I am the slave of this woman's desire, and she wills it so." There was not a glimmer of light in the sky now, and the tops of the trees were as invisible as their trunks, being lost in the mass of clouds that hung low over the woods, the clearing, and the river.
Every outline had disappeared in the intense blackness that seemed to have destroyed everything but space.

Only the fire glimmered like a star forgotten in this annihilation of all visible things, and nothing was heard after Dain ceased speaking but the sobs of Nina, whom he held in his arms, kneeling beside the fire.

Almayer stood looking down at them in gloomy thoughtfulness.

As he was opening his lips to speak they were startled by a cry of warning by the riverside, followed by the splash of many paddles and the sound of voices.
"Babalatchi!" shouted Dain, lifting up Nina as he got upon his feet quickly.
"Ada! Ada!" came the answer from the panting statesman who ran up the path and stood amongst them.

"Run to my canoe," he said to Dain excitedly, without taking any notice of Almayer.