Hassim’scompanionsgarrisonedtheoldhulk，andJorgenson，leftincharge，prowledaboutfromstemtostern，taciturnandanxiouslyfaithfultohistrust。Hehadbeenreceivedwithastonishment，respect——andawe。Belarabvisitedhimoften。
　　Sometimesthosewhomhehadknownintheirprimeyearsago，duringastruggleforfaithandlife，wouldcometotalkwiththewhiteman。Theirvoiceswereliketheechoesofstirringevents，inthepaleglamourofayouthgoneby。Theynoddedtheiroldheads。Doyouremember？——theysaid。Herememberedonlytoowell！
　　Hewaslikeamanraisedfromthedead，forwhomthefascinatingtrustinthepoweroflifeistaintedbytheblackscepticismofthegrave。
　　Onlyattimestheinvinciblebeliefintherealityofexistencewouldcomeback，insidiousandinspiring。Hesquaredhisshoulders，heldhimselfstraight，andwalkedwithafirmerstep。
　　Hefeltaglowwithinhimandthequickenedbeatofhisheart。
　　ThenhecalculatedinsilentexcitementLingard’schancesofsuccess，andhelivedforatimewiththelifeofthatothermanwhoknewnothingoftheblackscepticismofthegrave。Thechancesweregood，verygood。
　　"Ishouldliketoseeitthrough，"Jorgensonmutteredtohimselfardently；andhislustrelesseyeswouldflashforamoment。
　　PARTIII。THECAPTURE
　　I
　　"Somepeople，"saidLingard，"goabouttheworldwiththeireyesshut。Youareright。Theseaisfreetoallofus。Someworkonit，andsomeplaythefoolonit——andIdon’tcare。OnlyyoumaytakeitfrommethatIwillletnoman’splayinterferewithmywork。Youwantmetounderstandyouareaverygreatman——"
　　Mr。Traverssmiled，coldly。
　　"Oh，yes，"continuedLingard，"Iunderstandthatwellenough。Butrememberyouareveryfarfromhome，whileI，here，IamwhereI
　　belong。AndIbelongwhereIam。IamjustTomLingard，nomore，noless，whereverIhappentobe，and——youmayask——"Asweepofhishandalongthewesternhorizonentrustedwithperfectconfidencetheremainderofhisspeechtothedumbtestimonyofthesea。
　　Hehadbeenonboardtheyachtformorethanan。hour，andnothing，forhim，hadcomeofitbutthebirthofanunreasoninghate。Totheunconsciousdemandofthesepeople’spresence，oftheirignorance，oftheirfaces，oftheirvoices，oftheireyes，hehadnothingtogivebutaresentmentthathadinitagermofrecklessviolence。Hecouldtellthemnothingbecausehehadnotthemeans。Theircomingatthismoment，whenhehadwanderedbeyondthatcirclewhichrace，memories，earlyassociations，alltheessentialconditionsofone’sorigin，traceroundeveryman’slife，deprivedhiminamannerofthepowerofspeech。Hewasconfounded。Itwaslikemeetingexactingspectresinadesert。
　　Hestaredattheopensea，hisarmscrossed，withareflectivefierceness。Hisveryappearancemadehimutterlydifferentfromeveryoneonboardthatvessel。Thegreyshirt，thebluesash，onerolled—upsleevebaringasculpturalforearm，thenegligentmasterfulnessofhistoneandposewereverydistastefultoMr。
　　Travers，who，havingmadeuphismindtowaitforsomekindofofficialassistance，regardedtheintrusionofthatinexplicablemanwithsuspicion。FromthemomentLingardcameonboardtheyacht，everyeyeinthatvesselhadbeenfixeduponhim。OnlyCarter，withinearshotandleaningwithhiselbowupontherail，stareddownatthedeckasifovercomewithdrowsinessorlostinthought。
　　Ofthethreeotherpersonsaft，Mr。Traverskepthishandsinthesidepocketsofhisjacketanddidnotconcealhisgrowingdisgust。
　　Ontheothersideofthedeck，alady，inalongchair，hadapassiveattitudethattoMr。d’Alcacer，standingnearher，seemedcharacteristicofthemannerinwhichsheacceptedthenecessitiesofexistence。Yearsbefore，asanattacheofhisEmbassyinLondon，hehadfoundheraninterestinghostess。Shewasevenmoreinterestingnow，sinceachancemeetingandMr。
　　Travers’offerofapassagetoBataviahadgivenhimanopportunityofstudyingthevariousshadesofscornwhichhesuspectedtobethesecretofheracquiescenceintheshallownessofeventsandthemonotonyofaworldlyexistence。
　　Therewerethingsthatfromthefirsthehadnotbeenabletounderstand；forinstance，whysheshouldhavemarriedMr。
　　Travers。Itmusthavebeenfromambition。Hecouldnothelpfeelingthatsuchasuccessfulmistakewouldexplaincompletelyherscornandalsoheracquiescence。ThemeetinginManilahadbeenutterlyunexpectedtohim，andheaccountedforittohisuncle，theGovernor—Generalofthecolony，bypointingoutthatEnglishmen，whenworstedinthestruggleofloveorpolitics，travelextensively，asifbyencompassingalargeportionofearth’ssurfacetheyhopedtogatherfreshstrengthforarenewedcontest。Astohimself，hejudged——butdidnotsay——thathiscontestwithfatewasended，thoughhealsotravelled，leavingbehindhiminthecapitalsofEuropeastoryinwhichtherewasnothingscandalousbutthepublicityofanexcessivefeeling，andnothingmoretragicthantheearlydeathofawomanwhosebrilliantperfectionswerenobetterknowntothegreatworldthanthediscreetandpassionatedevotionshehadinnocentlyinspired。
　　Theinvitationtojointheyachtwastheculminatingpointofmanyexchangedcivilities，andwasmainlypromptedbyMr。
　　Travers’desiretohavesomebodytotalkto。D’Alcacerhadacceptedwiththerecklessindifferenceofamantowhomonemethodofflightfromarelentlessenemyisasgoodasanother。
　　Certainlytheprospectoflisteningtolongmonologuesoncommerce，administration，andpoliticsdidnotpromisemuchalleviationtohissorrow；andhecouldnotexpectmuchelsefromMr。Travers，whoselifeandthought，ignorantofhumanpassion，weredevotedtoextractingthegreatestpossibleamountofpersonaladvantagefromhumaninstitutions。D’Alcacerfound，however，thathecouldattainameasureofforgetfulness——themostpreciousthingforhimnow——inthesocietyofEdithTravers。
　　Shehadawakenedhiscuriosity，whichhethoughtnothingandnobodyonearthcoulddoanymore。
　　Thesetwotalkedofthingsindifferentandinteresting，certainlynotconnectedwithhumaninstitutions，andonlyveryslightlywithhumanpassions；butd’Alcacercouldnothelpbeingmadeawareofherlatentcapacityforsympathydevelopedinthosewhoaredisenchantedwithlifeordeath。Howfarshewasdisenchantedhedidnotknow，anddidnotattempttofindout。Thisrestraintwasimposeduponhimbythechivalrousrespecthehadforthesecretsofwomenandbyaconvictionthatdeepfeelingisoftenimpenetrablyobscure，eventothoseitmastersfortheirinspirationortheirruin。Hebelievedthatevensheherselfwouldneverknow；buthisgravecuriositywassatisfiedbytheobservationofhermentalstate，andhewasnotsorrythatthestrandingoftheyachtprolongedhisopportunity。
　　Timepassedonthatmudbankaswellasanywhereelse，anditwasnotfromamultiplicityofevents，butfromthelapseoftimealone，thatheexpectedrelief。YetinthesamenessofdaysupontheShallows，timeflowingceaselessly，flowedimperceptibly；
　　and，sinceeverymanclingstohisown，beitjoy，beitgrief，hewaspleasedaftertheunrestofhiswanderingstobeabletofancythewholeuniverseandeventimeitselfapparentlycometoastandstill；asifunwillingtotakehimawayfurtherfromhissorrow，whichwasfadingindeedbutundiminished，asthingsfade，notinthedistancebutinthemist。
　　II
　　D’Alcacerwasamanofnearlyforty，leanandsallow，withholloweyesandadroopingbrownmoustache。Hisgazewaspenetratinganddirect，hissmilefrequentandfleeting。HeobservedLingardwithgreatinterest。Hewasattractedbythatelusivesomething——aline，afold，perhapstheformoftheeye，thedroopofaneyelid，thecurveofacheek，thattriflingtraitwhichonnotwofacesonearthisalike，thatineachfaceistheveryfoundationofexpression，asif，alltherestbeingheredity，mystery，oraccident，italonehadbeenshapedconsciouslybythesoulwithin。
　　NowandthenhebentslightlyovertheslowbeatofaredfaninthecurveofthedeckchairtosayafewwordstoMrs。Travers，whoansweredhimwithoutlookingup，withoutamodulationoftoneoraplayoffeature，asifshehadspokenfrombehindtheveilofanimmenseindifferencestretchedbetweenherandallmen，betweenherheartandthemeaningofevents，betweenhereyesandtheshallowseawhich，likehergaze，appearedprofound，foreverstilled，andseemed，faroffinthedistanceofafainthorizon，beyondthereachofeye，beyondthepowerofhandorvoice，toloseitselfinthesky。
　　Mr。Traverssteppedaside，andspeakingtoCarter，overwhelmedhimwithreproaches。
　　"Youmisunderstoodyourinstructions，"murmuredMr。Traversrapidly。"Whydidyoubringthismanhere？Iamsurprised——"
　　"NothalfsomuchasIwaslastnight，"growledtheyoungseaman，withoutanyreverenceinhistone，veryprovokingtoMr。Travers。
　　"IperceivenowyouweretotallyunfitforthemissionI
　　entrustedyouwith，"wentontheowneroftheyacht。
　　"It’shewhogotholdofme，"saidCarter。"Haven’tyouheardhimyourself，sir？"
　　"Nonsense，"whisperedMr。Travers，angrily。"Haveyouanyideawhathisintentionsmaybe？"
　　"Ihalfbelieve，"answeredCarter，"thathisintentionwastoshootmeinhiscabinlastnightifI——"
　　"That’snotthepoint，"interruptedMr。Travers。"Haveyouanyopinionastohismotivesincominghere？"
　　Carterraisedhisweary，bloodshoteyesinafacescarletandpeelingasthoughithadbeenlickedbyaflame。"Iknownomorethanyoudo，sir。Lastnightwhenhehadmeinthatcabinofhis，hesaidhewouldjustassoonshootmeasletmegotolookforanyotherhelp。Itlooksasifheweredesperatelybentupongettingalotofsalvagemoneyoutofastrandedyacht。"
　　Mr。Traversturnedaway，and，foramoment，appearedimmersedindeepthought。Thisaccidentofstrandinguponadesertedcoastwasannoyingasalossoftime。Hetriedtominimizeitbyputtinginorderthenotescollectedduringtheyear’stravelintheEast。Hehadsentoffforassistance；hissailing—master，verycrestfallen，madeboldtosaythattheyachtwouldmostlikelyfloatatthenextspringtides；d’Alcacer，apersonofundoubtednobilitythoughofinferiorprinciples，wasbetterthannocompany，insofaratleastthathecouldplaypicquet。
　　Mr。Travershadmadeuphismindtowait。Thensuddenlythisroughman，lookingasifhehadsteppedoutfromanengravinginabookaboutbuccaneers，brokeinuponhisresignationwithmysteriousallusionstodanger，whichsoundedabsurdyetweredisturbing；withdarkandwarningsentencesthatsoundedlikedisguisedmenaces。
　　Mr。Travershadaheavyandratherlongchinwhichheshaved。Hiseyeswereblue，achill，naiveblue。HefacedLingarduntouchedbytravel，withoutamarkofwearinessorexposure，withtheairofhavingbeenborninvulnerable。Hehadafull，paleface；andhiscomplexionwasperfectlycolourless，yetamazinglyfresh，asifhehadbeenrearedintheshade。
　　Hethought：
　　"Imustputanendtothispreposteroushectoring。Iwon’tbeintimidatedintopayingforservicesIdon’tneed。"
　　Mr。Traversfeltastrongdisgustfortheimpudenceoftheattempt；andallatonce，incredibly，strangely，asthoughthething，likeacontestwitharivalorafriend，hadbeenofprofoundimportancetohiscareer，hefeltinexplicablyelatedatthethoughtofdefeatingthesecretpurposesofthatman。
　　Lingard，unconsciousofeverythingandeverybody，contemplatedthesea。Hehadgrownonit，hehadlivedwithit；ithadenticedhimawayfromhome；onithisthoughtshadexpandedandhishandhadfoundworktodo。Ithadsuggestedendeavour，ithadmadehimownerandcommanderofthefinestbrigafloat；ithadlulledhimintoabeliefinhimself，inhisstrength，inhisluck——andsuddenly，byitscomplicityinafatalaccident，ithadbroughthimfacetofacewithadifficultythatlookedlikethebeginningofdisaster。
　　Hehadsaidallhedaredtosay——andheperceivedthathewasnotbelieved。Thishadnothappenedtohimforyears。Ithadneverhappened。Itbewilderedhimasifhehadsuddenlydiscoveredthathewasnolongerhimself。Hehadcometothemandhadsaid："I
　　meanwellbyyou。IamTomLingard——"andtheydidnotbelieve！
　　Beforesuchscepticismhewashelpless，becausehehadneverimagineditpossible。Hehadsaid："Youareinthewayofmywork。YouareinthewayofwhatIcannotgiveupforanyone；
　　butIwillseeyouthroughallsafeifyouwillonlytrustme——
　　me，TomLingard。"Andtheywouldnotbelievehim！Itwasintolerable。Heimaginedhimselfsweepingtheirdisbeliefoutofhisway。Andwhynot？Hedidnotknowthem，hedidnotcareforthem，hedidnotevenneedtolifthishandagainstthem！Allhehadtodowastoshuthiseyesnowforadayortwo，andafterwardhecouldforgetthathehadeverseenthem。Itwouldbeeasy。Lettheirdisbeliefvanish，theirfollydisappear，theirbodiesperish……Itwasthat——orruin！
　　III
　　Lingard’sgaze，detachingitselffromthesilentsea，travelledslowlyoverthesilentfiguresclusteringforward，overthefacesoftheseamenattentiveandsurprised，overthefacesneverseenbeforeyetsuggestingolddays——hisyouth——otherseas——thedistantshoresofearlymemories。Mr。Traversgaveastartalso，andthehandwhichhadbeenbusywithhisleftwhiskerwentintothepocketofhisjacket，asthoughhehadpluckedoutsomethingworthkeeping。HemadeaquicksteptowardLingard。
　　"Idon’tseemywaytoutilizeyourservices，"hesaid，withcoldfinality。
　　Lingard，graspinghisbeard，lookeddownathimthoughtfullyforashorttime。
　　"Perhapsit’sjustaswell，"hesaid，veryslowly，"becauseIdidnotoffermyservices。I’veofferedtotakeyouonboardmybrigforafewdays，asyouronlychanceofsafety。Andyouaskedmewhatweremymotives。Mymotives！Ifyoudon’tseethemtheyarenotforyoutoknow。"
　　Andthesemenwho，twohoursbeforehadneverseeneachother，stoodforamomentclosetogether，antagonistic，asiftheyhadbeenlife—longenemies，oneshort，dapperandglaringupward，theothertoweringheavily，andlookingdownincontemptandanger。
　　Mr。d’Alcacer，withouttakinghiseyesoffthem，bentlowoverthedeckchair。
　　"Haveyoueverseenamandashinghimselfatastonewall？"heasked，confidentially。
　　"No，"saidMrs。Travers，gazingstraightbeforeherabovetheslowflutterofthefan。"No，Ididnotknowitwaseverdone；
　　menburrowunderorsliproundquietlywhiletheylooktheotherway。"
　　"Ah！youdefinediplomacy，"murmuredd’Alcacer。"Alittleofitherewoulddonoharm。Butourpicturesquevisitorhasnoneofit。I’veagreatlikingforhim。"
　　"Already！"breathedoutMrs。Travers，withasmilethattouchedherlipswithitsbrightwingandwasflownalmostbeforeitcouldbeseen。
　　"Thereislikingatfirstsight，"affirmedd’Alcacer，"aswellasloveatfirstsight——thecoupdefoudre——youknow。"
　　Shelookedupforamoment，andhewenton，gravely："Ithinkitisthetruest，themostprofoundofsentiments。Youdonotlovebecauseofwhatisintheother。Youlovebecauseofsomethingthatisinyou——somethingalive——inyourself。"Hestruckhisbreastlightlywiththetipofonefinger。"Acapacityinyou。
　　Andnoteveryonemayhaveit——noteveryonedeservestobetouchedbyfirefromheaven。"
　　"Anddie，"shesaid。
　　Hemadeaslightmovement。
　　"Whocantell？Thatisasitmaybe。Butitisalwaysaprivilege，evenifonemustlivealittleafterbeingburnt。"
　　Throughthesilencebetweenthem，Mr。Travers’voicecameplainly，sayingwithirritation：
　　"I’vetoldyoualreadythatIdonotwantyou。I’vesentamessengertothegovernoroftheStraits。Don’tbeimportunate。"
　　ThenLingard，standingwithhisbacktothem，growledoutsomethingwhichmusthaveexasperatedMr。Travers，becausehisvoicewaspitchedhigher：
　　"Youareplayingadangerousgame，Iwarnyou。SirJohn，asithappens，isapersonalfriendofmine。Hewillsendacruiser——"
　　andLingardinterruptedrecklesslyloud：
　　"Aslongasshedoesnotgethereforthenexttendays，Idon’tcare。CruisersarescarcejustnowintheStraits；andtoturnmybackonyouisnohangingmatteranyhow。Iwouldriskthat，andmore！Doyouhear？Andmore！"
　　Hestampedhisfootheavily，Mr。Traverssteppedback。
　　"Youwillgainnothingbytryingtofrightenme，"hesaid。"I
　　don’tknowwhoyouare。"
　　Everyeyeintheyachtwaswideopen。Themen，crowdeduponeachother，staredstupidlylikeaflockofsheep。Mr。Traverspulledoutahandkerchiefandpasseditoverhisforehead。Thefaceofthesailing—masterwholeanedagainstthemainmast——asnearashedaredtoapproachthegentry——wasshiningandcrimsonbetweenwhitewhiskers，likeaglowingcoalbetweentwopatchesofsnow。
　　D’Alcacerwhispered：
　　"Itisaquarrel，andthepicturesquemanisangry。Heishurt。"
　　Mrs。Travers’fanrestedonherknees，andshesatstillasifwaitingtohearmore。
　　"DoyouthinkIoughttomakeaneffortforpeace？"askedd’Alcacer。
　　Shedidnotanswer，andafterwaitingalittle，heinsisted：
　　"Whatisyouropinion？ShallItrytomediate——asaneutral，asabenevolentneutral？Ilikethatmanwiththebeard。"
　　Theinterchangeofangryphraseswentonaloud，amidstgeneralconsternation。
　　"IwouldturnmybackonyouonlyIamthinkingofthesepoordevilshere，"growledLingard，furiously。"Didyouaskthemhowtheyfeelaboutit？"
　　"Iasknoone，"splutteredMr。Travers。"Everybodyheredependsonmyjudgment。"
　　"Iamsorryforthemthen，"pronouncedLingardwithsuddendeliberation，andleaningforwardwithhisarmscrossedonhisbreast。
　　AtthisMr。Traverspositivelyjumped，andforgothimselfsofarastoshout：
　　"Youareanimpudentfellow。Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou。"
　　D’Alcacer，aftermutteringtohimself，"Thisisgettingserious，"
　　madeamovement，andcouldnotbelievehisearswhenheheardMrs。Traverssayrapidlywithakindoffervour：
　　"Don’tgo，pray；don’tstopthem。Oh！Thisistruth——thisisanger——somethingrealatlast。"
　　D’Alcacerleanedbackatonceagainsttherail。
　　ThenMr。Travers，withonearmextended，repeatedveryloudly：
　　"Nothingmoretosay。Leavemyshipatonce！"
　　Anddirectlytheblackdog，stretchedathiswife’sfeet，muzzleonpawsandblinkingyelloweyes，growleddiscontentedlyatthenoise。Mrs。Traverslaughedafaint，brightlaugh，thatseemedtoescape，toglide，todartbetweenherwhiteteeth。D’Alcacer，concealinghisamazement，waslookingdownathergravely：andafteraslightgasp，shesaidwithlittleburstsofmerrimentbetweeneveryfewwords：
　　"No，butthisis——such——suchafreshexperienceformetohear——toseesomething——genuineandhuman。Ah！ah！onewouldthinktheyhadwaitedalltheirlivesforthisopportunity——ah！
　　ah！ah！Alltheirlives——forthis！ah！ah！ah！"
　　Thesestrangewordsstruckd’Alcacerasperfectlyjust，asthrowinganunexpectedlight。Butafterasmile，hesaid，seriously：
　　"Thisrealitymaygotoofar。Amanwholookssopicturesqueiscapableofanything。Allowme——"Andheleftherside，movingtowardLingard，loose—limbedandgaunt，yethavinginhiswholebearing，inhiswalk，ineveryleisurelymovement，anairofdistinctionandceremony。
　　Lingardspunroundwithaggressivemientothelighttouchonhisshoulder，butassoonashetookhiseyesoffMr。Travers，hisangerfell，seemedtosinkwithoutasoundathisfeetlikearejectedgarment。
　　"Pardonme，"saidd’Alcacer，composedly。Theslightwaveofhishandwashardlymorethananindication，thebeginningofaconciliatinggesture。"Pardonme；butthisisamatterrequiringperfectconfidenceonbothsides。DonMartin，here，whoisapersonofimportance……"
　　"I’vespokenmymindplainly。IhavesaidasmuchasIdare。OnmywordIhave，"declaredLingardwithanairofgoodtemper。
　　"Ah！"saidd’Alcacer，reflectively，"thenyourreserveisamatterofpledgedfaith——of——ofhonour？"
　　Lingardalsoappearedthoughtfulforamoment。
　　"Youmayputitthatway。AndIowenothingtoamanwhocouldn’tseemyhandwhenIputitouttohimasIcameaboard。"
　　"Youhavesomuchtheadvantageofushere，"repliedd’Alcacer，"thatyoumaywellbegenerousandforgetthatoversight；andthenjustalittlemoreconfidence……"
　　"Mydeard’Alcacer，youareabsurd，"brokeinMr。Travers，inacalmvoicebutwithwhitelips。"Ididnotcomeoutallthiswaytoshakehandspromiscuouslyandreceiveconfidencesfromthefirstadventurerthatcomesalong。"
　　D’AlcacersteppedbackwithanalmostimperceptibleinclinationoftheheadatLingard，whostoodforamomentwithtwitchingface。
　　"IAManadventurer，"heburstout，"andifIhadn’tbeenanadventurer，Iwouldhavehadtostarveorworkathomeforsuchpeopleasyou。IfIweren’tanadventurer，youwouldbemostlikelylyingdeadonthisdeckwithyourcutthroatgapingatthesky。"
　　Mr。Traverswavedthisspeechaway。Butothersalsohadheard。
　　Carterlistenedwatchfullyandsomething，somealarmingnotionseemedtodawnallatonceuponthethicklittlesailing—master，whorushedonhisshortlegs，andtuggingatCarter’ssleeve，stammereddesperately：
　　"What’shesaying？Who’she？What’sup？Arethenativesunfriendly？Mybooksays——’Nativesfriendlyallalongthiscoast！’Mybooksays——"
　　Carter，whohadglancedovertheside，jerkedhisarmfree。
　　"Yougodownintothepantry，whereyoubelong，Skipper，andreadthatbitaboutthenativesoveragain，"hesaidtohissuperiorofficer，withsavagecontempt。"I’llbehangedifsomeofthemain’tcomingaboardnowtoeatyou——bookandall。Getoutoftheway，andletthegentlemenhavethefirstchanceofarow。"
　　ThenaddressingLingard，hedrawledinhisoldway：
　　"Thatcrazymateofyourshassentyourboatback，withacoupleofvisitorsinher，too。"
　　Beforeheapprehendedplainlythemeaningofthesewords，Lingardcaughtsightoftwoheadsrisingabovetherail，theheadofHassimandtheheadofImmada。ThentheirbodiesascendedintoviewasthoughthesetwobeingshadgraduallyemergedfromtheShallows。Theystoodforamomentontheplatformlookingdownonthedeckasifabouttostepintotheunknown，thendescendedandwalkingaftenteredthehalf—lightundertheawningshadingtheluxurioussurroundings，thecomplicatedemotionsofthe，tothem，inconceivableexistences。
　　Lingardwithoutwaitingamomentcried：
　　"Whatnews，ORajah？"
　　Hassim’seyesmadetheroundoftheschooner’sdecks。Hehadlefthisgunintheboatandadvancedemptyhanded，withatranquilassuranceasifbearingawelcomeofferinginthefaintsmileofhislips。Immada，halfhiddenbehindhisshoulder，followedlightly，herelbowspressedclosetoherside。Thethickfringeofhereyelasheswasdroppedlikeaveil；shelookedyouthfulandbrooding；shehadanaspectofshyresolution。
　　Theystoppedwithinarm’slengthofthewhites，andforsometimenobodysaidaword。ThenHassimgaveLingardasignificantglance，andutteredrapidlywithaslighttossoftheheadthatindicatedinamannerthewholeoftheyacht：
　　"Iseenoguns！"
　　"N——no！"saidLingard，lookingsuddenlyconfused。Ithadoccurredtohimthatforthefirsttimeintwoyearsormorehehadforgotten，utterlyforgotten，thesepeople’sexistence。
　　Immadastoodslightandrigidwithdowncasteyes。Hassim，athisease，scrutinizedthefaces，asifsearchingforelusivepointsofsimilitudeorforsubtleshadesofdifference。
　　"Whatisthisnewintrusion？"askedMr。Travers，angrily。
　　"Thesearethefisher—folk，sir，"brokeinthesailing—master，"we’veobservedthesethreedayspastflittingaboutinacanoe；
　　buttheyneverhadthesensetoanswerourhail；andyetabitoffishforyourbreakfast——"Hesmiledobsequiously，andallatonce，withoutprovocation，begantobellow：