"Heart of Darkness"
by Joseph Conrad

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     "The only book I 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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