Голод
Part I
Luckoftentooksuchadeviouscourse,andIstartedforGroenlandsleret.
Thelastspasmthathaddartedthroughmyheadhadexhaustedmealittle,andIwalkedveryslowlyandthoughtoverwhatIwouldsaytohim.
Perhapshewasagoodsoul;ifthewhimseizedhimhemightpaymeformyworkashillinginadvance,evenwithoutmyaskingforit.Peopleofthatsorthadsometimesthemostcapitalideas.
Istoleintoadoorwayandblackenedthekneesofmytrouserswithspittletotryandmakethemlookalittlerespectable,lefttheparcelbehindmeinadarkcorneratthebackofachest,andenteredthelittleshop.
Amanisstandingpastingtogetherbagsmadeofoldnewspaper.
"IwouldliketoseeMr.Christie,"Isaid.
"That’sme!"repliedtheman.
"Indeed!"Well,mynamewasso-and-so.Ihadtakenthelibertyofsendinghimanapplication,Ididnotknowifithadbeenofanyuse.
Herepeatedmynameacoupleoftimesandcommencedtolaugh.
"Wellnow,youshallsee,"hesaid,takingmyletteroutofhisbreast-pocket,"ifyouwilljustbegoodenoughtoseehowyoudealwithdates,sir.Youdatedyourletter1848,"andthemanroaredwithlaughter.
"Yes,thatwasratheramistake,"Isaid,abashed—adistraction,awantofthought;Iadmittedit.
"YouseeImusthaveamanwho,asamatteroffact,makesnomistakesinfigures,"saidhe.
