Конец рабства
X
Afellowuptoworkingsuchafraudwouldhaveenoughcheekforanything;afellowthat,asitwere,stoodupagainstGodAlmightyHimself.Hewasahorridmarvel—that’swhathewas:hewasperfectlycapableofbrazeningouttheaffairscandalouslytillhegothim(Sterne)kickedoutoftheshipandeverlastinglydamagedhisprospectsinthispartoftheEast.Yetifyouwanttogetonsomethingmustberisked.AttimesSternethoughthehadbeenundulytimidoftakingactioninthepast;andwhatwasworse,ithadcometothis,thatinthepresenthedidnotseemtoknowwhatactiontotake.
Massy’ssavagemorosenesswastoodisconcerting.Itwasanincalculablefactorofthesituation.Youcouldnottellwhattherewasbehindthatinsultingferocity.Howcouldonetrustsuchatemper;itdidnotputSterneinbodilyfearforhimself,butitfrightenedhimexceedinglyastohisprospects.
Thoughofcourseinclinedtocredithimselfwithexceptionalpowersofobservation,hehadbynowlivedtoolongwithhisdiscovery.Hehadgoneonlookingatnothingelse,tillatlastonedayitoccurredtohimthatthethingwassoobviousthatnoonecouldmissseeingit.TherewerefourwhitemeninallonboardtheSofala.Jack,thesecondengineer,wastoodulltonoticeanythingthattookplaceoutofhisengine-room.RemainedMassy—theowner—theinterestedperson—nearlygoingmadwithworry.Sternehadheardandseenmorethanenoughonboardtoknowwhatailedhim;buthisexasperationseemedtomakehimdeaftocautiousovertures.Ifhehadonlyknownit,therewastheverythinghewanted.
