Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Out to Sea
Whatreasoncouldhegivetheofficercommandinghermajesty’sshipfordesiringtogobackinthedirectionfromwhichhehadjustcome!
Whatifhetoldthemthattwoinsubordinateseamenhadbeenroughlyhandledbytheirofficers?Theywouldbutlaughintheirsleevesandattributehisreasonforwishingtoleavetheshiptobutonething—cowardice.
JohnClayton,LordGreystoke,didnotasktobetransferredtotheBritishman-of-war.Lateintheafternoonhesawherupperworksfadebelowthefarhorizon,butnotbeforehelearnedthatwhichconfirmedhisgreatestfears,andcausedhimtocursethefalsepridewhichhadrestrainedhimfromseekingsafetyforhisyoungwifeafewshorthoursbefore,whensafetywaswithinreach—asafetywhichwasnowgoneforever.
Itwasmid-afternoonthatbroughtthelittleoldsailor,whohadbeenfelledbythecaptainafewdaysbefore,towhereClaytonandhiswifestoodbytheship’ssidewatchingtheeverdiminishingoutlinesofthegreatbattleship.Theoldfellowwaspolishingbrasses,andashecameedgingalonguntilclosetoClaytonhesaid,inanundertone:
"‘Ell’stopay,sir,onthis’erecraft,an’markmywordforit,sir.‘Ell’stopay."
"Whatdoyoumean,mygoodfellow?"askedClayton.
