"Never in the world." With the aid of a convert, he unbarred the ponderous gate, and ventured out on the highest slab of the landing-steps.

Across the river, to be sure, there lay--between a local junk and a stray _papico_ from the north--the high-nosed Hakka boat, her deck roofed with tawny basket-work, and at her masthead a wooden rice-measure dangling below a green rag.

Aft, by the great steering-paddle, perched a man, motionless, yet seeming to watch.

Heywood turned, however, and pointed downstream to where, at the bend of the river, a little spit of mud ran out from the marsh.

On the spit, from among tussocks, a man in a round hat sprang up like a thin black toadstool.