Theconvictionthattheyacht，andeverythingbelongingtoher，wereinsomeindefinitebutveryrealdanger，tookafreshastrongholdofhim，andthepersuasionthatthemasterofthebrigwasgoingtheretohelpdidnotbyanymeansassuagehisalarm。Thefactonlyservedtocomplicatehisuneasinesswithasenseofmystery。
Thewhitemanwhospokeasifthatseawasallhisown，orasifpeopleintrudeduponhisprivacybytakingthelibertyofgettingwreckedonacoastwhereheandhisfriendsdidsomequeerbusiness，seemedtohimanundesirablehelper。Thattheboathadbeenloweredtocommunicatewiththeprausseenandavoidedbyhimintheeveninghehadnodoubt。Thethoughthadflashedonhimatonce。Ithadanuglylook。Yetthebestthingtodoafterallwastohangonandgetbacktotheyachtandwarnthem……
Warnthemagainstwhom？Themanhadbeenperfectlyopenwithhim。
Warnthemagainstwhat？Itstruckhimthathehadn’ttheslightestconceptionofwhatwouldhappen，ofwhatwasevenlikelytohappen。Thatstrangerescuerhimselfwasbringingthenewsofdanger。Dangerfromthenativesofcourse。Andyethewasincommunicationwiththosenatives。Thatwasevident。Thatboatgoingoffinthenight……Cartersworeheartilytohimself。
Hisperplexitybecamepositivebodilypainashesat，wet，uncomfortable，andstill，onehandonthetiller，thrownupanddowninheadlongswingsofhisboat。Andbeforehiseyes，toweringhigh，theblackhullofthebrigalsoroseandfell，settinghersterndowninthesea，nowandagain，withatremendousandfoamingsplash。NotasoundfromherreachedCarter’sears。Sheseemedanabandonedcraftbutfortheoutlineofaman’sheadandbodystillvisibleinawatchfulattitudeabovethetaffrail。
Cartertoldhisbowmantohaulupcloserandhailed：
\"Brigahoy。Anythingwrong？\"
Hewaited，listening。Theshadowymanstillwatched。Aftersometimeacurt\"No\"camebackinanswer。
\"Areyougoingtokeephove—tolong？\"shoutedCarter。
\"Don’tknow。Notlong。Dropyourboatclearoftheship。Dropclear。Dodamageifyoudon’t。\"
\"Slackaway，John！\"saidCarterinaresignedtonetotheelderlyseamaninthebow。\"Slackawayandletusrideeasytothefullscope。Theydon’tseemverytalkativeonboardthere。\"
Evenwhilehewasspeakingthelineranoutandtheregularundulationsofthepassingseasdrovetheboatawayfromthebrig。Carterturnedalittleinhisseattolookattheland。Itloomedupdeadtoleewardlikealoftyandirregularconeonlyamileoramileandahalfdistant。Thenoiseofthesurfbeatinguponitsbasewasheardagainstthewindinmeasureddetonations。
ThefatigueofmanydaysspentintheboatasserteditselfabovetherestlessnessofCarter’sthoughtsand，gradually，helostthenotionofthepassingtimewithoutaltogetherlosingtheconsciousnessofhissituation。
Intheintervalsofthatbenumbedstupor——ratherthansleep——hewasawarethattheinterruptednoiseofthesurfhadgrownintoacontinuousgreatrumble，swellingperiodicallyintoaloudroar；
thatthehighisletappearednowbigger，andthatawhitefringeoffoamwasvisibleatitsfeet。Stilltherewasnostirormovementofanykindonboardthebrig。Henoticedthatthewindwasmoderatingandtheseagoingdownwithit，andthendozedoffagainforaminute。Whennextheopenedhiseyeswithastart，itwasjustintimetoseewithsurpriseanewstarsoarnoiselesslystraightupfrombehindtheland，takeupitspositioninabrilliantconstellation——andgooutsuddenly。Twomorefollowed，ascendingtogether，andafterreachingaboutthesameelevation，expiredsidebyside。
\"Them’srockets，sir——ain’tthey？\"saidoneofthemeninamuffledvoice。
\"Aye，rockets，\"gruntedCarter。\"Andnow，what’sthenextmove？\"
hemutteredtohimselfdismally。
Hegothisanswerinthefierceswishingwhirrofaslenderrayoffirethat，shootingviolentlyupwardfromthesombrehullofthebrig，dissolvedatonceintoadullredshoweroffallingsparks。Onlyone，whiteandbrilliant，remainedalonepoisedhighoverhead，andafterglowingvividlyforasecond，explodedwithafeeblereport。Almostatthesametimehesawthebrig’sheadfalloffthewind，madeouttheyardsswingingroundtofillthemaintopsail，andhearddistinctlythethudofthefirstwavethrownoffbytheadvancingbows。Thenextminutethetow—linegotthestrainandhisboatstartedhurriedlyafterthebrigwithasuddenjerk。
Leaningforward，wideawakeandattentive，Cartersteered。Hismensatonebehindanotherwithshouldersup，andarchedbacks，dozing，uncomfortablebutpatient，uponthethwarts。Thecarerequisitetosteertheboatproperlyinthetrackoftheseethinganddisturbedwaterleftbythebriginherrapidcoursepreventedhimfromreflectingmuchupontheincertitudeofthefutureanduponhisownunusualsituation。
Nowhewasonlyexceedinglyanxioustoseetheyachtagain，anditwaswithafeelingofveryrealsatisfactionthathesawallplainsailbeingmadeonthebrig。Throughtheremaininghoursofthenighthesatgraspingthetillerandkeepinghiseyesontheshadowyandhighpyramidofcanvasglidingsteadilyaheadofhisboatwithaslightbalancingmovementfromsidetoside。
IV
Itwasnoonbeforethebrig，pilotedbyLingardthroughthedeepchannelsbetweentheoutercoralreefs，roundedwithinpistol—shotalowhummockofsandwhichmarkedtheendofalongstretchofstonyledgesthat，beingmostlyawash，showedablackheadonly，hereandthereamongstthehissingbrownfrothoftheyellowsea。Asthebrigdrewclearofthesandypatchthereappeared，deadtowindwardandbeyondamazeofbrokenwater，sandspits，andclustersofrocks，theblackhulloftheyachtheelingover，highandmotionlessuponthegreatexpanseofglitteringshallows。Herlong，nakedsparswereinclinedslightlyasifshehadbeensailingwithagoodbreeze。Therewastothelookers—onaboardthebrigsomethingsadanddisappointingintheyacht’saspectasshelayperfectlystillinanattitudethatinaseaman’smindisassociatedwiththeideaofrapidmotion。
\"Heresheis！\"saidShaw，who，cladinaspotlesswhitesuit，camejustthenfromforwardwherehehadbeenbusywiththeanchors。\"Sheiswellon，sir——isn’tshe？Lookslikeamudflattomefromhere。\"
\"Yes。Itisamudflat，\"saidLingard，slowly，raisingthelongglasstohiseye。\"Haulthemainsailup，Mr。Shaw，\"hewentonwhilehetookasteadylookattheyacht。\"Wewillhavetoworkinshorttackshere。\"
Heputtheglassdownandmovedawayfromtherail。Forthenexthourhehandledhislittlevesselintheintricateandnarrowchannelwithcarelesscertitude，asifeverystone，everygrainofsanduponthetreacherousbottomhadbeenplainlydisclosedtohissight。Hehandledherinthefitfulandunsteadybreezewithamatter—of—factaudacitythatmadeShaw，forwardathisstation，gaspinsheeralarm。Whenheadingtowardtheinshoreshoalsthebrigwasneverputroundtillthequick，loudcriesoftheleadsmenannouncedthattherewerenomorethanthreefeetofwaterunderherkeel；andwhenstandingtowardthesteepinneredgeofthelongreef，wheretheleadwasofnouse，thehelmwouldbeputdownonlywhenthecutwatertouchedthefaintlineoftheborderingfoam。Lingard’sloveforhisbrigwasaman’slove，andwassogreatthatitcouldneverbeappeasedunlesshecalledonhertoputforthallherqualitiesandherpower，torepayhisexactingaffectionbyafaithfulnesstriedtotheveryutmostlimitofendurance。Everyflutterofthesailsflewdownfromaloftalongthetautleeches，toenterhisheartinasenseofacutedelight；andthegentlemurmurofwateralongside，which，continuousandsoft，showedthatinallherwindingshisincomparablecrafthadnever，evenforaninstant，ceasedtocarryherway，wastohimmorepreciousandinspiringthanthesoftwhisperoftenderwordswouldhavebeentoanotherman。Itwasinsuchmomentsthathelivedintensely，inaflushofstrongfeelingthatmadehimlongtopresshislittlevesseltohisbreast。Shewashisperfectworldfulloftrustfuljoy。
Thepeopleonboardtheyacht，whowatchedeagerlythefirstsailtheyhadseensincetheyhadbeenashoreonthatdesertedpartofthecoast，soonmadeherout，withsomedisappointment，tobeasmallmerchantbrigbeatinguptackfortackalongtheinneredgeofthereef——probablywiththeintentiontocommunicateandofferassistance。Thegeneralopinionamongtheseafaringportionofhercrewwasthatlittleeffectiveassistancecouldbeexpectedfromavesselofthatdescription。Onlythesailing—masteroftheyachtremarkedtotheboatswain（whohadtheadvantageofbeinghisfirstcousin）：\"Thismaniswellacquaintedhere；youcanseethatbythewayhehandleshisbrig。Ishan’tbesorrytohavesomebodytostandbyus。Can’ttellwhenwewillgetoffthismud，George。\"
Alongboard，sailedveryclose，enabledthebrigtofetchthesouthernlimitofdiscolouredwateroverthebankonwhichtheyachthadstranded。Ontheveryedgeofthemuddypatchshewasputinstaysforthelasttime。Assoonasshehadpaidoffontheothertack，sailwasshortenedsmartly，andthebrigcommencedthestretchthatwastobringhertoheranchorage，underhertopsails，lowerstaysailsandjib。Therewasthenlessthanaquarterofamileofshallowwaterbetweenherandtheyacht；butwhilethatvesselhadgoneashorewithherheadtotheeastwardthebrigwasmovingslowlyinawest—northwestdirection，andconsequently，sailed——sotospeak——pastthewholelengthoftheyacht。Lingardsaweverysoulintheschoonerondeck，watchinghisadventinasilencewhichwasasunbrokenandperfectasthatonboardhisownvessel。
Alittlemanwitharedfaceframedinwhitewhiskerswavedagold—lacedcapabovetherailinthewaistoftheyacht。Lingardraisedhisarminreturn。Furtheraft，underthewhiteawnings，hecouldseetwomenandawoman。Oneofthemenandtheladywereinblue。Theotherman，whoseemedverytallandstoodwithhisarmentwinedroundanawningstanchionabovehishead，wascladinwhite。Lingardsawthemplainly。Theylookedatthebrigthroughbinoculars，turnedtheirfacestooneanother，movedtheirlips，seemedsurprised。Alargedogputhisforepawsontherail，and，liftinguphisbig，blackhead，sentoutthreeloudandplaintivebarks，thendroppeddownoutofsight。Asuddenstirandanappearanceofexcitementamongstallhandsonboardtheyachtwascausedbytheirperceivingthattheboattowingasternofthestrangerwastheirownsecondgig。
Armswereoutstretchedwithpointingfingers。Someoneshoutedoutalongsentenceofwhichnotawordcouldbemadeout；andthenthebrig，havingreachedthewesternlimitofthebank，begantomovediagonallyaway，increasingherdistancefromtheyachtbutbringinghersterngraduallyintoview。Thepeopleaft，Lingardnoticed，lefttheirplacesandwalkedovertothetaffrailsoastokeephimlongerinsight。
Whenaboutamileoffthebankandnearlyinlinewiththesternoftheyachtthebrig’stopsailsflutteredandtheyardscamedownslowlyonthecaps；theforeandaftcanvasrandown；andforsometimeshefloatedquietlywithfoldedwingsuponthetransparentsheetofwater，undertheradiantsilenceofthesky。
Thenheranchorwenttothebottomwitharumblingnoiseresemblingtherollofdistantthunder。Inamomentherheadtendedtothelastpuffsofthenortherlyairsandtheensignatthepeakstirred，unfurleditselfslowly，collapsed，flewoutagain，andfinallyhungdownstraightandstill，asifweightedwithlead。
\"Deadcalm，sir，\"saidShawtoLingard。\"Deadcalmagain。Wegotintothisfunnyplaceinthenickoftime，sir。\"
Theystoodforawhilesidebyside，lookingrounduponthecoastandthesea。Thebrighadbeenbroughtupinthemiddleofabroadbeltofclearwater。Tothenorthrockyledgesshowedinblackandwhitelinesupontheslightswellsettinginfromthere。Asmallislandstoodoutfromthebrokenwaterlikethesquaretowerofsomesubmergedbuilding。Itwasabouttwomilesdistantfromthebrig。Totheeastwardthecoastwaslow；acoastofgreenforestsfringedwithdarkmangroves。Therewasinitssombredullnessaclearlydefinedopening，asifasmallpiecehadbeencutoutwithasharpknife。Thewaterinitshonelikeapatchofpolishedsilver。LingardpointeditouttoShaw。
\"Thisistheentrancetotheplacewherewearegoing，\"hesaid。
Shawstared，round—eyed。
\"Ithoughtyoucamehereonaccountofthishereyacht，\"hestammered，surprised。
\"Ah。Theyacht，\"saidLingard，musingly，keepinghiseyesonthebreakinthecoast。\"Theyacht——\"Hestampedhisfootsuddenly。
\"IwouldgiveallIamworthandthrowinafewdaysoflifeintothebargainifIcouldgetheroffandawaybeforeto—night。\"
Hecalmeddown，andagainstoodgazingattheland。Alittlewithintheentrancefrombehindthewallofforestsaninvisiblefirebelchedoutsteadilytheblackandheavyconvolutionsofthicksmoke，whichstoodouthigh，likeatwistedandshiveringpillaragainsttheclearblueofthesky。
\"Wemuststopthatgame，Mr。Shaw，\"saidLingard，abruptly。
\"Yes，sir。Whatgame？\"askedShaw，lookingroundinwonder。
\"Thissmoke，\"saidLingard，impatiently。\"It’sasignal。\"
\"Certainly，sir——thoughIdon’tseehowwecandoit。Itseemsfarinland。Asignalforwhat，sir？\"
\"Itwasnotmeantforus，\"saidLingardinanunexpectedlysavagetone。\"Here，Shaw，makethemputablankchargeintothatforecastlegun。Tell’emtoramhardthewaddingandgreasethemouth。Wewanttomakeagoodnoise。IfoldJorgensonhearsit，thatfirewillbeoutbeforeyouhavetimetoturnroundtwice……Inaminute，Mr。Carter。\"
Theyacht’sboathadcomealongsideassoonasthebrighadbeenbroughtup，andCarterhadbeenwaitingtotakeLingardonboardtheyacht。Theybothwalkednowtothegangway。Shaw，followinghiscommander，stoodbytotakehislastorders。
\"Putalltheboatsinthewater，Mr。Shaw，\"Lingardwassaying，withonefootontherail，readytoleavehisship，\"andmountthefour—pounderswivelinthelongboat’sbow。Castoffthesealashingsoftheguns，butdon’trun’emoutyet。Keepthetopsailslooseandthejibreadyforsetting，Imaywantthesailsinahurry。Now，Mr。Carter，Iamreadyforyou。\"
\"Shoveoff，boys，\"saidCarterassoonastheywereseatedintheboat。\"Shoveoff，andgivewayforalastpullbeforeyougetalongrest。\"
Themenlaybackontheiroars，grunting。Theirfacesweredrawn，greyandstreakedwiththedriedsaltsprays。Theyhadtheworriedexpressionofmenwhohadalongcallmadeupontheirendurance。Carter，heavy—eyedanddull，steeredfortheyacht’sgangway。Lingardaskedastheywerecrossingthebrig’sbows：
\"Waterenoughalongsideyourcraft，Isuppose？\"
\"Yes。Eighttotwelvefeet，\"answeredCarter，hoarsely。\"Say，Captain！Where’syourshowofcutthroats？Why！Thisseaisasemptyasachurchonaweek—day。\"
Theboomingreport，nearlyoverhishead，ofthebrig’seighteen—pounderinterruptedhim。Aroundpuffofwhitevapour，spreadingitselflazily，clunginfadingshredsabouttheforeyard。Lingard，turninghalfroundinthesternsheets，lookedatthesmokeontheshore。Carterremainedsilent，staringsleepilyattheyachttheywereapproaching。Lingardkeptwatchingthesmokesointenselythathealmostforgotwherehewas，tillCarter’svoicepronouncingsharplyathisearthewords\"wayenough，\"recalledhimtohimself。
Theywereintheshadowoftheyachtandcomingalongsideherladder。Themasterofthebriglookedupwardintothefaceofagentleman，withlongwhiskersandashavedchin，staringdownathimoverthesidethroughasingleeyeglass。Asheputhisfootonthebottomstephecouldseetheshoresmokestillascending，unceasingandthick；butevenashelookedtheverybaseoftheblackpillarroseabovetheraggedlineoftree—tops。Thewholethingfloatedclearawayfromtheearth，androllingitselfintoanirregularlyshapedmass，driftedouttoseaward，travellingslowlyovertheblueheavens，likeathreateningandlonelycloud。
PARTII。THESHOREOFREFUGE
I
Thecoastoffwhichthelittlebrig，floatinguprightaboveheranchor，seemedtoguardthehighhulloftheyachthasnodistinctivefeatures。Itislandwithoutform。Itstretchesawaywithoutcapeorbluff，longandlow——indefinitely；andwhentheheavygustsofthenortheastmonsoondrivethethickrainslantingoverthesea，itisseenfaintlyunderthegreysky，blackandwithablurredoutlinelikethestraightedgeofadissolvingshore。Inthelongseasonofuncloudeddays，itpresentstoviewonlyanarrowbandofearththatappearscrushedflatuponthevastlevelofwatersbytheweightofthesky，whoseimmensedomerestsonitinalineasfineandtrueasthatoftheseahorizonitself。
NotwithstandingitsnearnesstothecentresofEuropeanpower，thiscoasthasbeenknownforagestothearmedwanderersoftheseseasas\"TheShoreofRefuge。\"Ithasnospecificnameonthecharts，andgeographymanualsdon’tmentionitatall；butthewreckageofmanydefeatsunerringlydriftsintoitscreeks。
Itsapproachesareextremelydifficultforastranger。Lookedatfromseaward，theinnumerableisletsfringingwhat，onaccountofitsvastsize，maybecalledthemainland，mergeintoabackgroundthatpresentsnotasinglelandmarktopointthewaythroughtheintricatechannels。Itmaybesaidthatinabeltofseatwentymilesbroadalongthatlowshorethereismuchmorecoral，mud，sand，andstonesthanactualseawater。Itwasamongsttheoutlyingshoalsofthisstretchthattheyachthadgoneashoreandtheeventsconsequentuponherstrandingtookplace。
Thediffusedlightoftheshortdaybreakshowedtheopenwatertothewestward，sleeping，smoothandgrey，underafadedheaven。
Thestraightcoastthrewaheavybeltofgloomalongtheshoals，which，inthecalmofexpiringnight，wereunmarkedbytheslightestripple。Inthefaintdawnthelowclumpsofbushesonthesandbanksappearedimmense。
Twofigures，noiselessliketwoshadows，movedslowlyoverthebeachofarockyislet，andstoppedsidebysideontheveryedgeofthewater。Behindthem，betweenthematsfromwhichtheyhadarisen，asmallheapofblackemberssmoulderedquietly。Theystooduprightandperfectlystill，butfortheslightmovementoftheirheadsfromrighttoleftandbackagainastheyswepttheirgazethroughthegreyemptinessofthewaterswhere，abouttwomilesdistant，thehulloftheyachtloomeduptoseaward，blackandshapeless，againstthewansky。
Thetwofigureslookedbeyondwithoutexchangingasmuchasamurmur。Thetallerofthetwogrounded，atarm’slength，thestockofagunwithalongbarrel；thehairoftheotherfelldowntoitswaist；and，nearby，theleavesofcreepersdroopingfromthesummitofthesteeprockstirrednomorethanthefestoonedstone。Thefaintlight，disclosinghereandthereagleamofwhitesandbanksandtheblurredhummocksofisletsscatteredwithinthegloomofthecoast，theprofoundsilence，thevaststillnessallround，accentuatedthelonelinessofthetwohumanbeingswho，urgedbyasleeplesshope，hadrisenthus，atbreakofday，tolookafarupontheveiledfaceofthesea。
\"Nothing！\"saidthemanwithasigh，andasifawakeningfromalongperiodofmusing。
Hewascladinajacketofcoarsebluecotton，ofthekindapoorfishermanmightown，andheworeitwideopenonamuscularchestthecolourandsmoothnessofbronze。Fromthetwistofthreadbaresarongwoundtightlyonthehipsprotrudedoutwardtothelefttheivoryhilt，ringedwithsixbandsofgold，ofaweaponthatwouldnothavedisgracedaruler。Silverglitteredabouttheflintlockandthehardwoodstockofhisgun。Theredandgoldhandkerchieffoldedroundhisheadwasofcostlystuff，suchasiswovenbyhigh—bornwomeninthehouseholdsofchiefs，onlythegoldthreadsweretarnishedandthesilkfrayedinthefolds。Hisheadwasthrownback，thedroppedeyelidsnarrowedthegleamofhiseyes。Hisfacewashairless，thenoseshortwithmobilenostrils，andthesmileofcarelessgood—humourseemedtohavebeenpermanentlywrought，asifwithadelicatetool，intotheslighthollowsaboutthecornersofratherfulllips。Hisuprightfigurehadanegligentelegance。Butinthecarelessface，intheeasygesturesofthewholemantherewassomethingattentiveandrestrained。
Aftergivingtheoffingalastsearchingglance，heturnedand，facingtherisingsun，walkedbare—footedontheelasticsand。
Thetrailedbuttofhisgunmadeadeepfurrow。Theembershadceasedtosmoulder。Helookeddownatthempensivelyforawhile，thencalledoverhisshouldertothegirlwhohadremainedbehind，stillscanningthesea：
\"Thefireisout，Immada。\"
Atthesoundofhisvoicethegirlmovedtowardthemats。Herblackhairhunglikeamantle。Hersarong，thekilt—likegarmentwhichbothsexeswear，hadthenationalcheckofgreyandred，butshehadnotcompletedherattirebythebelt，scarves，thelooseupperwrappings，andthehead—coveringofawoman。Ablacksilkjacket，likethatofamanofrank，wasbuttonedoverherbustandfittedcloselytoherslenderwaist。Theedgeofastand—upcollar，stiffwithgoldembroidery，rubbedhercheek。
Shehadnobracelets，noanklets，andalthoughdressedpracticallyinman’sclothes，hadaboutherpersonnoweaponofanysort。Herarmshungdowninexceedinglytightsleevesslitalittlewayupfromthewrist，gold—braidedandwitharowofsmallgoldbuttons。Shewalked，brownandalert，allofapiece，withshortsteps，theeyeslivelyinanimpassivelittleface，thearchedmouthclosedfirmly；andherwholepersonbreathedinitsrigidgracethefierygravityofyouthatthebeginningofthetaskoflife——atthebeginningofbeliefsandhopes。
ThiswasthedayofLingard’sarrivaluponthecoast，but，asisknown，thebrig，delayedbythecalm，didnotappearinsightoftheshallowstillthemorningwasfaradvanced。Disappointedintheirhopetoseetheexpectedsailshininginthefirstraysoftherisingsun，themanandthewoman，withoutattemptingtorelightthefire，loungedontheirsleepingmats。Attheirfeetacommoncanoe，hauledoutofthewater，was，formoresecurity，mooredbyagrassropetotheshaftofalongspearplantedfirmlyonthewhitebeach，andtheincomingtidelappedmonotonouslyagainstitsstern。
Thegirl，twistingupherblackhair，fasteneditwithslenderwoodenpins。Theman，recliningatfulllength，hadmaderoomonhismatforthegun——asonewoulddoforafriend——and，supportedonhiselbow，lookedtowardtheyachtwitheyeswhosefixeddreaminesslikeatransparentveilwouldshowtheslowpassageofeverygloomythoughtbydeepeninggraduallyintoasombrestare。
\"Wehaveseenthreesunrisesonthisislet，andnofriendcamefromthesea，\"hesaidwithoutchanginghisattitude，withhisbacktowardthegirlwhosatontheothersideofthecoldembers。
\"Yes；andthemooniswaning，\"sheansweredinalowvoice。\"Themooniswaning。Yethepromisedtobeherewhenthenightsarelightandthewatercoversthesandbanksasfarasthebushes。\"
\"Thetravellerknowsthetimeofhissettingout，butnotthetimeofhisreturn，\"observedtheman，calmly。
Thegirlsighed。
\"Thenightsofwaitingarelong，\"shemurmured。
\"Andsometimestheyarevain，\"saidthemanwiththesamecomposure。\"Perhapshewillneverreturn。\"
\"Why？\"exclaimedthegirl。
\"Theroadislongandtheheartmaygrowcold，\"wastheanswerinaquietvoice。\"Ifhedoesnotreturnitisbecausehehasforgotten。\"
\"Oh，Hassim，itisbecauseheisdead，\"criedthegirl，indignantly。
Theman，lookingfixedlytoseaward，smiledattheardourofhertone。
Theywerebrotherandsister，andthoughverymuchalike，thefamilyresemblancewaslostinthemoregeneraltraitscommontothewholerace。
TheywerenativesofWajoanditisacommonsayingamongsttheMalayracethattobeasuccessfultravellerandtraderamanmusthavesomeWajobloodinhisveins。Andwiththosepeopletrading，whichmeansalsotravellingafar，isaromanticandanhonourableoccupation。Thetradermustpossessanadventurousspiritandakeenunderstanding；heshouldhavethefearlessnessofyouthandthesagacityofage；heshouldbediplomaticandcourageous，soastosecurethefavourofthegreatandinspirefearinevil—doers。
ThesequalitiesnaturallyarenotexpectedinashopkeeperoraChinamanpedlar；theyareconsideredindispensableonlyforamanwho，ofnoblebirthandperhapsrelatedtotherulerofhisowncountry，wandersovertheseasinacraftofhisownandwithmanyfollowers；carriesfromislandtoislandimportantnewsaswellasmerchandise；whomaybetrustedwithsecretmessagesandvaluablegoods；amanwho，inshort，isasreadytointrigueandfightastobuyandsell。SuchistheidealtraderofWajo。
Trading，thusunderstood，wastheoccupationofambitiousmenwhoplayedanoccultbutimportantpartinallthosenationalrisings，religiousdisturbances，andalsointheorganizedpiraticalmovementsonalargescalewhich，duringthefirsthalfofthelastcentury，affectedthefateofmorethanonenativedynastyand，forafewyearsatleast，seriouslyendangeredtheDutchruleintheEast。When，atthecostofmuchbloodandgold，acomparativepeacehadbeenimposedontheislandsthesameoccupation，thoughshornofitsgloriouspossibilities，remainedattractiveforthemostadventurousofarestlessrace。TheyoungersonsandrelationsofmanyanativerulertraversedtheseasoftheArchipelago，visitedtheinnumerableandlittle—knownislands，andthethenpracticallyunknownshoresofNewGuinea；
everyspotwhereEuropeantradehadnotpenetrated——fromArutoAtjeh，fromSumbawatoPalawan。
