rejoicing."

Ford sat up interested.

"Yes," went on Babalatchi, in answer to Ford's look. "I told him. That
was before he began to smoke."

"Well, and what?" asked Ford.

"I escaped with my life," said Babalatchi, with perfect gravity, "because
the white man is very weak and fell as he rushed upon me." Then, after a
pause, he added, "She is mad with joy."

"Mrs. Almayer, you mean?"

"Yes, she lives in our Rajah's house. She will not die soon. Such women
live a long time," said Babalatchi, with a slight tinge of regret in his
voice. "She has dollars, and she has buried them, but we know where. We
had much trouble with those people. We had to pay a fine and listen to
threats from the white men, and now we have to be careful." He sighed
and remained silent for a long while. Then with energy:

"There will be fighting. There is a breath of war on the islands. Shall
I live long enough to see? . . . Ah, Tuan!" he went on, more quietly,
"the old times were best. Even I have sailed with Lanun men, and boarded
in the night silent ships with white sails. That was before an English
Rajah ruled in Kuching. Then we fought amongst ourselves and were happy.
Now when we fight with you we can only die!"

He rose to go. "Tuan," he said, "you remember the girl that man Bulangi
had? Her that caused all the trouble?"

"Yes," said Ford. "What of her?"

"She grew thin and could not work. Then Bulangi, who is a thief and a
pig-eater, gave her to me for fifty dollars. I sent her amongst my women
to grow fat. I wanted to hear the sound of her laughter, but she must
have been bewitched, and . . . she died two days ago. Nay, Tuan. Why do
you speak bad words? I am old--that is true--but why should I not like
the sight of a young face and the sound of a young voice in my house?" He
paused, and then added with a little mournful laugh, "I am like a white
man talking too much of what is not men's talk when they speak to one
another."

And he went off looking very sad.

* * * * *

The crowd massed in a semicircle before the steps of "Almayer's Folly,"
swayed silently backwards and forwards, and opened out before the group
of white-robed and turbaned men advancing through the grass towards the
house. Abdulla walked first, supported by Reshid and followed by all the
Arabs in Sambir. As they entered the lane made by the respectful throng
there was a subdued murmur of voices, where the word "Mati" was the only
one