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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 pajamas 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 till this evening；〃 he remarked； suspiciously。
I didn'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 the 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
drippedthe derricks； the rails； every single rope in the
shipas 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 in 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 some thing； 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 spoiled 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 laying
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 the 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 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