The mist flew in the light breeze,
and it had come over quite thick enough to hide the shore completely.
"How on earth did you manage to let him get away?" I asked, scandalized.
Almayer looked into the smarting palm of his right hand, but did not
answer my inquiry.
"Where do you think he will get to?" I cried. "Are there any fences
anywhere in this fog? Can he bolt into the forest? What's to be done
now?"
Almayer shrugged his shoulders.
"Some of my men are sure to be about. They will get hold of him sooner
or later."
"Sooner or later! That's all very fine, but what about my canvas
sling?--he's carried it off. I want it now, at once, to land two Celebes
cows."
Since Dongola we had on board a pair of the pretty little island cattle
in addition to the pony. Tied up on the other side of the fore-deck they
had been whisking their tails into the other door of the galley. These
cows were not for Almayer, however; they were invoiced to Abdullah bin
Selim, his enemy. Almayer's disregard of my requirements was complete.
"If I were you I would try to find out where he's gone," I insisted.
"Hadn't you better call your men together or something? He will throw
himself down and cut his knees.
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