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           IthoughtIwouldnevergetbacktothesteamer,andimaginedmyselflivingaloneandunarmedinthewoodstoanadvancedage.Suchsillythings—youknow.AndIrememberIconfoundedthebeatofthedrumwiththebeatingofmyheart,andwaspleasedatitscalmregularity.

           "Ikepttothetrackthough—thenstoppedtolisten.Thenightwasveryclear;adarkbluespace,sparklingwithdewandstarlight,inwhichblackthingsstoodverystill.IthoughtIcouldseeakindofmotionaheadofme.Iwasstrangelycocksureofeverythingthatnight.Iactuallyleftthetrackandraninawidesemicircle(Iverilybelievechucklingtomyself)soastogetinfrontofthatstir,ofthatmotionIhadseen—ifindeedIhadseenanything.IwascircumventingKurtzasthoughithadbeenaboyishgame.

           "Icameuponhim,and,ifhehadnotheardmecoming,Iwouldhavefallenoverhim,too,buthegotupintime.Herose,unsteady,long,pale,indistinct,likeavapourexhaledbytheearth,andswayedslightly,mistyandsilentbeforeme;whileatmybackthefiresloomedbetweenthetrees,andthemurmurofmanyvoicesissuedfromtheforest.Ihadcuthimoffcleverly;butwhenactuallyconfrontinghimIseemedtocometomysenses,Isawthedangerinitsrightproportion.Itwasbynomeansoveryet.Supposehebegantoshout?Thoughhecouldhardlystand,therewasstillplentyofvigourinhisvoice.‘Goaway—hideyourself,’hesaid,inthatprofoundtone.Itwasveryawful.Iglancedback.Wewerewithinthirtyyardsfromthenearestfire.