Beforedescendingthefewstepsthegirlturnedherfaceoverhershoulderandsaidquickly：“Youweretobesetuponwhileyouslept。“Jimtellsmeheexperiencedasenseofdeception。Itwastheoldstory。Hewaswearyoftheseattemptsuponhislife。Hehadhadhisfillofthesealarms。Hewassickofthem。Heassuredmehewasangrywiththegirlfordeceivinghim。Hehadfollowedherundertheimpressionthatitwasshewhowantedhishelp，andnowhehadhalfamindtoturnonhisheelandgobackindisgust。“Doyouknow，“hecommented，profoundly，“IratherthinkIwasnotquitemyselfforwholeweeksonendaboutthattime。““Oh，yes。Youwere，though，“Icouldn’thelpcontradicting。
`Butshemovedonswiftly，andhefollowedherintothecourtyard。Allitsfenceshadfalleninalongtimeago；theneighbours’buffaloeswouldpaceinthemorningacrosstheopenspace，snortingprofoundly，withouthaste；theveryjunglewasinvadingitalready。Jimandthegirlstoppedintherankgrass。Thelightinwhichtheystoodmadeadenseblacknessallround，andonlyabovetheirheadstherewasanopulentglitterofstars。
Hetoldmeitwasabeautifulnight——quitecool，withalittlestirofbreezefromtheriver。Itseemshenoticeditsfriendlybeauty。Rememberthisisalove-storyIamtellingyounow。Alovelynightthatseemedtobreatheonthemasoftcaress。Theflameofthetorchstreamednowandthenwithaflutteringnoiselikeaflag，andforatimethiswastheonlysound。“Theyareinthestoreroomwaiting，“whisperedthegirl；“theyarewaitingforthesignal。““Who’stogiveit？“heasked。Sheshookthetorch，whichblazedupafterashowerofsparks。“Onlyyouhavebeensleepingsorestlessly，“shecontinuedinamurmur。“Iwatchedyoursleep，too。“
“You!“heexclaimed，craninghisnecktolookabouthim。“YouthinkIwatchedonthisnightonly!“shesaid，withasortofdespairingindignation。
`Hesaysitwasasifhehadreceivedablowonthechest。Hegasped。
Hethoughthehadbeenanawfulbrutesomehow，andhefeltremorseful，touched，happy，elated。This，letmeremindyouagain，isalovestory；
youcanseeitbytheimbecility，notarepulsiveimbecility，theexaltedimbecilityoftheseproceedings，thisstationintorchlight，asiftheyhadcomethereonpurposetohaveitoutfortheedificationofconcealedmurderers。IfSherifAli’semissarieshadbeenpossessed——asJimremarked——ofapennyworthofspunk，thiswasthetimetomakearush。Hisheartwasthumping——notwithfear——butheseemedtohearthegrassrustle，andhesteppedsmartlyoutofthelight。Somethingdark，imperfectlyseen，flittedrapidlyoutofsight。Hecalledoutinastrongvoice，“Cornelius!OCornelius!“
Aprofoundsilencesucceeded：hisvoicedidnotseemtohavecarriedtwentyfeet。Againthegirlwasbyhisside。“Fly!“shesaid。Theoldwomanwascomingup；herbrokenfigurehoveredincrippledlittlejumpsontheedgeofthelight；theyheardhermumbling，andalight，moaningsigh。“Fly!“
repeatedthegirl，excitedly。“Theyarefrightenednow——thislight——thevoices。Theyknowyouareawakenow——theyknowyouarebig，strong，fearless……““IfIamallthat，“hebegan，butsheinterruptedhim。“Yes——to-night!
Butwhatoftomorrownight？Ofthenextnight？Ofthenightafter——ofallthemany，manynights？CanIbealwayswatching？“Asobbingcatchofherbreathaffectedhimbeyondthepowerofwords。
`Hetoldmethathehadneverfeltsosmall，sopowerless——andastocourage，whatwasthegoodofit？hethought。Hewassohelplessthatevenflightseemedofnouse；andthoughshekeptonwhispering，“GotoDoramin，gotoDoramin，“withfeverishinsistence，herealizedthatforhimtherewasnorefugefromthatlonelinesswhichcentupledallhisdangersexcept——inher。“Ithought，“hesaidtome，“thatifIwentawayfromheritwouldbetheendofeverythingsomehow。“Onlyastheycouldn’tstopthereforeverinthemiddleofthatcourtyard，hemadeuphismindtogoandlookintothestorehouse。Heletherfollowhimwithoutthinkingofanyprotest，asiftheyhadbeenindissolublyunited。“Iamfearless——amI？“hemutteredthroughhisteeth。Sherestrainedhisarm。“Waittillyouhearmyvoice，“
shesaid，and，torchinhand，ranlightlyroundthecorner。Heremainedaloneinthedarkness，hisfacetothedoor：notasound，notabreathcamefromtheotherside。Theoldhagletoutadrearygroansomewherebehindhisback。Heheardahigh-pitchedalmostscreamingcallfromthegirl。
“Now!Push!“Hepushedviolently；thedoorswungwithacreakandaclatter，disclosingtohisintenseastonishmentthelowdungeon-likeinteriorilluminatedbyalurid，waveringglare。Aturmoilofsmokeeddieddownuponanemptywoodencrateinthemiddleofthefloor，alitterofragsandstrawtriedtosoar，butonlystirredfeeblyinthedraught。Shehadthrustthelightthroughthebarsofthewindow。Hesawherbareroundarmextendedandrigid，holdingupthetorchwiththesteadinessofanironbracket。Aconicalraggedheapofoldmatscumberedadistantcorneralmosttotheceiling，andthatwasall。
`Heexplainedtomethathewasbitterlydisappointedatthis。Hisfortitudehadbeentriedbysomanywarnings，hehadbeenforweekssurroundedbysomanyhintsofdanger，thathewantedthereliefofsomereality，ofsomethingtangiblethathecouldmeet。“Itwouldhaveclearedtheairforacoupleofhoursatleast，ifyouknowwhatImean，“hesaidtome。“Jove!
Ihadbeenlivingfordayswithastoneonmychest。“Nowatlasthehadthoughthewouldgetholdofsomething，and——nothing!Notatrace，notasignofanybody。Hehadraisedhisweaponasthedoorflewopen，butnowhisarmfell。“Fire!Defendyourself，“thegirloutsidecriedinanagonizingvoice。She，beinginthedarkandwithherarmthrustintotheshoulderthroughthesmallhole，couldn’tseewhatwasgoingon，andshedarednotwithdrawthetorchnowtorunround。“There’snobodyhere!“yelledJim，contemptuously，buthisimpulsetoburstintoaresentfulexasperatedlaughdiedwithoutasound：hehadperceivedintheveryactofturningawaythathewasexchangingglanceswithapairofeyesintheheapofmats。Hesawashiftinggleamofwhites。“Comeout!“hecriedinafury，alittledoubtful，andadark-facedhead，aheadwithoutabody，shapeditselfintherubbish，astrangelydetachedhead，thatlookedathimwithasteadyscowl。Nextmomentthewholemoundstirred，andwithalowgruntamanemergedswiftly，andboundedtowardsJim。Behindhimthematsasitwerejumpedandflew，hisrightarmwasraisedwithacrookedelbow，andthedullbladeofakrisprotrudedfromhisfistheldoff，alittleabovehishead。Aclothwoundtightroundhisloinsseemeddazzlinglywhiteonhisbronzeskin；hisnakedbodyglistenedasifwet。
`Jimnotedallthis。Hetoldmehewasexperiencingafeelingofunutterablerelief，ofvengefulelation。Heheldhisshot，hesays，deliberately。Hehelditforthetenthpartofasecond，forthreestridesoftheman——anunconscionabletime。Hehelditforthepleasureofsayingtohimself：
That’sadeadman!Hewasabsolutelypositiveandcertain。Helethimcomeonbecauseitdidnotmatter。Adeadman，anyhow。Henoticedthedilatednostrils，thewideeyes，theintent，eagerstillnessoftheface，andthenhefired。
`Theexplosioninthatconfinedspacewasstunning。Hesteppedbackapace。Hesawthemanjerkhisheadup，flinghisarmsforward，anddropthekris。Heascertainedafterwardsthathehadshothimthroughthemouth，alittleupwards，thebulletcomingouthighatthebackoftheskull。
Withtheimpetusofhisrushthemandrovestraighton，hisfacesuddenlygapingdisfigured，withhishandsopenbeforehimgropingly，asthoughblinded，andlandedwithterrificviolenceonhisforehead，justshortofJim’sbaretoes。Jimsayshedidn’tlosethesmallestdetailofallthis。Hefoundhimselfcalm，appeased，withoutrancour，withoutuneasiness，asifthedeathofthatmanhadatonedforeverything。Theplacewasgettingveryfullofsootysmokefromthetorch，inwhichtheunswayingflameburnedblood-redwithoutaflicker。Hewalkedinresolutely，stridingoverthedeadbody，andcoveredwithhisrevolveranothernakedfigureoutlinedvaguelyattheotherend。Ashewasabouttopullthetrigger，themanthrewawaywithforceashortheavyspear，andsquattedsubmissivelyonhishams，hisbacktothewallandhisclaspedhandsbetweenhislegs。
“Youwantyourlife？“Jimsaid。Theothermadenosound。“Howmanymoreofyou？“askedJimagain。“Twomore，tuan，“saidthemanverysoftly，lookingwithbigfascinatedeyesintothemuzzleoftherevolver。Accordinglytwomorecrawledfromunderthemats，holdingoutostentatiouslytheiremptyhands’
tookupanadvantageouspositionandshepherdedthemoutinabunchthroughthedoorway：allthattimethetorchhadremainedverticalinthegripofalittlehand，withoutsomuchasatremble。Thethreemenobeyedhim，perfectlymute，movingautomatically。Herangedtheminarow。“Linkarms!“heordered。Theydidso。“Thefirstwhowithdrawshisarmorturnshisheadisadeadman，“hesaid。“March!“Theysteppedouttogether，rigidly；hefollowed，andatthesidethegirl，inatrailingwhitegown，herblackhairfallingaslowasherwaist，borethelight。
Erectandswaying，sheseemedtoglidewithouttouchingtheearth；theonlysoundwasthesilkyswishandrustleofthelonggrass。“Stop!“criedJim。
`Theriver-bankwassteep；agreatfreshnessascended，thelightfellontheedgeofsmoothdarkwaterfrothingwithoutaripple；rightandlefttheshapesofthehousesrantogetherbelowthesharpoutlinesoftheroofs。
“TakemygreetingstoSherifAli——tillIcomemyself，“saidJim。Notoneheadofthethreebudged。“Jump!“hethundered。Thethreesplashesmadeonesplash，ashowerflewup，blackheadsbobbedconvulsively，anddisappeared；
butagreatblowingandsplutteringwenton，growingfaint，fortheyweredivingindustriously，ingreatfearofapartingshot。Jimturnedtothegirl，whohadbeenasilentandattentiveobserver。Hisheartseemedsuddenlytogrowtoobigforhisbreastandchokehiminthehollowofhisthroat。
Thisprobablymadehimspeechlessforsolong，andafterreturninghisgazesheflungtheburningtorchwithawidesweepofthearmintotheriver。Theruddyfieryglare，takingalongflightthroughthenight，sankwithavicioushiss，andthecalmsoftstarlightdescendeduponthem，unchecked。
`Hedidnottellmewhatitwashesaidwhenatlastherecoveredhisvoice。Idon’tsupposehecouldbeveryeloquent。Theworldwasstill，thenightbreathedonthem，oneofthosenightsthatseemcreatedfortheshelteringoftenderness，andtherearemomentswhenoursouls，asiffreedfromtheirdarkenvelope，glowwithanexquisitesensibilitythatmakescertainsilencesmorelucidthanspeeches。Astothegirl，hetoldme，“Shebrokedownabit。Excitement——don’tyouknow。Reaction。Deucedlytiredshemusthavebeen——andallthatkindofthing。And——and——hangitall——shewasfondofme，don’tyousee……I，too……didn’tknow，ofcourse……neverenteredmyhead……“
`Therehegotupandbegantowalkaboutinsomeagitation。“I——Iloveherdearly。MorethanIcouldtell。Ofcourseonecannottell。Youtakeadifferentviewofyouractionswhenyoucometounderstand，whenyouaremadetounderstandeverydaythatyourexistenceisnecessary——yousee，absolutelynecessary——toanotherperson。Iammadetofeelthat。Wonderful。
Butonlytrytothinkwhatherlifehadbeen。Itistooextravagantlyawful!
Isn’tit？Andmefindingherherelikethis——asyoumaygooutforastrollandcomesuddenlyuponsomebodydrowninginalonelydarkplace。Jove!
Notimetolose。Well，itisatrust，too……IbelieveIamequaltoit……“
`Imusttellyouthegirlhadleftustoourselvessometimebefore。
Heslappedhischest。“Yes!Ifeelthat，butIbelieveIamequaltoallmyluck!“Hehadthegiftoffindingaspecialmeaningineverythingthathappenedtohim。Thiswastheviewhetookofhislove-affair；itwasidyllic，alittlesolemn，andalsotrue，sincehisbeliefhadalltheunshakableseriousnessofyouth。Sometimeafter，onanotheroccasion，hesaidtome，“I’vebeenonlytwoyearshere，andnow，uponmyword，Ican’tconceivebeingabletoliveanywhereelse。Theverythoughtoftheworldoutsideisenoughtogivemeafright；because，don’tyousee，“hecontinued，withdowncasteyeswatchingtheactionofhisbootbusiedinsquashingthoroughlyatinybitofdriedmudwewerestrollingontheriver-bank——“becauseIhavenotforgottenwhyIcamehere。Notyet!“
`Irefrainedfromlookingathim，butIthinkIheardashortsigh；
wetookaturnortwoinsilence。“Uponmysoulandconscience，“hebeganagain，“ifsuchathingcanbeforgotten，thenIthinkIhavearighttodismissitfrommymind。Askanymanhere“……hisvoicechanged。“Isitnotstrange，“hewentoninagentle，almostyearningtone，“thatallthesepeople，allthesepeoplewhowoulddoanythingforme，canneverbemadetounderstand？Never!IfyoudisbelievemeIcouldnotcallthemup。Itseemshard，somehow。Iamstupid，amInot？WhatmorecanIwant？
Ifyouaskthemwhoisbrave——whoistrue——whoisjust——whoisittheywouldtrustwiththeirlives？——theywouldsay，TuanJim。Andyettheycanneverknowthereal，realtruth……“
`That’swhathesaidtomeonmylastdaywithhim。Ididnotletamurmurescapeme：Ifelthewasgoingtosaymore，andcomenearertotherootofthematter。Thesun，whoseconcentratedglaredwarfstheearthintoarestlessmoteofdust，hadsunkbehindtheforest，andthediffusedlightfromanopalskyseemedtocastuponaworldwithoutshadowsandwithoutbrilliancetheillusionofacalmandpensivegreatness。Idon’tknowwhy，listeningtohim，Ishouldhavenotedsodistinctlythegradualdarkeningoftheriver，oftheair；theirresistibleslowworkofthenightsettlingsilentlyonallthevisibleforms，effacingtheoutlines，buryingtheshapesdeeperanddeeper，likeasteadyfallofimpalpableblackdust。
“`Jove!“hebegan，abruptly，“therearedayswhenafellowistooabsurdforanything；onlyIknowIcantellyouwhatIlike。Italkaboutbeingdonewithit——withtheballythingatthebackofmyhead……Forgetting……HangmeifIknow!Icanthinkofitquietly。Afterall，whathasitproved？Nothing。Isupposeyoudon’tthinkso……“
`Imadeaprotestingmurmur。
“`Nomatter，“hesaid。“Iamsatisfied……nearly。I’vegottolookonlyatthefaceofthefirstmanthatcomesalong，toregainmyconfidence。
Theycan’tbemadetounderstandwhatisgoingoninme。Whatofthat？
Come!Ihaven’tdonesobadly。“
“`Notsobadly，“Isaid。
“`Butallthesame，youwouldn’tliketohavemeaboardyourownship——hey？“
“`Confoundyou!“Icried。“Stopthis。“
“`Aha!Yousee，“hecried，crowing，asitwere，overmeplacidly。“Only，“
hewenton，“youjusttrytotellthistoanyofthemhere。Theywouldthinkyouafool，aliar，orworse。AndsoIcanstandit。I’vedoneathingortwoforthem，butthisiswhattheyhavedoneforme。“
“`Mydearchap，“Icried，“youshallalwaysremainforthemaninsolublemystery。“Thereuponweweresilent。
“`Mystery，“herepeated，beforelookingup。“Well，thenletmealwaysremainhere。“