Lingard，leaningback，claspedhishandsroundhisknees。Heseemednottobelisteningandd’Alcacer，pullingacigarettecaseoutofhispocket，lookedforalongtimeatthethreecigarettesitcontained。Itwasthelastoftheprovisionhehadonhimwhencaptured。D’Alcacerhadputhimselfonthestrictestallowance。Acigarettewasonlytobelightedonspecialoccasions；andnowtherewereonlythreeleftandtheyhadtobemadetolasttilltheendoflife。Theycalmed，theysoothed，theygaveanattitude。Andonlythreeleft！Onehadtobekeptforthemorning，tobelightedbeforegoingthroughthegateofdoom——thegateofBelarab’sstockade。Acigarettesoothed，itgaveanattitude。Wasthisthefittingoccasionforoneoftheremainingtwo？D’Alcacer，atrueLatin，wasnotafraidofalittleintrospection。Inthepausehedescendedintotheinnermostdepthsofhisbeing，thenglancedupatthenightsky。
　　Sportsman，traveller，hehadoftenlookedupatthestarsbeforetoseehowtimewent。Itwasgoingveryslowly。Hetookoutacigarette，snapped—tothecase，bentdowntotheembers。Thenhesatupandblewoutathincloudofsmoke。Themanbyhissidelookedwithhisbowedheadandclaspedkneelikeamasculinerenderingofmournfulmeditation。Suchattitudesaremetwithsometimesonthesculpturesofancienttombs。D’Alcacerbegantospeak：
　　"Sheisarepresentativewomanandyetoneofthoseofwhomtherearebutveryfewatanytimeintheworld。Notthattheyareveryrarebutthatthereisbutlittleroomontop。Theyaretheiridescentgleamsonahardanddarksurface。Fortheworldishard，CaptainLingard，itishard，bothinwhatitwillrememberandinwhatitwillforget。Itisforsuchwomenthatpeopletoilonthegroundandundergroundandartistsofallsortsinvoketheirinspiration。"
　　Lingardseemednottohaveheardaword。Hischinrestedonhisbreast。D’Alcacerappraisedtheremaininglengthofhiscigaretteandwentoninanequabletonethroughwhichpiercedacertainsadness：
　　"No，therearenotmanyofthem。Andyettheyareall。Theydecorateourlifeforus。Theyarethegraciousfiguresonthedrabwallwhichliesonthissideofourcommongrave。Theyleadasortofritualdance，thatmostofushaveagreedtotakeseriously。Itisaverybindingagreementwithwhichsincerityandgoodfaithandhonourhavenothingtodo。Verybinding。Woetohimorherwhobreaksit。Directlytheyleavethepageanttheygetlost。"
　　Lingardturnedhisheadsharplyanddiscoveredd’Alcacerlookingathimwithprofoundattention。
　　"Theygetlostinamaze，"continuedd’Alcacer，quietly。"Theywanderinitlamentingoverthemselves。IwouldshudderatthatfateforanythingIloved。Doyouknow，CaptainLingard，howpeoplelostinamazeend？"hewentonholdingLingardbyasteadfaststare。"No？……Iwilltellyouthen。Theyendbyhatingtheirveryselves，andtheydieindisillusionanddespair。"
　　Asifafraidoftheforceofhiswordsd’AlcacerlaidasoothinghandlightlyonLingard’sshoulder。ButLingardcontinuedtolookintotheembersathisfeetandremainedinsensibletothefriendlytouch。Yetd’Alcacercouldnotimaginethathehadnotbeenheard。Hefoldedhisarmsonhisbreast。
　　"Idon’tknowwhyIhavebeentellingyouallthis，"hesaid，apologetically。"IhopeIhavenotbeenintrudingonyourthoughts。"
　　"Icanthinkofnothing，"Lingarddeclared，unexpectedly。"Ionlyknowthatyourvoicewasfriendly；andfortherest——"
　　"Onemustgetthroughanightlikethissomehow，"saidd’Alcacer。
　　"Theverystarsseemtolagontheirway。It’sacommonbeliefthatadrowningmanisirresistiblycompelledtoreviewhispastexperience。JustnowIfeelquiteoutofmydepth，andwhateverI
　　havesaidhascomefrommyexperience。Iamsureyouwillforgiveme。Allthatitamountstoisthis：thatitisnaturalforustocryforthemoonbutitwouldbeveryfataltohaveourcriesheard。Forwhatcouldanyoneofusdowiththemoonifitweregiventohim？Iamspeakingnowofus——commonmortals。"
　　Itwasnotimmediatelyafterd’AlcacerhadceasedspeakingbutonlyafteramomentthatLingardunclaspedhisfingers，gotup，andwalkedaway。D’Alcacerfollowedwithaglanceofquietinterestthebig，shadowyformtillitvanishedinthedirectionofanenormousforesttreeleftinthemiddleofthestockade。
　　ThedeepestshadeofthenightwasspreadoverthegroundofBelarab’sfortifiedcourtyard。Theveryembersofthefireshadturnedblack，showingonlyhereandthereamerespark；andtheformsofthepronesleeperscouldhardlybedistinguishedfromthehardgroundonwhichtheyrested，withtheirarmslyingbesidethemonthemats。PresentlyMrs。Traversappearedquiteclosetod’Alcacer，whoroseinstantly。
　　"Martinisasleep，"saidMrs。Traversinatonethatseemedtohaveborrowedsomethingofthemysteryandquietnessofthenight。
　　"Alltheworld’sasleep，"observedd’Alcacer，solowthatMrs。
　　Traversbarelycaughtthewords，"Exceptyouandme，andoneotherwhohasleftmetowanderaboutinthenight。"
　　"Washewithyou？Wherehashegone？"
　　"Whereit’sdarkestIshouldthink，"answeredd’Alcacer，secretly。"It’snousegoingtolookforhim；butifyoukeepperfectlystillandholdyourbreathyoumaypresentlyhearhisfootsteps。"
　　"Whatdidhetellyou？"breathedoutMrs。Travers。
　　"Ididn’taskhimanything。Ionlyknowthatsomethinghashappenedwhichhasrobbedhimofhispowerofthinking……
　　Hadn’tIbettergotothehut？DonMartinoughttohavesomeonewithhimwhenhewakesup。"Mrs。Traversremainedperfectlystillandevennowandthenheldherbreathwithavaguefearofhearingthosefootstepswanderinginthedark。D’Alcacerhaddisappeared。AgainMrs。Traversheldherbreath。No。Nothing。Notasound。Onlythenighttohereyesseemedtohavegrowndarker。
　　Wasthatafootstep？"WherecouldIhidemyself？"shethought。
　　Butshedidn’tmove。
　　Afterleavingd’Alcacer，Lingardthreadinghiswaybetweenthefiresfoundhimselfunderthebigtree，thesametreeagainstwhichDamanhadbeenleaningonthedayofthegreattalkwhenthewhiteprisonershadbeensurrenderedtoLingard’skeepingondefiniteconditions。LingardpassedthroughthedeepobscuritymadebytheoutspreadboughsoftheonlywitnessleftthereofapastthatforendlessageshadseennomankindonthisshoredefendedbytheShallows，aroundthislagoonovershadowedbythejungle。Inthecalmnighttheoldgiant，withoutshuddersormurmursinitsenormouslimbs，sawtherestlessmandriftthroughtheblackshadeintothestarlight。
　　Inthatdistantpartofthecourtyardtherewereonlyafewsentrieswho，themselvesinvisible，sawLingard’swhitefigurepacetoandfroendlessly。Theyknewwellwhothatwas。Itwasthegreatwhiteman。Averygreatman。Averyrichman。A
　　possessoroffire—arms，whocoulddispensevaluablegiftsanddealdeadlyblows，thefriendoftheirRuler，theenemyofhisenemies，knowntothemforyearsandalwaysmysterious。Attheirposts，flattenedagainstthestakesnearconvenientloopholes，theycastbackwardglancesandexchangedfaintwhispersfromtimetotime。
　　Lingardmighthavethoughthimselfalone。Hehadlosttouchwiththeworld。Whathehadsaidtod’Alcacerwasperfectlytrue。Hehadnothought。Hewasinthestateofamanwho，havingcasthiseyesthroughtheopengatesofParadise，isrenderedinsensiblebythatmoment’svisiontoalltheformsandmattersoftheearth；andintheextremityofhisemotionceaseseventolookuponhimselfbutasthesubjectofasublimeexperiencewhichexaltsorunfits，sanctifiesordamns——hedidn’tknowwhich。
　　Everyshadowythought，everypassingsensationwaslikeabaseintrusiononthatsupremememory。Hecouldn’tbearit。
　　WhenhehadtriedtoresumehisconversationwithBelarabafterMrs。Travers’arrivalhehaddiscoveredhimselfunabletogoon。
　　Hehadjustenoughself—controltobreakofftheinterviewinmeasuredterms。Hepointedoutthelatenessofthehour，amostastonishingexcusetopeopletowhomtimeisnothingandwhoselifeandactivitiesarenotruledbytheclock。IndeedLingardhardlyknewwhathewassayingordoingwhenhewentoutagainleavingeverybodydumbwithastonishmentatthechangeinhisaspectandinhisbehaviour。AsuspicioussilencereignedforalongtimeinBelarab’sgreataudienceroomtilltheChiefdismissedeverybodybytwoquietwordsandaslightgesture。
　　Withherchininherhandintheposeofasybiltryingtoreadthefutureintheglowofdyingembers，Mrs。Travers，withoutholdingherbreath，heardquiteclosetoherthefootstepswhichshehadbeenlisteningforwithmingledalarm，remorse，andhope。
　　Shedidn’tchangeherattitude。Thedeepredglowlightedherupdimly，herface，thewhitehandhangingbyherside，herfeetintheirsandals。Thedisturbingfootstepsstoppedclosetoher。
　　"Wherehaveyoubeenallthistime？"sheasked，withoutlookinground。
　　"Idon’tknow，"answeredLingard。Hewasspeakingtheexacttruth。Hedidn’tknow。Eversincehehadreleasedthatwomanfromhisarmseverythingbutthevaguestnotionshaddepartedfromhim。Events，necessities，things——hehadlosthisgriponthemall。Andhedidn’tcare。Theywerefutileandimpotent；hehadnopatiencewiththem。TheoffendedandastonishedBelarab，d’Alcacerwithhiskindlytouchandfriendlyvoice，thesleepingmen，themenawake，theSettlementfullofunrestfullifeandtherestlessShallowsofthecoast，wereremovedfromhimintoanimmensityofpityingcontempt。Perhapstheyexisted。Perhapsallthiswaitedforhim。Well，letallthiswait；leteverythingwait，tillto—morrowortotheendoftime，whichcouldnowcomeatanymomentforallhecared——butcertainlytillto—morrow。
　　"Ionlyknow，"hewentonwithanemphasisthatmadeMrs。Traversraiseherhead，"thatwhereverIgoIshallcarryyouwithme——againstmybreast。"
　　Mrs。Travers’fineearcaughtthemingledtonesofsuppressedexultationanddawningfear，theardourandthefalteringofthosewords。Shewasfeelingstillthephysicaltruthattherootofthemsostronglythatshecouldn’thelpsayinginadreamywhisper：
　　"Didyoumeantocrushthelifeoutofme？"
　　Heansweredinthesametone：
　　"Icouldnothavedoneit。Youaretoostrong。WasIrough？I
　　didn’tmeantobe。IhavebeenoftentoldIdidn’tknowmyownstrength。YoudidnotseemabletogetthroughthatopeningandsoIcaughtholdofyou。Youcameawayinmyhandsquiteeasily。
　　SuddenlyIthoughttomyself，’nowIwillmakesure。’"
　　Hepausedasifhisbreathhadfailedhim。Mrs。Traversdarednotmaketheslightestmovement。Stillintheposeofoneinquestofhiddentruthshemurmured，"Makesure？"
　　"Yes。AndnowIamsure。Youarehere——here！BeforeIcouldn’ttell。"
　　"Oh，youcouldn’ttellbefore，"shesaid。
　　"No。"
　　"Soitwasrealitythatyouwereseeking。"
　　Herepeatedasifspeakingtohimself："AndnowIamsure。"
　　Hersandalledfoot，allrosyintheglow，feltthewarmthoftheembers。Thetepidnighthadenvelopedherbody；andstillundertheimpressionofhisstrengthshegaveherselfuptoamomentaryfeelingofquietudethatcameaboutherheartassoftasthenightairpenetratedbythefeebleclearnessofthestars。"Thisisalimpidsoul，"shethought。
　　"YouknowIalwaysbelievedinyou，"hebeganagain。"YouknowI
　　did。Well。IneverbelievedinyousomuchasIdonow，asyousitthere，justasyouare，andwithhardlyenoughlighttomakeyououtby。"
　　Itoccurredtoherthatshehadneverheardavoiceshelikedsowell——exceptone。Butthathadbeenagreatactor’svoice；
　　whereasthismanwasnothingintheworldbuthisveryownself。
　　Hepersuaded，hemoved，hedisturbed，hesoothedbyhisinherenttruth。Hehadwantedtomakesureandhehadmadesureapparently；andtoowearytoresistthewaywardnessofherthoughtsMrs。Traversreflectedwithasortofamusementthatapparentlyhehadnotbeendisappointed。Shethought，"Hebelievesinme。Whatamazingwords。OfallthepeoplethatmighthavebelievedinmeIhadtofindthisonehere。Hebelievesinmemorethaninhimself。"Agustofsuddenremorsetoreheroutfromherquietness，madehercryouttohim：
　　"CaptainLingard，weforgethowwehavemet，weforgetwhatisgoingon。Wemustn’t。Iwon’tsaythatyouplacedyourbeliefwronglybutIhavetoconfesssomethingtoyou。ImusttellyouhowIcamehereto—night。Jorgenson……"
　　Heinterruptedherforciblybutwithoutraisinghisvoice。
　　"Jorgenson。Who’sJorgenson？Youcametomebecauseyoucouldn’thelpyourself。"
　　Thistookherbreathaway。"ButImusttellyou。Thereissomethinginmycomingwhichisnotcleartome。"
　　"YoucantellmenothingthatIdon’tknowalready，"hesaidinapleadingtone。"Saynothing。Sitstill。Timeenoughto—morrow。
　　To—morrow！ThenightisdrawingtoanendandIcarefornothingintheworldbutyou。Letmebe。Givemetherestthatisinyou。"
　　Shehadneverheardsuchaccentsonhislipsandshefeltforhimagreatandtenderpity。Whynothumourthismoodinwhichhewantedtopreservethemomentsthatwouldnevercometohimagainonthisearth？Shehesitatedinsilence。Shesawhimstirinthedarknessasifhecouldnotmakeuphismindtositdownonthebench。Butsuddenlyhescatteredtheemberswithhisfootandsankonthegroundagainstherfeet，andshewasnotstartledintheleasttofeeltheweightofhisheadonherknee。Mrs。
　　Traverswasnotstartledbutshefeltprofoundlymoved。Whyshouldshetormenthimwithallthosequestionsoffreedomandcaptivity，ofviolenceandintrigue，oflifeanddeath？Hewasnotinastatetobetoldanythinganditseemedtoherthatshedidnotwanttospeak，thatinthegreatnessofhercompassionshesimplycouldnotspeak。Allshecoulddoforhimwastorestherhandlightlyonhisheadandrespondsilentlytotheslightmovementshefelt，sighorsob，butamovementwhichsuddenlyimmobilizedherinananxiousemotion。
　　AboutthesametimeontheothersideofthelagoonJorgenson，raisinghiseyes，notedthestarsandsaidtohimselfthatthenightwouldnotlastlongnow。Hewishedfordaylight。HehopedthatLingardhadalreadydonesomething。TheblazeinTengga’scompoundhadbeenre—lighted。Tom’spowerwasunbounded，practicallyunbounded。Andhewasinvulnerable。
　　Jorgensonlethisoldeyeswanderamongstthegleamsandshadowsofthegreatsheetofwaterbetweenhimandthathostileshoreandfanciedhecoulddetectafloatingshadowhavingthecharacteristicshapeofamaninasmallcanoe。
　　"O！Ya！Man！"hehailed。"Whatdoyouwant？"Othereyes，too，haddetectedthatshadow。LowmurmursaroseonthedeckoftheEmma。
　　"Ifyoudon’tspeakatonceIshallfire，"shoutedJorgenson，fiercely。
　　"No，whiteman，"returnedthefloatingshapeinasolemndrawl。
　　"Iamthebeareroffriendlywords。Achief’swords。IcomefromTengga。"
　　"Therewasabulletthatcameonboardnotalongtimeago——alsofromTengga，"saidJorgenson。
　　"Thatwasanaccident，"protestedthevoicefromthelagoon。
　　"Whatelsecoulditbe？IstherewarbetweenyouandTengga？No，no，Owhiteman！AllTenggadesiresisalongtalk。Hehassentmetoaskyoutocomeashore。"
　　AtthesewordsJorgenson’sheartsankalittle。ThisinvitationmeantthatLingardhadmadenomove。WasTomasleeporaltogethermad？
　　"Thetalkwouldbeofpeace，"declaredimpressivelytheshadowwhichhaddriftedmuchclosertothehulknow。
　　"Itisn’tformetotalkwithgreatchiefs，"Jorgensonreturned，cautiously。
　　"ButTenggaisafriend，"arguedthenocturnalmessenger。"Andbythatfirethereareotherfriends——yourfriends，theRajahHassimandtheladyImmada，whosendyoutheirgreetingsandwhoexpecttheireyestorestonyoubeforesunrise。"
　　"That’salie，"remarkedJorgenson，perfunctorily，andfellintothought，whiletheshadowybearerofwordspreservedascandalizedsilence，though，ofcourse，hehadnotexpectedtobebelievedforamoment。Butonecouldnevertellwhatawhitemanwouldbelieve。HehadwantedtoproducetheimpressionthatHassimandImmadawerethehonouredguestsofTengga。ItoccurredtohimsuddenlythatperhapsJorgensondidn’tknowanythingofthecapture。Andhepersisted。
　　"Mywordsarealltrue，Tuan。TheRajahofWajoandhissisterarewithmymaster。IleftthemsittingbythefireonTengga’srighthand。Willyoucomeashoretobewelcomedamongstfriends？"
　　Jorgensonhadbeenreflectingprofoundly。HisobjectwastogainasmuchtimeaspossibleforLingard’sinterferencewhichindeedcouldnotfailtobeeffective。ButhehadnottheslightestwishtoentrusthimselftoTengga’sfriendliness。Notthathemindedtherisk；buthedidnotseetheuseoftakingit。
　　"No！"hesaid，"Ican’tgoashore。WewhitemenhavewaysofourownandIamchiefofthishulk。AndmychiefistheRajahLaut，awhitemanlikemyself。
　　AllthewordsthatmatterareinhimandifTenggaissuchagreatchieflethimasktheRajahLautforatalk。Yes，that’stheproperthingforTenggatodoifheissuchagreatchiefashesays。"
　　"TheRajahLauthasmadehischoice。HedwellswithBelarab，andwiththewhitepeoplewhoarehuddledtogetherliketrappeddeerinBelarab’sstockade。Whyshouldn’tyoumeantimegooverwhereeverythingislightedupandopenandtalkinfriendshipwithTengga’sfriends，whoseheartshavebeenmadesickbymanydoubts；RajahHassimandtheladyImmadaandDaman，thechiefofthemenofthesea，whodonotknownowwhomtheycantrustunlessitbeyou，Tuan，thekeeperofmuchwealth？"
　　Thediplomatistinthesmalldugoutpausedforamomenttogivespecialweighttothefinalargument：
　　"Whichyouhavenomeanstodefend。Weknowhowmanyarmedmentherearewithyou。"
　　"Theyaregreatfighters，"Jorgensonobserved，unconcernedly，spreadinghiselbowsontherailandlookingoveratthefloatingblackpatchofcharacteristicshapewhenceproceededthevoiceofthewilyenvoyofTengga。"EachmanofthemisworthtenofsuchasyoucanfindintheSettlement。"
　　"Yes，byAllah。Evenworthtwentyofthesecommonpeople。Indeed，youhaveenoughwithyoutomakeagreatfightbutnotenoughforvictory。"
　　"Godalonegivesvictory，"saidsuddenlythevoiceofJaffir，who，verystillatJorgenson’selbow，hadbeenlisteningtotheconversation。
　　"Verytrue，"wastheanswerinanextremelyconventionaltone。
　　"Willyoucomeashore，Owhiteman；andbetheleaderofchiefs？"
　　"Ihavebeenthatbefore，"saidJorgenson，withgreatdignity，"andnowallIwantispeace。ButIwon’tcomeashoreamongstpeoplewhosemindsaresomuchtroubled，tillRajahHassimandhissisterreturnonboardthisshipandtellmethetaleoftheirnewfriendshipwithTengga。"
　　Hisheartwassinkingwitheveryminute，theveryairwasgrowingheavierwiththesenseofoncomingdisaster，onthatnightthatwasneitherwarnorpeaceandwhoseonlyvoicewasthevoiceofTengga’senvoy，insinuatingintonethoughmenacinginwords。
　　"No，thatcannotbe，"saidthatvoice。"But，Tuan，verilyTenggahimselfisreadytocomeonboardheretotalkwithyou。Heisveryreadytocomeandindeed，Tuan，hemeanstocomeonboardherebeforeverylong。"
　　"Yes，withfiftywar—canoesfilledwiththeferociousrabbleoftheShoreofRefuge，"Jaffirwasheardcommenting，sarcastically，overtherail；andasinistermuttered"Itmaybeso，"ascendedalongsidefromtheblackwater。
　　Jorgensonkeptsilentasifwaitingforasupremeinspirationandsuddenlyhespokeinhisother—worldvoice："TellTenggafrommethataslongashebringswithhimRajahHassimandtheRajah’ssister，heandhischiefmenwillbewelcomeondeckhere，nomatterhowmanyboatscomealongwiththem。ForthatIdonotcare。Youmaygonow。"
　　Aprofoundsilencesucceeded。Itwasclearthattheenvoywasgone，keepingintheshadowoftheshore。JorgensonturnedtoJaffir。
　　"Deathamongstfriendsisbutafestival，"hequoted，mumblinginhismoustache。
　　"Itis，byAllah，"assentedJaffirwithsombrefervour。
　　VI
　　Thirty—sixhourslaterCarter，alonewithLingardinthecabinofthebrig，couldalmostfeelduringapauseinhistalktheoppressive，thebreathlesspeaceoftheShallowsawaitinganothersunset。
　　"Ineverexpectedtoseeanyofyoualive，"Carterbeganinhiseasytone，butwithmuchlesscarelessnessinhisbearingasthoughhisdaysofresponsibilityamongsttheShoalsoftheShoreofRefugehadmaturedhisviewoftheexternalworldandofhisownplacetherein。
　　"Ofcoursenot，"mutteredLingard。
　　ThelistlessnessofthatmanwhomhehadalwaysseenactingunderthestressofasecretpassionseemedperfectlyappallingtoCarter’syouthfulanddeliberateenergy。EversincehehadfoundhimselfagainfacetofacewithLingardhehadtriedtoconcealtheshockingimpressionwithadelicacywhichowednothingtotrainingbutwasasintuitiveasachild’s。
　　WhilejustifyingtoLingardhismannerofdealingwiththesituationontheShoreofRefuge，hecouldnotforthelifeofhimhelpaskinghimselfwhatwasthisnewmystery。Hewasalsoyoungenoughtolongforawordofcommendation。
　　"Come，Captain，"heargued；"howwouldyouhavelikedtocomeoutandfindnothingbuttwohalf—burntwrecksstuckonthesands——perhaps？"
　　Hewaitedforamoment，theninsheercompassionturnedawayhiseyesfromthatfixedgaze，fromthatharassedfacewithsunkcheeks，fromthatfigureofindomitablestrengthrobbedofitsfire。Hesaidtohimself："Hedoesn’thearme，"andraisedhisvoicewithoutalteringitsself—containedtone：
　　"Iwasbelowyesterdaymorningwhenwefelttheshock，butthenoisecametousonlyasadeeprumble。ImadeonejumpforthecompanionbutthatpreciousShawwasbeforemeyelling，’Earthquake！Earthquake！’andIamhangedifhedidn’tmisshisfootingandlanddownonhisheadatthebottomofthestairs。I
　　hadtostoptopickhimupbutIgotondeckintimetoseeamightyblackcloudthatseemedalmostsolidpopupfrombehindtheforestlikeaballoon。Itstayedthereforquitealongtime。
　　SomeofourCalashesondecksworetomethattheyhadseenaredflashabovethetree—tops。Butthat’shardtobelieve。Iguessedatoncethatsomethinghadblownuponshore。MyfirstthoughtwasthatIwouldneverseeyouanymoreandImadeupmymindatoncetofindoutallthetruthyouhavebeenkeepingawayfromme。No，sir！Don’tyoumakeamistake！Iwasn’tgoingtogiveyouup，deadoralive。"
　　HelookedhardatLingardwhilesayingthesewordsandsawthefirstsignofanimationpassoverthatravagedface。Hesawevenitslipsmoveslightly；buttherewasnosound，andCarterlookedawayagain。
　　"Perhapsyouwouldhavedonebetterbytellingmeeverything；butyouleftmebehindonmyowntobeyourmanhere。IputmyhandtotheworkIcouldseebeforeme。Iamasailor。Thereweretwoshipstolookafter。Andheretheyarebothforyou，fittogoortostay，tofightortorun，asyouchoose。"HewatchedwithbatedbreaththeeffortLingardhadtomaketoutterthetwowordsofthedesiredcommendation：
　　"Welldone！"
　　"AndIamyourmanstill，"Carteradded，impulsively，andhastenedtolookawayfromLingard，whohadtriedtosmileathimandhadfailed。Carterdidn’tknowwhattodonext，remaininthecabinorleavethatunsupportedstrongmantohimself。Withashynesscompletelyforeigntohischaracterandwhichhecouldnotunderstandhimself，hesuggestedinanengagingmurmurandwithanembarrassedassumptionofhisrighttogiveadvice：
　　"Whynotliedownforabit，sir？Icanattendtoanythingthatmayturnup。Youseemdoneup，sir。"
　　HewasfacingLingard，whostoodontheothersideofthetableinaleaningforwardattitudeproppeduponrigidarmsandstaredfixedlyathim——perhaps？Carterfeltonthevergeofdespair。
　　Thiscouldn’tlast。HewasrelievedtoseeLingardshakehisheadslightly。
　　"No，Mr。Carter。IthinkIwillgoondeck，"saidtheCaptainofthefamousbrigLightning，whilehiseyesroamedalloverthecabin。Carterstoodasideatonce，butitwassomelittletimebeforeLingardmadeamove。
　　Thesunhadsunkalready，leavingthateveningnotraceofitsgloryonaskyclearascrystalandonthewaterswithoutaripple。Allcolourseemedtohavegoneoutoftheworld。Theoncomingshadowroseassubtleasaperfumefromtheblackcoastlyingathwarttheeasternsemicircle；andsuchwasthesilencewithinthehorizonthatonemighthavefanciedoneselfcometotheendoftime。Blackandtoylikeinthecleardepthsandthefinalstillnessoftheeveningthebrigandtheschoonerlayanchoredinthemiddleofthemainchannelwiththeirheadsswungthesameway。Lingard，withhischinonhisbreastandhisarmsfolded，movedslowlyhereandthereaboutthepoop。Closeandmutelikehisshadow，Carter，athiselbow，followedhismovements。Hefeltananxioussolicitude