Page 113 - HEART OF DARKNESS

Heart of Darkness

had left, and I thought I had lost it,’ he said, looking at it
ecstatically. ‘So many accidents happen to a man going
about alone, you know. Canoes get upset sometimes—and
sometimes you’ve got to clear out so quick when the

people get angry.’ He thumbed the pages. ‘You made
notes in Russian?’ I asked. He nodded. ‘I thought they
were written in cipher,’ I said. He laughed, then became
serious. ‘I had lots of trouble to keep these people off,’ he
said. ‘Did they want to kill you?’ I asked. ‘Oh, no!’ he
cried, and checked himself. ‘Why did they attack us?’ I
pursued. He hesitated, then said shamefacedly, ‘They don’t
want him to go.’ ‘Don’t they?’ I said curiously. He
nodded a nod full of mystery and wisdom. ‘I tell you,’ he
cried, ‘this man has enlarged my mind.’ He opened his
arms wide, staring at me with his little blue eyes that were
perfectly round.’

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