Achainofislandssatbrokenandmassivefacingthewideestuary，displayedinasheetofpaleglassywaterreflectingfaithfullythecontouroftheshore。Highinthecolourlesssunshineasolitarybird，allblack，hovered，droppingandsoaringabovethesamespotwithaslightrockingmotionofthewings。Aragged，sootybunchofflimsymathovelswasperchedoveritsowninvertedimageuponacrookedmultitudeofhighpilesthecolourofebony。Atinyblackcanoeputofffromamongstthemwithtwotinymen，allblack，whotoiledexceedingly，strikingdownatthepalewater：andthecanoeseemedtoslidepainfullyonamirror。Thisbunchofmiserablehovelswasthefishingvillagethatboastedofthewhitelord’sespecialprotection，andthetwomencrossingoverweretheoldhead-manandhisson-in-law。Theylandedandwalkeduptousthewhitesand，lean，dark-brownasifdriedinsmoke，withashypatchesontheskinoftheirnakedshouldersandbreasts。Theirheadswereboundindirtybutcarefullyfoldedhandkerchiefs，andtheoldmanbeganatoncetostateacomplaint，voluble，stretchingalankarm，screwingupatJimhisoldblearedeyesconfidently。TheRajah’speoplewouldnotleavethemalone；therehadbeensometroubleaboutalotofturtles’eggshispeoplehadcollectedontheisletsthere——andleaningatarm’slengthuponhispaddle，hepointedwithabrownskinnyhandoverthesea。Jimlistenedforatimewithoutlookingup，andatlasttoldhimgentlytowait。Hewouldhearhimbyandby。Theywithdrewobedientlytosomelittledistance，andsatontheirheels，withtheirpaddleslyingbeforethemonthesand；thesilverygleamsintheireyesfollowedourmovementspatiently；andtheimmensityoftheoutspreadsea，thestillnessofthecoast，passingnorthandsouthbeyondthelimitsofmyvision，madeuponecolossalPresencewatchingusfourdwarfsisolatedonastripofglisteningsand。

　　“`Thetroubleis，“remarkedJim，moodily，“thatforgenerationsthesebeggarsoffishermeninthatvillagetherehadbeenconsideredastheRajah’spersonalslaves——andtheoldripcan’tgetitintohisheadthat……“

　　`Hepaused。“Thatyouhavechangedallthat，“Isaid。

　　“`Yes。I’vechangedallthat，“hemutteredinagloomyvoice。

　　“`Youhavehadyouropportunity，“Ipursued。

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