\"Dropit，\"whisperedJorgenson。
\"Iamindebt，\"saidLingard，slowly，andstoodstill。
\"Dropit！\"
\"Neverdroppedanythinginmylife。\"
\"Dropit！\"
\"ByGod，Iwon’t！\"criedLingard，stampinghisfoot。
Therewasapause。
\"Iwaslikeyou——once，\"repeatedJorgenson。\"Fiveandthirtyyears——neverdroppedanything。Andwhatyoucandoisonlychild’splaytosomejobsIhavehadonmyhands——understandthat——greatmanasyouare，CaptainLingardoftheLightning……YoushouldhaveseentheWildRose，\"headdedwithasuddenbreakinhisvoice。
Lingardleanedovertheguard—railofthepier。Jorgensoncamecloser。
\"Isetfiretoherwithmyownhands！\"hesaidinavibratingtoneandverylow，asifmakingamonstrousconfession。
\"Poordevil，\"mutteredLingard，profoundlymovedbythetragicenormityoftheact。\"Isupposetherewasnowayout？\"
\"Iwasn’tgoingtoletherrottopiecesinsomeDutchport，\"
saidJorgenson，gloomily。\"DidyoueverhearofDawson？\"
\"Something——Idon’tremembernow——\"mutteredLingard，whofeltachilldownhisbackattheideaofhisownvesseldecayingslowlyinsomeDutchport。\"Hedied——didn’the？\"heasked，absently，whilehewonderedwhetherhewouldhavetheplucktosetfiretothebrig——onanemergency。
\"CuthisthroatonthebeachbelowFortRotterdam，\"saidJorgenson。Hisgauntfigurewaveredintheunsteadymoonshineasthoughmadeofmist。\"Yes。Hebrokesometraderegulationorotherandtalkedbigaboutlaw—courtsandlegaltrialstothelieutenantoftheKomet。’Certainly，’saysthehound。
’JurisdictionofMacassar，Iwilltakeyourschoonerthere。’Thencomingintotheroadshetowsherfulltiltonaledgeofrocksonthenorthside——smash！WhenshewashalffullofwaterhetakeshishatofftoDawson。’There’stheshore，’sayshe——’goandgetyourlegaltrial，you—Englishman——’\"Heliftedalongarmandshookhisfistatthemoonwhichdodgedsuddenlybehindacloud。\"Allwaslost。PoorDawsonwalkedthestreetsformonthsbarefootedandinrags。Thenonedayhebeggedaknifefromsomecharitablesoul，wentdowntotakealastlookatthewreck，and——\"
\"Idon’tinterferewiththeDutch，\"interruptedLingard，impatiently。\"IwantHassimtogetbackhisown——\"
\"AndsupposetheDutchwantthethingsjustso，\"returnedJorgenson。\"Anywaythereisadevilinsuchwork——dropit！\"
\"Lookhere，\"saidLingard，\"Itookthesepeopleoffwhentheywereintheirlastditch。Thatmeanssomething。Ioughtnottohavemeddledanditwouldhavebeenalloverinafewhours。I
musthavemeantsomethingwhenIinterfered，whetherIknewitornot。Imeantitthen——anddidnotknowit。Verywell。Imeanitnow——anddoknowit。Whenyousavepeoplefromdeathyoutakeashareintheirlife。That’showIlookatit。\"
Jorgensonshookhishead。
\"Foolishness！\"hecried，thenaskedsoftlyinavoicethattrembledwithcuriosity——\"Wheredidyouleavethem？\"
\"WithBelarab，\"breathedoutLingard。\"Youknewhimintheolddays。\"
\"Iknewhim，Iknewhisfather，\"burstouttheotherinanexcitedwhisper。\"WhomdidInotknow？IknewSentotwhenhewasKingoftheSouthShoreofJavaandtheDutchofferedapriceforhishead——enoughtomakeanyman’sfortune。HeslepttwiceonboardtheWildRosewhenthingshadbeguntogowrongwithhim。I
knewhim，Iknewallhischiefs，thepriests，thefightingmen，theoldregentwholostheartandwentovertotheDutch，I
knew——\"hestammeredasifthewordscouldnotcomeout，gaveitupandsighed——\"Belarab’sfatherescapedwithme，\"hebeganagain，quietly，\"andjoinedthePadrisinSumatra。Herosetobeagreatleader。Belarabwasayouththen。Thosewerethetimes。I
rangedthecoast——andlaughedatthecruisers；IsaweverybattlefoughtintheBattakcountry——andIsawtheDutchrun；IwasatthetakingofSingalandescaped。IwasthewhitemanwhoadvisedthechiefsofManangkabo。TherewasalotaboutmeintheDutchpapersatthetime。TheysaidIwasaFrenchmanturnedMohammedan——\"hesworeagreatoath，and，reelingagainsttheguard—rail，panted，mutteringcursesonnewspapers。
\"Well，Belarabhasthejobinhand，\"saidLingard，composedly。
\"HeisthechiefmanontheShoreofRefuge。Thereareothers，ofcourse。Hehassentmessagesnorthandsouth。Wemusthavemen。\"
\"Allthedevilsunchained，\"saidJorgenson。\"Youhavedoneitandnow——lookout——lookout……\"
\"NothingcangowrongasfarasIcansee，\"arguedLingard。\"Theyallknowwhat’stobedone。I’vegottheminhand。Youdon’tthinkBelarabunsafe？Doyou？\"
\"Haven’tseenhimforfifteenyears——butthewholething’sunsafe，\"growledJorgenson。
\"ItellyouI’vefixeditsothatnothingcangowrong。ItwouldbebetterifIhadawhitemanovertheretolookafterthingsgenerally。Thereisagoodlotofstoresandarms——andBelarabwouldbearwatching——nodoubt。Areyouinanywant？\"headded，puttinghishandinhispocket。
\"No，there’splentytoeatinthehouse，\"answeredJorgenson，curtly。\"Dropit，\"heburstout。\"Itwouldbebetterforyoutojumpoverboardatonce。Lookatme。Icameoutaboyofeighteen。
IcanspeakEnglish，IcanspeakDutch，Icanspeakeverycursedlingooftheseislands——Irememberthingsthatwouldmakeyourhairstandonend——butIhaveforgottenthelanguageofmyowncountry。I’vetraded，I’vefought，Ineverbrokemywordtowhiteornative。And，lookatme。Ifithadn’tbeenforthegirlI
wouldhavediedinaditchtenyearsago。Everythingleftme——youth，money，strength，hope——theverysleep。Butshestuckbythewreck。\"
\"Thatsaysalotforherandsomethingforyou，\"saidLingard，cheerily。
Jorgensonshookhishead。
\"That’stheworstofall，\"hesaidwithslowemphasis。\"That’stheend。Icametothemfromtheothersideoftheearthandtheytookmeand——seewhattheymadeofme。\"
\"Whatplacedoyoubelongto？\"askedLingard。
\"Tromso，\"groanedoutJorgenson；\"Iwillneverseesnowagain，\"
hesobbedout，hisfaceinhishands。
Lingardlookedathiminsilence。
\"Wouldyoucomewithme？\"hesaid。\"AsItoldyou，Iaminwantofa——\"
\"Iwouldseeyoudamnedfirst！\"brokeouttheother，savagely。\"I
amanoldwhiteloafer，butyoudon’tgetmetomeddleintheirinfernalaffairs。Theyhaveadeviloftheirown——\"
\"Thethingsimplycan’tfail。I’vecalculatedeverymove。I’veguardedagainsteverything。Iamnofool。\"
\"Yes——youare。Good—night。\"
\"Well，good—bye，\"saidLingard，calmly。
Hesteppedintohisboat，andJorgensonwalkedupthejetty。
Lingard，clearingtheyokelines，heardhimcalloutfromadistance：
\"Dropit！\"
\"Isailbeforesunrise，\"heshoutedinanswer，andwentonboard。
Whenhecameupfromhiscabinafteranuneasynight，itwasdarkyet。Alankfigurestrolledacrossthedeck。
\"HereIam，\"saidJorgenson，huskily。\"Diethereorhere——allone。But，ifIdiethere，rememberthegirlmusteat。\"
LingardwasoneofthefewwhohadseenJorgenson’sgirl。Shehadawrinkledbrownface，alotoftangledgreyhair，afewblackstumpsofteeth，andhadbeenmarriedtohimlatelybyanenterprisingyoungmissionaryfromBukitTimah。WhatherappearancemighthavebeenoncewhenJorgensongaveforherthreehundreddollarsandseveralbrassguns，itwasimpossibletosay。
Allthatwasleftofheryouthwasapairofeyes，undimmedandmournful，which，whenshewasalone，seemedtolookstonilyintothepastoftwolives。WhenJorgensonwasneartheyfollowedhismovementswithanxiouspertinacity。AndnowwithinthesarongthrownoverthegreyheadtheyweredroppingunseentearswhileJorgenson’sgirlrockedherselftoandfro，squattingaloneinacornerofthedarkhut。
\"Don’tyouworryaboutthat，\"saidLingard，graspingJorgenson’shand。\"Sheshallwantfornothing。AllIexpectyoutodoistolookalittleafterBelarab’smoralswhenIamaway。OnemoretripImustmake，andthenweshallbereadytogoahead。I’veforeseeneverysinglething。Trustme！\"
InthiswaydidtherestlessshadeofCaptainH。C。Jorgensonrecrossthewaterofobliviontostepbackintothelifeofmen。
VI
Fortwoyears，Lingard，whohadthrownhimselfbodyandsoulintothegreatenterprise，hadlivedinthelongintoxicationofslowlypreparingsuccess。Nothoughtoffailurehadcrossedhismind，andnopriceappearedtooheavytopayforsuchamagnificentachievement。ItwasnothinglessthanbringingHassimtriumphantlybacktothatcountryseenonceatnightunderthelowcloudsandintheincessanttumultofthunder。WhenattheconclusionofsomelongtalkwithHassim，whoforthetwentiethtimeperhapshadrelatedthestoryofhiswrongsandhisstruggle，heliftedhisbigarmandshakinghisfistabovehishead，shouted：\"Wewillstirthemup。Wewillwakeupthecountry！\"hewas，withoutknowingitintheleast，makingacompleteconfessionoftheidealismhiddenunderthesimplicityofhisstrength。Hewouldwakeupthecountry！Thatwasthefundamentalandunconsciousemotiononwhichwereengraftedhisneedofaction，theprimitivesenseofwhatwasduetojustice，togratitude，tofriendship，thesentimentalpityforthehardlotofImmada——poorchild——theproudconvictionthatofallthemenintheworld，inhisworld，healonehadthemeansandthepluck\"toliftupthebigend\"ofsuchanadventure。
Moneywaswantedandmenwerewanted，andhehadobtainedenoughofbothintwoyearsfromthatdaywhen，pistolsinhisbeltandacabbage—leafhatonhead，hehadunexpectedly，andatearlydawn，confrontedinperfectsilencethatmysteriousBelarab，whohimselfwasforamomenttooastoundedforspeechatthesightofawhiteface。
Thesunhadnotyetclearedtheforestsoftheinterior，butaskyalreadyfulloflightarchedoveradarkovallagoon，overwidefieldsasyetfullofshadows，thatseemedslowlychangingintothewhitenessofthemorningmist。Therewerehuts，fences，palisades，bighousesthat，erectedonloftypiles，wereseenabovethetopsofclusteredfruittrees，asifsuspendedintheair。
SuchwastheaspectofBelarab’ssettlementwhenLingardsethiseyesonitforthefirsttime。Therewereallthesethings，agreatnumberoffacesatthebackofthespareandmuffled—upfigureconfrontinghim，andintheswiftlyincreasinglightacompletestillnessthatmadethemurmuroftheword\"Marhaba\"
（welcome），pronouncedatlastbythechief，perfectlyaudibletoeveryoneofhisfollowers。Thebodyguardswhostoodabouthiminblackskull—capsandwithlong—shaftedlances，preservedanimpassiveaspect。Acrossopenspacesmencouldbeseenrunningtothewaterside。Agroupofwomenstandingonalowknollgazedintently，andnothingofthembuttheheadsshowedabovetheunstirringstalksofamaizefield。Suddenlywithinaclusterofemptyhutsnearbythevoiceofaninvisiblehagwasheardscoldingwithshrillfuryaninvisibleyounggirl：
\"Strangers！Youwanttoseethestrangers？Odevoidofalldecency！MustIsolameandoldhuskthericealone？Mayevilbefalltheeandthestrangers！Maytheyneverfindfavour！Maytheybepursuedwithswords！Iamold。Iamold。Thereisnogoodinstrangers！Ogirl！Maytheyburn。\"
\"Welcome，\"repeatedBelarab，gravely，andlookingstraightintoLingard’seyes。
LingardspentsixdaysthattimeinBelarab’ssettlement。Ofthese，threewerepassedinobservingeachotherwithoutaquestionbeingaskedorahintgivenastotheobjectinview。
Lingardloungedonthefinematswithwhichthechiefhadfurnishedasmallbamboohouseoutsideafortifiedenclosure，whereawhiteflagwithagreenborderflutteredonahighandslenderpolebutstillbelowthewallsoflong，high—roofedbuildings，raisedfortyfeetormoreonhard—woodposts。
Farawaytheinlandforestsweretintedashimmeringblue，liketheforestsofadream。Ontheseawardsidethebeltofgreattrunksandmattedundergrowthcametothewesternshoreoftheovallagoon；andinthepurefreshnessoftheairthegroupsofbrownhousesreflectedinthewaterorseenabovethewavinggreenofthefields，theclumpsofpalmtrees，thefenced—inplantations，thegrovesoffruittrees，madeupapictureofsumptuousprosperity。
Abovethebuildings，themen，thewomen，thestillsheetofwaterandthegreatplainofcropsglisteningwithdew，stretchedtheexalted，themiraculouspeaceofacloudlesssky。Andnoroadseemedtoleadintothiscountryofsplendourandstillness。Onecouldnotbelievetheunquietseawassonear，withitsgiftsanditsunendingmenace。Evenduringthemonthsofstorms，thegreatclamourrisingfromthewhitenedexpanseoftheShallowsdwelthighintheairinavastmurmur，nowfeeblenowstronger，thatseemedtoswingbackandforthonthewindabovetheearthwithoutanyonebeingabletotellwhenceitcame。Itwaslikethesolemnchantofawaterfallswellinganddyingawayabovethewoods，thefields，abovetheroofsofhousesandtheheadsofmen，abovethesecretpeaceofthathiddenandflourishingsettlementofvanquishedfanatics，fugitives，andoutcasts。
EveryafternoonBelarab，followedbyanescortthatstoppedoutsidethedoor，enteredalonethehouseofhisguest。Hegavethesalutation，inquiredafterhishealth，conversedaboutinsignificantthingswithaninscrutablemien。Butallthetimethesteadfastgazeofhisthoughtfuleyesseemedtoseekthetruthwithinthatwhiteface。Inthecooloftheevening，beforethesunhadset，theytalkedtogether，passingandrepassingbetweentheruggedpillarsofthegrovenearthegateofthestockade。Theescortawayintheobliquesunlight，followedwiththeireyesthestrollingfiguresappearingandvanishingbehindthetrees。Manywordswerepronounced，butnothingwassaidthatwoulddisclosethethoughtsofthetwomen。Theyclaspedhandsdemonstrativelybeforeseparating，andtheheavyslamofthegatewasfollowedbythetriplethudofthewoodenbarsdroppedintoironclamps。
Onthethirdnight，Lingardwasawakenedfromalightsleepbythesoundofwhisperingoutside。Ablackshadowobscuredthestarsinthedoorway，andamanenteringsuddenly，stoodabovehiscouchwhileanothercouldbeseensquatting——adarklumponthethresholdofthehut。
\"Fearnot。IamBelarab，\"saidacautiousvoice。
\"Iwasnotafraid，\"whisperedLingard。\"Itisthemancominginthedarkandwithoutwarningwhoisindanger。\"
\"Anddidyounotcometomewithoutwarning？Isaid’welcome’——itwasaseasyformetosay’killhim。’\"
\"Youwerewithinreachofmyarm。Wewouldhavediedtogether，\"
retortedLingard，quietly。
Theotherclickedhistonguetwice，andhisindistinctshapeseemedtosinkhalf—waythroughthefloor。
\"Itwasnotwrittenthusbeforewewereborn，\"hesaid，sittingcross—leggednearthemats，andinadeadenedvoice。\"Thereforeyouaremyguest。Letthetalkbetweenusbestraightliketheshaftofaspearandshorterthantheremainderofthisnight。
Whatdoyouwant？\"
\"First，yourlonglife，\"answeredLingard，leaningforwardtowardthegleamofapairofeyes，\"andthen——yourhelp。\"
VII
ThefaintmurmurofthewordsspokenonthatnightlingeredforalongtimeinLingard’sears，morepersistentthanthememoryofanuproar；helookedwithafixedgazeatthestarsburningpeacefullyinthesquareofthedoorway，whileafterlisteninginsilencetoallhehadtosay，Belarab，asifseducedbythestrengthandaudacityofthewhiteman，openedhisheartwithoutreserve。Hetalkedofhisyouthsurroundedbythefuryoffanaticismandwar，ofbattlesonthehills，ofadvancesthroughtheforests，ofmen’sunswervingpiety，oftheirunextinguishablehate。Notasinglewanderingcloudobscuredthegentlesplendouroftherectangularpatchofstarlightframedintheopaqueblacknessofthehut。Belarabmurmuredonofasuccessionofreverses，oftheringofdisastersnarrowingroundmen’sfadinghopesandundiminishedcourage。Hewhisperedofdefeatandflight，ofthedaysofdespair，ofthenightswithoutsleep，ofunendingpursuit，ofthebewilderedhorrorandsombrefury，oftheirwomenandchildrenkilledinthestockadebeforethebesiegedsalliedforthtodie。
\"IhaveseenallthisbeforeIwasinyearsaman，\"hecried，low。
Hisvoicevibrated。Inthepausethatsucceededtheyheardalightsighofthesleepingfollowerwho，claspinghislegsabovehisankles，restedhisforeheadonhisknees。
\"Andtherewasamongstus，\"beganBelarabagain，\"onewhitemanwhoremainedtotheend，whowasfaithfulwithhisstrength，withhiscourage，withhiswisdom。Agreatman。Hehadgreatrichesbutagreaterheart。\"
ThememoryofJorgenson，emaciatedandgreyhaired，andtryingtoborrowfivedollarstogetsomethingtoeatforthegirl，passedbeforeLingardsuddenlyuponthepacificglitterofthestars。
\"Heresembledyou，\"pursuedBelarab，abruptly。\"Weescapedwithhim，andinhisshipcamehere。Itwasasolitude。Theforestcameneartothesheetofwater，therankgrasswavedupontheheadsoftallmen。Telal，myfather，diedofweariness；wewereonlyafew，andweallnearlydiedoftroubleandsadness——here。
Onthisspot！Andnoenemiescouldtellwherewehadgone。ItwastheShoreofRefuge——andstarvation。\"
Hedronedoninthenight，withrisingandfallinginflections。
Hetoldhowhisdesperatecompanionswantedtogooutanddiefightingontheseaagainsttheshipsfromthewest，theshipswithhighsidesandwhitesails；andhow，unflinchingandalone，hekeptthembattlingwiththethornybush，withtherankgrass，withthesoaringandenormoustrees。Lingard，leaningonhiselbowandstaringthroughthedoor，recalledtheimageofthewidefieldsoutside，sleepingnow，inanimmensityofserenityandstarlight。Thisquietandalmostinvisibletalkerhaddoneitall；inhimwastheorigin，thecreation，thefate；andinthewonderofthatthoughttheshadowymurmuringfigureacquiredagiganticgreatnessofsignificance，asifithadbeentheembodimentofsomenaturalforce，ofaforceforevermasterfulandundying。
\"AndevennowmylifeisunsafeasifIweretheirenemy，\"saidBelarab，mournfully。\"Eyesdonotkill，norangrywords；andcurseshavenopower，elsetheDutchwouldnotgrowfatlivingonourland，andIwouldnotbealiveto—night。Doyouunderstand？
Haveyouseenthemenwhofoughtintheolddays？Theyhavenotforgottenthetimesofwar。Ihavegiventhemhomesandquietheartsandfullbellies。Ialone。Andtheycursemynameinthedark，ineachother’sears——becausetheycanneverforget。\"
Thisman，whosetalkhadbeenofwarandviolence，discoveredunexpectedlyapassionatecravingforsecurityandpeace。Noonewouldunderstandhim。Someofthosewhowouldnotunderstandhaddied。Hiswhiteteethgleamedcruellyinthedark。Buttherewereothershecouldnotkill。Thefools。Hewantedthelandandthepeopleinittobeforgottenasiftheyhadbeenswallowedbythesea。Buttheyhadneitherwisdomnorpatience。Couldtheynotwait？Theychantedprayersfivetimeseveryday，buttheyhadnotthefaith。
\"Deathcomestoall——andtothebelieverstheendoftrouble。Butyouwhitemenwhoaretoostrongforus，youalsodie。Youdie。
AndthereisaParadiseasgreatasallearthandallHeaventogether，butnotforyou——notforyou！\"
Lingard，amazed，listenedwithoutasound。Thesleepersnoredfaintly。Belarabcontinuedverycalmafterthisalmostinvoluntaryoutburstofaconsolingbelief。Heexplainedthathewantedsomebodyathisback，somebodystrongandwhomhecouldtrust，someoutsideforcethatwouldawetheunruly，thatwouldinspiretheirignorancewithfear，andmakehisrulesecure。HegropedinthedarkandseizingLingard’sarmabovetheelbowpresseditwithforce——thenletgo。AndLingardunderstoodwhyhistemerityhadbeensosuccessful。
Thenandthere，inreturnforLingard’sopensupport，afewgunsandalittlemoney，BelarabpromisedhishelpfortheconquestofWajo。Therewasnodoubthecouldfindmenwhowouldfight。Hecouldsendmessagestofriendsatadistanceandtherewerealsomanyunquietspiritsinhisowndistrictreadyforanyadventure。
Hespokeofthesemenwithfiercecontemptandanangrytenderness，inmingledaccentsofenvyanddisdain。Hewasweariedbytheirfolly，bytheirrecklessness，bytheirimpatience——andheseemedtoresenttheseasiftheyhadbeengiftsofwhichhehimselfhadbeendeprivedbythefatalityofhiswisdom。Theywouldfight。WhenthetimecameLingardhadonlytospeak，andasignfromhimwouldsendthemtoavaindeath——thosemenwhocouldnotwaitforanopportunityonthisearthorfortheeternalrevengeofHeaven。
Heceased，andtowereduprightinthegloom。
\"Awake！\"heexclaimed，low，bendingoverthesleepingman。
Theirblackshapes，passinginturn，eclipsedfortwosuccessivemomentstheglitterofthestars，andLingard，whohadnotstirred，remainedalone。Helaybackfulllengthwithanarmthrownacrosshiseyes。
WhenthreedaysafterwardheleftBelarab’ssettlement，itwasonacalmmorningofuncloudedpeace。Alltheboatsofthebrigcameupintothelagoonarmedandmannedtomakemoreimpressivethesolemnfactofaconcludedalliance。Astaringcrowdwatchedhisimposingdepartureinprofoundsilenceandwithanincreasedsenseofwonderatthemysteryofhisapparition。Theprogressoftheboatswassmoothandslowwhiletheycrossedthewidelagoon。
Lingardlookedbackonce。Agreatstillnesshadlaiditshandovertheearth，thesky，andthemen；upontheimmobilityoflandscapeandpeople。HassimandImmada，standingoutclearlybythesideofthechief，raisedtheirarmsinalastsalutation；
andthedistantgestureappearedsad，futile，lostinspace，likeasignofdistressmadebycastawaysinthevainhopeofanimpossiblehelp。
Hedeparted，hereturned，hewentawayagain，andeachtimethosetwofigures，lonelyonsomesandbankoftheShallows，madeathimthesamefutilesignofgreetingorgood—bye。Theirarmsateachmovementseemedtodrawcloseraroundhisheartthebondsofaprotectingaffection。Heworkedprosaically，earningmoneytopaythecostoftheromanticnecessitythathadinvadedhislife。Andthemoneyranlikewateroutofhishands。TheowneroftheNewEnglandvoiceremittednotalittleofittohispeopleinBaltimore。ButimporthousesintheportsoftheFarEasthadtheirshare。Itpaidforafastprauwhich，commandedbyJaffir，sailedintounfrequentedbaysandupunexploredrivers，carryingsecretmessages，importantnews，generousbribes。AgoodpartofitwenttothepurchaseoftheEmma。
TheEmmawasabatteredanddecrepitoldschoonerthat，inthedeclineofherexistence，hadbeenmuchill—usedbyapaunchywhitetraderofcunningandgluttonousaspect。Thismanboastedoutrageouslyafterwardofthegoodpricehehadgot\"forthatrottenoldhookerofmine——youknow。\"TheEmmaleftportmysteriouslyincompanywiththebrigandhenceforthvanishedfromtheseasforever。LingardhadhertowedupthecreekandranheragrounduponthatshoreofthelagoonfarthestfromBelarab’ssettlement。Therehadbeenatthattimeagreatriseofwaters，whichretiringsoonafterlefttheoldcraftcradledinthemud，withherbowsgroundedhighbetweenthetrunksoftwobigtrees，andleaningoveralittleasthoughafterahardlifeshehadsettledwearilytoaneverlastingrest。There，afewmonthslater，Jorgensonfoundherwhen，calledbackintothelifeofmen，hereappeared，togetherwithLingard，intheLandofRefuge。
\"Sheisbetterthanafortonshore，\"saidLingard，assidebysidetheyleantoverthetaffrail，lookingacrossthelagoononthehousesandpalmgrovesofthesettlement。\"AllthegunsandpowderIhavegottogethersofararestoredinher。Goodidea，wasn’tit？Therewillbe，perhaps，noothersuchfloodforyears，andnowtheycan’tcomealongsideunlessrightunderthecounter，andonlyoneboatatatime。Ithinkyouareperfectlysafehere；
youcouldkeepoffawholefleetofboats；sheisn’teasytosetfireto；theforestinfrontisbetterthanawall。Well？\"
Jorgensonassentedingrunts。Helookedatthedesolateemptinessofthedecks，atthestrippedspars，atthedeadbodyofthedismantledlittlevesselthatwouldknowthelifeoftheseasnomore。Thegloomoftheforestfellonher，mournfullikeawindingsheet。Thebushesofthebanktappedtheirtwigsonthebluffofherbows，andapendentspikeoftinybrownblossomsswungtoandfroovertheruinsofherwindlass。
