There are only two with
you."

"Listen, Tuan Almayer," said Dain. "To-morrow's sun shall see me in your
house, and then we will talk. Now I must go to the Rajah."

"To the Rajah! Why? What do you want with Lakamba?"

"Tuan, to-morrow we talk like friends. I must see Lakamba to-night."

"Dain, you are not going to abandon me now, when all is ready?" asked
Almayer, in a pleading voice.

"Have I not returned? But I must see Lakamba first for your good and
mine."

The shadowy head disappeared abruptly. The bush, released from the grasp
of the bowman, sprung back with a swish, scattering a shower of muddy
water over Almayer, as he bent forward, trying to see.

In a little while the canoe shot into the streak of light that streamed
on the river from the big fire on the opposite shore, disclosing the
outline of two men bending to their work, and a third figure in the stern
flourishing the steering paddle, his head covered with an enormous round
hat, like a fantastically exaggerated mushroom.

Almayer watched the canoe till it passed out of the line of light.
Shortly after the murmur of many voices reached him across the water. He
could see the torches being snatched out of the burning pile, and
rendering visible for a moment the gate in the stockade round which they
crowded. Then they went in apparently. The torches disappeared, and the
scattered fire sent out only a dim and fitful glare.

Almayer stepped homewards with long strides and mind uneasy. Surely Dain
was not thinking of playing him false. It was absurd. Dain and Lakamba
were both too much interested in the success of his scheme. Trusting to
Malays was poor work; but then even Malays have some sense and understand
their own interest. All would be well--must be well. At this point in
his meditation he found himself at the foot of the steps leading to the
verandah of his home. From the low point of land where he stood he could
see both branches of the river. The main branch of the Pantai was lost
in complete darkness, for the fire at the Rajah's had gone out
altogether; but up the Sambir reach his eye could follow the long line of
Malay houses crowding the bank, with here and there a dim light twinkling
through bamboo walls, or a smoky torch burning on the platforms built out
over the river. Further away, where the island ended in a low cliff,
rose a dark mass of buildings towering above the Malay structures.
Founded solidly on a firm groun