Hewas，ofcourse，anxioustodisclaimthisachievement。Thewholestockade——hewouldinsistonexplainingtoyou——wasapooraffairSherifAlitrustedmainlytotheinaccessibleposition；and，anyway，thethinghadbeenalreadyknockedtopiecesandonlyhungtogetherbyamiracle。Heputhisshouldertoitlikealittlefoolandwentinheadoverheels。Jove!Ifithadn’tbeenforDainWaris，apock-markettattooedvagabondwouldhavepinnedhimwithhisspeartoabaulkoftimberlikeoneofStein’sbeetles。Thethirdmanin，itseems，hadbeenTamb’Itam，Jim’sownservant。ThiswasaMalayfromthenorth，astrangerwhohadwanderedintoPatusan，andhadbeenforciblydetainedbyRajahAllangaspaddlerofoneofthestateboats。
　　Hehadmadeaboltofitatthefirstopportunity，andfindingaprecariousrefugebutverylittletoeatamongsttheBugissettlers，hadattachedhimselftoJim’sperson。Hiscomplexionwasverydark，hisfaceflat，hiseyesprominentandinjectedwithbile。Therewassomethingexcessive，almostfanatical，inhisdevotiontohis“whitelord。“HewasinseparablefromJimlikeamoroseshadow。Onstateoccasionshewouldtreadonhismaster’sheels，onehandonthehaftofhiskris，keepingthecommonpeopleatadistancebyhistruculentbroodingglances。Jimhadmadehimthehead-manofhisestablishment，andallPatusanrespectedandcourtedhimasapersonofmuchinfluence。Atthetakingofthestockadehehaddistinguishedhimselfgreatlybythemethodicalferocityofhisfighting。Thestorming-partyhadcomeonsoquick——Jimsaid——thatnotwithstandingthepanicofthegarrison，therewasa“hotfiveminuteshand-to-handinsidethatstockade，tillsomeballyasssetfiretothesheltersofboughsanddrygrass，andweallhadtoclearoutfordearlife。“
　　`Therout，itseems，hadbeencomplete。Doramin，waitingimmovablyinhischaironthehill-side，withthesmokeofthegunsspreadingslowlyabovehisbighead，receivedthenewswithadeepgrunt。Wheninformedthathissonwassafeandleadingthepursuit，he，withoutanothersound，madeamightyefforttorise；hisattendantshurriedtohishelp，and，heldupreverently，heshuffledwithgreatdignityintoabitofshadewherehelaidhimselfdowntosleepcoveredentirelywithapieceofwhitesheeting。InPatusantheexcitementwasintense。Jimtoldmethatfromthehill，turninghisbackonthestockadewithitsembers，blackashes，andhalf-consumedcorpses，hecouldseetimeaftertimetheopenspacesbetweenthehousesonbothsidesofthestreamfillsuddenlywithaseethingrushofpeopleandgetemptyinamoment。Hisearscaughtfeeblyfrombelowthetremendousdinofgongsanddrums；thewildshoutsofthecrowdreachedhiminburstsoffaintroaring。Alotofstreamersmadeaflutterasoflittlewhite，red，yellowbirdsamongstthebrownridgesofroofs。“Youmusthaveenjoyedit，“Imurmured，feelingthestirofsympatheticemotion。
　　“`Itwas……itwasimmense!Immense!“hecriedaloud，flinginghisarmsopen。ThesuddenmovementstartledmeasthoughIhadseenhimbarethesecretsofhisbreasttothesunshine，tothebroodingforests，tothesteelysea。Belowusthetownreposedineasycurvesuponthebanksofastreamwhosecurrentseemedtosleep。“Immense!“herepeatedforathirdtime，speakinginawhisper，forhimselfalone。
　　`Immense!Nodoubtitwasimmense；thesealofsuccessuponhiswords，theconqueredgroundforthesolesofhisfeet，theblindtrustofmen，thebeliefinhimselfsnatchedfromthefire，thesolitudeofhisachievement。
　　Allthis，asI’vewarnedyou，getsdwarfedinthetelling。Ican’twithmerewordsconveytoyoutheimpressionofhistotalandutterisolation。
　　Iknow，ofcourse，hewasineverysensealoneofhiskindthere，buttheunsuspectedqualitiesofhisnaturehadbroughthiminsuchclosetouchwithhissurroundingsthatthisisolationseemedonlytheeffectofhispower。Hislonelinessaddedtohisstature。Therewasnothingwithinsighttocomparehimwith，asthoughhehadbeenoneofthoseexceptionalmenwhocanbeonlymeasuredbythegreatnessoftheirfame；andhisfame，remember，wasthegreatestthingaroundformanyaday’sjourney。Youwouldhavetopaddle，pole，ortrackalongwearywaythroughthejunglebeforeyoupassedbeyondthereachofitsvoice。Itsvoicewasnotthetrumpetingofthedisreputablegoddessweallknow——notblatant——notbrazen。Ittookitstonefromthestillnessandgloomofthelandwithoutapast，wherehiswordwastheonetruthofeverypassingday。Itsharedsomethingofthenatureofthatsilencethroughwhichitaccompaniedyouintounexploreddepths，heardcontinuouslybyyourside，penetrating，far-reaching——tingedwithwonderandmysteryonthelipsofwhisperingmen。’
　　defeatedSherifAlifledthecountrywithoutmakinganotherstand，andwhenthemiserablehuntedvillagersbegantocrawloutofthejunglebacktotheirrottinghouses，itwasJimwho，inconsultationwithDainWaris，appointedthehead-men。Thushebecamethevirtualruleroftheland。AstooldTunkuAllang，hisfearsatfirsthadknownnobounds。Itissaidthatattheintelligenceofthesuccessfulstormingofthehillheflunghimself，facedown，onthebamboofloorofhisaudience-hall，andlaymotionlessforawholenightandawholeday，utteringstifledsoundsofsuchanappallingnaturethatnomandaredapproachhisprostrateformnearerthanaspear’slength。AlreadyhecouldseehimselfdrivenignominiouslyoutofPatusan，wanderingabandoned，stripped，withoutopium，withouthiswomen，withouthisfollowers，afairgameforthefirstcomertokill。AfterSherifAlihisturnwouldcome，andwhocouldresistanattackledbysuchadevil？AndindeedheowedhislifeandsuchauthorityashestillpossessedatthetimeofmyvisittoJim’sideaofwhatwasfairalone。TheBugishadbeenextremelyanxioustopayoffoldscores，andtheimpassiveoldDoramincherishedthehopeofyetseeinghissonrulerofPatusan。Duringoneofourinterviewshedeliberatelyallowedmetogetaglimpseofthissecretambition。Nothingcouldbefinerinitswaythanthedignifiedwarinessofhisapproaches。Hehimself——hebeganbydeclaring——hadusedhisstrengthinhisyoungerdays，butnowhehadgrownoldandtired……Withhisimposingbulkandhaughtylittleeyesdartingsagacious，inquisitiveglances，heremindedoneirresistiblyofacunningoldelephant；theslowriseandfallofhisvastbreastwenton，powerfulandregular，liketheheaveofacalmsea。He，too，asheprotested，hadanunboundedconfidenceinTuanJim’swisdom。Ifhecouldonlyobtainapromise!Onewordwouldbeenough!……Hisbreathingsilences，thelowrumblingsofhisvoice，recalledthelasteffortsofaspentthunderstorm。
　　`Itriedtoputthesubjectaside。Itwasdifficult，fortherecouldbenoquestionthatJimhadthepower；inhisnewspheretheredidnotseemtobeanythingthatwasnothistoholdortogive。Butthat，Irepeat，wasnothingincomparisonwiththenotion，whichoccurredtome，whileIlistenedwithashowofattention，thatheseemedtohavecomeverynearatlasttomasteringhisfate。Doraminwasanxiousaboutthefutureofthecountry，andIwasstruckbytheturnhegavetotheargument。ThelandremainswhereGodhadputit；butwhitemen——hesaid——theycometousandinalittlewhiletheygo。Theygoaway。Thosetheyleavebehinddonotknowwhentolookfortheirreturn。Theygototheirownland，totheirpeople，andsothiswhiteman，too，would……Idon’tknowwhatinducedmetocommitmyselfatthispointbyavigorous“No。no。“ThewholeextentofthisindiscretionbecameapparentwhenDoramin，turningfulluponmehisface，whoseexpression，fixedinruggeddeepfolds，remainedunalterable，likeahugebrownmask，saidthatthiswasgoodnewsindeed，reflectively；andthenwantedtoknownwhy。
　　`Hislittle，motherlywitchofawifesatonmyotherhand，withherheadcoveredandherfeettuckedup，gazingthroughthegreatshutter-hole。
　　Icouldonlyseeastrayinglockofgreyhair，ahighcheek-bone，theslightmasticatingmotionofthesharpchin。Withoutremovinghereyesfromthevastprospectofforestsstretchingasfarasthehills，sheaskedmeinapityingvoicewhywasitthathesoyounghadwanderedfromhishome，comingsofar，throughsomanydangers？Hadhenohouseholdthere，nokinsmeninhisowncountry？Hadhenooldmother，whowouldalwaysrememberhisface？……
　　`Iwascompletelyunpreparedforthis。Icouldonlymutterandshakemyheadvaguely。AfterwardsIamperfectlyawareIcutaverypoorfiguretryingtoextricatemyselfoutofthisdifficulty。Fromthatmoment，however，theoldnakhodabecametaciturn。Hewasnotverypleased，Ifear，andevidentlyIhadgivenhimfoodforthought。Strangelyenough，ontheeveningofthatverydaywhichwasmylastinPatusanIwasoncemoreconfrontedwiththesamequestion，withtheunanswerablewhyofJim’sfate。
　　Andthisbringsmetothestoryofhislove。
　　`Isupposeyouthinkitisastorythatyoucanimagineforyourselves。
　　Wehaveheardsomanysuchstories，andthemajorityofusdon’tbelievethemtobestoriesofloveatall。Forthemostpartwelookuponthemasstoriesofopportunities：episodesofpassionatbest，orperhapsonlyofyouthandtemptation，doomedtoforgetfulnessintheend，eveniftheypassthroughtherealityoftendernessandregret。Thisviewmostlyisright，andperhapsinthiscase，too……YetIdon’tknow。Totellthisstoryisbynomeanssoeasyasitshouldbe——weretheordinarystandpointadequate。Apparentlyitisastoryverymuchliketheothers；forme，however，thereisvisibleinitsbackgroundthemelancholyfigureofawoman，theshadowofacruelwisdomburiedinalonelygrave，lookingonwistfully，helplessly，withsealedlips。Thegraveitself，asIcameuponitduringanearlymorningstroll，wasarathershapelessbrownmound，withaninlaidneatborderofwhitelumpsofcoralatthebase，andenclosedwithinacircularfencemadeofsplitsaplings，withthebarklefton。Agarlandofleavesandflowerswaswovenabouttheheadsoftheslenderposts——andtheflowerswerefresh。
　　`Thus，whethertheshadowisofmyimaginationornot，Icanatalleventspointoutthesignificantfactofanunforgottengrave。WhenItellyoubesidesthatJimwithhisownhandshadworkedattherusticfence，youwillperceivedirectlythedifference，theindividualsideofthestory。
　　Thereisinhisespousalofmemoryandaffectionbelongingtoanotherhumanbeingsomethingcharacteristicofhisseriousness。Hehadaconscience，anditwasaromanticconscience。ThroughherwholelifethewifeoftheunspeakableCorneliushadnoothercompanion，confidant，andfriendbutherdaughter。HowthepoorwomanhadcometomarrytheawfulMalaccaPortuguese——aftertheseparationfromthefatherofhergirl——andhowthatseparationhadbeenbroughtabout，whetherbydeath，whichcanbesometimesmerciful，orbythemercilesspressureofconventions，isamysterytome。FromthelittlewhichSteinwhoknewsomanystorieshadletdropinmyhearing，Iamconvincedthatshewasnoordinarywoman。Herownfatherhadbeenawhite；ahighofficial；oneofthebrilliantlyendowedmenwhoarenotdullenoughtonurseasuccess，andwhosecareerssooftenendunderacloud。Isupposeshe，too，musthavelackedthesavingdullness——andhercareerendedinPatusan。Ourcommonfate……forwhereistheman——I
　　meanarealsentientman——whodoesnotremembervaguelyhavingbeendesertedinthefullnessofpossessionbysomeoneorsomethingmorepreciousthanlife？……ourcommonfatefastensuponthewomenwithapeculiarcruelty。
　　Itdoesnotpunishlikeamaster，butinflictslingeringtorment，asiftogratifyasecret，unappeasablespite。Onewouldthinkthat，appointedtoruleonearth，itseekstorevengeitselfuponthebeingsthatcomenearesttorisingabovethetrammelsofearthlycaution；foritisonlywomenwhomanagetoputattimesintotheirloveanelementjustpalpableenoughtogiveoneafright——anextra-terrestrialtouch。Iaskmyselfwithwonder——howtheworldcanlooktothem——whetherithastheshapeandsubstanceweknow，theairwebreathe!SometimesIfancyitmustbearegionofunreasonablesublimitiesseethingwiththeexcitementoftheiradventuroussouls，lightedbythegloryofallpossiblerisksandrenunciations。
　　However，Isuspectthereareveryfewwomenintheworld，thoughofcourseIamawareofthemultitudesofmankindandoftheequalityofsexesinpointofnumbers——thatis。ButIamsurethatthemotherwasasmuchofawomanasthedaughterseemedtobe。Icannothelppicturingtomyselfthesetwo，atfirsttheyoungwomanandthechild，thentheoldwomanandtheyounggirl，theawfulsamenessandtheswiftpassageoftime，thebarrierofforest，thesolitudeandtheturmoilroundthesetwolonelylives，andeverywordspokenbetweenthempenetratedwithsadmeaning。Theremusthavebeenconfidences，notsomuchoffact，Isuppose，asofinnermostfeelings——regrets——fears——warnings，nodoubt：warningsthattheyoungerdidnotfullyunderstandtilltheelderwasdead——andJimcamealong。ThenIamsuresheunderstoodmuch——noteverything——thefearmostly，itseems。
　　Jimcalledherbyawordthatmeansprecious，inthesenseofapreciousgem——jewel。Pretty，isn’tit？Buthewascapableofanything。Hewasequaltohisfortune，ashe——afterall——musthavebeenequaltohismisfortune。
　　Jewelhecalledher；andhewouldsaythisashemighthavesaid“Jane，“
　　don’tyouknow——withamarital，homelike，peacefuleffect。IheardthenameforthefirsttimetenminutesafterIhadlandedinhiscourtyard，when，afternearlyshakingmyarmoff，hedartedupthestepsandbegantomakeajoyous，boyishdisturbanceatthedoorundertheheavyeaves。
　　“Jewel!OJewel!Quick!Here’safriendcome“……andsuddenlypeeringatmeinthedimveranda，hemumbledearnestly，“Youknow——this——noconfoundednonsenseaboutit——can’ttellyouhowmuchIowetoher——andso——youunderstand——I——exactlyasif……“Hishurried，anxiouswhisperswerecutshortbytheflittingofawhiteformwithinthehouse，afaintexclamation，andachildlikebutenergeticlittlefacewithdelicatefeaturesandaprofound，attentiveglancepeepedoutoftheinnergloom，likeabirdoutoftherecessofanest。Iwasstruckbythename，ofcourse；butitwasnottilllateronthatIconnecteditwithanastonishingrumourthathadmetmeonmyjourney，atalittleplaceonthecoastabout230milessouthofPatusanriver。Stein’sschooner，inwhichIhadmypassage，putinthere，tocollectsomeproduce，andgoingashore，Ifoundtomygreatsurprisethatthewretchedlocalitycouldboastofathird-classdeputy-assistantresident，abig，fatgreasy，blinkingfellowofmixeddescent，withturned-out，shinylips。
　　Ifoundhimlyingextendedonhisbackinacanechair，odiouslyunbuttoned，withalargegreenleafofsomesortonthetopofhissteaminghead，andanotherinhishandwhichheusedlazilyasafan……GoingtoPatusan？
　　Oh，yes。Stein’sTradingCompany。Heknew。Hadapermission。Nobusinessofhis。Itwasnotsobadtherenow，heremarkednegligently，and，hewentondrawling，“There’ssomesortofwhitevagabondhadgotinthere，Ihear……Eh？Whatyousay？Friendofyours？So!……Thenitwastruetherewasoneofthesevordamte——Whatwasheupto？Foundhiswayin，therascal。Eh？Ihadnotbeensure。Patusan——theycutthroatsthere——nobusinessofours。“Heinterruptedhimselftogroan。“Phoo!Almighty!Theheat!Theheat!Well，then，theremightbesomethinginthestory，too，afterall，and……“Heshutoneofhisbeastlyglassyeyestheeyelidwentonquivering，whileheleeredatmeatrociouslywiththeother。“Lookhere，“sayshe，mysteriously，“if——doyouunderstand？——ifhehasreallygotholdofsomethingfairlygood——noneofyourbitsofgreenglass——understand？——I