Mrs。Traversaskedherselfwhetherperchanceshehadnotsimplyscreamed。Ithadneveroccurredtoherbeforethatperhapsshehad。Atthetimeitseemedtohershehadnostrengthformorethanawhisper。Hadshebeenreallysoloud？Andthedeadlychill，thenightthathadgonebyherhadleftinherbody，vanishedfromherlimbs，passedoutofherinaflush。Herfacewasturnedawayfromthelight，andthatfactgavehercouragetocontinue。Moreover，themanbeforeherwassodetachedfromtheshamesandpridesandschemesoflifethatheseemednottocountatall，exceptthatsomehoworotherhemanagedattimestocatchthemereliteralsenseofthewordsaddressedtohim——andanswerthem。Andanswerthem！Answerunfailingly，impersonally，withoutanyfeeling。
　　"YousawTom——KingTom？Washethere？Imeanjustthen，atthemoment。Therewasalightatthegangway。Washeondeck？"
　　"No。Intheboat。"
　　"Already？CouldIhavebeenheardintheboatdownthere？Yousaythewholeshipheardme——andIdon’tcare。Butcouldhehearme？"
　　"WasitTomyouwereafter？"saidJorgensoninthetoneofanegligentremark。
　　"Can’tyouanswerme？"shecried，angrily。
　　"Tomwasbusy。Nochild’splay。Theboatshovedoff，"saidJorgenson，asifheweremerelythinkingaloud。
　　"Youwon’ttellme，then？"Mrs。Traversapostrophizedhim，fearlessly。ShewasnotafraidofJorgenson。Justthenshewasafraidofnothingandnobody。AndJorgensonwentonthinkingaloud。
　　"IguesshewillbekeptbusyfromnowonandsoshallI。"
　　Mrs。Traversseemedreadytotakebytheshouldersandshakethatdead—voicedspectretillitbeggedformercy。Butsuddenlyherstrongwhitearmsfelldownbyherside，thearmsofanexhaustedwoman。
　　"Ishallnever，neverfindout，"shewhisperedtoherself。
　　Shecastdownhereyesinintolerablehumiliation，inintolerabledesire，asthoughshehadveiledherface。Notasoundreachedthelonelinessofherthought。ButwhensheraisedhereyesagainJorgensonwasnolongerstandingbeforeher。
　　Foraninstantshesawhimallblackinthebrilliantandnarrowdoorway，andthenextmomenthehadvanishedoutside，asifdevouredbythehotblazeoflight。ThesunhadrisenontheShoreofRefuge。
　　WhenMrs。Traverscameoutondeckherselfitwasasitwerewithaboldlyunveiledface，withwide—openanddry，sleeplesseyes。
　　Theirgaze，undismayedbythesunshine，soughttheinnermostheartofthingseachdayofferedtothepassionofherdreadandofherimpatience。Thelagoon，thebeach，thecoloursandtheshapesstruckhermorethaneverasaluminouspaintingonanimmenseclothhidingthemovementsofaninexplicablelife。Sheshadedhereyeswithherhand。Therewerefiguresonthebeach，movingdarkdotsonthewhitesemicircleboundedbythestockades，backedbyroofridgesabovethepalmgroves。Furtherbackthemassofcarvedwhitecoralontheroofofthemosqueshonelikeawhiteday—star。Religionandpolitics——alwayspolitics！Totheleft，beforeTengga’senclosure，theloomoffirehadchangedintoapillarofsmoke。Butthereweresomebigtreesoverthereandshecouldn’ttellwhetherthenightcouncilhadprolongeditssitting。Somevagueformswerestillmovingthereandshecouldpicturethemtoherself：Daman，thesupremechiefofsea—robbers，withavengefulheartandtheeyesofagazelle；Sentot，thesourfanaticwiththebigturban，thatothersaintwithascantyloinclothandashesinhishair，andTenggawhomshecouldimaginefromhearsay，fat，good—tempered，crafty，butreadytospillbloodonhisambitiouswayandalreadyboldenoughtoflauntayellowstateumbrellaattheverygateofBelarab’sstockade——sotheysaid。
　　Shesaw，sheimagined，sheevenadmittednowtherealityofthosethingsnolongeramerepageantmarshalledforhervisionwithbarbaroussplendourandsavageemphasis。Shequestioneditnolonger——butshedidnotfeelitinhersoulanymorethanonefeelsthedepthoftheseaunderitspeacefulglitterortheturmoilofitsgreyfury。Hereyesrangedafar，unbelievingandfearful——andthenallatonceshebecameawareoftheemptyCagewithitsinteriorindisorder，thecampbedsteadsnottakenaway，apillowlyingonthedeck，thedyingflamelikeashredofdullyellowstuffinsidethelamplefthangingoverthetable。Thewholestruckherassqualidandasifalreadydecayed，aflimsyandidlephantasy。ButJorgenson，seatedonthedeckwithhisbacktoit，wasnotidle。Hisoccupation，too，seemedfantasticandsotrulychildishthatherheartsankattheman’sutterabsorptioninit。Jorgensonhadbeforehim，stretchedonthedeck，severalbitsofratherthinanddirty—lookingropeofdifferentlengthsfromacoupleofinchestoaboutafoot。Hehad（anidiotmighthaveamusedhimselfinthatway）setfiretotheendsofthem。Theysmoulderedwithamazingenergy，emittingnowandthenasplutter，andinthecalmairwithinthebulwarkssentupveryslender，exactlyparallelthreadsofsmoke，eachwithavanishingcurlattheend；andtheabsorptionwithwhichJorgensongavehimselfuptothatpastimewasenoughtoshakeallconfidenceinhissanity。
　　Inonehalf—openedhandhewasholdingthewatch。Hewasalsoprovidedwithascrapofpaperandthestumpofapencil。Mrs。
　　Traverswasconfidentthathedidnoteitherhearorseeher。
　　"CaptainJorgenson，younodoubtthink……"
　　Hetriedtowaveherawaywiththestumpofthepencil。Hedidnotwanttobeinterruptedinhisstrangeoccupation。Hewasplayingverygravelyindeedwiththosebitsofstring。"Ilightedthemalltogether，"hemurmured，keepingoneeyeonthedialofthewatch。Justthentheshortestpieceofstringwentout，utterlyconsumed。JorgensonmadeahastynoteandremainedstillwhileMrs。Traverslookedathimwithstonyeyesthinkingthatnothingintheworldwasanyuse。TheotherthreadsofsmokewentonvanishinginspiralsbeforetheattentiveJorgenson。
　　"Whatareyoudoing？"askedMrs。Travers，drearily。
　　"Timingmatch……precaution……"
　　HehadneverinMrs。Travers’experiencebeenlessspectralthanthen。Hedisplayedaweaknessoftheflesh。Hewasimpatientatherintrusion。Hedividedhisattentionbetweenthethreadsofsmokeandthefaceofthewatchwithsuchinterestthatthesuddenreportsofseveralgunsbreakingforthefirsttimefordaysthestillnessofthelagoonandtheillusionofthepaintedscenefailedtomakehimraisehishead。Heonlyjerkeditsidewaysalittle。Mrs。TraversstaredatthewispsofwhitevapourfloatingaboveBelarab’sstockade。Theseriesofsharpdetonationsceasedandtheircombinedechoescamebackoverthelagoonlikealong—drawnandrushingsigh。
　　"What’sthis？"criedMrs。Travers。
　　"Belarab’scomehome，"saidJorgenson。
　　ThelastthreadofsmokedisappearedandJorgensongotup。Hehadlostallinterestinthewatchandthrustitcarelesslyintohispocket，togetherwiththebitofpaperandthestumpofpencil。
　　Hehadresumedhisaloofnessfromthelifeofmen，butapproachingthebulwarkhecondescendedtolooktowardBelarab’sstockade。
　　"Yes，heishome，"hesaidverylow。
　　’’What’sgoingtohappen？"criedMrs。Travers。"What’stobedone？"Jorgensonkeptuphisappearanceofcommuningwithhimself。
　　"Iknowwhattodo，"hemumbled。
　　"Youarelucky，"saidMrs。Travers，withintensebitterness。
　　Itseemedtoherthatshewasabandonedbyalltheworld。Theoppositeshoreofthelagoonhadresumeditsaspectofapaintedscenethatwouldneverrolluptodisclosethetruthbehinditsblindingandsoullesssplendour。Itseemedtoherthatshehadsaidherlastwordstoallofthem：tod’Alcacer，toherhusband，toLingardhimself——andthattheyhadallgonebehindthecurtainforeveroutofhersight。OfallthewhitemenJorgensonalonewasleft，thatmanwhohaddonewithlifesocompletelythathismerepresencerobbeditofallheatandmystery，leavingnothingbutitsterrible，itsrevoltinginsignificance。AndMrs。Traverswasreadyforrevolt。Shecriedwithsuppressedpassion：
　　"Areyouaware，CaptainJorgenson，thatIamalive？"
　　Heturnedhiseyesonher，andforamomentshewasdauntedbytheircoldglassiness。Butbeforetheycoulddriveheraway，somethinglikethegleamofasparkgavethemaninstant’sanimation。
　　"Iwanttogoandjointhem。Iwanttogoashore，"shesaid，firmly。"There！"
　　Herbareandextendedarmpointedacrossthelagoon，andJorgenson’sresurrectedeyesglidedalongthewhitelimbandwanderedoffintospace。
　　"Noboat，"hemuttered。
　　"Theremustbeacanoe。Iknowthereisacanoe。Iwantit。"
　　Shesteppedforwardcompelling，commanding，tryingtoconcentrateinherglanceallherwillpower，thesenseofherownrighttodisposeofherselfandherclaimtobeservedtothelastmomentofherlife。Itwasasifshehaddonenothing。Jorgensondidn’tflinch。
　　"Whichofthemareyouafter？"askedhisblank，unringingvoice。
　　Shecontinuedtolookathim；herfacehadstiffenedintoaseveremask；shemanagedtosaydistinctly：
　　"Isupposeyouhavebeenaskingyourselfthatquestionforsometime，CaptainJorgenson？"
　　"No。Iamaskingyounow。"
　　HisfacedisclosednothingtoMrs。Travers’boldandwearyeyes。
　　"Whatcouldyoudooverthere？"Jorgensonaddedasmerciless，asirrepressible，andsincereasthoughheweretheembodimentofthatinnervoicethatspeaksinallofusattimesand，likeJorgenson，isoffensiveanddifficulttoanswer。
　　"RememberthatIamnotashadowbutalivingwomanstill，CaptainJorgenson。IcanliveandIcandie。Sendmeovertosharetheirfate。"
　　"Sureyouwouldlike？"askedtherousedJorgensoninavoicethathadanunexpectedlivingquality，afaintvibrationwhichnomanhadknowninitforyears。"Theremaybedeathinit，"hemumbled，relapsingintoindifference。
　　"Whocares？"shesaid，recklessly。"AllIwantistoaskTomaquestionandhearhisanswer。That’swhatIwouldlike。That’swhatImusthave。"
　　II
　　Alongthehotandgloomyforestpath，neglected，overgrownandstrangledinthefiercelifeofthejungle，therecameafaintrustleofleaves。Jaffir，theservantofprinces，themessengerofgreatmen，walked，stooping，withabroadchopperinhishand。
　　Hewasnakedfromthewaistupward，hisshouldersandarmswerescratchedandbleeding。Amultitudeofbitinginsectsmadeacloudabouthishead。Hehadlosthiscostlyandancienthead—kerchief，andwheninaslightlywiderspacehestoppedinalisteningattitudeanybodywouldhavetakenhimforafugitive。
　　Hewavedhisarmsabout，slappinghisshoulders，thesidesofhishead，hisheavingflanks；then，motionless，listenedagainforawhile。Asoundoffiring，notsomuchmadefaintbydistanceasmuffledbythemassesoffoliage，reachedhisears，droppingshotswhichhecouldhavecountedifhehadcaredto。"Thereisfightingintheforestalready，"hethought。Thenputtinghisheadlowinthetunnelofvegetationhedashedforwardoutofthehorriblecloudofflies，whichheactuallymanagedforaninstanttoleavebehindhim。Butitwasnotfromthecrueltyofinsectsthathewasflying，fornomancouldhopetodropthatescort，andJaffirinhislifeofafaithfulmessengerhadbeenaccustomed，ifsuchanextravagantphrasemaybeused，tobeeatenalive。Bentnearlydoubleheglidedanddodgedbetweenthetrees，throughtheundergrowth，hisbrownbodystreamingwithsweat，hisfirmlimbsgleaminglikelimbsofimperishablebronzethroughthemassofgreenleavesthatareforeverbornandforeverdying。Forallhisdesperatehastehewasnolongerafugitive；hewassimplyamaninatremendoushurry。Hisflight，whichhadbegunwithaboundandarushandageneraldisplayofgreatpresenceofmind，wasasimpleissuefromacriticalsituation。Issuesfromcriticalsituationsaregenerallysimpleifoneisquickenoughtothinkofthemintime。Hebecameawareverysoonthattheattempttopursuehimhadbeengivenup，buthehadtakentheforestpathandhadkeptuphispacebecausehehadlefthisRajahandtheladyImmadabesetbyenemiesontheedgeoftheforest，asgoodascaptivestoapartyofTengga’smen。
　　Belarab’shesitationhadprovedtoomuchevenforHassim’shereditarypatienceinsuchmatters。Itisbutbecomingthatweightynegotiationsshouldbespreadovermanydays，thatthesamerequestsandargumentsshouldberepeatedinthesamewords，atmanysuccessiveinterviews，andreceivethesameevasiveanswers。Mattersofstatedemandthedignityofsuchaprocedureasiftimeitselfhadtowaitonthepowerandwisdomofrulers。
　　Sucharetheproceedingsofembassiesandthedignifiedpatienceofenvoys。ButatthistimeofcrisisHassim’simpatienceobtainedtheupperhand；andthoughheneverdepartedfromthetraditionofsoftspeechandrestrainedbearingwhilefollowingwithhissisterinthetrainofthepiousBelarab，hehadhismomentsofanger，ofanxiety，ofdespondency。Hisfriendships，hisfuture，hiscountry’sdestinieswereatstake，whileBelarab’scampwandereddeviouslyoverthebackcountryasifinfluencedbythevacillationoftheruler’sthought，theveryimageofuncertainfate。
　　Oftennomorethanthesingleword"Good"wasalltheanswervouchsafedtoHassim’sdailyspeeches。Thelessermen，companionsoftheChief，treatedhimwithdeference；butHassimcouldfeeltheoppositionfromthewomen’ssideofthecampworkingagainsthiscauseinsubserviencetothemerecapriceofthenewwife，agirlquitegentleandkindtoherdependents，butwhoseimaginationhadrunawaywithhercompletelyandhadmadehergreedyforthelootoftheyachtfrommeresimplicityandinnocence。WhatcouldHassim，thatstranger，wanderingandpoor，offerforheracceptance？Nothing。Thewealthofhisfar—offcountrywasbutanidletale，thetalkofanexilelookingforhelp。
　　AtnightHassimhadtolistentotheanguisheddoubtsofImmada，theonlycompanionofhislife，childofthesamemother，braveasaman，butinherfearsaverywoman。ShewhisperedthemtohimfarintothenightwhilethecampofthegreatBelarabwashushedinsleepandthefireshadsunkdowntomereglowingembers。Hassimsoothedhergravely。Buthe，too，wasanativeofWajowheremenaremoredaringandquickerofmindthanotherMalays。Moreenergetic，too，andenergydoesnotgowithoutaninnerfire。HassimlostpatienceandoneeveninghedeclaredtohissisterImmada："To—morrowweleavethisrulerwithoutamindandgobacktoourwhitefriend。"
　　Thereforenextmorning，lettingthecampmoveonthedirectroadtothesettlement，HassimandImmadatookacourseoftheirown。
　　Itwasalonelypathbetweenthejungleandtheclearings。Theyhadtwoattendantswiththem，Hassim’sownmen，menofWajo；andsotheladyImmada，whenshehadamindto，couldbecarried，afterthemannerofthegreatladiesofWajowhoneednotputfoottothegroundunlesstheylike。TheladyImmada，accustomedtothehardshipsthatarethelotofexiles，preferredtowalk，butfromtimetotimesheletherselfbecarriedforashortdistanceoutofregardforthefeelingsofherattendants。Thepartymadegoodtimeduringtheearlyhours，andHassimexpectedconfidentlytoreachbeforeeveningtheshoreofthelagoonataspotverynearthestrandedEmma。Atnoontheyrestedintheshadenearadarkpoolwithintheedgeoftheforest；anditwastherethatJaffirmetthem，muchtohisandtheirsurprise。Itwastheoccasionofalongtalk。Jaffir，squattingonhisheels，discoursedinmeasuredtones。Hehadentrancedlisteners。ThestoryofCarter’sexploitamongsttheShoalshadnotreachedBelarab’scamp。ItwasagreatshocktoHassim，butthesortofhalfsmilewithwhichhehadbeenlisteningtoJaffirneveraltereditscharacter。ItwasthePrincessImmadawhocriedoutindistressandwrungherhands。Adeepsilencefell。
　　Indeed，beforethefatalmagnitudeofthefactitseemedeventothoseMalaysthattherewasnothingtosayandJaffir，loweringhishead，respectedhisPrince’sconsternation。Then，beforethatfeelingcouldpassawayfromthatsmallgroupofpeopleseatedroundafewsmoulderingsticks，thenoisyapproachofalargepartyofmenmadethemallleaptotheirfeet。Beforetheycouldmakeanothermovementtheyperceivedthemselvesdiscovered。Themenwerearmedasifboundonsomewarlikeexpedition。AmongstthemSentot，inhisloinclothandwithunboundwildlocks，caperedandswunghisarmsaboutlikethelunatichewas。Theothers’astonishmentmadethemhalt，buttheirattitudewasobviouslyhostile。Intherearaportlyfigureflankedbytwoattendantscarryingswordswasapproachingprudently。RajahHassimresumedquietlyhisseatonthetrunkofafallentree，Immadarestedherhandlightlyonherbrother’sshoulder，andJaffir，squattingdownagain，lookedatthegroundwithallhisfacultiesandeverymuscleofhisbodytenselyonthealert。
　　"Tengga’sfighters，"hemurmured，scornfully。
　　Inthegroupsomebodyshouted，andwasansweredbyshoutsfromafar。Therecouldbenothoughtofresistance。HassimslippedtheemeraldringfromhisfingerstealthilyandJaffirgotholdofitbyanalmostimperceptiblemovement。TheRajahdidnotevenlookatthetrustymessenger。
　　"Failnottogiveittothewhiteman，"hemurmured。"Thyservanthears，ORajah。It’sacharmofgreatpower。"
　　Theshadowsweregrowingtothewestward。Everybodywassilent，andtheshiftinggroupofarmedmenseemedtohavedriftedcloser。Immada，drawingtheendofascarfacrossherface，confrontedtheadvancewithonlyoneeyeexposed。OntheflankofthearmedmenSentotwasperformingaslowdancebuthe，too，seemedtohavegonedumb。
　　"Nowgo，"breathedoutRajahHassim，hisgazelevelledintospaceimmovably。
　　ForasecondormoreJaffirdidnotstir，thenwithasuddenleapfromhissquattingpostureheflewthroughtheairandstruckthejungleinagreatcommotionofleaves，vanishinginstantlylikeaswimmerdivingfromonhigh。Adeepmurmurofsurprisearoseinthearmedparty，aspearwasthrown，ashotwasfired，threeorfourmendashedintotheforest，buttheysoonreturnedcrestfallenwithapologeticsmiles；whileJaffir，strikinganoldpaththatseemedtoleadintherightdirection，ranoninsolitude，raisingarustleofleaves，withanakedparanginhishandandacloudoffliesabouthishead。Thesundecliningtothewestwardthrewshaftsoflightacrosshisdarkpath。Heranataspringyhalf—trot，hiseyeswatchful，hisbroadchestheaving，andcarryingtheemeraldringontheforefingerofaclenchedhandasthoughhewereafraiditshouldslipoff，flyoff，betornfromhimbyaninvisibleforce，orspiritedawaybysomeenchantment。Whocouldtellwhatmighthappen？Therewereevilforcesatworkintheworld，powerfulincantations，horribleapparitions。Themessengerofprincesandofgreatmen，chargedwiththesupremeappealofhismaster，wasafraidinthedeepeningshadeoftheforest。Evilpresencesmighthavebeenlurkinginthatgloom。Stillthesunhadnotsetyet。Hecouldseeitsfacethroughtheleavesasheskirtedtheshoreofthelagoon。ButwhatifAllah’scallshouldcometohimsuddenlyandhedieasheran！
　　HedrewalongbreathontheshoreofthelagoonwithinaboutahundredyardsfromthestrandedbowsoftheEmma。Thetidewasoutandhewalkedtotheendofasubmergedlogandsentoutahailforaboat。Jorgenson’svoiceanswered。Thesunhadsunkbehindtheforestbeltofthecoast。Allwasstillasfarastheeyecouldreachovertheblackwater。AslightbreezecamealongitandJaffironthebrink，waitingforacanoe，shiveredalittle。
　　AtthesamemomentCarter，exhaustedbythirtyhoursofuninterruptedtoilattheheadofwhitesandMalaysingettingtheyachtafloat，droppedintoMrs。Travers’deckchair，onboardtheHermit，saidtothedevotedWasub："Letagoodwatchbekeptto—night，oldman，"glancedcontentedlyatthesettingsunandfellasleep。
　　III
　　TherewasinthebowsoftheEmmaanelevatedgratingovertheheelofherbowspritwhencetheeyecouldtakeinthewholerangeofherdeckandseeeverymovementofhercrew。Itwasaspotsafefromeaves—droppers，though，ofcourse，exposedtoview。ThesunhadjustsetonthesupremecontentofCarterwhenJorgensonandJaffirsatdownsidebysidebetweentheknightheadsoftheEmmaand，publicbutunapproachable，impressiveandsecret，begantoconverseinlowtones。
　　EveryWajofugitivewhomannedthehulkfelttheapproachofadecisivemoment。Theirmindsweremadeupandtheirheartsbeatsteadily。Theywerealldesperatemendeterminedtofightandtodieandtroublingnotaboutthemanneroflivingordying。ThiswasnotthecasewithMrs。Traverswho，havingshutherselfupinthedeckhouse，wasprofoundlytroubledaboutthoseverythings，thoughshe，too，feltdesperateenoughtowelcomealmostanysolution。
　　Ofallthepeopleonboardshealonedidnotknowanythingofthatconference。InherdeepandaimlessthinkingshehadonlybecomeawareoftheabsenceoftheslightestsoundonboardtheEmma。Notarustle，notafootfall。ThepublicviewofJorgensonandJaffirindeepconsultationhadtheeffectoftakingallwishtomovefromeveryman。
　　Twilightenvelopedthetwofiguresforwardwhiletheytalked，lookinginthestillnessoftheirposelikecarvedfiguresofEuropeanandAsiaticcontrastedinintimatecontact。Thedeepeningduskhadnearlyeffacedthemwhenatlasttheyrosewithoutwarning，asitwere，andthrillingtheheartofthebeholdersbythesuddenmovement。Buttheydidnotseparateatonce。Theylingeredintheirhighplaceasifawaitingthefallofcompletedarkness，afitendingtotheirmysteriouscommunion。
　　JaffirhadgivenJorgensonthewholestoryofthering，thesymbolofafriendshipmaturedandconfirmedonthenightofdefeat，onthenightofflightfromafar—distantlandsleepingunmovedunderthewrathandfireofheaven。
　　"Yes，Tuan，"continuedJaffir，"itwasfirstsentouttothewhiteman，onanightofmortaldanger，apresenttorememberafriendby。IwasthebearerofitthenevenasIamnow。Then，asnow，itwasgiventomeandIwastoldtosavemyselfandhandtheringoverinconfirmationofmymessage。IdidsoandthatwhitemanseemedtostilltheverystormtosavemyRajah。Hewasnotonetodepartandforgethimwhomhehadoncecalledhisfriend。Mymessagewasbutamessageofgood—bye，butthecharmoftheringwasstrongenoughtodrawallthepowerofthatwhitemantothehelpofmymaster。NowIhavenowordstosay。RajahHassimasksfornothing。Butwhatofthat？BythemercyofAllahallthingsarethesame，thecompassionoftheMostHigh，thepowerofthering，theheartofthewhiteman。Nothingischanged，onlythefriendshipisalittleolderandlovehasgrownbecauseoftheshareddangersandlongcompanionship。Therefore，Tuan，Ihavenofear。ButhowamItogettheringtotheRajahLaut？Justhandittohim。Thelastbreathwouldbetimeenoughiftheyweretospearmeathisfeet。Butalas！thebushisfullofTengga’smen，thebeachisopenandIcouldneverevenhopetoreachthegate。"
　　Jorgenson，withhishandsdeepinthepocketsofhistunic，listened，lookingdown。Jaffirshowedasmuchconsternationashisnaturewascapableof。
　　"OurrefugeiswithGod，"hemurmured。"Butwhatistobedone？
　　Hasyourwisdomnostratagem，OTuan？"
　　Jorgensondidnotanswer。Itappearedasthoughhehadnostratagem。ButGodisgreatandJaffirwaitedontheother’simmobility，anxiousbutpatient，perplexedyethopefulinhisgrimway，whilethenightflowingonfromthedarkforestnearbyhidtheirtwofiguresfromthesightofobservingmen。BeforethesilenceofJorgensonJaffirbegantotalkpractically。NowthatTenggahadthrownoffthemaskJaffirdidnotthinkthathecouldlandonthebeachwithoutbeingattacked，captured，naykilled，sinceamanlikehe，thoughhecouldsavehimselfbytakingflightattheorderofhismaster，couldnotbeexpectedtosurrenderwithoutafight。Hementionedthatintheexerciseofhisimportantfunctionsheknewhowtoglidelikeashadow，creeplikeasnake，andalmostburrowhiswayunderground。HewasJaffirwhohadneverbeenfoiled。Nobog，morass，greatriverorjunglecouldstophim。Hewouldhavewelcomedthem。Inmanyrespectstheywerethefriendsofacraftymessenger。Butthatwasanopenbeach，andtherewasnootherway，andasthingsstoodnoweverybusharound，everytreetrunk，everydeepshadowofhouseorfencewouldconcealTengga’smenorsuchofDaman’sinfuriatedpartisansashadalreadymadetheirwaytotheSettlement。Howcouldhehopetotraversethedistancebetweenthewater’sedgeandBelarab’sgatewhichnowwouldremainshutnightandday？NotonlyhimselfbutanybodyfromtheEmmawouldbesuretoberusheduponandspearedintwentyplaces。
　　Hereflectedforamomentinsilence。
　　"Evenyou，Tuan，couldnotaccomplishthefeat。"
　　"True，"mutteredJorgenson。
　　When，afteraperiodofmeditation，helookedround，Jaffirwasnolongerbyhisside。Hehaddescendedfromthehighplaceandwasprobablysquattingonhisheelsinsomedarknookontheforedeck。JorgensonknewJaffirtoowelltosupposethathewouldgotosleep。Hewouldsittherethinkinghimselfintoastateoffury，thengetawayfromtheEmmainsomewayorother，goashoreandperishfighting。Hewould，infact，runamok；foritlookedasiftherecouldbenowayoutofthesituation。Then，ofcourse，LingardwouldknownothingofHassimandImmada’scaptivityfortheringwouldneverreachhim——theringthatcouldtellitsowntale。No，Lingardwouldknownothing。HewouldknownothingaboutanybodyoutsideBelarab’sstockadetilltheendcame，whatevertheendmightbe，forallthosepeoplethatlivedthelifeofmen。WhethertoknowornottoknowwouldbegoodforLingardJorgensoncouldnottell。Headmittedtohimselfthatheretherewassomethingthathe，Jorgenson，couldnottell。Allthepossibilitieswerewrappedupindoubt，uncertain，likeallthingspertainingtothelifeofmen。ItwasonlywhengivingashortthoughttohimselfthatJorgensonhadnodoubt。He，ofcourse，wouldknowwhattodo。
　　Onthethinfaceofthatoldadventurerhiddeninthenightnotafeaturemoved，notamuscletwitched，ashedescendedinhisturnandwalkedaftalongthedecksoftheEmma。Hisfadedeyes，whichhadseensomuch，didnotattempttoexplorethenight，theynevergaveaglancetothesilentwatchersagainstwhomhebrushed。Hadalightbeenflashedonhimsuddenlyhewouldhaveappearedlikeamanwalkinginhissleep：thesomnambulistofaneternaldream。Mrs。Traversheardhisfootstepspassalongthesideofthedeckhouse。Sheheardthem——andletherheadfallagainonherbarearmsthrownoverthelittledeskbeforewhichshesat。