SeveralmessengersweretobedispatchedindifferentdirectionsafterJim，whoseexactwhereaboutswereunknown。Thesemenstartedatdawn，butbeforethattimeKassimhadmanagedtoopencommunicationswiththebesiegedBrown。
　　`ThataccomplisheddiplomatistandconfidantoftheRajah，onleavingtheforttogobacktohismaster，tookintohisboatCornelius，whomhefoundslinkingmutelyamongstthepeopleinthecourtyard。Kassimhadalittleplanofhisownandwantedhimforaninterpreter。ThusitcameaboutthattowardsmorningBrown，reflectinguponthedesperatenatureofhisposition，heardfromthemarshyovergrownhollowanamicable，quavering，strainedvoicecrying——inEnglish——forpermissiontocomeup，underapromiseofpersonalsafetyandonaveryimportanterrand。Hewasoverjoyed。Ifhewasspokentohewasnolongerahuntedwildbeast。Thesefriendlysoundstookoffatoncetheawfulstressofvigilantwatchfulnessasofsomanyblindmennotknowingwhencethedeathblowmightcome。Hepretendedagreatreluctance。Thevoicedeclareditself“awhiteman。Apoorruined，oldmanwhohadbeenlivinghereforyears。“Amist，wetandchilly，layontheslopesofthehill，andaftersomemoreshoutingfromonetotheother，Browncalledout，“Comeon，then，butalone，mind!“Asamatteroffact——hetoldme，writhingwithrageattherecollectionofhishelplessness——itmadenodifference。Theycouldn’tseemorethanafewyardsbeforethem，andnotreacherycouldmaketheirpositionworse。ByandbyCornelius，inhisweek-dayattireofaraggeddirtyshirtandpants，barefooted，withabroken-rimmedpithhatonhishead，wasmadeoutvaguely，sidlinguptothedefences，hesitating，stoppingtolisteninapeeringposture。“Comealong!Youaresafe，“yelledBrown，whilehismenstared。Alltheirhopesoflifebecamesuddenlycenteredinthatdilapidated，meannew-comer，whoinprofoundsilenceclamberedclumsilyoverafelledtree-trunk，andshivering，withhissourmistrustfulface，lookedaboutattheknotofbearded，anxious，sleeplessdesperadoes。
　　`Halfanhour’sconfidentialtalkwithCorneliusopenedBrown’seyesastothehomeaffairsofPatusan。Hewasonthealertatonce。Therewerepossibilities，immensepossibilities；butbeforehewouldtalkoverCornelius’sproposalshedemandedthatsomefoodshouldbesentupasaguaranteeofgoodfaith。Corneliuswentoff，creepingsluggishlydownthehillonthesideoftheRajah’spalace，andaftersomedelayafewofTunkuAllang’smencameup，bringingascantysupplyofrice，chillies，anddriedfish。
　　Thiswasimmeasurablybetterthannothing。LateronCorneliusreturnedaccompanyingKassim，whosteppedoutwithanairorperfectgood-humouredtrustfulness，insandals，andmuffledupfromnecktoanklesindark-bluesheeting。HeshookhandswithBrowndiscreetly，andthethreedrewasideforaconference。Brown’smen，recoveringtheirconfidence，wereslappingeachotherontheback，andcastknowingglancesattheircaptainwhiletheybusiedthemselveswithpreparationsforcooking。
　　`KassimdislikedDoraminandhisBugisverymuch，buthehatedtheneworderofthingsstillmore。Ithadoccurredtohimthatthesewhites，togetherwiththeRajah’sfollowers，couldattackanddefeattheBugisbeforeJim’sreturn。Then，hereasoned，generaldefectionofthetownsfolkwassuretofollow，andthereignofthewhitemanwhoprotectedpoorpeoplewouldbeover。Afterwardsthenewalliescouldbedealtwith。Theywouldhavenofriends。Thefellowwasperfectlyabletoperceivethedifferenceofcharacter，andhadseenenoughofwhitementoknowthatthesenew-comerswereoutcasts，menwithoutcountry。Brownpreservedasternandinscrutabledemeanour。WhenhefirstheardCornelius’svoicedemandingadmittance，itbroughtmerelythehopeofaloop-holeforescape。Inlessthananhourotherthoughtswereseethinginhishead。Urgedbyanextremenecessity，hehadcometheretostealfood，afewtonsofrubberorgummaybe，perhapsahandfulofdollars，andhadfoundhimselfenmeshedbydeadlydangers。
　　NowinconsequenceoftheseoverturesfromKassimhebegantothinkofstealingthewholecountry。Someconfoundedfellowhadapparentlyaccomplishedsomethingofthekind——single-handedatthat。Couldn’thavedoneitverywellthough。Perhapstheycouldworktogether——squeezeeverythingdryandthengooutquietly。InthecourseofhisnegotiationswithKassimhebecameawarethathewassupposedtohaveabigshipwithplentyofmenoutside。
　　KassimbeggedhimearnestlytohavethisbigshipwithhismanygunsandmenbroughtuptheriverwithoutdelayfortheRajah’sservice。Brownprofessedhimselfwilling，andonthisbasisthenegotiationwascarriedonwithmutualdistrust。ThreetimesinthecourseofthemorningthecourteousandactiveKassimwentdowntoconsulttheRajahandcameupbusilywithhislongstride。Brown，whilebargaining，hadasortofgrimenjoymentinthinkingofhiswretchedschooner，withnothingbutaheapofdirtinherhold，thatstoodforanarmedship，andaChinamanandalameex-beachcomberofLevukaonboard，whorepresentedallhismanymen。Intheafternoonheobtainedfurtherdolesoffood，apromiseofsomemoney，andasupplyofmatsforhismentomakesheltersforthemselves。Theylaydownandsnored，protectedfromtheburningsunshine；butBrown，sittingfullyexposedononeofthefelledtrees，feastedhiseyesupontheviewofthetownandtheriver。Therewasmuchloothere。Cornelius，whohadmadehimselfathomeinthecamp，talkedathiselbow，pointingoutthelocalities，impartingadvice，givinghisownversionofJim’scharacter，andcommentinginhisownfashionupontheeventsofthelastthreeyears。Brown，who，apparentlyindifferentandgazingaway，listenedwithattentiontoeveryword，couldnotmakeoutclearlywhatsortofmanthisJimcouldbe。“What’shisname？Jim!Jim!That’snotenoughforaman’sname。““Theycallhim，“
　　saidCornelius，scornfully，“TuanJimhere。AsyoumaysayLordJim。““Whatishe？Wheredoeshecomefrom？“inquiredBrown。“Whatsortofmanishe？
　　IsheanEnglishman？““Yes，yes，he’sanEnglishman。IamanEnglishman，too。FromMalacca。Heisafool。Allyouhavetodoistokillhimandthenyouarekinghere。Everythingbelongstohim，“explainedCornelius。
　　“Itstrikesmehemaybemadetosharewithsomebodybeforeverylong，“
　　commentedBrownhalfaloud。“No，no。Theproperwayistokillhimthefirstchanceyouget，andthenyoucandowhatyoulike，“Corneliuswouldinsistearnestly。“Ihavelivedformanyyearshere，andIamgivingyouafriend’sadvice。“
　　`InsuchconverseandingloatingovertheviewofPatusan，whichhehaddeterminedinhismindshouldbecomehisprey，Brownwhiledawaymostoftheafternoon，hismen，meantime，resting。OnthatdayDainWaris’sfleetofcanoesstoleonebyoneundertheshorefarthestfromthecreek，andwentdowntoclosetheriveragainsthisretreat。OfthisBrownwasnotaware，andKassim，whocameuptheknollanhourbeforesunset，tookgoodcarenottoenlightenhim。Hewantedthewhiteman’sshiptocomeuptheriver，andthisnews，hefeared，wouldbediscouraging。HewasverypressingwithBrowntosendthe“order，“offeringatthesametimeatrustymessenger，whoforgreatersecrecyasheexplainedwouldmakehiswaybylandtothemouthoftheriveranddeliverthe“order“onboard。AftersomereflectionBrownjudgeditexpedienttotearapageoutofhispocket-book，onwhichhesimplywrote：“Wearegettingon。Bigjob。Detaintheman。“
　　ThestolidyouthselectedbyKassimforthatserviceperformeditfaithfully，andwasrewardedbybeingsuddenlytipped，headfirst，intotheschooner’semptyholdbytheex-beachcomberandtheChina-man，whothereuponhastenedtoputonthehatches。WhatbecameofhimafterwardsBrowndidnotsay。’
　　LordJim：Chapter40CHAPTERXL`BROWN’SobjectwastogaintimebyfoolingwithKassim’sdiplomacy。Fordoingarealstrokeofbusinesshecouldnothelpthinkingthewhitemanwasthepersontoworkwith。Hecouldnotimaginesuchachapwhomustbeconfoundedlycleverafteralltogetholdofthenativeslikethatrefusingahelpthatwoulddoawaywiththenecessityforslow，cautious，riskycheating，thatimposeditselfastheonlypossiblelineofconductforasingle-handedman。He，Brown，wouldofferhimthepower。
　　Nomancouldhesitate。Everythingwasincomingtoaclearunderstanding。
　　Ofcoursetheywouldshare。Theideaoftherebeingafort——allreadytohishand——arealfort，withartilleryheknewthisfromCornelius，excitedhim。Lethimonlyoncegetinand……Hewouldimposemodestconditions。
　　Nottoolow，though。Themanwasnofool，itseemed。Theywouldworklikebrotherstill……tillthetimecameforaquarrelandashotthatwouldsettleallaccounts。Withgrimimpatienceofplunderhewishedhimselftobetalkingwiththemannow。Thelandalreadyseemedtobehistoteartopieces，squeeze，andthrowaway。MeantimeKassimhadtobefooledforthesakeoffoodfirst——andforasecondstring。Buttheprincipalthingwastogetsomethingtoeatfromdaytoday。Besides，hewasnotaversetobeginfightingonthatRajah’saccount，andteachalessontothosepeoplewhohadreceivedhimwithshots。Thelustofbattlewasuponhim。
　　`IamsorrythatIcan’tgiveyouthispartofthestory，whichofcourseIhavemainlyfromBrown，inBrown’sownwords。Therewasinthebroken，violentspeechofthatman，unveilingbeforemehisthoughtswiththeveryhandofDeathuponhisthroat，anundisguisedruthlessnessofpurpose，astrangevengefulattitudetowardshisownpast，andablindbeliefintherighteousnessofhiswillagainstallmankind，somethingofthatfeelingwhichcouldinducetheleaderofahordeofwanderingcut-throatstocallhimselfproudlytheScourgeofGod。Nodoubtthenaturalsenselessferocitywhichisthebasisofsuchacharacterwasexasperatedbyfailure，ill-luck，andtherecentprivations，aswellasbythedesperatepositioninwhichhefoundhimself；butwhatwasmostremarkableofallwasthis，thatwhileheplannedtreacherousalliances，hadalreadysettledinhisownmindthefateofthewhiteman，andintriguedinanoverbearing，offhandmannerwithKassim，onecouldperceivethatwhathehadreallydesired，almostinspiteofhimself，wastoplayhavocwiththatjungletownwhichhaddefiedhim，toseeitstrewnoverwithcorpsesandenvelopedinflames。
　　Listeningtohispitiless，pantingvoice，Icouldimaginehowhemusthavelookedatitfromthehillock，peoplingitwithimagesofmurderandrapine。
　　Thepartnearesttothecreekworeanabandonedaspect，thoughasamatteroffacteveryhouseconcealedafewarmedmenonthealert。Suddenlybeyondthestretchofwasteground，interspersedwithsmallpatchesoflowdensebush，excavations，heapsofrubbish，withtroddenpathsbetween，aman，solitaryandlookingverysmall，strolledoutintothedesertedopeningofthestreetbetweentheshut-up，dark，lifelessbuildingsattheend。
　　Perhapsoneoftheinhabitants，whohadfledtotheotherbankoftheriver，comingbackforsomeobjectofdomesticuse。Evidentlyhesupposedhimselfquitesafeatthatdistancefromthehillontheothersideofthecreek。
　　Alightstockade，setuphastily，wasjustroundtheturnofthestreet，fullofhisfriends。Hemovedleisurely。Brownsawhim，andinstantlycalledtohissidetheYankeedeserter，whoactedasasortofsecondincommand。
　　Thislanky，loose-jointedfellowcameforward，wooden-faced，trailinghisriflelazily。Whenheunderstoodwhatwaswantedfromhimahomicidalandconceitedsmileuncoveredhisteeth，makingtwodeepfoldsdownhissallow，leatherycheeks。Hepridedhimselfonbeingadeadshot。Hedroppedononeknee，andtakingaimfromasteadyrestthroughtheunloppedbranchesofafelledtree，fired，andatoncestooduptolook。Theman，faraway，turnedhisheadtothereport，madeanotherstepforward，seemedtohesitate，andabruptlygotdownonhishandsandknees。Inthesilencethatfelluponthesharpcrackoftherifle，thedeadshot，keepinghiseyesfixeduponthequarry，guessedthat“thattherecoon’shealthwouldneverbeasourceofanxietytohisfriendsanymore。“Theman’slimbswereseentomoverapidlyunderhisbodyinanendeavourtorunonallfours。Inthatemptyspacearoseamultitudinousshoutofdismayandsurprise。Themansankflat，facedown，andmovednomore。“Thatshowedthemwhatwecoulddo，“saidBrowntome。“Struckthefearofsuddendeathintothem。
　　Thatwaswhatwewanted。Theyweretwohundredtoone，andthisgavethemsomethingtothinkoverforthenight。Notoneofthemhadanideaofsuchalongshotbefore。ThatbeggarbelongingtotheRajahscouteddownhillwithhiseyeshangingoutofhishead。“
　　`Ashewastellingmethishetriedwithashakinghandtowipethethinfoamonhisbluelips。“Twohundredtoone。Twohundredtoone……striketerror……terror，terror，Itellyou……“Hisowneyeswerestartingoutoftheirsockets。Hefellback，clawingtheairwithskinnyfingers，satupagain，bowedandhairy，glaredatmesidewayslikesomeman-beastoffolklore，withopenmouthinhismiserableandawfulagonybeforehegothisspeechbackafterthatfit。Therearesightsoneneverforgets。
　　`Furthermore，todrawtheenemy’sfireandlocatesuchpartiesasmighthavebeenhidinginthebushesalongthecreek，BrownorderedtheSolomonIslandertogodowntotheboatandbringanoar，asyousendaspanielafterastickintothewater。Thisfailed，andthefellowcamebackwithoutasingleshothavingbeenfiredathimfromanywhere。“There’snobody，“
　　opinedsomeofthemen。“Itisonnatural，“remarkedtheYankee。Kassimhadgone，bythattime，verymuchimpressed，pleased，too，andalsouneasy。
　　Pursuinghistortuouspolicy，hehaddispatchedamessagetoDainWariswarninghimtolookoutforthewhitemen’sship，which，hehadhadinformation，wasabouttocomeuptheriver。Heminimizeditsstrengthandexhortedhimto