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Lingard bent his ear to the dark lips. "Deliver your message" he said in a gentle tone. "The Rajah wished to hold your hand once more," whispered Jaffir so faintly that Lingard had to guess the words rather than hear them. "I was to tell you," he went on and stopped suddenly. "What were you to tell me?" "To forget everything," said Jaffir with a loud effort as if beginning a long speech.
It was clear that the envoy was gone, keeping in the shadow of the shore. Jorgenson turned to Jaffir. "Death amongst friends is but a festival," he quoted, mumbling in his moustache. "It is, by Allah," assented Jaffir with sombre fervour.
A deep murmur of surprise arose in the armed party, a spear was thrown, a shot was fired, three or four men dashed into the forest, but they soon returned crestfallen with apologetic smiles; while Jaffir, striking an old path that seemed to lead in the right direction, ran on in solitude, raising a rustle of leaves, with a naked parang in his hand and a cloud of flies about his head.
Jaffir listened to it all without particular sympathy. And when Jorgenson added, "It is in my mind, O Jaffir, to let her have her will now," he answered by a "Yes, by Allah! let her go. What does it matter?" of the greatest unconcern, till Jorgenson added: "Yes. And she may carry the ring to the Rajah Laut." Jorgenson saw Jaffir, the grim and impassive Jaffir, give a perceptible start.
"Why, it's that fellow whom you sent out, that night I met you, to catch our first gig. What do they call him? Jaffir, I think. Hasn't he been with you ashore, sir? Didn't he find you with the letter I gave him for you? A most determined looking chap. I knew him again the moment we got him off the log." Lingard seized hold of the royal backstay within reach of his hand. Jaffir! Jaffir!
It was a spot safe from eaves-droppers, though, of course, exposed to view. The sun had just set on the supreme content of Carter when Jorgenson and Jaffir sat down side by side between the knightheads of the Emma and, public but unapproachable, impressive and secret, began to converse in low tones. Every Wajo fugitive who manned the hulk felt the approach of a decisive moment.
And great you will remain while you are with us, people of this sea and of this land. But what becomes of the strength of your arms before your own white people? Where does it go to, I say? Well, then, we must trust in the strength of your heart." "I hope that will never fail," said Lingard, and Jaffir emitted a grunt of satisfaction. "But God alone sees into men's hearts." "Yes.
"Then, Rajah Laut," whispered Jaffir, "you can make all safe by giving them back." "Can I do that?" were the words breathed out through Lingard's lips to the faithful follower of Hassim and Immada. "Can you do anything else?" was the whispered retort of Jaffir the messenger accustomed to speak frankly to the great of the earth. "You are a white man and you can have only one word. And now I go."
At noon they rested in the shade near a dark pool within the edge of the forest; and it was there that Jaffir met them, much to his and their surprise. It was the occasion of a long talk. Jaffir, squatting on his heels, discoursed in measured tones. He had entranced listeners. The story of Carter's exploit amongst the Shoals had not reached Belarab's camp.
"May you live!" answered Wasub; and Lingard whispered an appalled "All dead!" to which Wasub nodded slightly twice. His cracked voice had a lamenting intonation. "It is all true! It is all true! You are left alone, Tuan; you are left alone!" "It was their destiny," said Lingard at last, with forced calmness. "But has Jaffir told you of the manner of this calamity?
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