"Dropit，"whisperedJorgenson。
　　"Iamindebt，"saidLingard，slowly，andstoodstill。
　　"Dropit！"
　　"Neverdroppedanythinginmylife。"
　　"Dropit！"
　　"ByGod，Iwon’t！"criedLingard，stampinghisfoot。
　　Therewasapause。
　　"Iwaslikeyou——once，"repeatedJorgenson。"Fiveandthirtyyears——neverdroppedanything。Andwhatyoucandoisonlychild’splaytosomejobsIhavehadonmyhands——understandthat——greatmanasyouare，CaptainLingardoftheLightning……YoushouldhaveseentheWildRose，"headdedwithasuddenbreakinhisvoice。
　　Lingardleanedovertheguard—railofthepier。Jorgensoncamecloser。
　　"Isetfiretoherwithmyownhands！"hesaidinavibratingtoneandverylow，asifmakingamonstrousconfession。
　　"Poordevil，"mutteredLingard，profoundlymovedbythetragicenormityoftheact。"Isupposetherewasnowayout？"
　　"Iwasn’tgoingtoletherrottopiecesinsomeDutchport，"
　　saidJorgenson，gloomily。"DidyoueverhearofDawson？"
　　"Something——Idon’tremembernow——"mutteredLingard，whofeltachilldownhisbackattheideaofhisownvesseldecayingslowlyinsomeDutchport。"Hedied——didn’the？"heasked，absently，whilehewonderedwhetherhewouldhavetheplucktosetfiretothebrig——onanemergency。
　　"CuthisthroatonthebeachbelowFortRotterdam，"saidJorgenson。Hisgauntfigurewaveredintheunsteadymoonshineasthoughmadeofmist。"Yes。Hebrokesometraderegulationorotherandtalkedbigaboutlaw—courtsandlegaltrialstothelieutenantoftheKomet。’Certainly，’saysthehound。
　　’JurisdictionofMacassar，Iwilltakeyourschoonerthere。’Thencomingintotheroadshetowsherfulltiltonaledgeofrocksonthenorthside——smash！WhenshewashalffullofwaterhetakeshishatofftoDawson。’There’stheshore，’sayshe——’goandgetyourlegaltrial，you—Englishman——’"Heliftedalongarmandshookhisfistatthemoonwhichdodgedsuddenlybehindacloud。"Allwaslost。PoorDawsonwalkedthestreetsformonthsbarefootedandinrags。Thenonedayhebeggedaknifefromsomecharitablesoul，wentdowntotakealastlookatthewreck，and——"
　　"Idon’tinterferewiththeDutch，"interruptedLingard，impatiently。"IwantHassimtogetbackhisown——"
　　"AndsupposetheDutchwantthethingsjustso，"returnedJorgenson。"Anywaythereisadevilinsuchwork——dropit！"
　　"Lookhere，"saidLingard，"Itookthesepeopleoffwhentheywereintheirlastditch。Thatmeanssomething。Ioughtnottohavemeddledanditwouldhavebeenalloverinafewhours。I
　　musthavemeantsomethingwhenIinterfered，whetherIknewitornot。Imeantitthen——anddidnotknowit。Verywell。Imeanitnow——anddoknowit。Whenyousavepeoplefromdeathyoutakeashareintheirlife。That’showIlookatit。"
　　Jorgensonshookhishead。
　　"Foolishness！"hecried，thenaskedsoftlyinavoicethattrembledwithcuriosity——"Wheredidyouleavethem？"
　　"WithBelarab，"breathedoutLingard。"Youknewhimintheolddays。"
　　"Iknewhim，Iknewhisfather，"burstouttheotherinanexcitedwhisper。"WhomdidInotknow？IknewSentotwhenhewasKingoftheSouthShoreofJavaandtheDutchofferedapriceforhishead——enoughtomakeanyman’sfortune。HeslepttwiceonboardtheWildRosewhenthingshadbeguntogowrongwithhim。I
　　knewhim，Iknewallhischiefs，thepriests，thefightingmen，theoldregentwholostheartandwentovertotheDutch，I
　　knew——"hestammeredasifthewordscouldnotcomeout，gaveitupandsighed——"Belarab’sfatherescapedwithme，"hebeganagain，quietly，"andjoinedthePadrisinSumatra。Herosetobeagreatleader。Belarabwasayouththen。Thosewerethetimes。I
　　rangedthecoast——andlaughedatthecruisers；IsaweverybattlefoughtintheBattakcountry——andIsawtheDutchrun；IwasatthetakingofSingalandescaped。IwasthewhitemanwhoadvisedthechiefsofManangkabo。TherewasalotaboutmeintheDutchpapersatthetime。TheysaidIwasaFrenchmanturnedMohammedan——"hesworeagreatoath，and，reelingagainsttheguard—rail，panted，mutteringcursesonnewspapers。
　　"Well，Belarabhasthejobinhand，"saidLingard，composedly。
　　"HeisthechiefmanontheShoreofRefuge。Thereareothers，ofcourse。Hehassentmessagesnorthandsouth。Wemusthavemen。"
　　"Allthedevilsunchained，"saidJorgenson。"Youhavedoneitandnow——lookout——lookout……"
　　"NothingcangowrongasfarasIcansee，"arguedLingard。"Theyallknowwhat’stobedone。I’vegottheminhand。Youdon’tthinkBelarabunsafe？Doyou？"
　　"Haven’tseenhimforfifteenyears——butthewholething’sunsafe，"growledJorgenson。
　　"ItellyouI’vefixeditsothatnothingcangowrong。ItwouldbebetterifIhadawhitemanovertheretolookafterthingsgenerally。Thereisagoodlotofstoresandarms——andBelarabwouldbearwatching——nodoubt。Areyouinanywant？"headded，puttinghishandinhispocket。
　　"No，there’splentytoeatinthehouse，"answeredJorgenson，curtly。"Dropit，"heburstout。"Itwouldbebetterforyoutojumpoverboardatonce。Lookatme。Icameoutaboyofeighteen。
　　IcanspeakEnglish，IcanspeakDutch，Icanspeakeverycursedlingooftheseislands——Irememberthingsthatwouldmakeyourhairstandonend——butIhaveforgottenthelanguageofmyowncountry。I’vetraded，I’vefought，Ineverbrokemywordtowhiteornative。And，lookatme。Ifithadn’tbeenforthegirlI
　　wouldhavediedinaditchtenyearsago。Everythingleftme——youth，money，strength，hope——theverysleep。Butshestuckbythewreck。"
　　"Thatsaysalotforherandsomethingforyou，"saidLingard，cheerily。
　　Jorgensonshookhishead。
　　"That’stheworstofall，"hesaidwithslowemphasis。"That’stheend。Icametothemfromtheothersideoftheearthandtheytookmeand——seewhattheymadeofme。"
　　"Whatplacedoyoubelongto？"askedLingard。
　　"Tromso，"groanedoutJorgenson；"Iwillneverseesnowagain，"
　　hesobbedout，hisfaceinhishands。
　　Lingardlookedathiminsilence。
　　"Wouldyoucomewithme？"hesaid。"AsItoldyou，Iaminwantofa——"
　　"Iwouldseeyoudamnedfirst！"brokeouttheother，savagely。"I
　　amanoldwhiteloafer，butyoudon’tgetmetomeddleintheirinfernalaffairs。Theyhaveadeviloftheirown——"
　　"Thethingsimplycan’tfail。I’vecalculatedeverymove。I’veguardedagainsteverything。Iamnofool。"
　　"Yes——youare。Good—night。"
　　"Well，good—bye，"saidLingard，calmly。
　　Hesteppedintohisboat，andJorgensonwalkedupthejetty。
　　Lingard，clearingtheyokelines，heardhimcalloutfromadistance：
　　"Dropit！"
　　"Isailbeforesunrise，"heshoutedinanswer，andwentonboard。
　　Whenhecameupfromhiscabinafteranuneasynight，itwasdarkyet。Alankfigurestrolledacrossthedeck。
　　"HereIam，"saidJorgenson，huskily。"Diethereorhere——allone。But，ifIdiethere，rememberthegirlmusteat。"
　　LingardwasoneofthefewwhohadseenJorgenson’sgirl。Shehadawrinkledbrownface，alotoftangledgreyhair，afewblackstumpsofteeth，andhadbeenmarriedtohimlatelybyanenterprisingyoungmissionaryfromBukitTimah。WhatherappearancemighthavebeenoncewhenJorgensongaveforherthreehundreddollarsandseveralbrassguns，itwasimpossibletosay。
　　Allthatwasleftofheryouthwasapairofeyes，undimmedandmournful，which，whenshewasalone，seemedtolookstonilyintothepastoftwolives。WhenJorgensonwasneartheyfollowedhismovementswithanxiouspertinacity。AndnowwithinthesarongthrownoverthegreyheadtheyweredroppingunseentearswhileJorgenson’sgirlrockedherselftoandfro，squattingaloneinacornerofthedarkhut。
　　"Don’tyouworryaboutthat，"saidLingard，graspingJorgenson’shand。"Sheshallwantfornothing。AllIexpectyoutodoistolookalittleafterBelarab’smoralswhenIamaway。OnemoretripImustmake，andthenweshallbereadytogoahead。I’veforeseeneverysinglething。Trustme！"
　　InthiswaydidtherestlessshadeofCaptainH。C。Jorgensonrecrossthewaterofobliviontostepbackintothelifeofmen。
　　VI
　　Fortwoyears，Lingard，whohadthrownhimselfbodyandsoulintothegreatenterprise，hadlivedinthelongintoxicationofslowlypreparingsuccess。Nothoughtoffailurehadcrossedhismind，andnopriceappearedtooheavytopayforsuchamagnificentachievement。ItwasnothinglessthanbringingHassimtriumphantlybacktothatcountryseenonceatnightunderthelowcloudsandintheincessanttumultofthunder。WhenattheconclusionofsomelongtalkwithHassim，whoforthetwentiethtimeperhapshadrelatedthestoryofhiswrongsandhisstruggle，heliftedhisbigarmandshakinghisfistabovehishead，shouted："Wewillstirthemup。Wewillwakeupthecountry！"hewas，withoutknowingitintheleast，makingacompleteconfessionoftheidealismhiddenunderthesimplicityofhisstrength。Hewouldwakeupthecountry！Thatwasthefundamentalandunconsciousemotiononwhichwereengraftedhisneedofaction，theprimitivesenseofwhatwasduetojustice，togratitude，tofriendship，thesentimentalpityforthehardlotofImmada——poorchild——theproudconvictionthatofallthemenintheworld，inhisworld，healonehadthemeansandthepluck"toliftupthebigend"ofsuchanadventure。
　　Moneywaswantedandmenwerewanted，andhehadobtainedenoughofbothintwoyearsfromthatdaywhen，pistolsinhisbeltandacabbage—leafhatonhead，hehadunexpectedly，andatearlydawn，confrontedinperfectsilencethatmysteriousBelarab，whohimselfwasforamomenttooastoundedforspeechatthesightofawhiteface。
　　Thesunhadnotyetclearedtheforestsoftheinterior，butaskyalreadyfulloflightarchedoveradarkovallagoon，overwidefieldsasyetfullofshadows，thatseemedslowlychangingintothewhitenessofthemorningmist。Therewerehuts，fences，palisades，bighousesthat，erectedonloftypiles，wereseenabovethetopsofclusteredfruittrees，asifsuspendedintheair。
　　SuchwastheaspectofBelarab’ssettlementwhenLingardsethiseyesonitforthefirsttime。Therewereallthesethings，agreatnumberoffacesatthebackofthespareandmuffled—upfigureconfrontinghim，andintheswiftlyincreasinglightacompletestillnessthatmadethemurmuroftheword"Marhaba"
　　（welcome），pronouncedatlastbythechief，perfectlyaudibletoeveryoneofhisfollowers。Thebodyguardswhostoodabouthiminblackskull—capsandwithlong—shaftedlances，preservedanimpassiveaspect。Acrossopenspacesmencouldbeseenrunningtothewaterside。Agroupofwomenstandingonalowknollgazedintently，andnothingofthembuttheheadsshowedabovetheunstirringstalksofamaizefield。Suddenlywithinaclusterofemptyhutsnearbythevoiceofaninvisiblehagwasheardscoldingwithshrillfuryaninvisibleyounggirl：
　　"Strangers！Youwanttoseethestrangers？Odevoidofalldecency！MustIsolameandoldhuskthericealone？Mayevilbefalltheeandthestrangers！Maytheyneverfindfavour！Maytheybepursuedwithswords！Iamold。Iamold。Thereisnogoodinstrangers！Ogirl！Maytheyburn。"
　　"Welcome，"repeatedBelarab，gravely，andlookingstraightintoLingard’seyes。
　　LingardspentsixdaysthattimeinBelarab’ssettlement。Ofthese，threewerepassedinobservingeachotherwithoutaquestionbeingaskedorahintgivenastotheobjectinview。
　　Lingardloungedonthefinematswithwhichthechiefhadfurnishedasmallbamboohouseoutsideafortifiedenclosure，whereawhiteflagwithagreenborderflutteredonahighandslenderpolebutstillbelowthewallsoflong，high—roofedbuildings，raisedfortyfeetormoreonhard—woodposts。
　　Farawaytheinlandforestsweretintedashimmeringblue，liketheforestsofadream。Ontheseawardsidethebeltofgreattrunksandmattedundergrowthcametothewesternshoreoftheovallagoon；andinthepurefreshnessoftheairthegroupsofbrownhousesreflectedinthewaterorseenabovethewavinggreenofthefields，theclumpsofpalmtrees，thefenced—inplantations，thegrovesoffruittrees，madeupapictureofsumptuousprosperity。
　　Abovethebuildings，themen，thewomen，thestillsheetofwaterandthegreatplainofcropsglisteningwithdew，stretchedtheexalted，themiraculouspeaceofacloudlesssky。Andnoroadseemedtoleadintothiscountryofsplendourandstillness。Onecouldnotbelievetheunquietseawassonear，withitsgiftsanditsunendingmenace。Evenduringthemonthsofstorms，thegreatclamourrisingfromthewhitenedexpanseoftheShallowsdwelthighintheairinavastmurmur，nowfeeblenowstronger，thatseemedtoswingbackandforthonthewindabovetheearthwithoutanyonebeingabletotellwhenceitcame。Itwaslikethesolemnchantofawaterfallswellinganddyingawayabovethewoods，thefields，abovetheroofsofhousesandtheheadsofmen，abovethesecretpeaceofthathiddenandflourishingsettlementofvanquishedfanatics，fugitives，andoutcasts。
　　EveryafternoonBelarab，followedbyanescortthatstoppedoutsidethedoor，enteredalonethehouseofhisguest。Hegavethesalutation，inquiredafterhishealth，conversedaboutinsignificantthingswithaninscrutablemien。Butallthetimethesteadfastgazeofhisthoughtfuleyesseemedtoseekthetruthwithinthatwhiteface。Inthecooloftheevening，beforethesunhadset，theytalkedtogether，passingandrepassingbetweentheruggedpillarsofthegrovenearthegateofthestockade。Theescortawayintheobliquesunlight，followedwiththeireyesthestrollingfiguresappearingandvanishingbehindthetrees。Manywordswerepronounced，butnothingwassaidthatwoulddisclosethethoughtsofthetwomen。Theyclaspedhandsdemonstrativelybeforeseparating，andtheheavyslamofthegatewasfollowedbythetriplethudofthewoodenbarsdroppedintoironclamps。
　　Onthethirdnight，Lingardwasawakenedfromalightsleepbythesoundofwhisperingoutside。Ablackshadowobscuredthestarsinthedoorway，andamanenteringsuddenly，stoodabovehiscouchwhileanothercouldbeseensquatting——adarklumponthethresholdofthehut。
　　"Fearnot。IamBelarab，"saidacautiousvoice。
　　"Iwasnotafraid，"whisperedLingard。"Itisthemancominginthedarkandwithoutwarningwhoisindanger。"
　　"Anddidyounotcometomewithoutwarning？Isaid’welcome’——itwasaseasyformetosay’killhim。’"
　　"Youwerewithinreachofmyarm。Wewouldhavediedtogether，"
　　retortedLingard，quietly。
　　Theotherclickedhistonguetwice，andhisindistinctshapeseemedtosinkhalf—waythroughthefloor。
　　"Itwasnotwrittenthusbeforewewereborn，"hesaid，sittingcross—leggednearthemats，andinadeadenedvoice。"Thereforeyouaremyguest。Letthetalkbetweenusbestraightliketheshaftofaspearandshorterthantheremainderofthisnight。
　　Whatdoyouwant？"
　　"First，yourlonglife，"answeredLingard，leaningforwardtowardthegleamofapairofeyes，"andthen——yourhelp。"
　　VII
　　ThefaintmurmurofthewordsspokenonthatnightlingeredforalongtimeinLingard’sears，morepersistentthanthememoryofanuproar；helookedwithafixedgazeatthestarsburningpeacefullyinthesquareofthedoorway，whileafterlisteninginsilencetoallhehadtosay，Belarab，asifseducedbythestrengthandaudacityofthewhiteman，openedhisheartwithoutreserve。Hetalkedofhisyouthsurroundedbythefuryoffanaticismandwar，ofbattlesonthehills，ofadvancesthroughtheforests，ofmen’sunswervingpiety，oftheirunextinguishablehate。Notasinglewanderingcloudobscuredthegentlesplendouroftherectangularpatchofstarlightframedintheopaqueblacknessofthehut。Belarabmurmuredonofasuccessionofreverses，oftheringofdisastersnarrowingroundmen’sfadinghopesandundiminishedcourage。Hewhisperedofdefeatandflight，ofthedaysofdespair，ofthenightswithoutsleep，ofunendingpursuit，ofthebewilderedhorrorandsombrefury，oftheirwomenandchildrenkilledinthestockadebeforethebesiegedsalliedforthtodie。
　　"IhaveseenallthisbeforeIwasinyearsaman，"hecried，low。
　　Hisvoicevibrated。Inthepausethatsucceededtheyheardalightsighofthesleepingfollowerwho，claspinghislegsabovehisankles，restedhisforeheadonhisknees。
　　"Andtherewasamongstus，"beganBelarabagain，"onewhitemanwhoremainedtotheend，whowasfaithfulwithhisstrength，withhiscourage，withhiswisdom。Agreatman。Hehadgreatrichesbutagreaterheart。"
　　ThememoryofJorgenson，emaciatedandgreyhaired，andtryingtoborrowfivedollarstogetsomethingtoeatforthegirl，passedbeforeLingardsuddenlyuponthepacificglitterofthestars。
　　"Heresembledyou，"pursuedBelarab，abruptly。"Weescapedwithhim，andinhisshipcamehere。Itwasasolitude。Theforestcameneartothesheetofwater，therankgrasswavedupontheheadsoftallmen。Telal，myfather，diedofweariness；wewereonlyafew，andweallnearlydiedoftroubleandsadness——here。
　　Onthisspot！Andnoenemiescouldtellwherewehadgone。ItwastheShoreofRefuge——andstarvation。"
　　Hedronedoninthenight，withrisingandfallinginflections。
　　Hetoldhowhisdesperatecompanionswantedtogooutanddiefightingontheseaagainsttheshipsfromthewest，theshipswithhighsidesandwhitesails；andhow，unflinchingandalone，hekeptthembattlingwiththethornybush，withtherankgrass，withthesoaringandenormoustrees。Lingard，leaningonhiselbowandstaringthroughthedoor，recalledtheimageofthewidefieldsoutside，sleepingnow，inanimmensityofserenityandstarlight。Thisquietandalmostinvisibletalkerhaddoneitall；inhimwastheorigin，thecreation，thefate；andinthewonderofthatthoughttheshadowymurmuringfigureacquiredagiganticgreatnessofsignificance，asifithadbeentheembodimentofsomenaturalforce，ofaforceforevermasterfulandundying。
　　"AndevennowmylifeisunsafeasifIweretheirenemy，"saidBelarab，mournfully。"Eyesdonotkill，norangrywords；andcurseshavenopower，elsetheDutchwouldnotgrowfatlivingonourland，andIwouldnotbealiveto—night。Doyouunderstand？
　　Haveyouseenthemenwhofoughtintheolddays？Theyhavenotforgottenthetimesofwar。Ihavegiventhemhomesandquietheartsandfullbellies。Ialone。Andtheycursemynameinthedark，ineachother’sears——becausetheycanneverforget。"
　　Thisman，whosetalkhadbeenofwarandviolence，discoveredunexpectedlyapassionatecravingforsecurityandpeace。Noonewouldunderstandhim。Someofthosewhowouldnotunderstandhaddied。Hiswhiteteethgleamedcruellyinthedark。Buttherewereothershecouldnotkill。Thefools。Hewantedthelandandthepeopleinittobeforgottenasiftheyhadbeenswallowedbythesea。Buttheyhadneitherwisdomnorpatience。Couldtheynotwait？Theychantedprayersfivetimeseveryday，buttheyhadnotthefaith。
　　"Deathcomestoall——andtothebelieverstheendoftrouble。Butyouwhitemenwhoaretoostrongforus，youalsodie。Youdie。
　　AndthereisaParadiseasgreatasallearthandallHeaventogether，butnotforyou——notforyou！"
　　Lingard，amazed，listenedwithoutasound。Thesleepersnoredfaintly。Belarabcontinuedverycalmafterthisalmostinvoluntaryoutburstofaconsolingbelief。Heexplainedthathewantedsomebodyathisback，somebodystrongandwhomhecouldtrust，someoutsideforcethatwouldawetheunruly，thatwouldinspiretheirignorancewithfear，andmakehisrulesecure。HegropedinthedarkandseizingLingard’sarmabovetheelbowpresseditwithforce——thenletgo。AndLingardunderstoodwhyhistemerityhadbeensosuccessful。
　　Thenandthere，inreturnforLingard’sopensupport，afewgunsandalittlemoney，BelarabpromisedhishelpfortheconquestofWajo。Therewasnodoubthecouldfindmenwhowouldfight。Hecouldsendmessagestofriendsatadistanceandtherewerealsomanyunquietspiritsinhisowndistrictreadyforanyadventure。
　　Hespokeofthesemenwithfiercecontemptandanangrytenderness，inmingledaccentsofenvyanddisdain。Hewasweariedbytheirfolly，bytheirrecklessness，bytheirimpatience——andheseemedtoresenttheseasiftheyhadbeengiftsofwhichhehimselfhadbeendeprivedbythefatalityofhiswisdom。Theywouldfight。WhenthetimecameLingardhadonlytospeak，andasignfromhimwouldsendthemtoavaindeath——thosemenwhocouldnotwaitforanopportunityonthisearthorfortheeternalrevengeofHeaven。
　　Heceased，andtowereduprightinthegloom。
　　"Awake！"heexclaimed，low，bendingoverthesleepingman。
　　Theirblackshapes，passinginturn，eclipsedfortwosuccessivemomentstheglitterofthestars，andLingard，whohadnotstirred，remainedalone。Helaybackfulllengthwithanarmthrownacrosshiseyes。
　　WhenthreedaysafterwardheleftBelarab’ssettlement，itwasonacalmmorningofuncloudedpeace。Alltheboatsofthebrigcameupintothelagoonarmedandmannedtomakemoreimpressivethesolemnfactofaconcludedalliance。Astaringcrowdwatchedhisimposingdepartureinprofoundsilenceandwithanincreasedsenseofwonderatthemysteryofhisapparition。Theprogressoftheboatswassmoothandslowwhiletheycrossedthewidelagoon。
　　Lingardlookedbackonce。Agreatstillnesshadlaiditshandovertheearth，thesky，andthemen；upontheimmobilityoflandscapeandpeople。HassimandImmada，standingoutclearlybythesideofthechief，raisedtheirarmsinalastsalutation；
　　andthedistantgestureappearedsad，futile，lostinspace，likeasignofdistressmadebycastawaysinthevainhopeofanimpossiblehelp。
　　Hedeparted，hereturned，hewentawayagain，andeachtimethosetwofigures，lonelyonsomesandbankoftheShallows，madeathimthesamefutilesignofgreetingorgood—bye。Theirarmsateachmovementseemedtodrawcloseraroundhisheartthebondsofaprotectingaffection。Heworkedprosaically，earningmoneytopaythecostoftheromanticnecessitythathadinvadedhislife。Andthemoneyranlikewateroutofhishands。TheowneroftheNewEnglandvoiceremittednotalittleofittohispeopleinBaltimore。ButimporthousesintheportsoftheFarEasthadtheirshare。Itpaidforafastprauwhich，commandedbyJaffir，sailedintounfrequentedbaysandupunexploredrivers，carryingsecretmessages，importantnews，generousbribes。AgoodpartofitwenttothepurchaseoftheEmma。
　　TheEmmawasabatteredanddecrepitoldschoonerthat，inthedeclineofherexistence，hadbeenmuchill—usedbyapaunchywhitetraderofcunningandgluttonousaspect。Thismanboastedoutrageouslyafterwardofthegoodpricehehadgot"forthatrottenoldhookerofmine——youknow。"TheEmmaleftportmysteriouslyincompanywiththebrigandhenceforthvanishedfromtheseasforever。LingardhadhertowedupthecreekandranheragrounduponthatshoreofthelagoonfarthestfromBelarab’ssettlement。Therehadbeenatthattimeagreatriseofwaters，whichretiringsoonafterlefttheoldcraftcradledinthemud，withherbowsgroundedhighbetweenthetrunksoftwobigtrees，andleaningoveralittleasthoughafterahardlifeshehadsettledwearilytoaneverlastingrest。There，afewmonthslater，Jorgensonfoundherwhen，calledbackintothelifeofmen，hereappeared，togetherwithLingard，intheLandofRefuge。
　　"Sheisbetterthanafortonshore，"saidLingard，assidebysidetheyleantoverthetaffrail，lookingacrossthelagoononthehousesandpalmgrovesofthesettlement。"AllthegunsandpowderIhavegottogethersofararestoredinher。Goodidea，wasn’tit？Therewillbe，perhaps，noothersuchfloodforyears，andnowtheycan’tcomealongsideunlessrightunderthecounter，andonlyoneboatatatime。Ithinkyouareperfectlysafehere；
　　youcouldkeepoffawholefleetofboats；sheisn’teasytosetfireto；theforestinfrontisbetterthanawall。Well？"
　　Jorgensonassentedingrunts。Helookedatthedesolateemptinessofthedecks，atthestrippedspars，atthedeadbodyofthedismantledlittlevesselthatwouldknowthelifeoftheseasnomore。Thegloomoftheforestfellonher，mournfullikeawindingsheet。Thebushesofthebanktappedtheirtwigsonthebluffofherbows，andapendentspikeoftinybrownblossomsswungtoandfroovertheruinsofherwindlass。