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。