Тайный сообщник
II
Imotionedhimtogetoutofsightandmademywayonthepoop.Thatunplayfulcubhadthewatch.Iwalkedupanddownforawhilethinkingthingsout,thenbeckonedhimover.
“Sendacoupleofhandstoopenthetwoquarter-deckports,”Isaid,mildly.
Heactuallyhadtheimpudence,orelsesoforgothimselfinhiswonderatsuchanincomprehensibleorder,astorepeat:
“Openthequarter-deckports!Whatfor,sir?”
“TheonlyreasonyouneedconcernyourselfaboutisbecauseItellyoutodoso.Havethemopenwideandfastenedproperly.”
Hereddenedandwentoff,butIbelievemadesomejeeringremarktothecarpenterastothesensiblepracticeofventilatingaship’squarter-deck.Iknowhepoppedintothemate’scabintoimpartthefacttohimbecausethewhiskerscameondeck,asitwerebychance,andstoleglancesatmefrombelow—forsignsoflunacyordrunkenness,Isuppose.
Alittlebeforesupper,feelingmorerestlessthanever,Irejoined,foramoment,mysecondself.Andtofindhimsittingsoquietlywassurprising,likesomethingagainstnature,inhuman.
Idevelopedmyplaninahurriedwhisper.
“IshallstandinascloseasIdareandthenputherround.Iwillpresentlyfindmeanstosmuggleyououtofhereintothesaillocker,whichcommunicateswiththelobby.Butthereisanopening,asortofsquareforhaulingthesailsout,whichgivesstraightonthequarter-deckandwhichisneverclosedinfineweather,soastogiveairtothesails.
