`Tamb’ItamtookthepaddlefromJim’shands，itbeingunseemlythatheshouldsitwhilehislordpaddled。Whentheyreachedtheothershorehismasterforbadehimtocomeanyfarther；butTamb’Itamdidfollowhimatadistance，walkinguptheslopetoDoramin’scampong。
`Itwasbeginningtogrowdark。Torchestwinkledhereandthere。Thosetheymetseemedawestruck，andstoodasidehastilytoletJimpass。Thewailingofwomencamefromabove。ThecourtyardwasfullofarmedBugiswiththeirfollowers，andofPatusanpeople。
`Idonotknowwhatthisgatheringreallymeant。Werethesepreparationsforwar，orforvengeance，ortorepulseathreatenedinvasion？Manydayselapsedbeforethepeoplehadceasedtolookout，quaking，forthereturnofthewhitemenwithlongbeardsandinrags，whoseexactrelationtotheirownwhitemantheycouldneverunderstand。EvenforthosesimplemindspoorJimremainsunderacloud。
`Doramin，alone，immenseanddesolate，satinhisarm-chairwiththepairofflintlockpistolsonhisknees，facedbyanarmedthrong。WhenJimappeared，atsomebody’sexclamation，alltheheadsturnedroundtogether，andthenthemassopenedrightandleft，andhewalkedupalaneofavertedglances。Whispersfollowedhim；murmurs：“Hehasworkedalltheevil。“
“Hehathacharm。“……Heheardthem——perhaps!
`Whenhecameupintothelightoftorchesthewailingofthewomenceasedsuddenly。Doramindidnotlifthishead，andJimstoodsilentbeforehimforatime。Thenhelookedtotheleft，andmovedinthatdirectionwithmeasuredsteps。DainWaris’smothercrouchedattheheadofthebody，andthegreydishevelledhairconcealedherface。Jimcameupslowly，lookedathisdeadfriend，liftingthesheet，thendroppeditwithoutaword。
Slowlyhewalkedback。
“`Hecame!Hecame!“wasrunningfromliptolip，makingamurmurtowhichhemoved。“Hehathtakenituponhisownhead，“avoicesaidaloud。
Heheardthisandturnedtothecrowd。“Yes。Uponmyhead。“Afewpeoplerecoiled。JimwaitedawhilebeforeDoramin，andthensaidgently：“Iamcomeinsorrow。“Hewaitedagain。“Iamcomereadyandunarmed，“herepeated。
`Theunwieldlyoldman，loweringhisbigforeheadlikeanoxunderayoke，madeanefforttorise，clutchingattheflintlockpistolsonhisknees。Fromhisthroatcamegurgling，choking，inhumansounds，andhistwoattendantshelpedhimfrombehind。Peopleremarkedthattheringwhichhehaddroppedonhislapfellandrolledagainstthefootofthewhiteman，andthatpoorJimglanceddownatthetalismanthathadopenedforhimthedooroffame，love，andsuccesswithinthewallofforestsfringedwithwhitefoam，withinthecoastthatunderthewesternsunlooksliketheverystrongholdofthenight。Doramin，strugglingtokeephisfeet，madewithhistwosupportersaswaying，totteringgroup；hislittleeyesstaredwithanexpressionofmadpain，ofrage，withaferociousglitter，whichthebystandersnoticed；andthen，whileJimstoodstiffenedandwithbaredheadinthelightoftorches，lookinghimstraightintheface，heclungheavilywithhisleftarmroundtheneckofabowedyouth，andliftingdeliberatelyhisright，shothisson’sfriendthroughthechest。
`Thecrowd，whichhadfallenapartbehindJimassoonasDoraminhadraisedhishand，rushedtumultuouslyforwardaftertheshot。Theysaythatthewhitemansentrightandleftatallthosefacesaproudandunflinchingglance。Thenwithhishandoverhislipshefellforward，dead。
`Andthat’stheend。Hepassesawayunderacloud，inscrutableatheart，forgotten，unforgiven，andexcessivelyromantic。Notinthewildestdaysofhisboyishvisionscouldhehaveseenthealluringshapeofsuchanextraordinarysuccess!Foritmayverywellbethatintheshortmomentofhislastproudandunflinchingglance，hehadbeheldthefaceofthatopportunitywhich，likeanEasternbride，hadcomeveiledtohisside。
`Butwecanseehim，anobscureconqueroroffame，tearinghimselfoutofthearmsofajealousloveatthesign，atthecallofhisexaltedegoism。
Hegoesawayfromalivingwomantocelebratehispitilessweddingwithashadowyidealofconduct。Ishesatisfied——quite，now，Iwonder？Weoughttoknow。Heisoneofus——andhaveInotstooduponce，likeanevokedghost，toanswerforhiseternalconstancy？WasIsoverywrongafterall？
Nowheisnomore，therearedayswhentherealityofhisexistencecomestomewithanimmense，withanover-whelmingforce；andyetuponmyhonourtherearemoments，too，whenhepassesfrommyeyeslikeadisembodiedspiritastrayamongstthepassionsofthisearth，readytosurrenderhimselffaithfullytotheclaimofhisownworldofshades。
`Whoknows？Heisgone，inscrutableatheart，andthepoorgirlisleadingasortofsoundless，inertlifeinStein’shouse。Steinhasagedgreatlyoflate。Hefeelsithimself，andsaysoftenthatheis“preparingtoleaveallthis；preparingtoleave……“whilehewaveshishandsadlyathisbutterflies。’
September1899——July1900