Itwasasentimentperfectlynewtohim。Hehadneverbeforefeltthissortofsolicitudeabouthimselforanyotherman。Hispersonalitywasbeingdevelopedbynewexperience，andashewasverysimplehereceivedtheinitiationwithshynessandself—mistrust。HehadnoticedwithinnocentalarmthatLingardhadnotlookedeitherattheskyoroverthesea，neitherathisownshipnortheschoonerastern；notalongthedecks，notaloft，notanywhere。Hehadlookedatnothing！AndsomehowCarterfelthimselfmorelonelyandwithoutsupportthanwhenhehadbeenleftalonebythatmaninchargeoftwoshipsentangledamongsttheShallowsandenvironedbysomesinistermystery。Sincethatmanhadcomeback，insteadofwelcomereliefCarterfelthisresponsibilityrestonhisyoungshoulderswithtenfoldweight。
HisprofoundconvictionwasthatLingardshouldberoused。
\"CaptainLingard，\"heburstoutindesperation；\"youcan’tsayI
haveworriedyouverymuchsincethismorningwhenIreceivedyouattheside，butImustbetoldsomething。Whatisitgoingtobewithus？Fightorrun？\"
LingardstoppedshortandnowtherewasnodoubtinCarter’smindthattheCaptainwaslookingathim。Therewasnoroomforanydoubtbeforethatsternandenquiringgaze。\"Aha！\"thoughtCarter。\"Thishasstartledhim\"；andfeelingthathisshynesshaddepartedhepursuedhisadvantage。\"Forthefactofthematteris，sir，that，whateverhappens，unlessIamtobeyourmanyouwillhavenoofficer。IhadbettertellyouatoncethatIhavebundledthatrespectable，crazy，fatShawoutoftheship。Hewasupsettingallhands。YesterdayItoldhimtogoandgethisdunnagetogetherbecauseIwasgoingtosendhimaboardtheyacht。Hecouldn’thavemademoreuproaraboutitifIhadproposedtochuckhimoverboard。Iwarnedhimthatifhedidn’tgoquietlyIwouldhavehimtieduplikeasheepreadyforslaughter。However，hewentdowntheladderonhisownfeet，shakinghisfistatmeandpromisingtohavemehangedforapiratesomeday。Hecandonoharmonboardtheyacht。Andnow，sir，it’sforyoutogiveordersandnotforme——thankGod！\"
Lingardturnedaway，abruptly。Carterdidn’tbudge。Afteramomentheheardhimselfcalledfromtheothersideofthedeckandobeyedwithalacrity。
\"What’sthatstoryofamanyoupickeduponthecoastlastevening？\"askedLingardinhisgentlesttone。\"Didn’tyoutellmesomethingaboutitwhenIcameonboard？\"
\"Itriedto，\"saidCarter，frankly。\"ButIsoongaveitup。Youdidn’tseemtopayanyattentiontowhatIwassaying。Ithoughtyouwantedtobeleftaloneforabit。WhatcanIknowofyourways，yet，sir？Areyouaware，CaptainLingard，thatsincethismorningIhavebeendownfivetimesatthecabindoortolookatyou？Thereyousat……\"
HepausedandLingardsaid：\"Youhavebeenfivetimesdowninthecabin？\"
\"Yes。AndthesixthtimeImadeupmymindtomakeyoutakesomenoticeofme。Ican’tbeleftwithoutorders。Therearetwoshipstolookafter，alotofthingstobedone……\"
\"Thereisnothingtobedone，\"LingardinterruptedwithameremurmurbutinatonewhichmadeCarterkeepsilentforawhile。
\"Eventoknowthatmuchwouldhavebeensomethingtogoby，\"heventuredatlast。\"Icouldn’tletyousittherewiththesungettingprettylowandalongnightbeforeus。\"
\"Ifeelstunnedyet，\"saidLingard，lookingCarterstraightintheface，asiftowatchtheeffectofthatconfession。
\"Wereyouverynearthatexplosion？\"askedtheyoungmanwithsympatheticcuriosityandseekingforsomesignonLingard’sperson。Buttherewasnothing。NotasinglehairoftheCaptain’sheadseemedtohavebeensinged。
\"Near，\"mutteredLingard。\"Itmighthavebeenmyhead。\"Hepresseditwithbothhands，thenletthemfall。\"Whataboutthatman？\"heasked，brusquely。\"Wheredidhecomefrom？……I
supposeheisdeadnow，\"headdedinanenvioustone。
\"No，sir。Hemusthaveasmanylivesasacat，\"answeredCarter。
\"Iwilltellyouhowitwas。AsIsaidbeforeIwasn’tgoingtogiveyouup，deadoralive，soyesterdaywhenthesunwentdownalittleintheafternoonIhadtwoofourboatsmannedandpulledinshore，takingsoundingstofindapassageiftherewasone。I
meanttogobackandlookforyouwiththebrigorwithoutthebrig——butthatdoesn’tmatternow。Therewerethreeorfourfloatinglogsinsight。OneoftheCalashesinmyboatmadeoutsomethingredononeofthem。Ithoughtitwasworthwhiletogoandseewhatitwas。Itwasthatman’ssarong。Ithadgotentangledamongthebranchesandpreventedhimrollingoffintothewater。Iwasneversoglad，Iassureyou，aswhenwefoundoutthathewasstillbreathing。Ifwecouldonlynursehimbacktolife，Ithought，hecouldperhapstellmealotofthings。Thelogonwhichhehunghadcomeoutofthemouthofthecreekandhecouldn’thavebeenmorethanhalfadayonitbymycalculation。Ihadhimtakendownthemainhatchwayandputintoahammockinthe’tween—decks。Heonlyjustbreathedthen，butsometimeduringthenighthecametohimselfandgotoutofthehammocktoliedownonamat。Isupposehewasmorecomfortablethatway。HerecoveredhisspeechonlythismorningandIwentdownatonceandtoldyouofit，butyoutooknonotice。ItoldyoualsowhohewasbutIdon’tknowwhetheryouheardmeornot。\"
\"Idon’tremember，\"saidLingardunderhisbreath。
\"Theyarewonderful，thoseMalays。Thismorninghewasonlyhalfalive，ifthatmuch，andnowIunderstandhehasbeentalkingtoWasubforanhour。Willyougodowntoseehim，sir，orshallI
sendacoupleofmentocarryhimondeck？\"
Lingardlookedbewilderedforamoment。
\"Whoonearthishe？\"heasked。
\"Why，it’sthatfellowwhomyousentout，thatnightImetyou，tocatchourfirstgig。Whatdotheycallhim？Jaffir，Ithink。
Hasn’thebeenwithyouashore，sir？Didn’thefindyouwiththeletterIgavehimforyou？Amostdeterminedlookingchap。Iknewhimagainthemomentwegothimoffthelog。\"
Lingardseizedholdoftheroyalbackstaywithinreachofhishand。Jaffir！Jaffir！Faithfulaboveallothers；themessengerofsuprememoments；therecklessanddevotedservant！Lingardfeltacrushingsenseofdespair。\"No，Ican’tfacethis，\"hewhisperedtohimself，lookingatthecoastblackasinknowbeforehiseyesintheworld’sshadowthatwasslowlyencompassingthegreyclearnessoftheShallowWaters。\"SendWasubtome。Iamgoingdownintothecabin。\"
Hecrossedovertothecompanion，thencheckinghimselfsuddenly：
\"Wasthereaboatfromtheyachtduringtheday？\"heaskedasifstruckbyasuddenthought。——\"No，sir，\"answeredCarter。\"Wehadnocommunicationwiththeyachtto—day。\"——\"SendWasubtome，\"
repeatedLingardinasternvoiceashewentdownthestairs。
TheoldserangcominginnoiselesslysawhisCaptainashehadseenhimmanytimesbefore，sittingunderthegiltthunderbolts，apparentlyasstronginhisbody，inhiswealth，andinhisknowledgeofsecretwordsthathaveapowerovermenandelements，asever。TheoldMalaysquatteddownwithinacoupleoffeetfromLingard，leanedhisbackagainstthesatinwoodpanelofthebulkhead，thenraisinghisoldeyeswithawatchfulandbenevolentexpressiontothewhiteman’sface，claspedhishandsbetweenhisknees。
\"Wasub，youhavelearnednoweverything。IstherenooneleftalivebutJaffir？Aretheyalldead？\"
\"Mayyoulive！\"answeredWasub；andLingardwhisperedanappalled\"Alldead！\"towhichWasubnoddedslightlytwice。Hiscrackedvoicehadalamentingintonation。\"Itisalltrue！Itisalltrue！Youareleftalone，Tuan；youareleftalone！\"
\"Itwastheirdestiny，\"saidLingardatlast，withforcedcalmness。\"ButhasJaffirtoldyouofthemannerofthiscalamity？Howisitthathealonecameoutalivefromittobefoundbyyou？\"
\"Hewastoldbyhislordtodepartandheobeyed，\"beganWasub，fixinghiseyesonthedeckandspeakingjustloudenoughtobeheardbyLingard，who，bendingforwardinhisseat，shrankinwardlyfromeverywordandyetwouldnothavemissedasingleoneofthemforanything。
Forthecatastrophehadfallenonhisheadlikeaboltfromtheblueintheearlymorninghoursofthedaybefore。Atthefirstbreakofdawnhehadbeensentfortor俿um？histalkwithBelarab。HehadfeltsuddenlyMrs。Traversremoveherhandfromhishead。Hervoicespeakingintimatelyintohisear：\"Getup。
Therearesomepeoplecoming，\"hadrecalledhimtohimself。Hehadgotupfromtheground。Thelightwasdim，theairfullofmist；anditwasonlygraduallythathebegantomakeoutformsabovehisheadandabouthisfeet：trees，houses，mensleepingontheground。Hedidn’trecognizethem。Itwasbutacruelchangeofdream。Whocouldtellwhatwasrealinthisworld？Helookedabouthim，dazedly；hewasstilldrunkwiththedeepdraughtofoblivionhehadconqueredforhimself。Yes——butitwasshewhohadlethimsnatchthecup。Helookeddownatthewomanonthebench。Shemovednot。Shehadremainedlikethat，stillforhours，givinghimawakingdreamofrestwithoutend，inaninfinityofhappinesswithoutsoundandmovement，withoutthought，withoutjoy；butwithaninfiniteeaseofcontent，likeaworld—embracingreveriebreathingtheairofsadnessandscentedwithlove。Forhoursshehadnotmoved。
\"Youarethemostgenerousofwomen，\"hesaid。Hebentoverher。
Hereyeswerewideopen。Herlipsfeltcold。Itdidnotshockhim。Afterhestoodupheremainednearher。Heatisaconsumingthing，butshewithhercoldlipsseemedtohimindestructible——and，perhaps，immortal！
Againhestooped，butthistimeitwasonlytokissthefringeofherheadscarf。Thenheturnedawaytomeetthethreemen，who，comingroundthecornerofthehutcontainingtheprisoners，wereapproachinghimwithmeasuredsteps。TheydesiredhispresenceintheCouncilroom。Belarabwasawake。
Theyalsoexpressedtheirsatisfactionatfindingthewhitemanawake，becauseBelarabwantedtoimparttohiminformationofthegreatestimportance。ItseemedtoLingardthathehadbeenawakeeversincehecouldremember。Itwasastobeingalivethathefeltnotsosure。Hehadnodoubtofhisexistence；butwasthislife——thisprofoundindifference，thisstrangecontemptforwhathiseyescouldsee，thisdistasteforwords，thisunbeliefintheimportanceofthingsandmen？Hetriedtoregainpossessionofhimself，hisoldselfwhichhadthingstodo，wordstospeakaswellastohear。Butitwastoodifficult。Hewasseducedawaybythetensefeelingofexistencefarsuperiortothemereconsciousnessoflife，andwhichinitsimmensityofcontradictions，delight，dread，exultationanddespaircouldnotbefacedandyetwasnottobeevaded。Therewasnopeaceinit。
Butwhowantedpeace？Surrenderwasbetter，thedreadfuleaseofslacklimbsinthesweepofanenormoustideandinadivineemptinessofmind。Ifthiswasexistencethenheknewthatheexisted。Andheknewthatthewomanexisted，too，inthesweepofthetide，withoutspeech，withoutmovement，withoutheat！
Indestructible——and，perhaps，immortal！
VII
WiththesublimeindifferenceofamanwhohashadaglimpsethroughtheopendoorsofParadiseandisnolongercarefulofmerelife，LingardhadfollowedBelarab’sanxiousmessengers。Thestockadewaswakingupinasubduedresonanceofvoices。Menweregettingupfromtheground，fireswerebeingrekindled。Drapedfiguresflittedinthemistamongstthebuildings；andthroughthematwallofabamboohouseLingardheardthefeeblewailingofachild。Adayofmerelifewasbeginning；butintheChief’sgreatCouncilroomseveralwaxcandlesandacoupleofcheapEuropeanlampskeptthedawnatbay，whilethemorningmistwhichcouldnotbekeptoutmadeafaintreddishhaloroundeveryflame。
Belarabwasnotonlyawake，butheevenlookedlikeamanwhohadnotsleptforalongtime。ThecreatoroftheShoreofRefuge，thewearyRuleroftheSettlement，withhisscornoftheunrestandfollyofmen，wasangrywithhiswhitefriendwhowasalwaysbringinghisdesiresandhistroublestohisverydoor。Belarabdidnotwantanyonetodiebutneitherdidhewantanyoneinparticulartolive。Whathewasconcernedaboutwastopreservethemysteryandthepowerofhismelancholyhesitations。ThesedelicatethingsweremenacedbyLingard’sbrusquemovements，bythatpassionatewhitemanwhobelievedinmorethanoneGodandalwaysseemedtodoubtthepowerofDestiny。Belarabwasprofoundlyannoyed。Hewasalsogenuinelyconcerned，forhelikedLingard。Helikedhimnotonlyforhisstrength，whichprotectedhisclear—mindedscepticismfromthosedangersthatbesetallrulers，buthelikedhimalsoforhimself。Thatmanofinfinitehesitations，bornfromasortofmysticcontemptforAllah’screation，yetbelievedabsolutelybothinLingard’spowerandinhisboldness。Absolutely。Andyet，inthemarvellousconsistencyofhistemperament，nowthatthemomenthadcome，hedreadedtoputbothpowerandfortitudetothetest。
LingardcouldnotknowthatsomelittletimebeforethefirstbreakofdawnoneofBelarab’sspiesintheSettlementhadfoundhiswayinsidethestockadeataspotremotefromthelagoon，andthataveryfewmomentsafterLingardhadlefttheChiefinconsequenceofJorgenson’srockets，BelarabwaslisteningtoanamazingtaleofHassimandImmada’scaptureandofTengga’sdetermination，verymuchstrengthenedbythatfact，toobtainpossessionoftheEmma，eitherbyforceorbynegotiation，orbysomecraftysubterfugeinwhichtheRajahandhissistercouldbemadetoplaytheirpart。Inhismistrustoftheuniverse，whichseemedalmosttoextendtothewillofGodhimself，Belarabwasverymuchalarmed，forthematerialpowerofDaman’spiraticalcrowdwasatTengga’scommand；andwhocouldtellwhetherthisWajoRajahwouldremainloyalinthecircumstances？ItwasalsoverycharacteristicofhimwhomtheoriginalsettlersoftheShoreofRefugecalledtheFatherofSafety，thathedidnotsayanythingofthistoLingard，forhewasafraidofrousingLingard’sfierceenergywhichwouldevencarryawayhimselfandallhispeopleandputthepeaceofsomanyyearstothesuddenhazardofabattle。
ThereforeBelarabsethimselftopersuadeLingardongeneralconsiderationstodeliverthewhitemen，whoreallybelongedtoDaman，tothatsupremeChiefoftheIllanunsandbythissimpleproceedingdetachhimcompletelyfromTengga。Whyshouldhe，Belarab，gotowaragainsthalftheSettlementontheiraccount？
Itwasnotnecessary，itwasnotreasonable。ItwouldbeeveninamannerasintobeginastrifeinacommunityofTrueBelievers。WhereaswithanofferlikethatinhishandhecouldsendanembassytoTenggawhowouldseethereatoncethedownfallofhispurposesandtheendofhishopes。Atonce！Thatmoment！……AfterwardthequestionofaransomcouldbearrangedwithDamaninwhichhe，Belarab，wouldmediateinthefullnessofhisrecoveredpower，withoutarivalandinthesincerityofhisheart。Andthen，ifneedbe，hecouldputforthallhispoweragainstthechiefofthesea—vagabondswhowould，asamatteroffact，benegotiatingundertheshadowofthesword。
Belarabtalked，low—voicedanddignified，withnowandthenasubtleintonation，apersuasiveinflexionorahalf—melancholysmileinthecourseoftheargument。Whatencouragedhimmostwasthechangedaspectofhiswhitefriend。Thefiercepowerofhispersonalityseemedtohaveturnedintoadream。Lingardlistened，growinggraduallyinscrutableinhiscontinuedsilence，butremaininggentleinasortofraptpatienceasiflappedinthewingsoftheAngelofPeacehimself。Emboldenedbythattransformation，Belarab’scounsellorsseatedonthematsmurmuredloudlytheirassenttotheviewsoftheChief。Throughthethickeningwhitemistoftropicallands，thelightofthetropicaldayfilteredintothehall。Oneofthewisemengotupfromthefloorandwithprudentfingersbeganextinguishingthewaxlightsonebyone。Hehesitatedtotouchthelamps，theflamesofwhichlookedyellowandcold。Apuffofthemorningbreezeenteredthegreatroom，faintandchill。Lingard，facingBelarabinawoodenarmchair，withslacklimbsandinthedivineemptinessofamindenchantedbyaglimpseofParadise，shudderedprofoundly。
Astrongvoiceshoutedinthedoorwaywithoutanyceremonyandwithasortofjeeringaccent：
\"Tengga’sboatsareoutinthemist。\"
Lingardhalfrosefromhisseat，Belarabhimselfcouldnotrepressastart。Lingard’sattitudewasalisteningone，butafteramomentofhesitationheranoutofthehall。Theinsideofthestockadewasbeginningtobuzzlikeadisturbedhive。
OutsideBelarab’shouseLingardslowedhispace。Themiststillhung。Agreatsustainedmurmurpervadeditandtheblurredformsofmenwereallmovingoutwardfromthecentretowardthepalisades。Somewhereamongstthebuildingsagongclanged。
D’Alcacer’sraisedvoicewasheard：
\"Whatishappening？\"
Lingardwaspassingthenclosetotheprisoners’house。TherewasagroupofarmedmenbelowtheverandahandabovetheirheadshesawMrs。Traversbythesideofd’Alcacer。ThefirebywhichLingardhadspentthenightwasextinguished，itsembersscattered，andthebenchitselflayoverturned。Mrs。Traversmusthaverunupontheverandahatthefirstalarm。Sheandd’Alcacerupthereseemedtodominatethetumultwhichwasnowsubsiding。
LingardnoticedthescarfacrossMrs。Travers’face。D’Alcacerwasbareheaded。Heshoutedagain：
\"What’sthematter？\"
\"Iamgoingtosee，\"shoutedLingardback。
Heresistedtheimpulsetojointhosetwo，dominatethetumult，letitrollawayfromunderhisfeet——themerelifeofmen，vainlikeadreamandinterferingwiththetremendoussenseofhisownexistence。Heresistedit，hecouldhardlyhavetoldwhy。Eventhesenseofself—preservationhadabandonedhim。Therewasathrongofpeoplepressingcloseabouthimyetcarefulnottogetinhisway。Surprise，concern，doubtweredepictedonallthosefaces；butthereweresomewhoobservedthatthegreatwhitemanmakinghiswaytothelagoonsideofthestockadeworeafixedsmile。Heaskedatlarge：
\"Canoneseeanydistanceoverthewater？\"
OneofBelarab’sheadmenwhowasnearesttohimanswered：
\"Themisthasthickened。Ifyouseeanything，Tuan，itwillbebutashadowofthings。\"
Thefoursidesofthestockadehadbeenmannedbythattime。
Lingard，ascendingthebanquette，lookedoutandsawthelagoonshroudedinwhite，withoutasmuchasashadowonit，andsostillthatnoteventhesoundofwaterlappingtheshorereachedhisears。Hefoundhimselfinprofoundaccordwiththisblindandsoundlesspeace。
\"Hasanythingatallbeenseen？\"heaskedincredulously。
Fourmenwereproducedatoncewhohadseenadarkmassofboatsmovinginthelightofthedawn。Othersweresentfor。Hehardlylistenedtothem。Histhoughtescapedhimandhestoodmotionless，lookingoutintotheunstirringmistpervadedbytheperfectsilence。PresentlyBelarabjoinedhim，escortedbythreegrave，swarthymen，himselfdark—faced，strokinghisshortgreybeardwithimpenetrablecomposure。HesaidtoLingard，\"Yourwhitemandoesn’tfight，\"towhichLingardanswered，\"Thereisnothingtofightagainst。Whatyourpeoplehaveseen，Belarab，wereindeedbutshadowsonthewater。\"Belarabmurmured，\"YououghttohaveallowedmetomakefriendswithDamanlastnight。\"
AfaintuneasinesswasstealingintoLingard’sbreast。
Amomentlaterd’Alcacercameup，inconspicuouslywatchedoverbytwomenwithlances，andtohisanxiousinquiryLingardsaid：\"I
don’tthinkthereisanythinggoingon。Listenhowstilleverythingis。TheonlywayofbringingthemattertoatestwouldbetopersuadeBelarabtolethismenmarchoutandmakeanattackonTengga’sstrongholdthismoment。Thenwewouldlearnsomething。ButIcouldn’tpersuadeBelarabtomarchoutintothisfog。Indeed，anexpeditionlikethismightendbadly。Imyselfdon’tbelievethatallTengga’speopleareonthelagoon……
WhereisMrs。Travers？\"
Thequestionmaded’Alcacerstartbyitsabruptnesswhichrevealedthewoman’spossessionofthatman’smind。\"SheiswithDonMartin，whoisbetterbutfeelsveryweak。Ifwearetobegivenup，hewillhavetobecarriedouttohisfate。Icandepicttomyselfthescene。DonMartincarriedshoulderhighsurroundedbythosebarbarianswithspears，andMrs。Traverswithmyselfwalkingoneachsideofthestretcher。Mrs。Travershasdeclaredtomeherintentiontogooutwithus。\"
\"Oh，shehasdeclaredherintention，\"murmuredLingard，absent—mindedly。
D’Alcacerfelthimselfcompletelyabandonedbythatman。AndwithintwopacesofhimhenoticedthegroupofBelarabandhisthreeswarthyattendantsintheirwhiterobes，preservinganairofserenedetachment。Forthefirsttimesincethestrandingonthecoastd’Alcacer’sheartsankwithinhim。\"Butperhaps，\"hewenton，\"thisMoormaynotintheendinsistongivingusuptoacrueldeath，CaptainLingard。\"
\"Hewantedtogiveyouupinthemiddleofthenight，afewhoursago，\"saidLingard，withoutevenlookingatd’Alcacerwhoraisedhishandsalittleandletthemfall。Lingardsatdownonthebreechofaheavypiecemountedonanavalcarriagesoastocommandthelagoon。Hefoldedhisarmsonhisbreast。D’Alcacerasked，gently：
\"Wehavebeenreprievedthen？\"
\"No，\"saidLingard。\"It’sIwhowasreprieved。\"
Alongsilencefollowed。Alongthewholelineofthemannedstockadethewhisperingshadceased。Thevibrationsofthegonghaddiedout，too。Onlythewatchersperchedinthehighestboughsofthebigtreemadeaslightrustleamongsttheleaves。
\"Whatareyouthinkingof，CaptainLingard？\"d’Alcaceraskedinalowvoice。Lingarddidnotchangehisposition。
\"Iamtryingtokeepitoff，\"hesaidinthesametone。
\"What？Tryingtokeepthoughtoff？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Isthisthetimeforsuchexperiments？\"askedd’Alcacer。
\"Whynot？It’smyreprieve。Don’tgrudgeittome，Mr。
d’Alcacer。\"
\"UponmywordIdon’t。Butisn’titdangerous？\"
\"Youwillhavetotakeyourchance。\"
D’Alcacerhadamomentofinternalstruggle。HeaskedhimselfwhetherheshouldtellLingardthatMrs。TravershadcometothestockadewithsomesortofmessagefromJorgenson。HehaditonthetipofhistonguetoadviseLingardtogoandseeMrs。
Traversandaskherpointblankwhethershehadanythingtotellhim；butbeforehecouldmakeuphismindthevoicesofinvisiblemenhighupinthetreewereheardreportingthethinningofthefog。Thiscausedastirtorunalongthefoursidesofthestockade。
Lingardfeltthedraughtofairinhisface，themotionlessmistbegantodriveoverthepalisadesand，suddenly，thelagooncameintoviewwithagreatblindingglitterofitswrinkledsurfaceandthefaintsoundofitswashrisingallalongtheshore。A
multitudeofhandswentuptoshadetheeagereyes，andexclamationsofwonderburstoutfrommanymenatthesightofacrowdofcanoesofvarioussizesandkindslyingclosetogetherwiththeeffectasofanenormousraft，alittlewayoffthesideoftheEmma。Theexcitedvoicesrosehigherandhigher。TherewasnodoubtaboutTengga’sbeingonthelagoon。ButwhatwasJorgensonabout？TheEmmalayasifabandonedbyherkeeperandhercrew，whilethemobofmixedboatsseemedtobemeditatinganattack。
Forallhisdeterminationtokeepthoughtofftotheverylastpossiblemoment，Lingardcouldnotdefendhimselffromasenseofwonderandfear。WhatwasJorgensonabout？ForamomentLingardexpectedthesideoftheEmmatowreathitselfinpuffsofsmoke，butanageseemedtoelapsewithoutthesoundofashotreachinghisears。
Theboatswereafraidtoclose。Theywerehangingoff，irresolute；butwhydidJorgensonnotputanendtotheirhesitationbyavolleyortwoofmusketryifonlyovertheirheads？ThroughtheanguishofhisperplexityLingardfoundhimselfreturningtolife，tomerelifewithitssenseofpainandmortality，likeamanawakenedfromadreambyastabinthebreast。WhatdidthissilenceoftheEmmamean？Couldshehavebeenalreadycarriedinthefog？Butthatwasunthinkable。Somesoundsofresistancemusthavebeenheard。No，theboatshungoffbecausetheyknewwithwhatdesperatedefencetheywouldmeet；
andperhapsJorgensonknewverywellwhathewasdoingbyholdinghisfiretotheverylastmomentandlettingthecravenheartsgrowcoldwiththefearofamurderousdischargethatwouldhavetobefaced。WhatwascertainwasthatthiswasthetimeforBelarabtoopenthegreatgateandlethismengoout，displayhispower，sweepthroughthefurtherendoftheSettlement，destroyTengga’sdefences，doawayonceforallwiththeabsurdrivalryofthatintriguingamateurboat—builder。LingardturnedeagerlytowardBelarabbutsawtheChiefbusylookingacrossthelagoonthroughalongglassrestingontheshoulderofastoopingslave。Hewasmotionlesslikeacarving。SuddenlyheletgothelongglasswhichsomereadyhandscaughtasitfellandsaidtoLingard：
\"Nofight。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"mutteredLingard，astounded，\"Therearethreeemptysampansalongsidetheladder，\"saidBelarabinajustaudiblevoice。\"Thereisbadtalkthere。\"
