ogs went drifting past in
midstream, looking very distinct and black in the pale red glow. The
trunks of the trees in the forest on the east bank were lost in gloom
while their highest branches swayed gently in the departing sunlight. The
air felt heavy and cold in the breeze, expiring in slight puffs that came
over the water.

Almayer shivered as he made an effort to speak, and again with an
uncertain gesture he seemed to free his throat from the grip of an
invisible hand. His bloodshot eyes wandered aimlessly from face to face.

"There!" he said at last. "Are you all there? He is a dangerous man."

He dragged at the cover with hasty violence, and the body rolled stiffly
off the planks and fell at his feet in rigid helplessness.

"Cold, perfectly cold," said Almayer, looking round with a mirthless
smile. "Sorry can do no better. And you can't hang him, either. As you
observe, gentlemen," he added gravely, "there is no head, and hardly any
neck."

The last ray of light was snatched away from the tree-tops, the river
grew suddenly dark, and in the great stillness the murmur of the flowing
water seemed to fill the vast expanse of grey shadow that descended upon
the land.

"This is Dain," went on Almayer to the silent group that surrounded him.
"And I have kept my word. First one hope, then another, and this is my
last. Nothing is left now. You think there is one dead man here?
Mistake, I 'sure you. I am much more dead. Why don't you hang me?" he
suggested suddenly, in a friendly tone, addressing the lieutenant. "I
assure, assure you it would be a mat--matter of form altog--altogether."

These last words he muttered to himself, and walked zigzaging towards his
house. "Get out!" he thundered at Ali, who was approaching timidly with
offers of assistance. From afar, scared groups of men and women watched
his devious progress. He dragged himself up the stairs by the banister,
and managed to reach a chair into which he fell heavily. He sat for
awhile panting with exertion and anger, and looking round vaguely for
Nina; then making a threatening gesture towards the compound, where he
had heard Babalatchi's voice, he overturned the table with his foot in a
great crash of smashed crockery. He muttered yet menacingly to himself,
then his head fell on his breast, his eyes closed, and with a deep sigh
he fell asleep.

That night--for the first time in its history--the peaceful and
flourishing settlement of