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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
there was something alive inside。
From the wharf Almayer hailed in quavering tones：
〃Oh； I say！〃
Where he stood he could not see what was going on on deck unless
perhaps the tops of the men's heads； he could only hear the
scuffle； the mighty thuds； as if the ship were being knocked to
pieces。 I looked over： 〃What is it？〃
〃Don't let them break his legs；〃 he entreated me plaintively。
〃Oh； nonsense！ He's all right now。 He can't move。〃
By that time the cargo…chain had been hooked to the broad canvas
belt round the pony's body； the kalashes sprang off
simultaneously in all directions； rolling over each other； and
the worthy serang； making a dash behind the winch； turned the
steam on。
〃Steady！〃 I yelled； in great apprehension of seeing the animal
snatched up to the very head of the derrick。
On the wharf Almayer shuffled his straw slippers uneasily。 The
rattle of the winch stopped； and in a tense； impressive silence
that pony began to swing across the deck。
How limp he was！ Directly he felt himself in the air he relaxed
every muscle in a most wonderful manner。 His four hoofs knocked
together in a bunch； his head hung down； and his tail remained
pendent in a nerveless and absolute immobility。 He reminded me
vividly of the pathetic little sheep which hangs on the collar of
the Order of the Golden Fleece。 I had no idea that anything in
the shape of a horse could be so limp as that； either living or
dead。 His wild mane hung down lumpily； a mere mass of inanimate
horsehair； his aggressive ears had collapsed； but as he went
swaying slowly across the front of the bridge I noticed an astute
gleam in his dreamy； half…closed eye。 A trustworthy
quartermaster； his glance anxious and his mouth on the broad
grin； was easing over the derrick watchfully。 I superintended；
greatly interested。
〃So！ That will do。〃
The derrick…head stopped。 The kalashes lined the rail。 The rope
of the halter hung perpendicular and motionless like a bell…pull
in front of Almayer。 Everything was very still。 I suggested
amicably that he should catch hold of the rope and mind what he
was about。 He extended a provokingly casual and superior hand。
〃Look out then！ Lower away！〃
Almayer gathered in the rope intelligently enough； but when the
pony's hoofs touched the wharf he gave way all at once to a most
foolish optimism。 Without pausing； without thinking； almost
without looking； he disengaged the hook suddenly from the sling；
and the cargo…chain； after hitting the pony's quarters； swung
back against the ship's side with a noisy； rattling slap。 I
suppose I must have blinked。 I know I missed something； because
the next thing I saw was Almayer lying flat on his back on the
jetty。 He was alone。
Astonishment deprived me of speech long enough to give Almayer
time to pick himself up in a leisurely and painful manner。 The
kalashes lining the rail had all their mouths open。 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
scandalised。
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
slinghe'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 requisites 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。 He may
even break a leg； you know。〃
But Almayer； plunged in abstracted thought； did not seem to want
that pony any more。 Amazed at this sudden indifference I turned
all hands out on shore to hunt for him on my own account； or； at
any rate； to hunt for the canvas sling which he had round his
body。 The whole crew of the steamer； with the exception of
firemen and engineers； rushed up the jetty past the thoughtful
Almayer and vanished from my sight。 The white fog swallowed them
up； and again there was a deep silence that seemed to extend for
miles up and down the stream。 Still taciturn； Almayer started to
climb on board； and I went down from the bridge to meet him on
the after deck。
〃Would you mind telling the captain that I want to see him very
particularly？〃 he asked me in a low tone； letting his eyes stray
all over the place。
〃Very well。 I will go and see。〃
With the door of his cabin wide open Captain C； just back from
the bathroom； big and broad…chested； was brushing his thick；
damp； iron…grey hair with two large brushes。
〃Mr。 Almayer told me he wanted to see you very particularly；
sir。〃
Saying these words I smiled。 I don't know why I smiled except
that it seemed absolutely impossible to mention Almayer's name
without a smile of a sort。 It had not to be necessarily a
mirthful smile。 Turning his head towards me Captain C smiled
too； rather joylessly。
〃The pony got away from himeh？〃
〃Yes sir。 He did。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃Goodness only knows。〃
〃No。 I mean Almayer。 Let him come along。〃
The captain's stateroom opening straight on deck under the
bridge； I had only to beckon from the doorway to Almayer； who had
remained aft； with downcast eyes； on the very spot where I had
left him。 He strolled up moodily； shook hands and at once asked
permission to shut the cabin door。
〃I have a pretty story to tell you；〃 were the last words I heard。
The bitterness of tone was remarkable。
I went away from the door； of c