said," answered Almayer, scornfully, "he
must be highly flattered. You want him as a tool for some
incomprehensible ambition of yours. Enough, Nina. If you do not go down
at once to the creek, where Ali is waiting with my canoe, I shall tell
him to return to the settlement and bring the Dutch officers here. You
cannot escape from this clearing, for I have cast adrift your canoe. If
the Dutch catch this hero of yours they will hang him as sure as I stand
here. Now go."

He made a step towards his daughter and laid hold of her by the shoulder,
his other hand pointing down the path to the landing-place.

"Beware!" exclaimed Dain; "this woman belongs to me!"

Nina wrenched herself free and looked straight at Almayer's angry face.

"No, I will not go," she said with desperate energy. "If he dies I shall
die too!"

"You die!" said Almayer, contemptuously. "Oh, no! You shall live a life
of lies and deception till some other vagabond comes along to sing; how
did you say that? The song of love to you! Make up your mind quickly."

He waited for a while, and then added meaningly--

"Shall I call out to Ali?"

"Call out," she answered in Malay, "you that cannot be true to your own
countrymen. Only a few days ago you were selling the powder for their
destruction; now you want to give up to them the man that yesterday you
called your friend. Oh, Dain," she said, turning towards the motionless
but attentive figure in the darkness, "instead of bringing you life I
bring you death, for he will betray unless I leave you for ever!"

Dain came into the circle of light, and, throwing his arm around Nina's
neck, whispered in her ear--"I can kill him where he stands, before a
sound can pass his lips. For you it is to say yes or no. Babalatchi
cannot be far now."

He straightened himself up, taking his arm off her shoulder, and
confronted Almayer, who looked at them both with an expression of
concentrated fury.

"No!" she cried, clinging to Dain in wild alarm. "No! Kill me! Then
perhaps he will let you go. You do not know the mind of a white man. He
would rather see me dead than standing where I am. Forgive me, your
slave, but you must not." She fell at his feet sobbing violently and
repeating, "Kill me! Kill me!"

"I want you alive," said Almayer, speaking also in Malay, with sombre
calmness. "You go, or he hangs. Will you obey?"

Dain shook Nina off, and, making a sudden lunge, struck Almayer full in
t