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A man stood up in the largest craft and called out "Syed Abdulla bin Selim is here!" Babalatchi answered aloud in a formal tone "Allah gladdens our hearts! Come to the land!" Abdulla landed first, steadying himself by the help of Babalatchi's extended hand. In the short moment of his passing from the boat to the shore they exchanged sharp glances and a few rapid words. "Who are you?" "Babalatchi.
He came up fully to his expectation. From the very first moment when he set his eye on him he felt sure that this man whom he had known by reputation only was very resolute. Perhaps too resolute. Perhaps he would want to grasp too much later on. A shadow flitted over Babalatchi's face.
"The white man sleeps, it is true," explained Babalatchi, softly; "yet he may come out early, and he has arms." "Ah! he has arms?" said Lingard. "Yes; a short gun that fires many times like yours here. Abdulla had to give it to him." Lingard heard Babalatchi's words, but made no movement.
Jim-Eng, descrying Babalatchi far away, would shake off the stupor of an habitual opium smoker and, tottering on to the middle of the road, would await the approach of that important person, ready with hospitable invitation. But Babalatchi's discretion was proof even against the combined assaults of good fellowship and of strong gin generously administered by the open- hearted Chinaman.
"So you are angry with your friend, O one-eyed one!" he said slowly, nodding his fierce countenance close to Babalatchi's discomfited face. "It seems to me that you must have had much to do with what happened in Sambir lately. Hey? You son of a burnt father." "May I perish under your hand, O Rajah of the sea, if my words are not true!" said Babalatchi, with reckless excitement.
I took it there because I heard from Babalatchi's paddlers that the white men are coming here." "Wait for me there," said Almayer, "but keep the canoe hidden." He remained silent, listening to Ali's footsteps, then turned to Nina. "Nina," he said sadly, "will you have no pity for me?" There was no answer. She did not even turn her head, which was pressed close to Dain's breast.
I may want them. I shouted at him from under the chair: 'You are a thief, but he never looked, and went away, one hand round that woman's waist, the other on Babalatchi's shoulder, to whom he was talking laying down the law about something or other. In less than five minutes there was nobody inside our fences. After awhile Ali came to look for me and cut me free.
She was happy and proud to see Dain's infatuation, believing him to be a great and powerful chief, and she found also a gratification of her mercenary instincts in Dain's open-handed generosity. On the eve of the day when Babalatchi's suspicions were confirmed by ocular demonstration, Dain and Nina had remained longer than usual in their shady retreat.
There was in the thick foliage above the singer's head a confused beating of wings, sleepy remarks in bird-language, a sharp stir of leaves. The forms by the fire moved; the shadow of the woman altered its shape, and Babalatchi's song was cut short abruptly by a fit of soft and persistent coughing.
I am nothing before you why should I repeat words of one white man about another? He did boast to Abdulla of having learned much from your wisdom in years past. Other words I have forgotten. Indeed, Tuan, I have . . ." Lingard cut short Babalatchi's protestations by a contemptuous wave of the hand and reseated himself with dignity.
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