Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Andweencounteredothermen,fiercer,bigger,whofacedusonthebeachesinopenfight,showeringuswithspearsandarrows,whilethegreattreedrumsandthelittletom-tomsrumbledandrattledwaracrossthetree-filledhollows,andallthehillswerepillaredwithsignal-smokes.
HendrikHamelwassupercargoandpartowneroftheSparwehradventure,andwhathedidnotownwasthepropertyofCaptainJohannesMaartens.ThelatterspokelittleEnglish,HendrikHamelbutlittlemore.Thesailors,withwhomIgathered,spokeDutchonly.Buttrustasea-cunytolearnDutch—ay,andKorean,asyoushallsee.
TowardtheendwecametothechartedcountryofJapan.Butthepeoplewouldhavenodealingswithus,andtwoswordedofficials,insweepingrobesofsilkthatmadeCaptainJohannesMaartens’mouthwater,cameaboardofusandpolitelyrequestedustobegone.Undertheirsuavemannerswastheironofawarlikerace,andweknew,andwentourway.
WecrossedtheStraitsofJapanandwereenteringtheYellowSeaonourwaytoChina,whenwelaidtheSparwehrontherocks.ShewasacrazytubtheoldSparwehr,soclumsyandsodirtywithwhiskeredmarine-lifeonherbottomthatshecouldnotgetoutofherownway.Close-hauled,theclosestshecouldcomewastosixpointsofthewind;andthenshebobbedupanddown,withoutway,likeaderelictturnip.Galliotswereclipperscomparedwithher.
