In the back courtyard there was the same absence of sound and life.

In the cooking-shed the fire was out and the black embers were cold.

A tall, lean man came stealthily out of the banana plantation, and went away rapidly across the open space looking at them with big, frightened eyes over his shoulder.

Some vagabond without a master; there were many such in the settlement, and they looked upon Almayer as their patron.

They prowled about his premises and picked their living there, sure that nothing worse could befall them than a shower of curses when they got in the way of the white man, whom they trusted and liked, and called a fool amongst themselves.