withoutevenlookingathim。ButCorneliuslethimselfdropbyhissideandbegantowhisperveryfast，touchinghiselbowfromtimetotime。WhathehadtosaymadeBrownsitupatfirst，withacurse。HehadsimplyinformedhimofDainWaris’sarmedpartydowntheriver。AtfirstBrownsawhimselfcompletelysoldandbetrayed，butamoment’sreflectionconvincedhimthattherecouldbenotreacheryintended。Hesaidnothing，andafterawhileCorneliusremarked，inatoneofcompleteindifference，thattherewasanotherwayoutoftheriverwhichheknewverywell。“Agoodthingtoknow，too，“saidBrown，prickinguphisears；
　　andCorneliusbegantotalkofwhatwentonintownandrepeatedallthathadbeensaidincouncil，gossipinginanevenundertoneatBrown’searasyoutalkamongstsleepingmenyoudonotwishtowake。“Hethinkshehasmademeharmless，doeshe？“mumbledBrownverylow……“Yes。Heisafool。Alittlechild。Hecamehereandrobbedme，“dronedonCornelius，“andhemadeallthepeoplebelievehim。Butifsomethinghappenedthattheydidnotbelievehimanymore，wherewouldhebe？AndtheBugisDainwhoiswaitingforyoudowntheriverthere，captain，istheverymanwhochasedyouupherewhenyoufirstcame。“Brownobservednonchalantlythatitwouldbejustaswelltoavoidhim，andwiththesamedetached，musingairCorneliusdeclaredhimselfacquaintedwithabackwaterbroadenoughtotakeBrown’sboatpastWaris’scamp。“Youwillhavetobequiet，“hesaidasanafterthought，“forinoneplacewepassclosebehindhiscamp。
　　Veryclose。Theyarecampedashorewiththeirboathauledup。““Oh，weknowhowtobeasquietasmice；neverfear，“saidBrown。CorneliusstipulatedthatincaseheweretopilotBrownout，hiscanoeshouldbetowed。“I’llhavetogetbackquick，“heexplained。
　　`Itwastwohoursbeforethedawnwhenwordwaspassedtothestockadefromoutlyingwatchersthatthewhiterobberswerecomingdowntotheirboat。InaveryshorttimeeveryarmedmanfromoneendofPatusantotheotherwasonthealert，yetthebanksoftheriverremainedsosilentthatbutforthefiresburningwithsuddenblurredflaresthetownmighthavebeenasleepasifinpeace-time。Aheavymistlayverylowonthewater，makingasortofillusivegreylightthatshowednothing。WhenBrown’slong-boatglidedoutofthecreekintotheriver，JimwasstandingonthelowpointoflandbeforetheRajah’sstockade——ontheveryspotwhereforthefirsttimeheputhisfootonPatusanshore。Ashadowloomedup，movinginthegreyness，solitary，verybulky，andyetconstantlyeludingtheeye。
　　Amurmuroflowtalkingcameoutofit。BrownatthetillerheardJimspeakcalmly：“Aclearroad。Youhadbettertrusttothecurrentwhilethefoglasts；butthiswillliftpresently。““Yes，presentlyweshallseeclear，“
　　repliedBrown。
　　`Thethirtyorfortymenstandingwithmusketsatreadyoutsidethestockadeheldtheirbreath。TheBugisowneroftheprau，whomIsawonStein’sveranda，andwhowasamongstthem，toldmethattheboat，shavingthelowpointclose，seemedforamomenttogrowbigandhangoveritlikeamountain。“Ifyouthinkitworthyourwhiletowaitadayoutside，“calledoutJim，“I’lltrytosendyoudownsomething——bullock，someyams——whatIcan。“Theshadowwentonmoving。“yes。Do，“saidavoice，blankandmuffledoutofthefog。Notoneofthemanyattentivelistenersunderstoodwhatthewordsmeant；andthenBrownandhismenintheirboatfloatedaway，fadingspectrallywithouttheslightestsound。
　　`ThusBrown，invisibleinthemist，goesoutofPatusanelbowtoelbowwithCorneliusinthestern-sheetsofthelong-boat。“Perhapsyoushallgetasmallbullock，“saidCornelius。“Oh，yes。Bullock。Yam。You’llgetitifhesaidso。Healwaysspeaksthetruth。HestoleeverythingIhad。Isupposeyoulikeasmallbullockbetterthanthelootofmanyhouses。““Iwouldadviseyoutoholdyourtongue，orsomebodyheremayflingyouoverboardintothisdamnedfog，“saidBrown。Theboatseemedtobestandingstill；nothingcouldbeseen，noteventheriveralongside，onlythewater-dustflewandtrickled，condensed，downtheirbeardsandfaces。Itwasweird，Browntoldme。Everyindividualmanofthemfeltasthoughhewereadriftaloneinaboat，hauntedbyanalmostimperceptiblesuspicionofsighing，mutteringghosts。“Throwmeout，wouldyou？ButI
　　wouldknowwhereIwas，“mumbledCornelius，surlily。“I’velivedmanyyearshere。““Notlongenoughtoseethroughafoglikethis，“Brownsaid，lollingbackwithhisarmswingingtoandfroontheuselesstiller。“Yes。Longenoughforthat，“snarledCornelius。“That’sveryuseful，“commentedBrown。
　　“AmItobelieveyoucouldfindthatbackwayyouspokeofblindfold，likethis？“Corneliusgrunted。“Areyoutootiredtorow？“heaskedafterasilence。“No，byGod!“shoutedBrownsuddenly。“Outwithyouroarsthere。“
　　Therewasagreatknockinginthefog，whichafterawhilesettledintoaregulargrindofinvisiblesweepsagainstinvisiblethole-pins。Otherwisenothingwaschanged，andbutfortheslightsplashofadippedbladeitwaslikerowingaballooncarinacloud，saidBrown。ThereafterCorneliusdidnotopenhislipsexcepttoaskquerulouslyforsomebodytobailouthiscanoe，whichwastowingbehindthelong-boat。Graduallythefogwhitenedandbecameluminousahead。TotheleftBrownsawadarknessasthoughhehadbeenlookingatthebackofthedepartingnight。Allatonceabigboughcoveredwithleavesappearedabovehishead，andendsoftwigs，drippingandstill，curvedslenderlyclosealongside。Cornelius，withoutaword，tookthetillerfromhishand。’
　　thinktheyspoketogetheragain。Theboatenteredanarrowby-channel，whereitwaspushedbytheoar-bladessetintocrumblingbanks，andtherewasagloomasifenormousblackwingshadbeenoutspreadabovethemistthatfilleditsdepthtothesummitsofthetrees。Thebranchesoverheadshoweredbigdropsthroughthegloomyfog。AtamutterfromCornelius，Brownorderedhismentoload。“I’llgiveyouachancetogetevenwiththembeforewe’redone，youdismalcripples，you，“hesaidtohisgang。“Mindyoudon’tthrowitaway——youhounds。“
　　Lowgrowlsansweredthatspeech。Corneliusshowedmuchfussyconcernforthesafetyofhiscanoe。
　　`MeantimeTamb’Itamhadreachedtheendofhisjourney。Thefoghaddelayedhimalittle，buthehadpaddledsteadily，keepingintouchwiththesouthbank。Byandbydaylightcamelikeaglowinaground-glassglobe。
　　Theshoresmadeoneachsideoftheriveradarksmudge，inwhichonecoulddetecthintsofcolumnarformsandshadowsoftwistedbrancheshighup。
　　Themistwasstillthickonthewater，butagoodwatchwasbeingkept，forasTamb’Itamapproachedthecampthefiguresoftwomenemergedoutofthewhitevapour，andvoicesspoketohimboisterously。Heanswered，andpresentlyacanoelayalongside，andheexchangednewswiththepaddlers。
　　Allwaswell。Thetroublewasover。Thenthemeninthecanoeletgotheirgriponthesideofhisdug-outandincontinentlyfelloutofsight。Hepursuedhiswaytillheheardvoicescomingtohimquietlyoverthewater，andsaw，underthenowlifting，swirlingmist，theglowofmanylittlefiresburningonasandystretch，backedbyloftythintimberandbushes。
　　Thereagainalook-outwaskept，forhewaschallenged。Heshoutedhisnameasthetwolastsweepsofhispaddleranhiscanoeuponthestrand。
　　Itwasabigcamp。Mencrouchedinmanyknotsunderasubduedmurmurofearlymorningtalk。Manythinthreadsofsmokecurledslowlyonthewhitemist。Littleshelters，elevatedabovetheground，hadbeenbuiltforthechiefs。Musketswerestackedinsmallpyramids，andlongspearswerestucksinglyintothesandnearthefires。
　　`Tamb’Itam，assuminganairofimportance，demandedtobeledtoDainWaris。Hefoundthefriendofhiswhitelordlyingonaraisedcouchmadeofbamboo，andshelteredbyasortofshedofstickscoveredwithmats。
　　DainWariswasawake，andabrightfirewasburningbeforehissleeping-place，whichresembledarudeshrine。TheonlysonofNakhodaDoraminansweredhisgreetingkindly。Tamb’Itambeganbyhandinghimtheringwhichvouchedforthetruthofthemessenger’swords。DainWaris，recliningonhiselbow，badehimspeakandtellallthenews。Beginningwiththeconsecratedformula：
　　“Thenewsisgood，“Tamb’ItamdeliveredJim’sownwords。Thewhitemen，departingwiththeconsentofallthechiefs，weretobeallowedtopassdowntheriver。InanswertoaquestionortwoTamb’Itamthenreportedtheproceedingsofthelastcouncil。DainWarislistenedattentivelytotheend，toyingwiththeringwhichultimatelyheslippedontheforefingerofhisrighthand。AfterhearingallhehadtosayhedismissedTamb’Itamtohavefoodandrest。Ordersforthereturnintheafternoonweregivenimmediately。AfterwardsDainWarislaydownagain，open-eyed，whilehispersonalattendantswerepreparinghisfoodatthefire，bywhichTamb’
　　Itamalsosattalkingtothemenwholoungeduptohearthelatestintelligencefromthetown。Thesunwaseatingupthemist。Agoodwatchwaskeptuponthereachofthemainstreamwheretheboatofthewhiteswasexpectedtoappeareverymoment。
　　`ItwasthenthatBrowntookhisrevengeupontheworldwhich，aftertwentyyearsofcontemptuousandrecklessbullying，refusedhimthetributeofacommonrobber’ssuccess。Itwasanactofcold-bloodedferocity，anditconsoledhimonhisdeathbedlikeamemoryofanindomitabledefiance。
　　StealthilyhelandedhismenontheothersideoftheislandoppositetotheBugiscamp，andledthemacross。Afterashortbutquitesilentscuffle，Cornelius，whohadtriedtoslinkawayatthemomentoflanding，resignedhimselftoshowthewaywheretheundergrowthwasmostsparse。Brownheldbothhisskinnyhandstogetherbehindhisbackinthegripofonevastfist，andnowandthenimpelledhimforwardwithafiercepush。Corneliusremainedasmuteasafish，abjectbutfaithfultohispurpose，whoseaccomplishmentloomedbeforehimdimly。AttheedgeofthepatchofforestBrown’smenspreadthemselvesoutincoverandwaited。Thecampwasplainfromendtoendbeforetheireyes，andnoonelookedtheirway。Nobodyevendreamedthatthewhitemencouldhaveanyknowledgeofthenarrowchannelatthebackoftheisland。Whenhejudgedthemomentcome，Brownyelled：“Letthemhaveit，“andfourteenshotsrangoutlikeone。
　　`Tamb’Itamtoldmethesurprisewassogreatthat，exceptforthosewhofelldeadorwounded，notasoulofthemmovedforquiteanappreciabletimeafterthefirstdischarge。Thenamanscreamed，andafterthatscreamagreatyellofamazementandfearwentupfromallthethroats。Ablindpanicdrovethesemeninasurgingswayingmobtoandfroalongtheshorelikeaherdofcattleafraidofthewater。Somefewjumpedintotheriverthen，butmostofthemdidsoonlyafterthelastdischarge。ThreetimesBrown’smenfiredintotheruck，Brown，theonlyoneinview，cursingandyelling：“Aimlow!aimlow!“
　　`Tamb’Itamsaysthat，asforhim，heunderstoodatthefirstvolleywhathadhappened。Thoughuntouchedhefelldownandlayasifdead，butwithhiseyesopen。AtthesoundofthefirstshotsDainWaris，recliningonthecouch，jumpedupandranoutupontheopenshore，justintimetoreceiveabulletinhisforeheadattheseconddischarge。Tamb’Itamsawhimflinghisarmswideopenbeforehefell。Then，hesays，agreatfearcameuponhim——notbefore。Thewhitemenretiredastheyhadcome——unseen。
　　`ThusBrownbalancedhisaccountwiththeevilfortune。Noticethateveninthisawfuloutbreakthereisasuperiorityasofamanwhocarriesright——theabstractthing——withintheenvelopeofhiscommondesires。Itwasnotavulgarandtreacherousmassacre；itwasalesson，aretribution——ademonstrationofsomeobscureandawfulattributeofournaturewhich，Iamafraid，isnotsoveryfarunderthesurfaceasweliketothink。
　　`AfterwardsthewhitesdepartunseenbyTamb’Itam，andseemtovanishfrombeforemen’seyesaltogether；andtheschooner，too，vanishesafterthemannerofstolengoods。Butastoryistoldofawhitelong-boatpickedupamonthlaterintheIndianOceanbyacargo-steamer。Twoparched，yellow，glassy-eyed，whisperingskeletonsinherrecognizedtheauthorityofathird，whodeclaredthathisnamewasBrown。Hisschooner，hereported，boundsouthwithacargoofJavasugar，hadsprungabadleakandsankunderhisfeet。Heandhiscompanionswerethesurvivorsofacrewofsix。
　　Thetwodiedonboardthesteamerwhichrescuedthem。Brownlivedtobeseenbyme，andIcantestifythathehadplayedhisparttothelast。
　　`Itseems，however，thatingoingawaytheyhadneglectedtocastoffCornelius’scanoe。CorneliushimselfBrownhadletgoatthebeginningoftheshooting，withakickforapartingbenediction。Tamb’Itam，afterarisingfromamongstthedead，sawtheNazarenerunningupanddowntheshoreamongstthecorpsesandtheexpiringfires。Heutteredlittlecries。
　　Suddenlyherushedtothewater，andmadefranticeffortstogetoneoftheBugisboatsintothewater。“Afterwards，tillhehadseenme，“relatedTamb’Itam，“hestoodlookingattheheavycanoeandscratchinghishead。“