Reshid's half-closed eyes. From under his feet arose the dull hum of
insects in the long grass of the courtyard. He looked on sleepily.

From one of the side paths amongst the houses a woman stepped out on the
road, a slight girlish figure walking under the shade of a large tray
balanced on its head. The consciousness of something moving stirred
Reshid's half-sleeping senses into a comparative wakefulness. He
recognised Taminah, Bulangi's slave-girl, with her tray of cakes for
sale--an apparition of daily recurrence and of no importance whatever.
She was going towards Almayer's house. She could be made useful. He
roused himself up and ran towards the gate calling out, "Taminah O!" The
girl stopped, hesitated, and came back slowly.

Reshid waited, signing to her impatiently to come nearer.

When near Reshid Taminah stood with downcast eyes. Reshid looked at her
a while before he asked--

"Are you going to Almayer's house? They say in the settlement that Dain
the trader, he that was found drowned this morning, is lying in the white
man's campong."

"I have heard this talk," whispered Taminah; "and this morning by the
riverside I saw the body. Where it is now I do not know."

"So you have seen it?" asked Reshid, eagerly. "Is it Dain? You have
seen him many times. You would know him."

The girl's lips quivered and she remained silent for a while, breathing
quickly.