Голод
Part IV
IjustsitthereandstareattheCopégoro,thebarqueflyingtheRussianflag.
Icatchaglimpseofamanattherail;theredlanternslungattheportshinesdownuponhishead,andIgetupandtalkovertohim.Ihadnoobjectintalking,asIdidnotexpecttogetareply,either.
Isaid:
"Doyousailtonight,Captain?"
"Yes;inashorttime,"answeredtheman.HespokeSwedish.
"Hem,Isupposeyouwouldn’thappentoneedaman?"
IwasatthisinstantutterlyindifferentastowhetherIwasmetbyarefusalornot;itwasallthesametomewhatreplythemangaveme,soIstoodandwaitedforit.
"Well,no,"hereplied;"unlessitchancedtobeayoungfellow."
"Ayoungfellow!"Ipulledmyselftogether,tookoffmyglassesfurtivelyandthrustthemintomypocket,steppedupthegangway,andstrodeondeck.
"Ihavenoexperience,"saidI;"butIcandoanythingIamputto.Whereareyouboundfor?"
"WeareinballastforLeith,tofetchcoalforCadiz."
"Allright,"saidI,forcingmyselfupontheman;"it’sallthesametomewhereIgo;Iampreparedtodomywork."
"Haveyouneversailedbefore?"heasked.
"No;butasItellyou,putmetoatask,andI’lldoit.Iamusedtoalittleofallsorts."
Hebethoughthimselfagain
