The Great Market-day

           DickSand’sactionhadbeensorapidthatnoonecouldstophim.Afewnativesthrewthemselvesuponhim,andhewouldhavebeenmurderedhadnotNegoroappeared.

           AtasignfromthePortuguese,thenativesdrewback,raisedHarris’scorpseandcarrieditaway.AlvezandCoimbrademandedDickSand’simmediatedeath,butNegorosaidtotheminalowvoicethattheywouldlosenothingbywaiting.Theorderwasgiventotakeawaytheyoungnovice,withacautionnottolosesightofhimforamoment.

           DickSandhadseenNegoroforthefirsttimesincetheirdeparturefromthecoast.Heknewthatthiswretchwasaloneresponsibleforthelossofthe"Pilgrim."Heoughttohatehimstillmorethanhisaccomplices.Andyet,afterhavingstrucktheAmerican,hescornedtoaddressawordtoNegoro.HarrishadsaidthatMrs.Weldonandherchildhadsuccumbed.Nothinginterestedhimnow,notevenwhattheywoulddowithhim.Theywouldsendhimaway.Where?Itdidnotmatter.

           DickSand,heavilychained,wasleftonthefloorofapenwithoutawindow,akindofdungeonwherethetrader,Alvez,shutuptheslavescondemnedtodeathforrebellionorunlawfulacts.Therehecouldnolongerhaveanycommunicationwiththeexterior;henolongerdreamedofregrettingit.Hehadavengedthosewhomheloved,whonolongerlived.Whateverfateawaitedhim,hewasreadyforit.