Похищенный
Chapter 7
Indeed,manyofthesepoorfellows(astheeventproved)wereupontheirlastcruise;thedeepseasandcannibalfishreceivedthem;anditisathanklessbusinesstospeakillofthedead.
Amongothergooddeedsthattheydid,theyreturnedmymoney,whichhadbeensharedamongthem;andthoughitwasaboutathirdshort,Iwasverygladtogetit,andhopedgreatgoodfromitinthelandIwasgoingto.TheshipwasboundfortheCarolinas;andyoumustnotsupposethatIwasgoingtothatplacemerelyasanexile.Thetradewaseventhenmuchdepressed;sincethat,andwiththerebellionofthecoloniesandtheformationoftheUnitedStates,ithas,ofcourse,cometoanend;butinthosedaysofmyyouth,whitemenwerestillsoldintoslaveryontheplantations,andthatwasthedestinytowhichmywickedunclehadcondemnedme.
Thecabin-boyRansome(fromwhomIhadfirstheardoftheseatrocities)cameinattimesfromtheround-house,whereheberthedandserved,nownursingabruisedlimbinsilentagony,nowravingagainstthecrueltyofMr.Shuan.Itmademyheartbleed;butthemenhadagreatrespectforthechiefmate,whowas,astheysaid,“theonlyseamanofthewholejing-bang,andnonesuchabadmanwhenhewassober.”Indeed,Ifoundtherewasastrangepeculiarityaboutourtwomates:thatMr.Riachwassullen,unkind,andharshwhenhewassober,andMr.Shuanwouldnothurtaflyexceptwhenhewasdrinking.Iaskedaboutthecaptain;butIwastolddrinkmadenodifferenceuponthatmanofiron.
