Then came a complete silence.

Europe had swallowed up the Rajah Laut apparently, and Almayer looked vainly westward for a ray of light out of the gloom of his shattered hopes.

Years passed, and the rare letters from Mrs.Vinck, later on from the girl herself, were the only thing to be looked to to make life bearable amongst the triumphant savagery of the river.

Almayer lived now alone, having even ceased to visit his debtors who would not pay, sure of Lakamba's protection.

The faithful Sumatrese Ali cooked his rice and made his coffee, for he dared not trust any one else, and least of all his wife.