II
　　Itwasinthemostunknownperhapsofsuchspots，asmallbayonthecoastofNewGuinea，thatyoungPataHassim，thenephewofoneofthegreatestchiefsofWajo，metLingardforthefirsttime。
　　HewasatraderaftertheWajomanner，andinastoutsea—goingprauarmedwithtwogunsandmannedbyyoungmenwhowererelatedtohisfamilybybloodordependence，hadcomeintheretobuysomebirdsofparadiseskinsfortheoldSultanofTernate；ariskyexpeditionundertakennotinthewayofbusinessbutasamatterofcourtesytowardtheagedSultanwhohadentertainedhimsumptuouslyinthatdismalbrickpalaceatTernateforamonthormore。
　　Whilelyingoffthevillage，verymuchonhisguard，waitingfortheskinsandnegotiatingwiththetreacherouscoast—savageswhoarethego—betweensinthattrade，HassimsawonemorningLingard’sbrigcometoananchorinthebay，andshortlyafterwardobservedawhitemanofgreatstaturewithabeardthatshonelikegold，landfromaboatandstrollonunarmed，thoughfollowedbyfourMalaysofthebrig’screw，towardthenativevillage。
　　Hassimwasstruckwithwonderandamazementatthecoolrecklessnessofsuchaproceeding；and，after；intrueMalayfashion，discussingwithhispeopleforanhourorsotheurgencyofthecase，healsolanded，butwellescortedandarmed，withtheintentionofgoingtoseewhatwouldhappen。
　　Theaffairreallywasverysimple，"suchas"——Lingardwouldsay——"suchasmighthavehappenedtoanybody。"Hewentashorewiththeintentiontolookforsomestreamwherehecouldconvenientlyreplenishhiswatercasks，thisbeingreallythemotivewhichhadinducedhimtoenterthebay。
　　While，withhismenclosebyandsurroundedbyamop—headed，sootycrowd，hewasshowingafewcottonhandkerchiefs，andtryingtoexplainbysignstheobjectofhislanding，aspear，lungedfrombehind，grazedhisneck。ProbablythePapuanwantedonlytoascertainwhethersuchacreaturecouldbekilledorhurt，andmostlikelyfirmlybelievedthatitcouldnot；butoneofLingard’sseamenatonceretaliatedbystrikingattheexperimentingsavagewithhisparang——threesuchchoppersbroughtforthepurposeofclearingthebush，ifnecessary，beingalltheweaponsthepartyfromthebrigpossessed。
　　AdeadlytumultensuedwithsuchsuddennessthatLingard，turningroundswiftly，sawhisdefender，alreadyspearedinthreeplaces，fallforwardathisfeet。Wasub，whowasthere，andafterwardtoldthestoryonceaweekonanaverage，usedtohorrifyhishearersbyshowinghowthemanblinkedhiseyesquicklybeforehefell。Lingardwasunarmed。Totheendofhislifeheremainedincorrigiblyrecklessinthatrespect，explainingthathewas"muchtooquicktemperedtocarryfirearmsonthechanceofarow。Andifputtoit，"heargued，"Icanmakeshifttokillamanwithmyfistanyhow；andthen——don’tyesee——youknowwhatyou’redoingandarenotsoapttostartatroublefromsheertemperorfunk——see？"
　　Inthiscasehedidhisbesttokillamanwithablowfromtheshoulderandcatchingupanotherbythemiddleflunghimatthenaked，wildcrowd。"Hehurledmenaboutasthewindhurlsbrokenboughs。
　　Hemadeabroadwaythroughourenemies！"relatedWasubinhisjerkyvoice。ItismoreprobablethatLingard’squickmovementsandtheamazingaspectofsuchastrangebeingcausedthewarriorstofallbackbeforehisrush。
　　Takinginstantadvantageoftheirsurpriseandfear，Lingard，followedbyhismen，dashedalongthekindofruinousjettyleadingtothevillagewhichwaserectedasusualoverthewater。
　　Theydartedintooneofthemiserablehutsbuiltofrottenmatsandbitsofdecayedcanoes，andinthissheltershowingdaylightthroughallitssides，theyhadtimetodrawbreathandrealizethattheirpositionwasnotmuchimproved。
　　Thewomenandchildrenscreaminghadclearedoutintothebush，whileattheshoreendofthejettythewarriorscaperedandyelled，preparingforageneralattack。Lingardnoticedwithmortificationthathisboat—keeperapparentlyhadlosthishead，for，insteadofswimmingofftotheshiptogivethealarm，ashewasperfectlyabletodo，themanactuallystruckoutforasmallrockahundredyardsawayandwasfranticallytryingtoclimbupitsperpendicularside。Thetidebeingout，tojumpintothehorriblemudunderthehouseswouldhavebeenalmostcertaindeath。Nothingremainedtherefore——sincethemiserabledwellingwouldnothavewithstoodavigorouskick，letaloneasiege——buttorushbackonshoreandregainpossessionoftheboat。TothisLingardmadeuphismindquicklyand，arminghimselfwithacrookedstickhefoundunderhishand，salliedforthattheheadofhisthreemen。Asheboundedalong，farinadvance，hehadjusttimetoperceiveclearlythedesperatenatureoftheundertaking，whenheheardtwoshotsfiredtohisright。Thesolidmassofblackbodiesandfrizzlyheadsinfrontofhimwaveredandbrokeup。Theydidnotrunaway，however。
　　Lingardpursuedhiscourse，butnowwiththatthrillofexultationwhichevenafaintprospectofsuccessinspiresinasanguineman。Heheardashoutofmanyvoicesfaroff，thentherewasanotherreportofashot，andamusketballfiredatlongrangespurtedatinyjetofsandbetweenhimandhiswildenemies。Hisnextboundwouldhavecarriedhimintotheirmidsthadtheyawaitedhisonset，buthisupliftedarmfoundnothingtostrike。Blackbackswereleapinghighorglidinghorizontallythroughthegrasstowardtheedgeofthebush。
　　Heflunghisstickatthenearestpairofblackshouldersandstoppedshort。Thetallgrassesswayedthemselvesintoarest，achorusofyellsandpiercingshrieksdiedoutinadismalhowl，andallatoncethewoodedshoresandthebluebayseemedtofallunderthespellofaluminousstillness。Thechangewasasstartlingastheawakeningfromadream。ThesuddensilencestruckLingardasamazing。
　　Hebrokeitbyliftinghisvoiceinastentorianshout，whicharrestedthepursuitofhismen。Theyretiredreluctantly，glaringbackangrilyatthewallofajunglewherenotasingleleafstirred。Thestrangers，whoseopportuneappearancehaddecidedtheissueofthatadventure，didnotattempttojoininthepursuitbuthaltedinacompactbodyonthegroundlatelyoccupiedbythesavages。
　　LingardandtheyoungleaderoftheWajotradersmetinthesplendidlightofnoonday，andamidsttheattentivesilenceoftheirfollowers，ontheveryspotwheretheMalayseamanhadlosthislife。Lingard，stridingupfromoneside，thrustouthisopenpalm；Hassimrespondedatoncetothefrankgestureandtheyexchangedtheirfirsthand—claspovertheprostratebody，asiffatehadalreadyexactedthepriceofadeathforthemostominousofhergifts——thegiftoffriendshipthatsometimescontainsthewholegoodorevilofalife。
　　"I’llneverforgetthisday，"criedLingardinaheartytone；andtheothersmiledquietly。
　　Thenafterashortpause——"Willyouburnthevillageforvengeance？"askedtheMalaywithaquickglancedownatthedeadLascarwho，onhisfaceandwithstretchedarms，seemedtoclingdesperatelytothatearthofwhichhehadknownsolittle。
　　Lingardhesitated。
　　"No，"hesaid，atlast。"Itwoulddogoodtonoone。"
　　"True，"saidHassim，gently，"butwasthismanyourdebtor——aslave？"
　　"Slave？"criedLingard。"ThisisanEnglishbrig。Slave？No。A
　　freemanlikemyself。"
　　"Hai。Heisindeedfreenow，"mutteredtheMalaywithanotherglancedownward。"Butwhowillpaythebereavedforhislife？"
　　"Ifthereisanywhereawomanorchildbelongingtohim，I——myserangwouldknow——Ishallseekthemout，"criedLingard，remorsefully。
　　"Youspeaklikeachief，"saidHassim，"onlyourgreatmendonotgotobattlewithnakedhands。Oyouwhitemen！Othevalourofyouwhitemen！"
　　"Itwasfolly，purefolly，"protestedLingard，"andthispoorfellowhaspaidforit。"
　　"Hecouldnotavoidhisdestiny，"murmuredtheMalay。"Itisinmymindmytradingisfinishednowinthisplace，"headded，cheerfully。
　　Lingardexpressedhisregret。
　　"Itisnomatter，itisnomatter，"assuredtheothercourteously，andafterLingardhadgivenapressinginvitationforHassimandhistwocompanionsofhighranktovisitthebrig，thetwopartiesseparated。
　　TheeveningwascalmwhentheMalaycraftleftitsberthneartheshoreandwasrowedslowlyacrossthebaytoLingard’sanchorage。
　　Theendofastoutlinewasthrownonboard，andthatnightthewhiteman’sbrigandthebrownman’sprauswungtogethertothesameanchor。
　　Thesunsettingtoseawardshotitslastraysbetweentheheadlands，whenthebodyofthekilledLascar，wrappedupdecentlyinawhitesheet，accordingtoMohammedanusage，wasloweredgentlybelowthestillwatersofthebayuponwhichhiscuriousglances，onlyafewhoursbefore，hadrestedforthefirsttime。Atthemomentthedeadman，releasedfromslip—ropes，disappearedwithoutaripplebeforetheeyesofhisshipmates，thebrightflashandtheheavyreportofthebrig’sbowgunweresucceededbythemutteringechoesoftheencirclingshoresandbytheloudcriesofseabirdsthat，wheelinginclouds，seemedtoscreamafterthedepartingseamanawildandeternalgood—bye。
　　Themasterofthebrig，makinghiswayaftwithhanginghead，wasfollowedbylowmurmursofpleasedsurprisefromhiscrewaswellasfromthestrangerswhocrowdedthemaindeck。Insuchactsperformedsimply，fromconviction，whatmaybecalledtheromanticsideoftheman’snaturecameout；thatresponsivesensitivenesstotheshadowyappealsmadebylifeanddeath，whichisthegroundworkofachivalrouscharacter。
　　Lingardentertainedhisthreevisitorsfarintothenight。A
　　sheepfromthebrig’sseastockwasgiventothemenoftheprau，whileinthecabin，Hassimandhistwofriends，sittinginarowonthesternsettee，lookedverysplendidwithcostlymetalsandflawedjewels。ThetalkconductedwithheartyfriendshiponLingard’spart，andonthepartoftheMalayswiththewell—bredairofdiscreetcourtesy，whichisnaturaltothebetterclassofthatpeople，toucheduponmanysubjectsand，intheend，driftedtopolitics。
　　"Itisinmymindthatyouareapowerfulmaninyourowncountry，"saidHassim，withacircularglanceatthecuddy。
　　"Mycountryisuponafar—awayseawherethelightbreezesareasstrongasthewindsoftherainyweatherhere，"saidLingard；andtherewerelowexclamationsofwonder。"Ileftitveryyoung，andIdon’tknowaboutmypowertherewheregreatmenaloneareasnumerousasthepoorpeopleinallyourislands，TuanHassim。Buthere，"hecontinued，"here，whichisalsomycountry——beinganEnglishcraftandworthyofit，too——Iampowerfulenough。Infact，IamRajahhere。Thisbitofmycountryisallmyown。"
　　Thevisitorswereimpressed，exchangedmeaningglances，noddedateachother。
　　"Good，good，"saidHassimatlast，withasmile。"Youcarryyourcountryandyourpowerwithyouoverthesea。ARajahuponthesea。Good！"
　　Lingardlaughedthunderouslywhiletheotherslookedamused。
　　"Yourcountryisverypowerful——weknow，"beganagainHassimafterapause，"butisitstrongerthanthecountryoftheDutchwhostealourland？"
　　"Stronger？"criedLingard。Heopenedabroadpalm。"Stronger？Wecouldtaketheminourhandlikethis——"andheclosedhisfingerstriumphantly。
　　"Anddoyoumakethempaytributefortheirland？"enquiredHassimwitheagerness。
　　"No，"answeredLingardinasoberedtone；"this，TuanHassim，yousee，isnotthecustomofwhitemen。Wecould，ofcourse——butitisnotthecustom。"
　　"Isitnot？"saidtheotherwithascepticalsmile。"Theyarestrongerthanweareandtheywanttributefromus。Andsometimestheygetit——evenfromWajowhereeverymanisfreeandwearsakris。"
　　TherewasaperiodofdeadsilencewhileLingardlookedthoughtfulandtheMalaysgazedstonilyatnothing。
　　"Butweburnourpowderamongstourselves，"wentonHassim，gently，"andbluntourweaponsupononeanother。"
　　Hesighed，paused，andthenchangingtoaneasytonebegantourgeLingardtovisitWajo"fortradeandtoseefriends，"hesaid，layinghishandonhisbreastandinclininghisbodyslightly。
　　"Aye。Totradewithfriends，"criedLingardwithalaugh，"forsuchaship"——hewavedhisarm——"forsuchavesselasthisislikeahouseholdwheretherearemanybehindthecurtain。Itisascostlyasawifeandchildren。"
　　Theguestsroseandtooktheirleave。
　　"Youfiredthreeshotsforme，PanglimaHassim，"saidLingard，seriously，"andIhavehadthreebarrelsofpowderputonboardyourprau；oneforeachshot。Butwearenotquits。"
　　TheMalay’seyesglitteredwithpleasure。
　　"Thisisindeedafriend’sgift。Cometoseemeinmycountry！"
　　"Ipromise，"saidLingard，"toseeyou——someday。"
　　Thecalmsurfaceofthebayreflectedthegloriousnightsky，andthebrigwiththeprauridingasternseemedtobesuspendedamongstthestarsinapeacethatwasalmostunearthlyintheperfectionofitsunstirringsilence。Thelasthand—shakeswereexchangedondeck，andtheMalayswentaboardtheirowncraft。
　　Nextmorning，whenabreezesprangupsoonaftersunrise，thebrigandtheprauleftthebaytogether。WhenclearofthelandLingardmadeallsailandsheeredalongsidetosaygood—byebeforepartingcompany——thebrig，ofcourse，sailingthreefeettotheprau’sone。Hassimstoodonthehighdeckaft。
　　"Prosperousroad，"hailedLingard。
　　"Rememberthepromise！"shoutedtheother。"Andcomesoon！"hewenton，raisinghisvoiceasthebrigforgedpast。"Comesoon——lestwhatperhapsiswrittenshouldcometopass！"
　　Thebrigshotahead。
　　"What？"yelledLingardinapuzzledtone，"what’swritten？"
　　Helistened。Andfloatingoverthewatercamefaintlythewords：
　　"Nooneknows！"
　　III
　　"Myword！Icouldn’thelplikingthechap，"wouldshoutLingardwhentellingthestory；andlookingaroundattheeyesthatglitteredathimthroughthesmokeofcheroots，thisBrixhamtrawler—boy，afterwardayouthincolliers，deep—waterman，gold—digger，ownerandcommanderof"thefinestbrigafloat，"
　　knewthatbyhislisteners——seamen，traders，adventurerslikehimself——thiswasacceptednotastheexpressionofafeeling，butasthehighestcommendationhecouldgivehisMalayfriend。
　　"Byheavens！IshallgotoWajo！"hecried，andasemicircleofheadsnoddedgraveapprobationwhileaslightlyironicalvoicesaiddeliberately——"Youareamademan，Tom，ifyougetontherightsideofthatRajahofyours。"
　　"Goin——andlookoutforyourself，"criedanotherwithalaugh。
　　Alittleprofessionaljealousywasunavoidable，Wajo，onaccountofitschronicstateofdisturbance，beingclosedtothewhitetraders；buttherewasnorealill—willinthebanterofthesemen，who，risingwithhandshakes，droppedoffonebyone。Lingardwentstraightaboardhisvesseland，tillmorning，walkedthepoopofthebrigwithmeasuredsteps。Theridinglightsofshipstwinkledallroundhim；thelightsashoretwinkledinrows，thestarstwinkledabovehisheadinablacksky；andreflectedintheblackwateroftheroadsteadtwinkledfarbelowhisfeet。Andalltheseinnumerableandshiningpointswereutterlylostintheimmensedarkness。Onceheheardfaintlytherumblingchainofsomevesselcomingtoananchorfarawaysomewhereoutsidetheofficiallimitsoftheharbour。Astrangertotheport——thoughtLingard——oneofuswouldhavestoodrightin。Perhapsashipfromhome？Andhefeltstrangelytouchedatthethoughtofthatship，wearywithmonthsofwandering，anddaringnottoapproachtheplaceofrest。Atsunrise，whilethebigshipfromtheWest，hersidesstreakedwithrustandgreywiththesaltofthesea，wasmovingslowlyintotakeupaberthneartheshore，Lingardlefttheroadsteadonhiswaytotheeastward。
　　Aheavygulfthunderstormwasraging，whenafteralongpassageandattheendofasultrycalmday，wastedindriftinghelplesslyinsightofhisdestination，Lingard，takingadvantageoffitfulgustsofwind，approachedtheshoresofWajo。Withcharacteristicaudacity，heheldonhisway，closinginwithacoasttowhichhewasastranger，andonanightthatwouldhaveappalledanyotherman；whileateverydazzlingflash，Hassim’snativelandseemedtoleapneareratthebrig——anddisappearinstantlyasthoughithadcrouchedlowforthenextspringoutofanimpenetrabledarkness。Duringthelongdayofthecalm，hehadobtainedfromthedeckandfromaloft，suchgoodviewsofthecoast，andhadnotedthelayofthelandandthepositionofthedangerssocarefullythat，thoughattheprecisemomentwhenhegavetheordertoletgotheanchor，hehadbeenforsometimeabletoseenofurtherthanifhisheadhadbeenwrappedinawoollenblanket，yetthenextflickeringbluishflashshowedhimthebrig，anchoredalmostexactlywherehehadjudgedhertobe，offanarrowwhitebeachnearthemouthofariver。
　　Hecouldseeontheshoreahighclusterofbamboohutspercheduponpiles，asmallgroveoftallpalmsallbowedtogetherbeforetheblastlikestalksofgrass，somethingthatmighthavebeenapalisadeofpointedstakesnearthewater，andfaroff，asombrebackgroundresemblinganimmensewall——theforest—cladhills。
　　Nextmoment，allthisvanishedutterlyfromhissight，asifannihilatedand，beforehehadtimetoturnaway，camebacktoviewwithasuddencrash，appearingunscathedandmotionlessunderhookeddartsofflame，likesomelegendarycountryofimmortals，withstandingthewrathandfireofHeaven。
　　Madeuneasybythenatureofhisholdingground，andfearingthatinoneoftheterrificoff—shoreguststhebrigwouldstartheranchor，Lingardremainedondecktowatchoverthesafetyofhisvessel。Withonehanduponthelead—linewhichwouldgivehiminstantwarningofthebrigbeginningtodrag，hestoodbytherail，mostofthetimedeafenedandblinded，butalsofascinated，bytherepeatedswiftvisionsofanunknownshore，asightalwayssoinspiring，asmuchperhapsbyitsvaguesuggestionofdangerasbythehopesofsuccessitneverfailstoawakenintheheartofatrueadventurer。Anditsimmutableaspectofprofoundandstillrepose，seenthusunderstreamsoffireandinthemidstofaviolentuproar，madeitappearinconceivablymysteriousandamazing。
　　Betweenthesquallstherewereshortmomentsofcalm，whilenowandtheneventhethunderwouldceaseasiftodrawbreath。
　　Duringoneofthoseintervals。Lingard，tiredandsleepy，wasbeginningtodozewherehestood，whensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthat，somewherebelow，theseahadspokeninahumanvoice。
　　Ithadsaid，"PraisebetoGod——"andthevoicesoundedsmall，clear，andconfident，likethevoiceofachildspeakinginacathedral。Lingardgaveastartandthought——I’vedreamedthis——anddirectlytheseasaidveryclosetohim，"Givearope。"
　　Thethundergrowledwickedly，andLingard，aftershoutingtothemenondeck，peereddownatthewater，untilatlasthemadeoutfloatingclosealongsidetheupturnedfaceofamanwithstaringeyesthatgleamedathimandthenblinkedquicklytoaflashoflightning。Bythattimeallhandsinthebrigwerewildlyactiveandmanyropes—endshadbeenthrownover。Thentogetherwithagustofwind，and，asifblownonboard，amantumbledovertherailandfellallinaheapuponthedeck。Beforeanyonehadthetimetopickhimup，heleapedtohisfeet，causingthepeoplearoundhimtostepbackhurriedly。Asinisterblueglareshowedthebewilderedfacesandthepetrifiedattitudesofmencompletelydeafenedbytheaccompanyingpealofthunder。Afteratime，asiftobeingsplungedintheabyssofeternalsilence，therecametotheirearsanunfamiliarthin，far—awayvoicesaying：
　　"Iseekthewhiteman。"
　　"Here，"criedLingard。Then，whenhehadthestranger，drippingandnakedbutforasoakedwaistcloth，underthelampofthecabin，hesaid，"Idon’tknowyou。"
　　"MynameisJaffir，andIcomefromPataHassim，whoismychiefandyourfriend。Doyouknowthis？"
　　Heheldupathickgoldring，setwithafairlygoodemerald。
　　"IhaveseenitbeforeontheRajah’sfinger，"saidLingard，lookingverygrave。
　　"ItisthewitnessofthetruthIspeak——themessagefromHassimis——’Departandforget！’"
　　"Idon’tforget，"saidLingard，slowly。"Iamnotthatkindofman。Whatfollyisthis？"
　　ItisunnecessarytogiveatfulllengththestorytoldbyJaffir。Itappearsthatonhisreturnhome，afterthemeetingwithLingard，Hassimfoundhisrelativedyingandastrongpartyformedtoopposehisrightfulsuccessor。TheoldRajahTulladiedlateatnightand——asJaffirputit——beforethesunrosetherewerealreadyblowsexchangedinthecourtyardoftheruler’sdalam。Thiswasthepreliminaryfightofacivilwar，fosteredbyforeignintrigues；awarofjungleandriver，ofassaultedstockadesandforestambushes。Inthiscontest，bothparties——
　　accordingtoJaffir——displayedgreatcourage，andoneofthemanunswervingdevotiontowhat，almostfromthefirst，wasalostcause。BeforeamonthelapsedHassim，thoughstillchiefofanarmedband，wasalreadyafugitive。Hekeptupthestruggle，however，withsomevaguenotionthatLingard’sarrivalwouldturnthetide。
　　"Forweekswelivedonwildrice；fordayswefoughtwithnothingbutwaterinourbellies，"declaimedJaffirinthetoneofatruefire—eater。
　　Andthenhewentontorelate，how，drivensteadilydowntothesea，Hassim，withasmallbandoffollowers，hadbeenfordaysholdingthestockadebythewaterside。
　　"Buteverynightsomemendisappeared，"confessedJaffir。"Theywerewearyandhungryandtheywenttoeatwiththeirenemies。
　　Weareonlytennow——tenmenandawomanwiththeheartofaman，whoaretonightstarving，andto—morrowshalldieswiftly。Wesawyourshipafarallday；butyouhavecometoolate。Andforfearoftreacheryandlestharmshouldbefallyou——hisfriend——theRajahgavemetheringandIcreptonmystomachoverthesand，andIswaminthenight——andI，Jaffir，thebestswimmerinWajo，andtheslaveofHassim，tellyou——hismessagetoyouis’Departandforget’——andthisishisgift——take！"
　　HecaughtholdsuddenlyofLingard’shand，thrustroughlyintoitthering，andthenforthefirsttimelookedroundthecabinwithwonderingbutfearlesseyes。Theylingeredoverthesemicircleofbayonetsandrestedfondlyonmusket—racks。Hegruntedinadmiration。
　　"Ya—wa，thisisstrength！"hemurmuredasiftohimself。"Butithascometoolate。"
　　"Perhapsnot，"criedLingard。
　　"Toolate，"saidJaffir，"wearetenonly，andatsunrisewegoouttodie。"Hewenttothecabindoorandhesitatedtherewithapuzzledair，beingunusedtolocksanddoorhandles。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"askedLingard。
　　"Ishallswimback，"repliedJaffir。"Themessageisspokenandthenightcannotlastforever。"
　　"Youcanstopwithme，"saidLingard，lookingatthemansearchingly。
　　"Hassimwaits，"wasthecurtanswer。
　　’Didhetellyoutoreturn？"askedLingard。
　　"No！Whatneed？"saidtheotherinasurprisedtone。
　　Lingardseizedhishandimpulsively。
　　"IfIhadtenmenlikeyou！"hecried。
　　"Weareten，buttheyaretwentytoone，"saidJaffir，simply。
　　Lingardopenedthedoor。
　　"Doyouwantanythingthatamancangive？"heasked。
　　TheMalayhadamomentofhesitation，andLingardnoticedthesunkeneyes，theprominentribs，andtheworn—outlookoftheman。
　　"Speakout，"heurgedwithasmile；"thebearerofagiftmusthaveareward。"
　　"Adrinkofwaterandahandfulofriceforstrengthtoreachtheshore，"saidJaffirsturdily。"Foroverthere"——hetossedhishead——"wehadnothingtoeatto—day。"
　　"Youshallhaveit——giveittoyouwithmyownhands，"mutteredLingard。
　　Hedidso，andthusloweredhimselfinJaffir’sestimationforatime。Whilethemessenger，squattingonthefloor，atewithouthastebutwithconsiderableearnestness，Lingardthoughtoutaplanofaction。Inhisignoranceastothetruestateofaffairsinthecountry，tosaveHassimfromtheimmediatedangerofhispositionwasallthathecouldreasonablyattempt。TothatendLingardproposedtoswingouthislong—boatandsendhercloseinshoretotakeoffHassimandhismen。HeknewenoughofMalaystofeelsurethatonsuchanightthebesiegers，nowcertainofsuccess，andbeing，Jaffirsaid，inpossessionofeverythingthatcouldfloat，wouldnotbeveryvigilant，especiallyontheseafrontofthestockade。TheveryfactofJaffirhavingmanagedtoswimoffundetectedprovedthatmuch。Thebrig’sboatcould——whenthefrequencyoflightningabated——approachunseenclosetothebeach，andthedefeatedparty，eitherstealingoutonebyoneormakingarushinabody，wouldembarkandbereceivedinthebrig。
　　ThisplanwasexplainedtoJaffir，whohearditwithouttheslightestmarkofinterest，beingapparentlytoobusyeating。
　　Whenthelastgrainofricewasgone，hestoodup，tookalongpullatthewaterbottle，muttered："Ihear。Good。IwilltellHassim，"andtighteningtheragroundhisloins，preparedtogo。
　　"Givemetimetoswimashore，"hesaid，"andwhentheboatstarts，putanotherlightbesidetheonethatburnsnowlikeastaraboveyourvessel。Weshallseeandunderstand。Anddon’tsendtheboattillthereislesslightning：aboatisbiggerthanamaninthewater。Telltherowerstopullforthepalm—groveandceasewhenanoar，thrustdownwithastrongarm，touchesthebottom。Verysoontheywillhearourhail；butifnoonecomestheymustgoawaybeforedaylight。Achiefmaypreferdeathtolife，andwewhoareleftarealloftrueheart。Doyouunderstand，Obigman？"