparticularmyself，butIwouldthinktwicebeforetakingyourbillet。"
　　"What？Whatdoyouin—si—nu—ate。Mybillet？Youain’tfitforit，youyacht—swabbingbrass—buttonedimposter。"
　　"What’sthis？Anyofourboatsback？"askedLingardfromthepoop。"Lettheseacannieinchargecometomeatonce。"
　　"There’sonlyamessagefromtheyacht，"beganShaw，deliberately。
　　"Yacht！Getthedecklampsalonghereinthewaist！Seetheladderlowered。Bearahand，serang！Mr。Shaw！Burntheflareupaft。Twoofthem！Givelighttotheyacht’sboatsthatwillbecomingalongside。Steward！Where’sthatsteward？Turnhimoutthen。"
　　BarefeetbegantopatterallroundCarter。Shadowsglidedswiftly。
　　"Aretheseflarescoming？Where’sthequartermasteronduty？"
　　shoutedLingardinEnglishandMalay。"Thisway，comehere！Putitonarocketstick——can’tyou？Holdovertheside——thus！Standbywiththelinesfortheboatsforwardthere。Mr。Shaw——wewantmorelight！"
　　"Aye，aye，sir，"calledoutShaw，buthedidnotmove，asifdazedbythevehemenceofhiscommander。
　　"That’swhatwewant，"mutteredCarterunderhisbreath。
　　"Imposter！Whatdoyoucallyourself？"hesaidhalfaloudtoShaw。
　　TheruddyglareoftheflaresdisclosedLingardfromheadtofoot，standingatthebreakofthepoop。Hisheadwasbare，hisface，crudelylighted，hadafierceandchangingexpressionintheswayofflames。
　　"Whatcanbehisgame？"thoughtCarter，impressedbythepowerfulandwildaspectofthatfigure。"He’schangedsomehowsinceIsawhimfirst，"hereflected。Itstruckhimthechangewasserious，notexactlyfortheworse，perhaps——andyet……Lingardsmiledathimfromthepoop。
　　Carterwentupthestepsandwithoutpausinginformedhimofwhathadhappened。
　　"Mrs。Traverstoldmetogotoyouatonce。She’sveryupsetasyoumayguess，"hedrawled，lookingLingardhardintheface。
　　Lingardknittedhiseyebrows。"Thehands，too，arescared，"
　　Carterwenton。"Theyfancythesavages，orwhatevertheymaybewhostoletheowner，aregoingtoboardtheyachteveryminute。I
　　don’tthinksomyselfbut——"
　　"Quiteright——mostunlikely，"mutteredLingard。
　　"Aye，Idaresayyouknowallaboutit，"continuedCarter，coolly，"themenarestartledandnomistake，butIcan’tblamethemverymuch。Thereisn’tenoughevenofcarvingknivesaboardtogoround。Oneoldsignalgun！Apoorshowforbettermenthanthey。"
　　"There’snomistakeIsupposeaboutthisaffair？"askedLingard。
　　"Well，unlessthegentlemenarehavingalarkwithusathideandseek。Themansayshewaitedtenminutesatthepoint，thenpulledslowlyalongthebanklookingout，expectingtoseethemwalkingback。Hemadethetrunkofatreeapparentlystrandedonthesandandashewasscullingpasthesaysamanjumpedupfrombehindthatlog，flungastickathimandwentoffrunning。Hebackedwateratonceandbegantoshout，’Areyouthere，sir？’Nooneanswered。Hecouldhearthebushesrustleandsomestrangenoiseslikewhisperings。Itwasverydark。Aftercallingoutseveraltimes，andwaitingonhisoars，hegotfrightenedandpulledbacktotheyacht。Thatisclearenough。Theonlydoubtinmymindisiftheyarealiveornot。Ididn’tletontoMrs。
　　Travers。That’sakindofthingyoukeeptoyourself，ofcourse。"
　　"Idon’tthinktheyaredead，"saidLingard，slowly，andasifthinkingofsomethingelse。
　　"Oh！Ifyousaysoit’sallright，"saidCarterwithdeliberation。
　　"What？"askedLingard，absently；"flingastick，didthey？Flingaspear！"
　　"That’sit！"assentedCarter，"butIdidn’tsayanything。Ionlywonderedifthesamekindofstickhadn’tbeenflungattheowner，that’sall。ButIsupposeyouknowyourbusinessbest，Captain。"
　　Lingard，graspinghiswholebeard，reflectedprofoundly，erectandwithbowedheadintheglareoftheflares。