An Outcast of the Islands

rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath. No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to rev

swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth. No voice was heard in this hot noontide but the faint murmur

d stood for a while looking down at her with tender and pensive eyes. The child, tired and hot, moved uneasily, sighed, and looked up at him with the veiled look of sleepy fatigue. He picked up from the floor a broken palm-leaf fan, and began fanning gently the flushed little face. Her eyelids fl

owing water. Gradually the forest of the further bank became smaller, as if sinking below the level of the river. The outlines wavered, grew thin, dissolved in the air. Before his eyes there was now only a space of undulating blue-one big, empty sky growing dark at times. . . . Where was th

may

e sat up, grasping the front rail with

?" he muttered, lo

wn here,

r the rail at the foot of the verandah, and

ns!" he exclaimed

n the husky voice from the cour

aid, in a voice subdued but distinct. "Don't you dare! The child

to me! It's som

o me,

ou. Very i

lways! I remember the old days. Some fellows used to say there was no one like you for sm

th scornful impatience, from below. "Listening to me would

n't make a noise, but come up. You'll catch a sunstroke down there an

low the waist he was clothed in a worn-out and faded sarong. He flung off his hat, uncovering his long, tangled hair that stuck in wisps on his perspiring forehead and straggled over his eyes, which glittered deep down in the sockets like the last sparks amongst the black embers of a bu

taking the extended hand which dr

e," began

making me unhappy. You have been away five weeks, if I am not mistaken. I go

will you!" ex

he forest with your . . . your friends? This is a

ems again; "I am come f

" went on Almayer, in a tone of easy banter, "those-what am I to call them-those new relations of yours? That old blind scoundrel must be delighted with your company. You kno

llems, hotly. "I only borrowed

d. "So you did steal," he went on, with repressed exultation. "I tho

illems raised his ey

yer, with mocking haste. "But that girl. Hey! You stole her. You

hat. Al

se. He looked narrowly at the man before him, an

me. If you are a human being you will

"Indeed! How? But you are r

"She is gone. Gone," he repeated, with

s yet." He burst into a subdued laugh. "How funny! Had enough of you a

t," he whispered, dreamily, "my life was like a vision of heaven-or hell; I didn't know which. Since she went I

y father and respect as such-left you under my care. You pleased yourself by going away. Very

ade of? To think that she moves, lives, breathes out of my sight. I am jealous of the wind that fans her, of the air she breathes, of t

ut he affected to yawn elaborately, "You do bore me," he mu

ind

't be very far. No native craft has l

he is. She is in Lakamba's campong." And Will

nge," said Almayer, thoughtfully. "Are you afra

afr

u from following her there, my high-minded friend?" as

illems said, quietly, "You are a

carelessly; "you are too weak

Willems, gloomily. "Look!" and he bared an arm covered with fresh scars. "I have been biting myself to forget in that pain the fire that hurts

tily. "What could father ever see in you?

soul for a few guilders," muttered Wil

avage woman who has made you already the thing you are, and will kill you very soon, one way or another, with her love or with her hate. You spoke just now about guilders. You meant Lingard's money, I suppose. Well, whatever I ha

ared at Willems and breathed hard through his nose in sulky rese

utely, "I want to become

rugged his

ant a house and trade goods-perhap

s coat?" and here Almayer unbuttoned

tion to Almayer-"it's natural that she should expect the advantages

With his gaunt figure and dilapidated appearance he looked like some ascetic dweller in a wilderness, fin

ce-to fashion-to mould-to adore-to soften-to . . . Oh! Delight! And then-then go away to some di

eyes wandered for awhile and

imself, in it. "Every cent. I need not interfere with your business. I shall cut out the small native traders. I have ideas-but neve

The notion of Lingard doing something for Willems enraged him. His face

said, gently, "that I have

rsed imp

oy your trade in a year. It would be ruin. Now Lingard's long absence gives courage to certain individuals. You

! I am master

er, don't y

ars-and nothing has happened. The Arabs have been hanging about outside this river for years-and I am still the only trader here; the master here. Do you bring me a declaration of war? T

rushed over to the chair, caught up the child in his arms, walked back blindly, stumb

this! Clear ou

mpt to speak, but Al

man going away. Look! He is afraid of your papa. Nasty, bad man. Never come back again. He shall live in the woods and never come near my little girl. If he comes papa will kill him-so!" He struck his

id, coaxingly. "Isn't he funny. Call 'p

big eyes sparkled and danced with fun. She took firm hold of Almayer's hair with one hand, while she waved th

Pig!