第7章

HewasnolongerEdgarByrne。Hewasatorturedsoulsufferingmoreanguishthananysinner\'sbodyhadeversufferedfromrackorboot。ThedepthofhistormentmaybemeasuredwhenIsaythatthisyoungman，asbraveatleastastheaverageofhiskind，contemplatedseizingapistolandfiringintohisownhead。Butadeadly，chilly，langourwasspreadingoverhislimbs。Itwasasifhisfleshhadbeenwetplasterstiffeningslowlyabouthisribs。

Presently，hethought，thetwowitcheswillbecomingin，withcrutchandstick-horrible，grotesque，monstrous-affiliatedtothedevil-toputamarkonhisforehead，thetinylittlebruiseofdeath。Andhewouldn\'tbeabletodoanything。Tomhadstruckoutatsomething，buthewasnotlikeTom。Hislimbsweredeadalready。Hesatstill，dyingthedeathoverandoveragain；andtheonlypartofhimwhichmovedwerehiseyes，turningroundandroundintheirsockets，runningoverthewalls，thefloor，theceiling，againandagaintillsuddenlytheybecamemotionlessandstony-startingoutofhisheadfixedinthedirectionofthebed。

Hehadseentheheavycurtainsstirandshakeasifthedeadbodytheyconcealedhadturnedoverandsatup。Byrne，whothoughttheworldcouldholdnomoreterrorsinstore，felthishairstirattheroots。Hegrippedthearmsofthechair，hisjawfell，andthesweatbrokeoutonhisbrowwhilehisdrytongueclovesuddenlytotheroofofhismouth。Againthecurtainsstirred，butdidnotopen。"Don\'t，Tom!"Byrnemadeefforttoshout，butallheheardwasaslightmoansuchasanuneasysleepermaymake。Hefeltthathisbrainwasgoing，for，now，itseemedtohimthattheceilingoverthebedhadmoved，hadslanted，andcamelevelagain-andoncemoretheclosedcurtainsswayedgentlyasifabouttopart。

Byrneclosedhiseyesnottoseetheawfulapparitionoftheseaman\'scorpsecomingoutanimatedbyanevilspirit。Intheprofoundsilenceoftheroomheenduredamomentoffrightfulagony，thenopenedhiseyesagain。Andhesawatoncethatthecurtainsremainedclosedstill，butthattheceilingoverthebedhadrisenquiteafoot。Withthelastgleamofreasonlefttohimheunderstoodthatitwastheenormousbaldaquinoverthebedwhichwascomingdown，whilethecurtainsattachedtoitswayedsoftly，sinkinggraduallytothefloor。Hisdroopingjawsnappedto-andhalfrisinginhischairhewatchedmutelythenoiselessdescentofthemonstrouscanopy。Itcamedowninshortsmoothrushestillloweredhalfwayormore，whenittookarunandsettledswiftlyitsturtle-backshapewiththedeepborderpiecefittingexactlytheedgeofthebedstead。Aslightcrackortwoofwoodwereheard，andtheoverpoweringstillnessoftheroomresumeditssway。

Byrnestoodup，gaspedforbreath，andletoutacryofrageanddismay，thefirstsoundwhichheisperfectlycertaindidmakeitswaypasthislipsonthisnightofterrors。Thisthenwasthedeathhehadescaped!ThiswasthedevilishartificeofmurderpoorTom\'ssoulhadperhapstriedfrombeyondthebordertowarnhimof。Forthiswashowhehaddied。Byrnewascertainhehadheardthevoiceoftheseaman，faintlydistinctinhisfamiliarphrase，"Mr。Byrne!Lookout，sir!"andagainutteringwordshecouldnotmakeout。Butthenthedistanceseparatingthelivingfromthedeadissogreat!PoorTomhadtried。Byrnerantothebedandattemptedtoliftup，topushoffthehorriblelidsmotheringthebody。Itresistedhisefforts，heavyaslead，immovablelikeatombstone。Therageofvengeancemadehimdesist；

hisheadbuzzedwithchaoticthoughtsofextermination，heturnedroundtheroomasifhecouldfindneitherhisweaponsnorthewayout；andallthetimehestammeredawfulmenaces……

Aviolentbatteringatthedooroftheinnrecalledhimtohissoberersenses。Heflewtothewindowpulledtheshuttersopen，andlookedout。Inthefaintdawnhesawbelowhimamobofmen。

Ha!Hewouldgoandfaceatoncethismurderouslotcollectednodoubtforhisundoing。Afterhisstrugglewithnamelessterrorsheyearnedforanopenfraywitharmedenemies。Buthemusthaveremainedyetbereftofhisreason，becauseforgettinghisweaponsherusheddownstairswithawildcry，unbarredthedoorwhileblowswererainingonitoutside，andflingingitopenflewwithhisbarehandsatthethroatofthefirstmanhesawbeforehim。Theyrolledovertogether。Byrne\'shazyintentionwastobreakthrough，toflyupthemountainpath，andcomebackpresentlywithGonzales\'

mentoexactanexemplaryvengeance。Hefoughtfuriouslytillatree，ahouse，amountain，seemedtocrashdownuponhishead-andheknewnomore。

*****

HereMr。Byrnedescribesindetailtheskilfulmannerinwhichhefoundhisbrokenheadbandaged，informsusthathehadlostagreatdealofblood，andascribesthepreservationofhissanitytothatcircumstance。HesetsdownGonzales\'profuseapologiesinfulltoo。ForitwasGonzaleswho，tiredofwaitingfornewsfromtheEnglish，hadcomedowntotheinnwithhalfhisband，onhiswaytothesea。"Hisexcellency，"heexplained，"rushedoutwithfierceimpetuosity，and，moreover，wasnotknowntousforafriend，andsowe……etc。，etc。Whenaskedwhathadbecomeofthewitches，heonlypointedhisfingersilentlytotheground，thenvoicedcalmlyamoralreflection:"Thepassionforgoldispitilessintheveryold，senor，"hesaid。"Nodoubtinformerdaystheyhaveputmanyasolitarytravellertosleepinthearchbishop\'sbed。"

"Therewasalsoagipsygirlthere，"saidByrnefeeblyfromtheimprovisedlitteronwhichhewasbeingcarriedtothecoastbyasquadofguerilleros。

"Itwasshewhowinchedupthatinfernalmachine，anditwasshetoowholowereditthatnight，"wastheanswer。

"Butwhy？Why？"exclaimedByrne。"Whyshouldshewishformydeath？"

"Nodoubtforthesakeofyourexcellency\'scoatbuttons，"saidpolitelythesaturnineGonzales。"Wefoundthoseofthedeadmarinerconcealedonherperson。Butyourexcellencymayrestassuredthateverythingthatisfittinghasbeendoneonthisoccasion。"

Byrneaskednomorequestions。TherewasstillanotherdeathwhichwasconsideredbyGonzalesas"fittingtotheoccasion。"Theone-

eyedBernardinostuckagainstthewallofhiswine-shopreceivedthechargeofsixescopettasintohisbreast。AstheshotsrangouttheroughbierwithTom\'sbodyonitwentpastcarriedbyabandit-likegangofSpanishpatriotsdowntheravinetotheshore，wheretwoboatsfromtheshipwerewaitingforwhatwasleftonearthofherbestseaman。

Mr。Byrne，verypaleandweak，steppedintotheboatwhichcarriedthebodyofhishumblefriend。ForitwasdecidedthatTomCorbinshouldrestfaroutinthebayofBiscay。Theofficertookthetillerand，turninghisheadforthelastlookattheshore，sawonthegreyhillsidesomethingmoving，whichhemadeouttobealittlemaninayellowhatmountedonamule-thatmulewithoutwhichthefateofTomCorbinwouldhaveremainedmysteriousforever。

June，1913。

BECAUSEOFTHEDOLLARS

CHAPTERI

Whilewewerehangingaboutnearthewater\'sedge，assailorsidlingashorewilldo(itwasintheopenspacebeforetheHarbourOfficeofagreatEasternport)，amancametowardsusfromthe"front"ofbusinesshouses，aimingobliquelyatthelandingsteps。

Heattractedmyattentionbecauseinthemovementoffiguresinwhitedrillsuitsonthepavementfromwhichhestepped，hiscostume，theusualtunicandtrousers，beingmadeoflightgreyflannel，madehimnoticeable。

Ihadtimetoobservehim。Hewasstout，buthewasnotgrotesque。

Hisfacewasroundandsmooth，hiscomplexionveryfair。OnhisnearerapproachIsawalittlemoustachemadeallthefairerbyagoodmanywhitehairs。Andhehad，forastoutman，quiteagoodchin。InpassingusheexchangednodswiththefriendIwaswithandsmiled。

MyfriendwasHollis，thefellowwhohadsomanyadventuresandhadknownsomanyqueerpeopleinthatpartofthe(moreorless)

gorgeousEastinthedaysofhisyouth。Hesaid:"That\'sagoodman。Idon\'tmeangoodinthesenseofsmartorskilfulinhistrade。ImeanareallyGOODman。"

Iturnedroundatoncetolookatthephenomenon。The"reallyGOOD

man"hadaverybroadback。Isawhimsignalasampantocomealongside，getintoit，andgooffinthedirectionofaclusteroflocalsteamersanchoredcloseinshore。

Isaid:"He\'saseaman，isn\'the？"

"Yes。Commandsthatbiggishdark-greensteamer:\'Sissie-

Glasgow。\'Hehasnevercommandedanythingelsebutthe\'Sissie-

Glasgow，\'onlyitwasn\'talwaysthesameSissie。Thefirsthehadwasabouthalfthelengthofthisone，andweusedtotellpoorDavidsonthatshewasasizetoosmallforhim。EvenatthattimeDavidsonhadbulk。Wewarnedhimhewouldgetcallositiesonhisshouldersandelbowsbecauseofthetightfitofhiscommand。AndDavidsoncouldwellaffordthesmileshegaveusforourchaff。Hemadelotsofmoneyinher。ShebelongedtoaportlyChinamanresemblingamandarininapicture-book，withgogglesandthindroopingmoustaches，andasdignifiedasonlyaCelestialknowshowtobe。

"ThebestofChinamenasemployersisthattheyhavesuchgentlemanlyinstincts。Oncetheybecomeconvincedthatyouareastraightman，theygiveyoutheirunboundedconfidence。Yousimplycan\'tdowrong，then。Andtheyareprettyquickjudgesofcharacter，too。Davidson\'sChinamanwasthefirsttofindouthisworth，onsometheoreticalprinciple。Onedayinhiscounting-

house，beforeseveralwhitemenhewasheardtodeclare:\'CaptainDavidsonisagoodman。\'Andthatsettledit。Afterthatyoucouldn\'ttellifitwasDavidsonwhobelongedtotheChinamanortheChinamanwhobelongedtoDavidson。Itwashewho，shortlybeforehedied，orderedinGlasgowthenewSissieforDavidsontocommand。"

WewalkedintotheshadeoftheHarbourOfficeandleanedourelbowsontheparapetofthequay。

"ShewasreallymeanttocomfortpoorDavidson，"continuedHollis。

"Canyoufancyanythingmorenaivelytouchingthanthisoldmandarinspendingseveralthousandpoundstoconsolehiswhiteman？

Well，theresheis。Theoldmandarin\'ssonshaveinheritedher，andDavidsonwithher；andhecommandsher；andwhatwithhissalaryandtradingprivilegeshemakesalotofmoney；andeverythingisasbefore；andDavidsonevensmiles-youhaveseenit？Well，thesmile\'stheonlythingwhichisn\'tasbefore。"

"Tellme，Hollis，"Iasked，"whatdoyoumeanbygoodinthisconnection？"

"Well，therearemenwhoareborngoodjustasothersarebornwitty。WhatImeanishisnature。Nosimpler，morescrupulouslydelicatesoulhadeverlivedinsucha-a-comfortableenvelope。

HowweusedtolaughatDavidson\'sfinescruples!Inshort，he\'sthoroughlyhumane，andIdon\'timaginetherecanbemuchofanyothersortofgoodnessthatcountsonthisearth。Andashe\'sthatwithashadeofparticularrefinement，Imaywellcallhima\'REALLYgoodman。\'"

IknewfromoldthatHolliswasafirmbelieverinthefinalvalueofshades。AndIsaid:"Isee"-becauseIreallydidseeHollis\'sDavidsoninthesympatheticstoutmanwhohadpassedusalittlewhilebefore。ButIrememberedthatattheverymomenthesmiledhisplacidfaceappearedveiledinmelancholy-asortofspiritualshadow。Iwenton。

"Whoonearthhaspaidhimoffforbeingsofinebyspoilinghissmile？"

"That\'squiteastory，andIwilltellittoyouifyoulike。

Confoundit!It\'squiteasurprisingone，too。Surprisingineveryway，butmostlyinthewayitknockedoverpoorDavidson-

andapparentlyonlybecauseheissuchagoodsort。Hewastellingmeallaboutitonlyafewdaysago。Hesaidthatwhenhesawthesefourfellowswiththeirheadsinabunchoverthetable，heatoncedidn\'tlikeit。Hedidn\'tlikeitatall。Youmustn\'tsupposethatDavidsonisasoftfool。Thesemen-

"ButIhadbetterbeginatthebeginning。WemustgobacktothefirsttimetheolddollarshadbeencalledinbyourGovernmentinexchangeforanewissue。JustaboutthetimewhenIleftthesepartstogohomeforalongstay。Everytraderintheislandswasthinkingofgettinghisolddollarssentuphereintime，andthedemandforemptyFrenchwinecases-youknowthedozenofvermouthorclaretsize-wassomethingunprecedented。Thecustomwastopackthedollarsinlittlebagsofahundredeach。Idon\'tknowhowmanybagseachcasewouldhold。Agoodlot。Prettytidysumsmusthavebeenmovingafloatjustthen。Butletusgetawayfromhere。Won\'tdotostayinthesun。Wherecouldwe-？Iknow!

letusgotothosetiffin-roomsoverthere。"

Wemovedoveraccordingly。OurappearanceinthelongemptyroomatthatearlyhourcausedvisibleconsternationamongsttheChinaboys。ButHollisledthewaytooneofthetablesbetweenthewindowsscreenedbyrattanblinds。Abrillianthalf-lighttrembledontheceiling，onthewhitewashedwalls，bathedthemultitudeofvacantchairsandtablesinapeculiar，stealthyglow。

"Allright。Wewillgetsomethingtoeatwhenit\'sready，"hesaid，wavingtheanxiousChinamanwaiteraside。Hetookhistemplestouchedwithgreybetweenhishands，leaningoverthetabletobringhisface，hisdark，keeneyes，closertomine。

"DavidsonthenwascommandingthesteamerSissie-thelittleonewhichweusedtochaffhimabout。Heranheralone，withonlytheMalayserangforadeckofficer。Thenearestapproachtoanotherwhitemanonboardofherwastheengineer，aPortuguesehalf-

caste，asthinasalathandquiteayoungsteratthat。ForallpracticalpurposesDavidsonwasmanagingthatcommandofhissingle-handed；andofcoursethiswasknownintheport。Iamtellingyouofitbecausethefacthaditsinfluenceonthedevelopmentsyoushallhearofpresently。

"Hissteamer，beingsosmall，couldgouptinycreeksandintoshallowbaysandthroughreefsandoversand-banks，collectingproduce，wherenoothervesselbutanativecraftwouldthinkofventuring。Itisapayinggame，often。Davidsonwasknowntovisitinherplacesthatnooneelsecouldfindandthathardlyanybodyhadeverheardof。

"Theolddollarsbeingcalledin，Davidson\'sChinamanthoughtthattheSissiewouldbejustthethingtocollectthemfromsmalltradersinthelessfrequentedpartsoftheArchipelago。It\'sagoodbusiness。Suchcasesofdollarsaredumpedaftintheship\'slazarette，andyougetgoodfreightforverylittletroubleandspace。

"Davidson，too，thoughtitwasagoodidea；andtogethertheymadeupalistofhiscallsonhisnexttrip。ThenDavidson(hehadnaturallythechartofhisvoyagesinhishead)remarkedthatonhiswaybackhemightlookinatacertainsettlementupamerecreek，whereapoorsortofwhitemanlivedinanativevillage。

DavidsonpointedouttohisChinamanthatthefellowwascertaintohavesomerattanstoship。

"\'Probablyenoughtofillherforward，\'saidDavidson。\'Andthat\'llbebetterthanbringingherbackwithemptyholds。Adaymoreorlessdoesn\'tmatter。\'

"Thiswassoundtalk，andtheChinamanownercouldnotbutagree。

Butifithadn\'tbeensounditwouldhavebeenjustthesame。

Davidsondidwhatheliked。Hewasamanthatcoulddonowrong。

However，thissuggestionofhiswasnotmerelyabusinessmatter。

TherewasinitatouchofDavidsoniankindness。ForyoumustknowthatthemancouldnothavecontinuedtolivequietlyupthatcreekifithadnotbeenforDavidson\'swillingnesstocalltherefromtimetotime。AndDavidson\'sChinamanknewthisperfectlywell，too。Soheonlysmiledhisdignified，blandsmile，andsaid:\'Allright，Captain。Youdowhatyoulike。\'

"IwillexplainpresentlyhowthisconnectionbetweenDavidsonandthatfellowcameabout。NowIwanttotellyouaboutthepartofthisaffairwhichhappenedhere-thepreliminariesofit。

"YouknowaswellasIdothatthesetiffin-roomswherewearesittingnowhavebeeninexistenceformanyyears。Well，nextdayabouttwelveo\'clock，Davidsondroppedinheretogetsomethingtoeat。

"Andherecomestheonlymomentinthisstorywhereaccident-mereaccident-playsapart。IfDavidsonhadgonehomethatdayfortiffin，therewouldbenow，aftertwelveyearsormore，nothingchangedinhiskindly，placidsmile。

"Buthecameinhere；andperhapsitwassittingatthisverytablethatheremarkedtoafriendofminethathisnexttripwastobeadollar-collectingtrip。Headded，laughing，thathiswifewasmakingratherafussaboutit。Shehadbeggedhimtostayashoreandgetsomebodyelsetotakehisplaceforavoyage。Shethoughttherewassomedangeronaccountofthedollars。Hetoldher，hesaid，thattherewerenoJava-seapiratesnowadaysexceptinboys\'

books。Hehadlaughedatherfears，buthewasverysorry，too；

forwhenshetookanynotioninherheaditwasimpossibletoargueheroutofit。Shewouldbeworryingherselfallthetimehewasaway。Well，hecouldn\'thelpit。Therewasnooneashorefittotakehisplaceforthetrip。

"ThisfriendofmineandIwenthometogetherinthesamemail-

boat，andhementionedthatconversationoneeveningintheRedSeawhileweweretalkingoverthethingsandpeoplewehadjustleft，withmoreorlessregret。

"Ican\'tsaythatDavidsonoccupiedaveryprominentplace。Moralexcellenceseldomdoes。Hewasquietlyappreciatedbythosewhoknewhimwell；buthismoreobviousdistinctionconsistedinthis，thathewasmarried。Ours，asyouremember，wasabachelorcrowd；

inspiritanyhow，ifnotabsolutelyinfact。Theremighthavebeenafewwivesinexistence，butifsotheywereinvisible，distant，neveralludedto。Forwhatwouldhavebeenthegood？Davidsonalonewasvisiblymarried。

"Beingmarriedsuitedhimexactly。Itfittedhimsowellthatthewildestofusdidnotresentthefactwhenitwasdisclosed。

Directlyhehadfelthisfeetouthere，Davidsonsentforhiswife。

Shecameout(fromWestAustralia)intheSomerset，underthecareofCaptainRitchie-youknow，Monkey-faceRitchie-whocouldn\'tpraiseenoughhersweetness，hergentleness，andhercharm。Sheseemedtobetheheaven-bornmateforDavidson。Shefoundonarrivalaveryprettybungalowonthehill，readyforherandthelittlegirltheyhad。Verysoonhegotforheratwo-wheeledtrapandaBurmahpony，andsheusedtodrivedownofaneveningtopickupDavidson，onthequay。WhenDavidson，beaming，gotintothetrap，itwouldbecomeveryfullallatonce。

"WeusedtoadmireMrs。Davidsonfromadistance。Itwasagirlishheadoutofakeepsake。Fromadistance。Wehadnotmanyopportunitiesforacloserview，becauseshedidnotcaretogivethemtous。WewouldhavebeengladtodropinattheDavidsonbungalow，butweweremadetofeelsomehowthatwewerenotverywelcomethere。Notthatsheeversaidanythingungracious。Sheneverhadmuchtosayforherself。IwasperhapstheonewhosawmostoftheDavidsonsathome。WhatInoticedunderthesuperficialaspectofvapidsweetnesswasherconvex，obstinateforehead，andhersmall，red，pretty，ungenerousmouth。ButthenI

amanobserverwithstrongprejudices。Mostofuswerefetchedbyherwhite，swan-likeneck，bythatdrooping，innocentprofile。

TherewasalotoflatentdevotiontoDavidson\'swifehereabouts，atthattime，Icantellyou。Butmyideawasthatsherepaiditbyaprofoundsuspicionofthesortofmenwewere；amistrustwhichextended-Ifancied-toherveryhusbandattimes。AndI

thoughtthenshewasjealousofhiminaway；thoughtherewerenowomenthatshecouldbejealousabout。Shehadnowomen\'ssociety。

It\'sdifficultforashipmaster\'swifeunlessthereareothershipmasters\'wivesabout，andtherewerenoneherethen。Iknowthatthedockmanager\'swifecalledonher；butthatwasall。ThefellowshereformedtheopinionthatMrs。Davidsonwasameek，shylittlething。Shelookedit，Imustsay。AndthisopinionwassouniversalthatthefriendIhavebeentellingyouofrememberedhisconversationwithDavidsonsimplybecauseofthestatementaboutDavidson\'swife。Heevenwonderedtome:\'FancyMrs。Davidsonmakingafusstothatextent。Shedidn\'tseemtomethesortofwomanthatwouldknowhowtomakeafussaboutanything。\'

"Iwondered，too-butnotsomuch。Thatbumpyforehead-eh？I

hadalwayssuspectedherofbeingsilly。AndIobservedthatDavidsonmusthavebeenvexedbythisdisplayofwifelyanxiety。

"Myfriendsaid:\'No。Heseemedrathertouchedanddistressed。

Therereallywasnoonehecouldasktorelievehim；mainlybecauseheintendedtomakeacallinsomeGod-forsakencreek，tolookupafellowofthenameofBamtzwhoapparentlyhadsettledthere。\'

"Andagainmyfriendwondered。\'Tellme，\'hecried，\'whatconnectioncantherebebetweenDavidsonandsuchacreatureasBamtz？\'

"Idon\'tremembernowwhatanswerImade。Asufficientonecouldhavebeengivenintwowords:\'Davidson\'sgoodness。\'THATneverboggledatunworthinessiftherewastheslightestreasonforcompassion。Idon\'twantyoutothinkthatDavidsonhadnodiscriminationatall。Bamtzcouldnothaveimposedonhim。

Moreover，everybodyknewwhatBamtzwas。Hewasaloaferwithabeard。WhenIthinkofBamtz，thefirstthingIseeisthatlongblackbeardandalotofpropitiatorywrinklesatthecornersoftwolittleeyes。TherewasnosuchbeardfromheretoPolynesia，whereabeardisavaluablepropertyinitself。Bamtz\'sbeardwasvaluabletohiminanotherway。YouknowhowimpressedOrientalsarebyafinebeard。Yearsandyearsago，Iremember，thegraveAbdullah，thegreattraderofSambir，unabletorepresssignsofastonishmentandadmirationatthefirstsightofthatimposingbeard。Andit\'sverywellknownthatBamtzlivedonAbdullahoffandonforseveralyears。Itwasauniquebeard，andsowasthebearerofthesame。Auniqueloafer。Hemadeafineartofit，orratherasortofcraftandmystery。Onecanunderstandafellowlivingbycadgingandsmallswindlesintowns，inlargecommunitiesofpeople；butBamtzmanagedtodothattrickinthewilderness，toloafontheoutskirtsofthevirginforest。

"Heunderstoodhowtoingratiatehimselfwiththenatives。Hewouldarriveinsomesettlementupariver，makeapresentofacheapcarbineorapairofshoddybinoculars，orsomethingofthatsort，totheRajah，orthehead-man，ortheprincipaltrader；andonthestrengthofthatgift，askforahouse，posingmysteriouslyasaveryspecialtrader。Hewouldspinthemnoendofyarns，liveonthefatoftheland，forawhile，andthendosomemeanswindleorother-orelsetheywouldgettiredofhimandaskhimtoquit。

Andhewouldgooffmeeklywithanairofinjuredinnocence。Funnylife。Yet，henevergothurtsomehow。I\'veheardoftheRajahofDongalagivinghimfiftydollars\'worthoftradegoodsandpayinghispassageinaprauonlytogetridofhim。Fact。AndobservethatnothingpreventedtheoldfellowhavingBamtz\'sthroatcutandthecarcasethrownintodeepwateroutsidethereefs；forwhoonearthwouldhaveinquiredafterBamtz？

"HehadbeenknowntoloafupanddownthewildernessasfarnorthastheGulfofTonkin。Neitherdidhedisdainaspellofcivilisationfromtimetotime。AnditwaswhileloafingandcadginginSaigon，beardedanddignified(hegavehimselfoutthereasabookkeeper)，thathecameacrossLaughingAnne。

"Thelesssaidofherearlyhistorythebetter，butsomethingmustbesaid。WemaysafelysupposetherewasverylittleheartleftinherfamouslaughwhenBamtzspokefirsttoherinsomelowcafe。

ShewasstrandedinSaigonwithpreciouslittlemoneyandingreattroubleaboutakidshehad，aboyoffiveorsix。

"AfellowIjustremember，whomtheycalledPearlerHarry，broughtheroutfirstintotheseparts-fromAustralia，Ibelieve。Hebroughtheroutandthendroppedher，andsheremainedknockingabouthereandthere，knowntomostofusbysight，atanyrate。

EverybodyintheArchipelagohadheardofLaughingAnne。Shehadreallyapleasantsilverylaughalwaysatherdisposal，sotospeak，butitwasn\'tenoughapparentlytomakeherfortune。Thepoorcreaturewasreadytosticktoanyhalf-decentmanifhewouldonlylether，butshealwaysgotdropped，asitmighthavebeenexpected。

"ShehadbeenleftinSaigonbytheskipperofaGermanshipwithwhomshehadbeengoingupanddowntheChinacoastasfarasVladivostokfornearupontwoyears。TheGermansaidtoher:

\'Thisisallover，MEINTAUBCHEN。IamgoinghomenowtogetmarriedtothegirlIgotengagedtobeforecomingouthere。\'AndAnnesaid:\'Allright，I\'mreadytogo。Wepartfriends，don\'twe？\'

"Shewasalwaysanxioustopartfriends。TheGermantoldherthatofcoursetheywerepartingfriends。Helookedratherglumatthemomentofparting。Shelaughedandwentashore。

"Butitwasnolaughingmatterforher。Shehadsomenotionthatthiswouldbeherlastchance。Whatfrightenedhermostwasthefutureofherchild。ShehadleftherboyinSaigonbeforegoingoffwiththeGerman，inthecareofanelderlyFrenchcouple。ThehusbandwasadoorkeeperinsomeGovernmentoffice，buthistimewasup，andtheywerereturningtoFrance。Shehadtotaketheboybackfromthem；andaftershehadgothimback，shedidnotliketopartwithhimanymore。

"ThatwasthesituationwhensheandBamtzgotacquaintedcasually。

Shecouldnothavehadanyillusionsaboutthatfellow。TopickupwithBamtzwascomingdownprettylowintheworld，evenfromamaterialpointofview。Shehadalwaysbeendecent，inherway；

whereasBamtzwas，nottomincewords，anabjectsortofcreature。

Ontheotherhand，thatbeardedloafer，wholookedmuchmorelikeapiratethanabookkeeper，wasnotabrute。Hewasgentle-rather-eveninhiscups。Andthen，despair，likemisfortune，makesusacquaintedwithstrangebed-fellows。Forshemaywellhavedespaired。Shewasnolongeryoung-youknow。

"Ontheman\'ssidethisconjunctionismoredifficulttoexplain，perhaps。Onething，however，mustbesaidofBamtz；hehadalwayskeptclearofnativewomen。Asonecan\'tsuspecthimofmoraldelicacy，Isurmisethatitmusthavebeenfromprudence。Andhe，too，wasnolongeryoung。Thereweremanywhitehairsinhisvaluableblackbeardbythen。Hemayhavesimplylongedforsomekindofcompanionshipinhisqueer，degradedexistence。Whatevertheirmotives，theyvanishedfromSaigontogether。Andofcoursenobodycaredwhathadbecomeofthem。

"SixmonthslaterDavidsoncameintotheMirrahSettlement。Itwastheveryfirsttimehehadbeenupthatcreek，wherenoEuropeanvesselhadeverbeenseenbefore。AJavanesepassengerhehadonboardofferedhimfiftydollarstocallinthere-itmusthavebeensomeveryparticularbusiness-andDavidsonconsentedtotry。

Fiftydollars，hetoldme，wereneitherherenorthere；buthewascurioustoseetheplace，andthelittleSissiecouldgoanywherewheretherewaswaterenoughtofloatasoup-plate。

"DavidsonlandedhisJavaneseplutocrat，and，ashehadtowaitacoupleofhoursforthetide，hewentashorehimselftostretchhislegs。

"Itwasasmallsettlement。Somesixtyhouses，mostofthembuiltonpilesovertheriver，therestscatteredinthelonggrass；theusualpathwayattheback；theforesthemmingintheclearingandsmotheringwhattheremighthavebeenofairintoadead，hotstagnation。

"Allthepopulationwasontheriver-bankstaringsilently，asMalayswilldo，attheSissieanchoredinthestream。Shewasalmostaswonderfultothemasanangel\'svisit。Manyoftheoldpeoplehadonlyheardvaguelyoffire-ships，andnotmanyoftheyoungergenerationhadseenone。OnthebackpathDavidsonstrolledinperfectsolitude。Buthebecameawareofabadsmellandconcludedhewouldgonofarther。

"Whilehestoodwipinghisforehead，heheardfromsomewheretheexclamation:\'MyGod!It\'sDavy!\'

"Davidson\'slowerjaw，asheexpressedit，cameunhookedatthecryingofthisexcitedvoice。Davywasthenameusedbytheassociatesofhisyoungdays；hehadn\'thearditformanyyears。

Hestaredaboutwithhismouthopenandsawawhitewomanissuefromthelonggrassinwhichasmallhutstoodburiednearlyuptotheroof。

"Trytoimaginetheshock:inthatwildplacethatyoucouldn\'tfindonamap，andmoresqualidthanthemostpoverty-strickenMalaysettlementhadarighttobe，thisEuropeanwomancomingswishingoutofthelonggrassinafancifultea-gownthing，dingypinksatin，withalongtrainandfrayedlacetrimmings；hereyeslikeblackcoalsinapasty-whiteface。Davidsonthoughtthathewasasleep，thathewasdelirious。Fromtheoffensivevillagemudhole(itwaswhatDavidsonhadsniffedjustbefore)acoupleoffilthybuffaloesuprosewithloudsnortsandlumberedoffcrashingthroughthebushes，panic-struckbythisapparition。

"Thewomancameforward，herarmsextended，andlaidherhandsonDavidson\'sshoulders，exclaiming:\'Why!Youhavehardlychangedatall。ThesamegoodDavy。\'Andshelaughedalittlewildly。

"ThissoundwastoDavidsonlikeagalvanicshocktoacorpse。Hestartedineverymuscle。\'LaughingAnne，\'hesaidinanawe-struckvoice。

"\'Allthat\'sleftofher，Davy。Allthat\'sleftofher。\'

"Davidsonlookedupatthesky；buttherewastobeseennoballoonfromwhichshecouldhavefallenonthatspot。Whenhebroughthisdistractedgazedown，itrestedonachildholdingonwithabrownlittlepawtothepinksatingown。Hehadrunoutofthegrassafterher。HadDavidsonseenarealhobgoblinhiseyescouldnothavebulgedmorethanatthissmallboyinadirtywhiteblouseandraggedknickers。Hehadaroundheadoftightchestnutcurls，verysunburntlegs，afreckledface，andmerryeyes。Admonishedbyhismothertogreetthegentleman，hefinishedoffDavidsonbyaddressinghiminFrench。

"\'BONJOUR。\'

"Davidson，overcome，lookedupatthewomaninsilence。Shesentthechildbacktothehut，andwhenhehaddisappearedinthegrass，sheturnedtoDavidson，triedtospeak，butaftergettingoutthewords，\'That\'smyTony，\'burstintoalongfitofcrying。

ShehadtoleanonDavidson\'sshoulder。He，distressedinthegoodnessofhisheart，stoodrootedtothespotwhereshehadcomeuponhim。

"Whatameeting-eh？Bamtzhadsentherouttoseewhatwhitemanitwaswhohadlanded。AndshehadrecognisedhimfromthattimewhenDavidson，whohadbeenpearlinghimselfinhisyouth，hadbeenassociatingwithHarrythePearlerandothers，thequietestofaratherrowdyset。

"BeforeDavidsonretracedhisstepstogoonboardthesteamer，hehadheardmuchofLaughingAnne\'sstory，andhadevenhadaninterview，onthepath，withBamtzhimself。Sheranbacktothehuttofetchhim，andhecameoutlounging，withhishandsinhispockets，withthedetached，casualmannerunderwhichheconcealedhispropensitytocringe。Ya-a-as-as。Hethoughthewouldsettleherepermanently-withher。ThiswithanodatLaughingAnne，whostoodby，ahaggard，tragicallyanxiousfigure，herblackhairhangingoverhershoulders。

"\'Nomorepaintanddyesforme，Davy，\'shestruckin，\'ifonlyyouwilldowhathewantsyoutodo。YouknowthatIwasalwaysreadytostandbymymen-iftheyhadonlyletme。\'

"Davidsonhadnodoubtofherearnestness。ItwasofBamtz\'sgoodfaiththathewasnotatallsure。BamtzwantedDavidsontopromisetocallatMirrahmoreorlessregularly。Hethoughthesawanopeningtodobusinesswithrattansthere，ifonlyhecoulddependonsomecrafttobringouttradinggoodsandtakeawayhisproduce。

"\'Ihaveafewdollarstomakeastarton。Thepeopleareallright。\'

"Hehadcomethere，wherehewasnotknown，inanativeprau，andhadmanaged，withhissedatemannerandtheexactlyrightkindofyarnheknewhowtotelltothenatives，toingratiatehimselfwiththechiefman。

"\'TheOrangKayahasgivenmethatemptyhousetheretoliveinaslongasIwillstay，\'addedBamtz。

"\'Doit，Davy，\'criedthewomansuddenly。\'Thinkofthatpoorkid。\'

"\'Seenhim？\'Cutelittlecustomer，\'saidthereformedloaferinsuchatoneofinterestastosurpriseDavidsonintoakindlyglance。

"\'Icertainlycandoit，\'hedeclared。HethoughtofatfirstmakingsomestipulationastoBamtzbehavingdecentlytothewoman，buthisexaggerateddelicacyandalsotheconvictionthatsuchafellow\'spromiseswereworthnothingrestrainedhim。Annewentalittledistancedownthepathwithhimtalkinganxiously。

"\'It\'sforthekid。HowcouldIhavekepthimwithmeifIhadtoknockaboutintowns？Herehewillneverknowthathismotherwasapaintedwoman。AndthisBamtzlikeshim。He\'srealfondofhim。

IsupposeIoughttothankGodforthat。\'

"DavidsonshudderedatanyhumancreaturebeingbroughtsolowastohavetothankGodforthefavoursoraffectionofaBamtz。

"\'Anddoyouthinkthatyoucanmakeouttolivehere？\'heaskedgently。

"\'Can\'tI？YouknowIhavealwaysstucktomenthroughthickandthintilltheyhadenoughofme。Andnowlookatme!ButinsideI

amasIalwayswas。Ihaveactedonthesquaretothemalloneafteranother。Onlytheydogettiredsomehow。Oh，Davy!Harryoughtnottohavecastmeoff。Itwashethatledmeastray。\'

"DavidsonmentionedtoherthatHarrythePearlerhadbeendeadnowforsomeyears。Perhapsshehadheard？

"Shemadeasignthatshehadheard；andwalkedbythesideofDavidsoninsilencenearlytothebank。Thenshetoldhimthathermeetingwithhimhadbroughtbacktheoldtimestohermind。Shehadnotcriedforyears。Shewasnotacryingwomaneither。ItwashearingherselfcalledLaughingAnnethathadstartedhersobbinglikeafool。Harrywastheonlymanshehadloved。Theothers-

"Sheshruggedhershoulders。Butshepridedherselfonherloyaltytothesuccessivepartnersofherdismaladventures。Shehadneverplayedanytricksinherlife。Shewasapalworthhaving。Butmendidgettired。Theydidnotunderstandwomen。Shesupposedithadtobe。

"DavidsonwasattemptingaveiledwarningastoBamtz，butsheinterruptedhim。Sheknewwhatmenwere。Sheknewwhatthismanwaslike。Buthehadtakenwonderfullytothekid。AndDavidsondesistedwillingly，sayingtohimselfthatsurelypoorLaughingAnnecouldhavenoillusionsbythistime。Shewrunghishandhardatparting。

"\'It\'sforthekid，Davy-it\'sforthekid。Isn\'theabrightlittlechap？\'

CHAPTERII

"AllthishappenedabouttwoyearsbeforethedaywhenDavidson，sittinginthisveryroom，talkedtomyfriend。Youwillseepresentlyhowthisroomcangetfull。Everyseat\'llbeoccupied，andasyounotice，thetablesaresetclose，sothatthebacksofthechairsarealmosttouching。Thereisalsoagooddealofnoisytalkhereaboutoneo\'clock。

"Idon\'tsupposeDavidsonwastalkingveryloudly；butverylikelyhehadtoraisehisvoiceacrossthetabletomyfriend。Andhereaccident，mereaccident，putinitsworkbyprovidingapairoffineearsclosebehindDavidson\'schair。Itwastentooneagainst，theownerofthesamehavingenoughchangeinhispocketstogethistiffinhere。Buthehad。Mostlikelyhadrookedsomebodyofafewdollarsatcardsovernight。HewasabrightcreatureofthenameofFector，aspare，short，jumpyfellowwitharedfaceandmuddyeyes。Hedescribedhimselfasajournalistascertainkindofwomengivethemselvesoutasactressesinthedockofapolice-court。

"Heusedtointroducehimselftostrangersasamanwithamissiontotrackoutabusesandfightthemwheneverfound。Hewouldalsohintthathewasamartyr。Andit\'safactthathehadbeenkicked，horsewhipped，imprisoned，andhoundedwithignominyoutofprettywelleveryplacebetweenCeylonandShanghai，foraprofessionalblackmailer。

"Isuppose，inthattrade，you\'vegottohaveactivewitsandsharpears。It\'snotlikelythatheoverheardeverywordDavidsonsaidabouthisdollarcollectingtrip，butheheardenoughtosethiswitsatwork。

"HeletDavidsongoout，andthenhastenedawaydowntothenativeslumstoasortoflodging-housekeptinpartnershipbytheusualsortofPortugueseandaverydisreputableChinaman。MacaoHotel，itwascalled，butitwasmostlyagamblingdenthatoneusedtowarnfellowsagainst。Perhapsyouremember？

"There，theeveningbefore，Fectorhadmetapreciouscouple，apartnershipevenmorequeerthanthePortugueseandtheChinaman。

OneofthetwowasNiclaus-youknow。Why!thefellowwithaTartarmoustacheandayellowcomplexion，likeaMongolian，onlythathiseyesweresetstraightandhisfacewasnotsoflat。Onecouldn\'ttellwhatbreedhewas。Anondescriptbeggar。Fromacertainangleyouwouldthinkaverybiliouswhiteman。AndI

daresayhewas。HeownedaMalayprauandcalledhimselfTheNakhoda，asonewouldsay:TheCaptain。Aha!Nowyouremember。

Hecouldn\'t，apparently，speakanyotherEuropeanlanguagethanEnglish，butheflewtheDutchflagonhisprau。

"TheotherwastheFrenchmanwithouthands。Yes。Theverysameweusedtoknowin\'79inSydney，keepingalittletobaccoshopatthelowerendofGeorgeStreet。Yourememberthehugecarcasehunchedupbehindthecounter，thebigwhitefaceandthelongblackhairbrushedbackoffahighforeheadlikeabard\'s。Hewasalwaystryingtorollcigarettesonhiskneewithhisstumps，tellingendlessyarnsofPolynesiaandwhiningandcursinginturnabout\'MONMALHEUR。\'Hishandshadbeenblownawaybyadynamitecartridgewhilefishinginsomelagoon。Thisaccident，Ibelieve，hadmadehimmorewickedthanbefore，whichissayingagooddeal。

"Hewasalwaystalkingabout\'resuminghisactivities\'someday，whatevertheywere，ifhecouldonlygetanintelligentcompanion。

Itwasevidentthatthelittleshopwasnofieldforhisactivities，andthesicklywomanwithherfacetiedup，whousedtolookinsometimesthroughthebackdoor，wasnocompanionforhim。

"And，trueenough，hevanishedfromSydneybeforelong，aftersometroublewiththeExcisefellowsabouthisstock。Goodsstolenoutofawarehouseorsomethingsimilar。Heleftthewomanbehind，buthemusthavesecuredsomesortofcompanion-hecouldnothaveshiftedforhimself；butwhomhewentawaywith，andwhere，andwhatothercompanionshemighthavepickedupafterwards，itisimpossibletomaketheremotestguessabout。

"WhyexactlyhecamethiswayIcan\'ttell。TowardstheendofmytimeherewebegantoheartalkofamaimedFrenchmanwhohadbeenseenhereandthere。ButnooneknewthenthathehadforegatheredwithNiclausandlivedinhisprau。IdaresayheputNiclausuptoathingortwo。Anyhow，itwasapartnership。NiclauswassomewhatafraidoftheFrenchmanonaccountofhistempers，whichwereawful。Helookedthenlikeadevil；butamanwithouthands，unabletoloadorhandleaweapon，canatbestgoforoneonlywithhisteeth。FromthatdangerNiclausfeltcertainhecouldalwaysdefendhimself。

"Thecouplewerealonetogetherloafinginthecommon-roomofthatinfamoushotelwhenFectorturnedup。Aftersomebeatingaboutthebush，forhewasdoubtfulhowfarhecouldtrustthesetwo，herepeatedwhathehadoverheardinthetiffin-rooms。

"HistaledidnothavemuchsuccesstillhecametomentionthecreekandBamtz\'sname。Niclaus，sailingaboutlikeanativeinaprau，was，inhisownwords，\'familiarwiththelocality。\'ThehugeFrenchman，walkingupanddowntheroomwithhisstumpsinthepocketsofhisjacket，stoppedshortinsurprise。\'COMMENT？

BAMTZ!BAMTZ!\'

"Hehadrunacrosshimseveraltimesinhislife。Heexclaimed:

\'BAMTZ!MAISJENECONNAISQUECA!\'AndheappliedsuchacontemptuouslyindecentepithettoBamtzthatwhen，later，healludedtohimas\'UNECHIFFE\'(amererag)itsoundedquitecomplimentary。\'Wecandowithhimwhatwelike，\'heassertedconfidently。\'Oh，yes。Certainlywemusthastentopayavisittothat-\'(anotherawfuldescriptiveepithetquiteunfitforrepetition)。\'Deviltakemeifwedon\'tpulloffacoupthatwillsetusallupforalongtime。\'

"HesawallthatlotofdollarsmeltedintobarsanddisposedofsomewhereontheChinacoast。OftheescapeaftertheCOUPheneverdoubted。TherewasNiclaus\'sprautomanagethatin。

"Inhisenthusiasmhepulledhisstumpsoutofhispocketsandwavedthemabout。Then，catchingsightofthem，asitwere，heheldtheminfrontofhiseyes，cursingandblasphemingandbewailinghismisfortuneandhishelplessness，tillNiclausquietedhimdown。

"Butitwashismindthatplannedouttheaffairanditwashisspiritwhichcarriedtheothertwoon。Neitherofthemwasoftheboldbuccaneertype；andFector，especially，hadneverinhisadventurouslifeusedotherweaponsthanslanderandlies。

"ThatveryeveningtheydepartedonavisittoBamtzinNiclaus\'sprau，whichhadbeenlying，emptiedofhercargoofcocoanuts，foradayortwounderthecanalbridge。TheymusthavecrossedthebowsoftheanchoredSissie，andnodoubtlookedatherwithinterestasthesceneoftheirfutureexploit，thegreathaul，LE

GRANDCOUP!

"Davidson\'swife，tohisgreatsurprise，sulkedwithhimforseveraldaysbeforeheleft。Idon\'tknowwhetheritoccurredtohimthat，forallherangelicprofile，shewasaverystupidlyobstinategirl。Shedidn\'tlikethetropics。Hehadbroughtheroutthere，whereshehadnofriends，andnow，shesaid，hewasbecominginconsiderate。Shehadapresentimentofsomemisfortune，andnotwithstandingDavidson\'spainstakingexplanations，shecouldnotseewhyherpresentimentsweretobedisregarded。OntheverylasteveningbeforeDavidsonwentawaysheaskedhiminasuspiciousmanner:

"\'Whyisitthatyouaresoanxioustogothistime？\'

"\'Iamnotanxious，\'protestedthegoodDavidson。\'Isimplycan\'thelpmyself。There\'snooneelsetogoinmyplace。\'

"\'Oh!There\'snoone，\'shesaid，turningawayslowly。

"ShewassodistantwithhimthateveningthatDavidsonfromasenseofdelicacymadeuphismindtosaygood-byetoheratonceandgoandsleeponboard。Hefeltverymiserableand，strangelyenough，moreonhisownaccountthanonaccountofhiswife。Sheseemedtohimmuchmoreoffendedthangrieved。

"Threeweekslater，havingcollectedagoodmanycasesofolddollars(theywerestowedaftinthelazarettewithanironbarandapadlocksecuringthehatchunderhiscabin-table)，yes，withabiggerlotthanhehadexpectedtocollect，hefoundhimselfhomewardboundandofftheentranceofthecreekwhereBamtzlivedandeven，inasense，flourished。

"ItwassolateinthedaythatDavidsonactuallyhesitatedwhetherheshouldnotpassbythistime。HehadnoregardforBamtz，whowasadegradedbutnotareallyunhappyman。HispityforLaughingAnnewasnomorethanhercasedeserved。Buthisgoodnesswasofaparticularlydelicatesort。Herealisedhowthesepeopleweredependentonhim，andhowtheywouldfeeltheirdependence(ifhefailedtoturnup)throughalongmonthofanxiouswaiting。

Promptedbyhissensitivehumanity，Davidson，inthegatheringdusk，turnedtheSissie\'sheadtowardsthehardlydiscerniblecoast，andnavigatedhersafetythroughamazeofshallowpatches。

Butbythetimehegottothemouthofthecreekthenighthadcome。

"Thenarrowwaterwaylaylikeablackcuttingthroughtheforest。