The Washington times., 1920-06-01
BOOKS

THE RESCUE. by Joseph Conrad, New
York: Doubleday Page and Company
This romance of adventure, po-
'liticai intrigue. and an overwhelm-
ing passion is nttinsy laid In ''the
shallow sea that foams and MUIR
murs on the shores OF the thou
sand Islands, big and little, that
make up the Malay Archipelago"
For centuries those Islands have
been the scene of desperate sdven-
ture. Following the lead Of Ma
gellan, Cook and Da Cana, many Q
gallant sea captain. English, Portu-
guese, Spanish, and Dutch, coasted
his perilous ways along these
shores. and left the imprint Of the
virtues and vices OF four nations.
Against all Europeans the natives
waged war in defence of their lib
eriy, and despite defeat have main
tained to the present their fanati-
cal devotion to their chiefs and
their love Of freedom. .'..
To this region OF mystery, and ro-,
nance came Tom Lingard, "thirty-
Ave, erect and supple, more like a
man accustomed to stride over
plains and hill than like one who
had been used TO Counteract by sud
den swayings of his body the rise
and roll of cramped decks of small
craft. He was proud OF his brig
--,Lightning-which was reckoned
the swiftest vessel in those seas. To
him she was full OF life . always
precious, desirable. faithful" Cabin
boy on a trawler out of Brixton at
sixteen, he had been successfully
gold digger. adventurer and trader
with the natives. -,
Lingard.s mission in these seas
was. the restoration of Hassim, Ra-
jah of Wajo, to his rightful throne.
Concerned with him in this endeav-
or were the Princess Tmmada. sister
Of Hassim: the macabre-li Jorg-
ensen Of the sunken Rose" and
Belarab. a native chieftain whose
lands had been taken by the Dutch.
Two years had skngard, spent in
furtherance Of this purpose; two
years of intrigue and diplomacy.
And now all was ready for the coup
which was to restore a thr rome and
pay debt of gratitude to Hassim.
Then at night came svhail from
out the darkness and voice in
English asks assistance for people
on a stranded yacht. Tragic In
the extreme the subsequent con-
catenation Of events. For now en-
tered the woman. Edith. Travers,
and love came to Lingard. and with
1t forGetfulness of intention.
working at cross purposes, which
brought catastrophe in their train.
Like another Mark Anthony tossing
away empire for smile. Lingard
let's pass the opportunity for
achievement to sink ION the ground
against her feet. the weight of his
head against her knee" What to
him those questions of freedom
and captivity. of violence and in
trigue. of life and death. He was
not in a state to be told anything.
and in the greatness of her COM
passion she simply couldn't think.
All she could do was to rest her
hand lightly on his head and. re-
spond silently to tho slight move
ment she felt. sigh or sob. which
immobilized her in an anxious emo
ton"
The tale is fascinatingly told.
Ever present is the background of
the sea, the sea OF romance and ad-
venture, across which move the
characters OF the story in series
A.. of changing pictures. Now dra--
matte. now subtle, Conrad sweeps
the resder along through the pages
of this absorbing romance. Never
for a moment is the Interest allow
ed to lag. from tho opening dos
scription of the scene of the plot to
the final inevitable climax which
ends the story.