Лорд Джим

Chapter 25

           OnlyadayortwobeforeJim’sarrivalseveralheadsofhouseholdsintheveryfishingvillagethatwasafterwardstakenunderhisespecialprotectionhadbeendrivenoverthecliffsbyapartyoftheRajah’sspearmen,onsuspicionofhavingbeencollectingediblebirds’nestsforaCelebestrader.RajahAllangpretendedtobetheonlytraderinhiscountry,andthepenaltyforthebreachofthemonopolywasdeath;buthisideaoftradingwasindistinguishablefromthecommonestformsofrobbery.Hiscrueltyandrapacityhadnootherboundsthanhiscowardice,andhewasafraidoftheorganisedpoweroftheCelebesmen,onlytillJimcamehewasnotafraidenoughtokeepquiet.Hestruckatthemthroughhissubjects,andthoughthimselfpatheticallyintheright.Thesituationwascomplicatedbyawanderingstranger,anArabhalf-breed,who,Ibelieve,onpurelyreligiousgrounds,hadincitedthetribesintheinterior(thebush-folk,asJimhimselfcalledthem)torise,andhadestablishedhimselfinafortifiedcamponthesummitofoneofthetwinhills.HehungoverthetownofPatusanlikeahawkoverapoultry-yard,buthedevastatedtheopencountry.Wholevillages,deserted,rottedontheirblackenedpostsoverthebanksofclearstreams,droppingpiecemealintothewaterthegrassoftheirwalls,theleavesoftheirroofs,withacuriouseffectofnaturaldecayasiftheyhadbeenaformofvegetationstrickenbyablightatitsveryroot.ThetwopartiesinPatusanwerenotsurewhichonethispartisanmostdesiredtoplunder

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