Лорд Джим

Chapter 39

           Theywouldstandfastontheirhillandstarve,ortheywouldtrytoregaintheirboatandbeshotfromambushesacrossthecreek,ortheywouldbreakandflyintotheforestandperishsinglythere.”Hearguedthatbytheuseofproperstratagemstheseevil-mindedstrangerscouldbedestroyedwithouttheriskofabattle,andhiswordshadagreatweight,especiallywiththePatusanmenproper.WhatunsettledthemindsofthetownfolkwasthefailureoftheRajah’sboatstoactatthedecisivemoment.ItwasthediplomaticKassimwhorepresentedtheRajahatthecouncil.Hespokeverylittle,listenedsmilingly,veryfriendlyandimpenetrable.Duringthesittingmessengerskeptarrivingeveryfewminutesalmost,withreportsoftheinvaders’proceedings.Wildandexaggeratedrumourswereflying:therewasalargeshipatthemouthoftheriverwithbiggunsandmanymoremensomewhite,otherswithblackskinsandofbloodthirstyappearance.Theywerecomingwithmanymoreboatstoexterminateeverylivingthing.Asenseofnear,incomprehensibledangeraffectedthecommonpeople.Atonemomenttherewasapanicinthecourtyardamongstthewomen;shrieking;arush;childrencryingHajiSamanwentouttoquietthem.Thenafortsentryfiredatsomethingmovingontheriver,andnearlykilledavillagerbringinginhiswomen-folkinacanoetogetherwiththebestofhisdomesticutensilsandadozenfowls.Thiscausedmoreconfusion.MeantimethepalaverinsideJim’shousewentoninthepresenceofthegirl.

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