"True! It is just possible. But if it isn't true what can we do? If we
had a dozen boats we could patrol the creeks; and that wouldn't be much
good. That drunken madman was right; we haven't enough hold on this
coast. They do what they like. Are our hammocks slung?"
"Yes, I told the coxswain. Strange couple over there," said the sub,
with a wave of his hand towards Almayer's house.
"Hem! Queer, certainly. What have you been telling her? I was
attending to the father most of the time."
"I assure you I have been perfectly civil," protested the other warmly.
"All right. Don't get excited. She objects to civility, then, from what
I understand. I thought you might have been tender. You know we are on
service."
"Well, of course. Never forget that. Coldly civil. That's all."
They both laughed a little, and not feeling sleepy began to pace the
verandah side by side. The moon rose stealthily above the trees, and
suddenly changed the river into a stream of scintillating silver. The
forest came out of the black void and stood sombre and pensive over the
sparkling water. The breeze died away into a breathless calm.
Seamanlike, the two officers tramped measuredly up and down without
exchanging a word.
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