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in some way or other to Almayer。 It was really impossible on
board that ship to get away definitely from Almayer； and a very
small pony tied up forward and whisking its tail inside the
galley； to the great embarrassment of our Chinaman cook； was
destined for Almayer。 What he wanted with a pony goodness only
knows； since I am perfectly certain he could not ride it； but
here you have the man； ambitious； aiming at the grandiose；
importing a pony； whereas in the whole settlement at which he
used to shake daily his impotent fist； there was only one path
that was practicable for a pony： a quarter of a mile at most；
hedged in by hundreds of square leagues of virgin forest。 But
who knows？ The importation of that Bali Pony might have been
part of some deep scheme； of some diplomatic plan； of some
hopeful intrigue。 With Almayer one could never tell。 He
governed his conduct by considerations removed from the obvious；
by incredible assumptions； which rendered his logic impenetrable
to any reasonable person。 I learned all this later。 That
morning seeing the figure in pyjamas moving in the mist I said to
myself： 〃That's the man。〃
He came quite close to the ship's side and raised a harassed
countenance； round and flat； with that curl of black hair over
the forehead and a heavy； pained glance。
〃Good morning。〃
〃Good morning。〃
He looked hard at me： I was a new face； having just replaced
the chief mate he was accustomed to see； and I think that this
novelty inspired him； as things generally did； with deep…seated
mistrust。
〃Didn't expect you in till this evening；〃 he remarked
suspiciously。
I don't know why he should have been aggrieved； but he seemed to
be。 I took pains to explain to him that having picked up the
beacon at the mouth of the river just before dark and the tide
serving； Captain C was enabled to cross the bar and there was
nothing to prevent him going up river at night。
〃Captain C knows this river like his own pocket；〃 I concluded
discursively； trying to get on terms。
〃Better；〃 said Almayer。
Leaning over the rail of the bridge I looked at Almayer； who
looked down at the wharf in aggrieved thought。 He shuffled his
feet a little； he wore straw slippers with thick soles。 The
morning fog had thickened considerably。 Everything round us
dripped： the derricks； the rails； every single rope in the ship…
…as if a fit of crying had come upon the universe。
Almayer again raised his head and in the accents of a man
accustomed to the buffets of evil fortune asked hardly audibly：
〃I suppose you haven't got such a thing as a pony on board？〃
I told him almost in a whisper； for he attuned my communications
to his minor key； that we had such a thing as a pony； and I
hinted； as gently as I could； that he was confoundedly in the way
too。 I was very anxious to have him landed before I began to
handle the cargo。 Almayer remained looking up at me for a long
while with incredulous and melancholy eyes as though it were not
a safe thing to believe my statement。 This pathetic mistrust in
the favourable issue of any sort of affair touched me deeply； and
I added：
〃He doesn't seem a bit the worse for the passage。 He's a nice
pony too。〃
Almayer was not to be cheered up； for all answer he cleared his
throat and looked down again at his feet。 I tried to close with
him on another tack。
〃By Jove！〃 I said。 〃Aren't you afraid of catching pneumonia or
bronchitis or something； walking about in a singlet in such a wet
fog？〃
He was not to be propitiated by a show of interest in his health。
His answer was a sinister 〃No fear；〃 as much as to say that even
that way of escape from inclement fortune was closed to him。
〃I just came down。 。 。〃 he mumbled after a while。
〃Well then； now you're here I will land that pony for you at once
and you can lead him home。 I really don't want him on deck。
He's in the way。〃
Almayer seemed doubtful。 I insisted：
〃Why； I will just swing him out and land him on the wharf right
in front of you。 I'd much rather do it before the hatches are
off。 The little devil may jump down the hold or do some other
deadly thing。〃
〃There's a halter？〃 postulated Almayer。
〃Yes； of course there's a halter。〃 And without waiting any more
I leaned over the bridge rail。
〃Serang； land Tuan Almayer's pony。〃
The cook hastened to shut the door of the galley and a moment
later a great scuffle began on deck。 The pony kicked with
extreme energy； the kalashes skipped out of the way； the serang
issued many orders in a cracked voice。 Suddenly the pony leaped
upon the fore…hatch。 His little hoofs thundered tremendously； he
plunged and reared。 He had tossed his mane and his forelock into
a state of amazing wildness； he dilated his nostrils； bits of
foam flecked his broad little chest； his eyes blazed。 He was
something under eleven hands； he was fierce； terrible； angry；
warlike； he said ha！ ha！ distinctly； he raged and thumpedand
sixteen able…bodied kalashes stood round him like disconcerted
nurses round a spoilt and passionate child。 He whisked his tail
incessantly； he arched his pretty neck； he was perfectly
delightful； he was charmingly naughty。 There was not an atom of
vice in that performance； no savage baring of teeth and lying
back of ears。 On the contrary； he pricked them forward in a
comically aggressive manner。 He was totally unmoral and lovable；
I would have liked to give him bread； sugar； carrots。 But life
is a stern thing and the sense of duty the only safe guide。 So I
steeled my heart and from my elevated position on the bridge I
ordered the men to fling themselves upon him in a body。
The elderly serang； emitting a strange inarticulate cry； gave the
example。 He was an excellent petty officervery competent
indeed； and a moderate opium smoker。 The rest of them in one
great rush smothered that pony。 They hung on to his ears； to his
mane； to his tail； they lay in piles across his back； seventeen
in all。 The carpenter； seizing the hook of the cargo…chain；
flung himself on top of them。 A very satisfactory petty officer
too； but he stuttered。 Have you ever heard a light…yellow； lean；
sad； earnest Chinaman stutter in pidgin…English？ It's very weird
indeed。 He made the eighteenth。 I could not see the pony at all；
but from the swaying and heaving of that heap of men I knew that