Victory: An Island Tale

believe every evil report; and a good many others who found it simply funny to call Heyst the Spider-behind his back, of course. He was as serenely unconscious of this as of his seve

capitals may have consisted-and probably did-of one room in each; but at that distance, out East there, all this had an air. We were more puzzled than dazzled, it is true; but even the most sober-minded among

h awed sincerity for his mercy, and could not thank Heyst enough for the service rendered as between man and man. In this (highly creditable) tangle of strong feelings Morrison's gratitude insisted on Heyst's partnership in the great discovery. Ultimately we heard that Morrison had gone home through the Suez Canal in order to push the magnificent coal idea personally in London. He parted from his brig and disappeared from our ken; but we heard that he had written a letter or letters to Heyst, saying that London was cold and gloomy; that he did not like either the men or things, that he was "as lonely as a c

with a Dutch government doctor in Amboyna, a friend of his who looked after him for a bit in his bungalow. He became visible again rather s

ent home. They were all right; they did not count any more. Going to Europe was nearly

till months afterwards-from Schomberg, who disliked Heyst g

ellow. He squeezes you dry like a lemon, then chucks yo

pared to go to Europe himself, to push on his coal enterprise personally; but he never went. It wasn't necess

t Samburan was represented as the central spot of the Eastern Hemisphere with its name engraved in enormous capitals. Heavy lines radiated from it in all directions through the tropics, figuring a mysterious and effective star-lines of influence or lines of distance, or something of that s

iled quietly to themselves were only hiding their uneasiness. Oh, yes; it had come, and anybody could see what would be the consequences-the en

Heyst, ench

than a loafer around here as fa

Well, he's got hold of one that will do

evelopment-and be hanged

d about so much in th

wedish baron

n? Get alon

atical and disregarded like an insignificant ghost, he told me so himself on a certain occasion. It was a lon

ight. This was no mooning about. This was business. And this sudden display of purposeful energy shook the incredulity of the most sceptical more than any scientific demonstration of the value of these coal-outcrops could have done. It was impressive. Schomberg was the only on

his coal-dust in my eyes. There's nothing in it. Why, there c

se famous contracts, the talk died out, and presently it was remarked here and there that Heyst had faded completely away. He had become invisible, as in those early days when he used to make a bolt clear out of sight in his attempts to break away from the enchantment of "these isles," either in the direction of New Guinea or in the direction of Saigon-to cannibals or to cafes. The

You see? What was I always telling you? Aha! There was nothing in it.

el. He detested Scandinavians generally. Why? Goodness o

since I have spoken to a

ld not understand that. He was grotesquely dense. Whenever three people ca

omical earnestness that ought to have made us shudder; only our crowd w

u for drinks is he?" somebody a

! Oh, d

t had not paid perhaps three visits altogether to his "establishment." This was Heyst's crime, for which Schomberg wished

g a group of his customers. He was obviously in high

Davidson, coming by from the westward, saw him with his own eyes. Something white on the wharf, so he steamed in and went ashore in a small boat. Heyst, right enough. Put a book into his pocket, always very polite. Been strolling on the wharf

ave, with the air of a benefactor of mankind. His ambition was to feed it at a profitable price, and his delight was to t