下载辰思小说免费APP
“Whatbecameofhim？“Iasked。Tamb’Itam，staringatme，madeanexpressivegesturewithhisrightarm。“TwiceIstruck，tuan，“hesaid。“Whenhebeheldmeapproachinghecasthimselfviolentlyonthegroundandmadeagreatoutcry，kicking。Hescreechedlikeafrightenedhentillhefeltthepoint；thenhewasstill，andlaystaringatmewhilehislifewentoutofhiseyes。“
`Thisdone，Tamb’Itamdidnottarry。Heunderstoodtheimportanceofbeingthefirstwiththeawfulnewsatthefort。Therewere，ofcourse，manysurvivorsofDainWaris’sparty；butintheextremityofpanicsomehadswumacrosstheriver，othershadboltedintothebush。Thefactisthattheydidnotknowreallywhostruckthatblow——whethermorewhiterobberswerenotcoming，whethertheyhadnotalreadygotholdofthewholeland。Theyimaginedthemselvestobethevictimsofavasttreachery，andutterlydoomedtodestruction。Itissaidthatsomesmallpartiesdidnotcomeintillthreedaysafterwards。However，afewtriedtomaketheirwaybacktoPatusanatonce，andoneofthecanoesthatwerepatrollingtheriverthatmorningwasinsightofthecampattheverymomentoftheattack。Itistruethatatfirstthemeninherleapedoverboardandswamtotheoppositebank，butafterwardstheyreturnedtotheirboatandstartedfearfullyupstream。OftheseTamb’Itamhadanhour’sadvance。“
Tamb’Itam，paddlingmadly，cameintothetown-reach，thewomen，throngingtheplatformsbeforethehouses，werelookingoutforthereturnofDainWaris’slittlefleetofboats。Thetownhadafestiveair；hereandtheremen，stillwithspearsorgunsintheirhands，couldbeseenmovingorstandingontheshoreingroups。Chinamen’sshopshadbeenopenedearly；butthemarket-placewasempty，andasentry，stillpostedatthecornerofthefort，madeoutTamb’Itam，andshoutedtothosewithin。Thegatewaswideopen。Tamb’Itamjumpedashoreandraninheadlong。
Thefirstpersonhemetwasthegirlcomingdownfromthehouse。
`Tamb’Itam，disordered，panting，withtremblinglipsandwildeyes，stoodforatimebeforeherasifasuddenspellhadbeenlaidonhim。
Thenhebrokeoutveryquickly：“TheyhavekilledDainWarisandmanymore。“
Sheclappedherhands，andherfirstwordswere，“Shutthegates。“Mostofthefortmenhadgonebacktotheirhouses，butTamb’Itamhurriedonthefewwhoremainedfortheirturnofdutywithin。Thegirlstoodinthemiddleofthecourtyardwhiletheothersranabout。“Doramin，“shecrieddespairingly，asTamb’Itampassedher。Nexttimehewentbyheansweredherthoughtrapidly，“Yes。ButwehaveallthepowderinPatusan。“Shecaughthimbythearm，and，pointingatthehouse，“Callhimout，“shewhispered，trembling。
`Tamb’Itamranupthesteps。Hismasterwassleeping。“ItisI，Tamb’
Itam，“hecriedatthedoor，“withtidingsthatcannotwait。“HesawJimturnoveronthepillowandopenhiseyes，andheburstoutatonce：“This，tuan，isadayofevil，anaccursedday。“Hismasterraisedhimselfonhiselbowtolisten——justasDainWarishaddone。AndthenTamb’Itambeganhistale，tryingtorelatethestoryinorder，callingDainWarisPanglima，andsaying：“ThePanglimathencalledouttothechiefofhisownboatmen：`GiveTamb’Itamsomethingtoeat“’——whenhismasterputhisfeettothegroundandlookedathimwithsuchadiscomposedfacethatthewordsremainedinhisthroat。
“`Speakout，“saidJim。“Ishedead？““Mayyoulivelong，“criedTamb’
Itam。“Itwasamostcrueltreachery。Heranoutatthefirstshotsandfell。“……Hismasterwalkedtothewindowandwithhisfiststruckattheshutter。Theroomwasmadelight；andtheninasteadyvoice，butspeakingfast，hebegantogivehimorderstoassembleafleetofboatsforimmediatepursuit，gotothisman，totheother——sendmessengers；andashetalkedhesatdownonthebed，stoopingtolacehisbootshurriedly，andsuddenlylookedup。“Whydoyoustandhere？“heaskedveryred-faced。“Wastenotime。“Tamb’Itamdidnotmove。“Forgiveme，tuan，but……but，“
hebegantostammer。“What？“criedhismasteraloud，lookingterrible，leaningforwardwithhishandsgrippingtheedgeofthebed。“Itisnotsafeforthyservanttogooutamongstthepeople，“saidTamb’Itam，afterhesitatingamoment。
`ThenJimunderstood。Hehadretreatedfromoneworld，forasmallmatterofanimpulsivejump，andnowtheother，theworkofhisownhands，hadfalleninruinsuponhishead。Itwasnotsafeforhisservanttogooutamongsthisownpeople!Ibelievethatinthatverymomentheha
