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。"