a Dass.

"Seen what?" cries Sir William.

"No," said I, "we have seen nothing of him. Why?"

"Nothing?" says Mountain. "Then I was right after all." With that he
struck his palm upon his brow. "But what takes him back?" he cried.
"What takes the man back among dead bodies? There is some damned mystery
here."

This was a word which highly aroused our curiosity, but I shall be more
perspicacious if I narrate these incidents in their true order. Here
follows a narrative which I have compiled out of three sources, not very
consistent in all points:

_First_, a written statement by Mountain, in which everything criminal
is cleverly smuggled out of view;

_Second_, two conversations with Secundra Dass; and

_Third_, many conversations with Mountain himself, in which he was
pleased to be entirely plain; for the truth is he regarded me as an
accomplice.

NARRATIVE OF THE TRADER, MOUNTAIN

The crew that went up the river under the joint command of Captain
Harris and the Master numbered in all nine persons, of whom (if I except
Secundra Dass) there was not one that had not merited the gallows. From
Harris downward the voyagers were notorious in that colony for
desperate, bloody-minded miscreants; some were reputed pirates, the most
hawkers of rum; all ranters and drinkers; all fit associates, embarking
together without remorse, upon this treacherous and murderous design. I
could not hear there was much discipline or any set captain in the gang;
but Harris and four others, Mountain himself, two Scotsmen--Pinkerton
and Hastie--and a man of the name of Hicks, a drunken shoemaker, put
their heads together and agreed upon the course. In a material sense,
they were well provided; and the Master in particular brought with him a
tent where he might enjoy some privacy and shelter.

Even this small indulgence told against him in the minds of his
companions. But indeed he was in a position so entirely false (and even
ridiculous) that all his habit of command and arts of pleasing were here
thrown away. In the eyes of all, except Secundra Dass, he figured as a
common gull and designated victim; going unconsciously to death; yet he
could not but suppose himself the contriver and the leader of the
expedition; he could scarce help but so conduct himself; and at the
least hint of authority or condescension, his deceivers would be
laughing in their sleeves. I was so used to see and to conceive him in a
high, authoritative attitude,