II
Itwasinthemostunknownperhapsofsuchspots，asmallbayonthecoastofNewGuinea，thatyoungPataHassim，thenephewofoneofthegreatestchiefsofWajo，metLingardforthefirsttime。
HewasatraderaftertheWajomanner，andinastoutsea—goingprauarmedwithtwogunsandmannedbyyoungmenwhowererelatedtohisfamilybybloodordependence，hadcomeintheretobuysomebirdsofparadiseskinsfortheoldSultanofTernate；ariskyexpeditionundertakennotinthewayofbusinessbutasamatterofcourtesytowardtheagedSultanwhohadentertainedhimsumptuouslyinthatdismalbrickpalaceatTernateforamonthormore。
Whilelyingoffthevillage，verymuchonhisguard，waitingfortheskinsandnegotiatingwiththetreacherouscoast—savageswhoarethego—betweensinthattrade，HassimsawonemorningLingard’sbrigcometoananchorinthebay，andshortlyafterwardobservedawhitemanofgreatstaturewithabeardthatshonelikegold，landfromaboatandstrollonunarmed，thoughfollowedbyfourMalaysofthebrig’screw，towardthenativevillage。
Hassimwasstruckwithwonderandamazementatthecoolrecklessnessofsuchaproceeding；and，after；intrueMalayfashion，discussingwithhispeopleforanhourorsotheurgencyofthecase，healsolanded，butwellescortedandarmed，withtheintentionofgoingtoseewhatwouldhappen。
Theaffairreallywasverysimple，\"suchas\"——Lingardwouldsay——\"suchasmighthavehappenedtoanybody。\"Hewentashorewiththeintentiontolookforsomestreamwherehecouldconvenientlyreplenishhiswatercasks，thisbeingreallythemotivewhichhadinducedhimtoenterthebay。
While，withhismenclosebyandsurroundedbyamop—headed，sootycrowd，hewasshowingafewcottonhandkerchiefs，andtryingtoexplainbysignstheobjectofhislanding，aspear，lungedfrombehind，grazedhisneck。ProbablythePapuanwantedonlytoascertainwhethersuchacreaturecouldbekilledorhurt，andmostlikelyfirmlybelievedthatitcouldnot；butoneofLingard’sseamenatonceretaliatedbystrikingattheexperimentingsavagewithhisparang——threesuchchoppersbroughtforthepurposeofclearingthebush，ifnecessary，beingalltheweaponsthepartyfromthebrigpossessed。
AdeadlytumultensuedwithsuchsuddennessthatLingard，turningroundswiftly，sawhisdefender，alreadyspearedinthreeplaces，fallforwardathisfeet。Wasub，whowasthere，andafterwardtoldthestoryonceaweekonanaverage，usedtohorrifyhishearersbyshowinghowthemanblinkedhiseyesquicklybeforehefell。Lingardwasunarmed。Totheendofhislifeheremainedincorrigiblyrecklessinthatrespect，explainingthathewas\"muchtooquicktemperedtocarryfirearmsonthechanceofarow。Andifputtoit，\"heargued，\"Icanmakeshifttokillamanwithmyfistanyhow；andthen——don’tyesee——youknowwhatyou’redoingandarenotsoapttostartatroublefromsheertemperorfunk——see？\"
Inthiscasehedidhisbesttokillamanwithablowfromtheshoulderandcatchingupanotherbythemiddleflunghimatthenaked，wildcrowd。\"Hehurledmenaboutasthewindhurlsbrokenboughs。
Hemadeabroadwaythroughourenemies！\"relatedWasubinhisjerkyvoice。ItismoreprobablethatLingard’squickmovementsandtheamazingaspectofsuchastrangebeingcausedthewarriorstofallbackbeforehisrush。
Takinginstantadvantageoftheirsurpriseandfear，Lingard，followedbyhismen，dashedalongthekindofruinousjettyleadingtothevillagewhichwaserectedasusualoverthewater。
Theydartedintooneofthemiserablehutsbuiltofrottenmatsandbitsofdecayedcanoes，andinthissheltershowingdaylightthroughallitssides，theyhadtimetodrawbreathandrealizethattheirpositionwasnotmuchimproved。
Thewomenandchildrenscreaminghadclearedoutintothebush，whileattheshoreendofthejettythewarriorscaperedandyelled，preparingforageneralattack。Lingardnoticedwithmortificationthathisboat—keeperapparentlyhadlosthishead，for，insteadofswimmingofftotheshiptogivethealarm，ashewasperfectlyabletodo，themanactuallystruckoutforasmallrockahundredyardsawayandwasfranticallytryingtoclimbupitsperpendicularside。Thetidebeingout，tojumpintothehorriblemudunderthehouseswouldhavebeenalmostcertaindeath。Nothingremainedtherefore——sincethemiserabledwellingwouldnothavewithstoodavigorouskick，letaloneasiege——buttorushbackonshoreandregainpossessionoftheboat。TothisLingardmadeuphismindquicklyand，arminghimselfwithacrookedstickhefoundunderhishand，salliedforthattheheadofhisthreemen。Asheboundedalong，farinadvance，hehadjusttimetoperceiveclearlythedesperatenatureoftheundertaking，whenheheardtwoshotsfiredtohisright。Thesolidmassofblackbodiesandfrizzlyheadsinfrontofhimwaveredandbrokeup。Theydidnotrunaway，however。
Lingardpursuedhiscourse，butnowwiththatthrillofexultationwhichevenafaintprospectofsuccessinspiresinasanguineman。Heheardashoutofmanyvoicesfaroff，thentherewasanotherreportofashot，andamusketballfiredatlongrangespurtedatinyjetofsandbetweenhimandhiswildenemies。Hisnextboundwouldhavecarriedhimintotheirmidsthadtheyawaitedhisonset，buthisupliftedarmfoundnothingtostrike。Blackbackswereleapinghighorglidinghorizontallythroughthegrasstowardtheedgeofthebush。
Heflunghisstickatthenearestpairofblackshouldersandstoppedshort。Thetallgrassesswayedthemselvesintoarest，achorusofyellsandpiercingshrieksdiedoutinadismalhowl，andallatoncethewoodedshoresandthebluebayseemedtofallunderthespellofaluminousstillness。Thechangewasasstartlingastheawakeningfromadream。ThesuddensilencestruckLingardasamazing。
Hebrokeitbyliftinghisvoiceinastentorianshout，whicharrestedthepursuitofhismen。Theyretiredreluctantly，glaringbackangrilyatthewallofajunglewherenotasingleleafstirred。Thestrangers，whoseopportuneappearancehaddecidedtheissueofthatadventure，didnotattempttojoininthepursuitbuthaltedinacompactbodyonthegroundlatelyoccupiedbythesavages。
LingardandtheyoungleaderoftheWajotradersmetinthesplendidlightofnoonday，andamidsttheattentivesilenceoftheirfollowers，ontheveryspotwheretheMalayseamanhadlosthislife。Lingard，stridingupfromoneside，thrustouthisopenpalm；Hassimrespondedatoncetothefrankgestureandtheyexchangedtheirfirsthand—claspovertheprostratebody，asiffatehadalreadyexactedthepriceofadeathforthemostominousofhergifts——thegiftoffriendshipthatsometimescontainsthewholegoodorevilofalife。
\"I’llneverforgetthisday，\"criedLingardinaheartytone；andtheothersmiledquietly。
Thenafterashortpause——\"Willyouburnthevillageforvengeance？\"askedtheMalaywithaquickglancedownatthedeadLascarwho，onhisfaceandwithstretchedarms，seemedtoclingdesperatelytothatearthofwhichhehadknownsolittle。
Lingardhesitated。
\"No，\"hesaid，atlast。\"Itwoulddogoodtonoone。\"
\"True，\"saidHassim，gently，\"butwasthismanyourdebtor——aslave？\"
\"Slave？\"criedLingard。\"ThisisanEnglishbrig。Slave？No。A
freemanlikemyself。\"
\"Hai。Heisindeedfreenow，\"mutteredtheMalaywithanotherglancedownward。\"Butwhowillpaythebereavedforhislife？\"
\"Ifthereisanywhereawomanorchildbelongingtohim，I——myserangwouldknow——Ishallseekthemout，\"criedLingard，remorsefully。
\"Youspeaklikeachief，\"saidHassim，\"onlyourgreatmendonotgotobattlewithnakedhands。Oyouwhitemen！Othevalourofyouwhitemen！\"
\"Itwasfolly，purefolly，\"protestedLingard，\"andthispoorfellowhaspaidforit。\"
\"Hecouldnotavoidhisdestiny，\"murmuredtheMalay。\"Itisinmymindmytradingisfinishednowinthisplace，\"headded，cheerfully。
Lingardexpressedhisregret。
\"Itisnomatter，itisnomatter，\"assuredtheothercourteously，andafterLingardhadgivenapressinginvitationforHassimandhistwocompanionsofhighranktovisitthebrig，thetwopartiesseparated。
TheeveningwascalmwhentheMalaycraftleftitsberthneartheshoreandwasrowedslowlyacrossthebaytoLingard’sanchorage。
Theendofastoutlinewasthrownonboard，andthatnightthewhiteman’sbrigandthebrownman’sprauswungtogethertothesameanchor。
Thesunsettingtoseawardshotitslastraysbetweentheheadlands，whenthebodyofthekilledLascar，wrappedupdecentlyinawhitesheet，accordingtoMohammedanusage，wasloweredgentlybelowthestillwatersofthebayuponwhichhiscuriousglances，onlyafewhoursbefore，hadrestedforthefirsttime。Atthemomentthedeadman，releasedfromslip—ropes，disappearedwithoutaripplebeforetheeyesofhisshipmates，thebrightflashandtheheavyreportofthebrig’sbowgunweresucceededbythemutteringechoesoftheencirclingshoresandbytheloudcriesofseabirdsthat，wheelinginclouds，seemedtoscreamafterthedepartingseamanawildandeternalgood—bye。
Themasterofthebrig，makinghiswayaftwithhanginghead，wasfollowedbylowmurmursofpleasedsurprisefromhiscrewaswellasfromthestrangerswhocrowdedthemaindeck。Insuchactsperformedsimply，fromconviction，whatmaybecalledtheromanticsideoftheman’snaturecameout；thatresponsivesensitivenesstotheshadowyappealsmadebylifeanddeath，whichisthegroundworkofachivalrouscharacter。
Lingardentertainedhisthreevisitorsfarintothenight。A
sheepfromthebrig’sseastockwasgiventothemenoftheprau，whileinthecabin，Hassimandhistwofriends，sittinginarowonthesternsettee，lookedverysplendidwithcostlymetalsandflawedjewels。ThetalkconductedwithheartyfriendshiponLingard’spart，andonthepartoftheMalayswiththewell—bredairofdiscreetcourtesy，whichisnaturaltothebetterclassofthatpeople，toucheduponmanysubjectsand，intheend，driftedtopolitics。
\"Itisinmymindthatyouareapowerfulmaninyourowncountry，\"saidHassim，withacircularglanceatthecuddy。
\"Mycountryisuponafar—awayseawherethelightbreezesareasstrongasthewindsoftherainyweatherhere，\"saidLingard；andtherewerelowexclamationsofwonder。\"Ileftitveryyoung，andIdon’tknowaboutmypowertherewheregreatmenaloneareasnumerousasthepoorpeopleinallyourislands，TuanHassim。Buthere，\"hecontinued，\"here，whichisalsomycountry——beinganEnglishcraftandworthyofit，too——Iampowerfulenough。Infact，IamRajahhere。Thisbitofmycountryisallmyown。\"
Thevisitorswereimpressed，exchangedmeaningglances，noddedateachother。
\"Good，good，\"saidHassimatlast，withasmile。\"Youcarryyourcountryandyourpowerwithyouoverthesea。ARajahuponthesea。Good！\"
Lingardlaughedthunderouslywhiletheotherslookedamused。
\"Yourcountryisverypowerful——weknow，\"beganagainHassimafterapause，\"butisitstrongerthanthecountryoftheDutchwhostealourland？\"
\"Stronger？\"criedLingard。Heopenedabroadpalm。\"Stronger？Wecouldtaketheminourhandlikethis——\"andheclosedhisfingerstriumphantly。
\"Anddoyoumakethempaytributefortheirland？\"enquiredHassimwitheagerness。
\"No，\"answeredLingardinasoberedtone；\"this，TuanHassim，yousee，isnotthecustomofwhitemen。Wecould，ofcourse——butitisnotthecustom。\"
\"Isitnot？\"saidtheotherwithascepticalsmile。\"Theyarestrongerthanweareandtheywanttributefromus。Andsometimestheygetit——evenfromWajowhereeverymanisfreeandwearsakris。\"
TherewasaperiodofdeadsilencewhileLingardlookedthoughtfulandtheMalaysgazedstonilyatnothing。
\"Butweburnourpowderamongstourselves，\"wentonHassim，gently，\"andbluntourweaponsupononeanother。\"
Hesighed，paused，andthenchangingtoaneasytonebegantourgeLingardtovisitWajo\"fortradeandtoseefriends，\"hesaid，layinghishandonhisbreastandinclininghisbodyslightly。
\"Aye。Totradewithfriends，\"criedLingardwithalaugh，\"forsuchaship\"——hewavedhisarm——\"forsuchavesselasthisislikeahouseholdwheretherearemanybehindthecurtain。Itisascostlyasawifeandchildren。\"
Theguestsroseandtooktheirleave。
\"Youfiredthreeshotsforme，PanglimaHassim，\"saidLingard，seriously，\"andIhavehadthreebarrelsofpowderputonboardyourprau；oneforeachshot。Butwearenotquits。\"
TheMalay’seyesglitteredwithpleasure。
\"Thisisindeedafriend’sgift。Cometoseemeinmycountry！\"
\"Ipromise，\"saidLingard，\"toseeyou——someday。\"
Thecalmsurfaceofthebayreflectedthegloriousnightsky，andthebrigwiththeprauridingasternseemedtobesuspendedamongstthestarsinapeacethatwasalmostunearthlyintheperfectionofitsunstirringsilence。Thelasthand—shakeswereexchangedondeck，andtheMalayswentaboardtheirowncraft。
Nextmorning，whenabreezesprangupsoonaftersunrise，thebrigandtheprauleftthebaytogether。WhenclearofthelandLingardmadeallsailandsheeredalongsidetosaygood—byebeforepartingcompany——thebrig，ofcourse，sailingthreefeettotheprau’sone。Hassimstoodonthehighdeckaft。
\"Prosperousroad，\"hailedLingard。
\"Rememberthepromise！\"shoutedtheother。\"Andcomesoon！\"hewenton，raisinghisvoiceasthebrigforgedpast。\"Comesoon——lestwhatperhapsiswrittenshouldcometopass！\"
Thebrigshotahead。
\"What？\"yelledLingardinapuzzledtone，\"what’swritten？\"
Helistened。Andfloatingoverthewatercamefaintlythewords：
\"Nooneknows！\"
III
\"Myword！Icouldn’thelplikingthechap，\"wouldshoutLingardwhentellingthestory；andlookingaroundattheeyesthatglitteredathimthroughthesmokeofcheroots，thisBrixhamtrawler—boy，afterwardayouthincolliers，deep—waterman，gold—digger，ownerandcommanderof\"thefinestbrigafloat，\"
knewthatbyhislisteners——seamen，traders，adventurerslikehimself——thiswasacceptednotastheexpressionofafeeling，butasthehighestcommendationhecouldgivehisMalayfriend。
\"Byheavens！IshallgotoWajo！\"hecried，andasemicircleofheadsnoddedgraveapprobationwhileaslightlyironicalvoicesaiddeliberately——\"Youareamademan，Tom，ifyougetontherightsideofthatRajahofyours。\"
\"Goin——andlookoutforyourself，\"criedanotherwithalaugh。
Alittleprofessionaljealousywasunavoidable，Wajo，onaccountofitschronicstateofdisturbance，beingclosedtothewhitetraders；buttherewasnorealill—willinthebanterofthesemen，who，risingwithhandshakes，droppedoffonebyone。Lingardwentstraightaboardhisvesseland，tillmorning，walkedthepoopofthebrigwithmeasuredsteps。Theridinglightsofshipstwinkledallroundhim；thelightsashoretwinkledinrows，thestarstwinkledabovehisheadinablacksky；andreflectedintheblackwateroftheroadsteadtwinkledfarbelowhisfeet。Andalltheseinnumerableandshiningpointswereutterlylostintheimmensedarkness。Onceheheardfaintlytherumblingchainofsomevesselcomingtoananchorfarawaysomewhereoutsidetheofficiallimitsoftheharbour。Astrangertotheport——thoughtLingard——oneofuswouldhavestoodrightin。Perhapsashipfromhome？Andhefeltstrangelytouchedatthethoughtofthatship，wearywithmonthsofwandering，anddaringnottoapproachtheplaceofrest。Atsunrise，whilethebigshipfromtheWest，hersidesstreakedwithrustandgreywiththesaltofthesea，wasmovingslowlyintotakeupaberthneartheshore，Lingardlefttheroadsteadonhiswaytotheeastward。
Aheavygulfthunderstormwasraging，whenafteralongpassageandattheendofasultrycalmday，wastedindriftinghelplesslyinsightofhisdestination，Lingard，takingadvantageoffitfulgustsofwind，approachedtheshoresofWajo。Withcharacteristicaudacity，heheldonhisway，closinginwithacoasttowhichhewasastranger，andonanightthatwouldhaveappalledanyotherman；whileateverydazzlingflash，Hassim’snativelandseemedtoleapneareratthebrig——anddisappearinstantlyasthoughithadcrouchedlowforthenextspringoutofanimpenetrabledarkness。Duringthelongdayofthecalm，hehadobtainedfromthedeckandfromaloft，suchgoodviewsofthecoast，andhadnotedthelayofthelandandthepositionofthedangerssocarefullythat，thoughattheprecisemomentwhenhegavetheordertoletgotheanchor，hehadbeenforsometimeabletoseenofurtherthanifhisheadhadbeenwrappedinawoollenblanket，yetthenextflickeringbluishflashshowedhimthebrig，anchoredalmostexactlywherehehadjudgedhertobe，offanarrowwhitebeachnearthemouthofariver。
Hecouldseeontheshoreahighclusterofbamboohutspercheduponpiles，asmallgroveoftallpalmsallbowedtogetherbeforetheblastlikestalksofgrass，somethingthatmighthavebeenapalisadeofpointedstakesnearthewater，andfaroff，asombrebackgroundresemblinganimmensewall——theforest—cladhills。
Nextmoment，allthisvanishedutterlyfromhissight，asifannihilatedand，beforehehadtimetoturnaway，camebacktoviewwithasuddencrash，appearingunscathedandmotionlessunderhookeddartsofflame，likesomelegendarycountryofimmortals，withstandingthewrathandfireofHeaven。
Madeuneasybythenatureofhisholdingground，andfearingthatinoneoftheterrificoff—shoreguststhebrigwouldstartheranchor，Lingardremainedondecktowatchoverthesafetyofhisvessel。Withonehanduponthelead—linewhichwouldgivehiminstantwarningofthebrigbeginningtodrag，hestoodbytherail，mostofthetimedeafenedandblinded，butalsofascinated，bytherepeatedswiftvisionsofanunknownshore，asightalwayssoinspiring，asmuchperhapsbyitsvaguesuggestionofdangerasbythehopesofsuccessitneverfailstoawakenintheheartofatrueadventurer。Anditsimmutableaspectofprofoundandstillrepose，seenthusunderstreamsoffireandinthemidstofaviolentuproar，madeitappearinconceivablymysteriousandamazing。
Betweenthesquallstherewereshortmomentsofcalm，whilenowandtheneventhethunderwouldceaseasiftodrawbreath。
Duringoneofthoseintervals。Lingard，tiredandsleepy，wasbeginningtodozewherehestood，whensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthat，somewherebelow，theseahadspokeninahumanvoice。
Ithadsaid，\"PraisebetoGod——\"andthevoicesoundedsmall，clear，andconfident，likethevoiceofachildspeakinginacathedral。Lingardgaveastartandthought——I’vedreamedthis——anddirectlytheseasaidveryclosetohim，\"Givearope。\"
Thethundergrowledwickedly，andLingard，aftershoutingtothemenondeck，peereddownatthewater，untilatlasthemadeoutfloatingclosealongsidetheupturnedfaceofamanwithstaringeyesthatgleamedathimandthenblinkedquicklytoaflashoflightning。Bythattimeallhandsinthebrigwerewildlyactiveandmanyropes—endshadbeenthrownover。Thentogetherwithagustofwind，and，asifblownonboard，amantumbledovertherailandfellallinaheapuponthedeck。Beforeanyonehadthetimetopickhimup，heleapedtohisfeet，causingthepeoplearoundhimtostepbackhurriedly。Asinisterblueglareshowedthebewilderedfacesandthepetrifiedattitudesofmencompletelydeafenedbytheaccompanyingpealofthunder。Afteratime，asiftobeingsplungedintheabyssofeternalsilence，therecametotheirearsanunfamiliarthin，far—awayvoicesaying：
\"Iseekthewhiteman。\"
\"Here，\"criedLingard。Then，whenhehadthestranger，drippingandnakedbutforasoakedwaistcloth，underthelampofthecabin，hesaid，\"Idon’tknowyou。\"
\"MynameisJaffir，andIcomefromPataHassim，whoismychiefandyourfriend。Doyouknowthis？\"
Heheldupathickgoldring，setwithafairlygoodemerald。
\"IhaveseenitbeforeontheRajah’sfinger，\"saidLingard，lookingverygrave。
\"ItisthewitnessofthetruthIspeak——themessagefromHassimis——’Departandforget！’\"
\"Idon’tforget，\"saidLingard，slowly。\"Iamnotthatkindofman。Whatfollyisthis？\"
ItisunnecessarytogiveatfulllengththestorytoldbyJaffir。Itappearsthatonhisreturnhome，afterthemeetingwithLingard，Hassimfoundhisrelativedyingandastrongpartyformedtoopposehisrightfulsuccessor。TheoldRajahTulladiedlateatnightand——asJaffirputit——beforethesunrosetherewerealreadyblowsexchangedinthecourtyardoftheruler’sdalam。Thiswasthepreliminaryfightofacivilwar，fosteredbyforeignintrigues；awarofjungleandriver，ofassaultedstockadesandforestambushes。Inthiscontest，bothparties——
accordingtoJaffir——displayedgreatcourage，andoneofthemanunswervingdevotiontowhat，almostfromthefirst，wasalostcause。BeforeamonthelapsedHassim，thoughstillchiefofanarmedband，wasalreadyafugitive。Hekeptupthestruggle，however，withsomevaguenotionthatLingard’sarrivalwouldturnthetide。
\"Forweekswelivedonwildrice；fordayswefoughtwithnothingbutwaterinourbellies，\"declaimedJaffirinthetoneofatruefire—eater。
Andthenhewentontorelate，how，drivensteadilydowntothesea，Hassim，withasmallbandoffollowers，hadbeenfordaysholdingthestockadebythewaterside。
\"Buteverynightsomemendisappeared，\"confessedJaffir。\"Theywerewearyandhungryandtheywenttoeatwiththeirenemies。
Weareonlytennow——tenmenandawomanwiththeheartofaman，whoaretonightstarving，andto—morrowshalldieswiftly。Wesawyourshipafarallday；butyouhavecometoolate。Andforfearoftreacheryandlestharmshouldbefallyou——hisfriend——theRajahgavemetheringandIcreptonmystomachoverthesand，andIswaminthenight——andI，Jaffir，thebestswimmerinWajo，andtheslaveofHassim，tellyou——hismessagetoyouis’Departandforget’——andthisishisgift——take！\"
HecaughtholdsuddenlyofLingard’shand，thrustroughlyintoitthering，andthenforthefirsttimelookedroundthecabinwithwonderingbutfearlesseyes。Theylingeredoverthesemicircleofbayonetsandrestedfondlyonmusket—racks。Hegruntedinadmiration。
\"Ya—wa，thisisstrength！\"hemurmuredasiftohimself。\"Butithascometoolate。\"
\"Perhapsnot，\"criedLingard。
\"Toolate，\"saidJaffir，\"wearetenonly，andatsunrisewegoouttodie。\"Hewenttothecabindoorandhesitatedtherewithapuzzledair，beingunusedtolocksanddoorhandles。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"askedLingard。
\"Ishallswimback，\"repliedJaffir。\"Themessageisspokenandthenightcannotlastforever。\"
\"Youcanstopwithme，\"saidLingard，lookingatthemansearchingly。
\"Hassimwaits，\"wasthecurtanswer。
’Didhetellyoutoreturn？\"askedLingard。
\"No！Whatneed？\"saidtheotherinasurprisedtone。
Lingardseizedhishandimpulsively。
\"IfIhadtenmenlikeyou！\"hecried。
\"Weareten，buttheyaretwentytoone，\"saidJaffir，simply。
Lingardopenedthedoor。
\"Doyouwantanythingthatamancangive？\"heasked。
TheMalayhadamomentofhesitation，andLingardnoticedthesunkeneyes，theprominentribs，andtheworn—outlookoftheman。
\"Speakout，\"heurgedwithasmile；\"thebearerofagiftmusthaveareward。\"
\"Adrinkofwaterandahandfulofriceforstrengthtoreachtheshore，\"saidJaffirsturdily。\"Foroverthere\"——hetossedhishead——\"wehadnothingtoeatto—day。\"
\"Youshallhaveit——giveittoyouwithmyownhands，\"mutteredLingard。
Hedidso，andthusloweredhimselfinJaffir’sestimationforatime。Whilethemessenger，squattingonthefloor，atewithouthastebutwithconsiderableearnestness，Lingardthoughtoutaplanofaction。Inhisignoranceastothetruestateofaffairsinthecountry，tosaveHassimfromtheimmediatedangerofhispositionwasallthathecouldreasonablyattempt。TothatendLingardproposedtoswingouthislong—boatandsendhercloseinshoretotakeoffHassimandhismen。HeknewenoughofMalaystofeelsurethatonsuchanightthebesiegers，nowcertainofsuccess，andbeing，Jaffirsaid，inpossessionofeverythingthatcouldfloat，wouldnotbeveryvigilant，especiallyontheseafrontofthestockade。TheveryfactofJaffirhavingmanagedtoswimoffundetectedprovedthatmuch。Thebrig’sboatcould——whenthefrequencyoflightningabated——approachunseenclosetothebeach，andthedefeatedparty，eitherstealingoutonebyoneormakingarushinabody，wouldembarkandbereceivedinthebrig。
ThisplanwasexplainedtoJaffir，whohearditwithouttheslightestmarkofinterest，beingapparentlytoobusyeating。
Whenthelastgrainofricewasgone，hestoodup，tookalongpullatthewaterbottle，muttered：\"Ihear。Good。IwilltellHassim，\"andtighteningtheragroundhisloins，preparedtogo。
\"Givemetimetoswimashore，\"hesaid，\"andwhentheboatstarts，putanotherlightbesidetheonethatburnsnowlikeastaraboveyourvessel。Weshallseeandunderstand。Anddon’tsendtheboattillthereislesslightning：aboatisbiggerthanamaninthewater。Telltherowerstopullforthepalm—groveandceasewhenanoar，thrustdownwithastrongarm，touchesthebottom。Verysoontheywillhearourhail；butifnoonecomestheymustgoawaybeforedaylight。Achiefmaypreferdeathtolife，andwewhoareleftarealloftrueheart。Doyouunderstand，Obigman？\"
