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nods and grunts he excited in me something like
interest。 But next moment he disappointed me
for he strode away hastily without a nod even。
His manner was usually odd it is true； and I cer…
tainly did not pay much attention to it； but that
sort of obscure intention； which seemed to lurk in
his nonchalance like a wary old carp in a pond； had
never before come so near the surface。 He had dis…
tinctly aroused my expectations。 I would have been
unable to say what it was I expected； but at all
events I did not expect the absurd developments he
sprung upon me no later than the break of the very
next day。
I remember only that there was； on that evening；
enough point in his behaviour to make me； after he
had fled； wonder audibly what he might mean。 To
this Hermann； crossing his legs with a swing and
settling himself viciously away from me in his chair；
said： 〃That fellow don't know himself what he
means。〃
There might have been some insight in such a
remark。 I said nothing； and； still averted； he
added： 〃When I was here last year he was just
the same。〃 An eruption of tobacco smoke envel…
oped his head as if his temper had exploded like
gunpowder。
I had half a mind to ask him point blank whether
he； at least； didn't know why Falk； a notoriously
unsociable man； had taken to visiting his ship with
such assiduity。 After all； I reflected suddenly； it
was a most remarkable thing。 I wonder now what
Hermann would have said。 As it turned out he
didn't let me ask。 Forgetting all about Falk ap…
parently； he started a monologue on his plans for
the future： the selling of the ship； the going home；
and falling into a reflective and calculating mood
he mumbled between regular jets of smoke about
the expense。 The necessity of disbursing passage
money for all his tribe seemed to disturb him in a
manner that was the more striking because other…
wise he gave no signs of a miserly disposition。 And
yet he fussed over the prospect of that voyage home
in a mail boat like a sedentary grocer who has made
up his mind to see the world。 He was racially thrifty
I suppose； and for him there must have been a great
novelty in finding himself obliged to pay for travel…
lingfor sea travelling which was the normal state
of life for the familyfrom the very cradle for
most of them。 I could see he grudged prospectively
every single shilling which must be spent so absurd…
ly。 It was rather funny。 He would become doleful
over it； and then again； with a fretful sigh； he would
suppose there was nothing for it now but to take
three second…class ticketsand there were the four
children to pay for besides。 A lot of money that
to spend at once。 A big lot of money。
I sat with him listening （not for the first time）
to these heart…searchings till I grew thoroughly
sleepy； and then I left him and turned in on board
my ship。 At daylight I was awakened by a yelping
of shrill voices； accompanied by a great commotion
in the water； and the short； bullying blasts of a
steam…whistle。 Falk with his tug had come for me。
I began to dress。 It was remarkable that the
answering noise on board my ship together with the
patter of feet above my head ceased suddenly。 But
I heard more remote guttural cries which seemed to
express surprise and annoyance。 Then the voice of
my mate reached me howling expostulations to
somebody at a distance。 Other voices joined； ap…
parently indignant； a chorus of something that
sounded like abuse replied。 Now and then the
steam…whistle screeched。
Altogether that unnecessary uproar was distract…
ing； but down there in my cabin I took it calmly。
In another moment； I thought； I should be going
down that wretched river； and in another week at
the most I should be totally quit of the odious place
and all the odious people in it。
Greatly cheered by the idea； I seized the hair…
brushes and looking at myself in the glass began to
use them。 Suddenly a hush fell upon the noise out…
side； and I heard （the ports of my cabin were thrown
open）I heard a deep calm voice； not on board my
ship； however； hailing resolutely in English； but
with a strong foreign twang； 〃Go ahead！〃
There may be tides in the affairs of men which
taken at the flood 。 。 。 and so on。 Personally I
am still on the look out for that important turn。
I am； however； afraid that most of us are fated to
flounder for ever in the dead water of a pool whose
shores are arid indeed。 But I know that there are
often in men's affairs unexpectedlyeven irration…
allyilluminating moments when an otherwise in…
significant sound； perhaps only some perfectly com…
monplace gesture； suffices to reveal to us all the
unreason； all the fatuous unreason； of our compla…
cency。 〃Go ahead〃 are not particularly striking
words even when pronounced with a foreign accent；
yet they petrified me in the very act of smiling at
myself in the glass。 And then； refusing to believe
my ears； but already boiling with indignation； I
ran out of the cabin and up on deck。
It was incredibly true。 It was perfectly true。 I
had no eyes for anything but the Diana。 It was she；
then； was being taken away。 She was already out
of her berth and shooting athwart the river。 〃The
way this loonatic plucked that ship out is a cau…
tion；〃 said the awed voice of my mate close to my
ear。 〃Hey！ Hallo！ Falk！ Hermann！ What's this
infernal trick？〃 I yelled in a fury。
Nobody heard me。 Falk certainly could not hear
me。 His tug was turning at full speed away under
the other bank。 The wire hawser between her and
the Diana； stretched as taut as a harpstring；
vibrated alarmingly。
The high black craft careened over to the awful
strain。 A loud crack came out of her； followed by
the tearing and splintering of wood。 〃There！〃
said the awed voice in my ear。 〃He's carried away
their towing chock。〃 And then； with enthusiasm；
〃Oh！ Look！ Look！ sir； Look！ at them Dutchmen
skipping out of the way on the forecastle。 I hope
to goodness he'll break a few of their shins before
he's done with 'em。〃
I yelled my vain protests。 The rays of the rising
sun coursing level along the plain warmed my back；
but I was hot enough with rage。 I could not have
believed that a simple towing operation could sug…
gest so plainly the idea of abduction； of rape。 Falk
was simply running off with the Diana。
The white tug careered out into the middle of the
river。 The red floats of her paddle…wheels revolv…
ing with mad rapidity tore up the whole reach into
foam。 The Diana in mid…stream waltzed round
with as much grace as an old barn； and flew after
her ravisher。 Through the ragged fog of smoke
driving headlong upon the water I had a glimpse
of Falk's square motionless shoulders under a white
hat as big as a cart…wheel； of his red face； his yel…
low staring eyes； his great beard。 Instead of keep…
ing a loo