Лорд Джим

Chapter 24

           Suchwasthewayinwhichhewasapproachinggreatnessasgenuineasanymaneverachieved.Principally,helongedforsunset;andmeantimehisthreepaddlerswerepreparingtoputintoexecutiontheirplanofdeliveringhimuptotheRajah.

           ‘“IsupposeImusthavebeenstupidwithfatigue,orperhapsIdiddozeoffforatime,”hesaid.Thefirstthingheknewwashiscanoecomingtothebank.Hebecameinstantaneouslyawareoftheforesthavingbeenleftbehind,ofthefirsthousesbeingvisiblehigherup,ofastockadeonhisleft,andofhisboatmenleapingouttogetheruponalowpointoflandandtakingtotheirheels.Instinctivelyheleapedoutafterthem.Atfirsthethoughthimselfdesertedforsomeinconceivablereason,butheheardexcitedshouts,agateswungopen,andalotofpeoplepouredout,makingtowardshim.Atthesametimeaboatfullofarmedmenappearedontheriverandcamealongsidehisemptycanoe,thusshuttingoffhisretreat.

           ‘“Iwastoostartledtobequitecool—don’tyouknow?andifthatrevolverhadbeenloadedIwouldhaveshotsomebody—perhapstwo,threebodies,andthatwouldhavebeentheendofme.Butitwasn’t....”“Whynot?”Iasked.“Well,Icouldn’tfightthewholepopulation,andIwasn’tcomingtothemasifIwereafraidofmylife,”hesaid,withjustafainthintofhisstubbornsulkinessintheglancehegaveme.Irefrainedfrompointingouttohimthattheycouldnothaveknownthechamberswereactuallyempty.

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