Конец рабства

           “Idon’tknowwhattothink.Idobelieveyouaretryingtofrightenme.Youverynearlyplantedheronthebarforatleasttwelvehours,besidesgettingtheengineschokedwithmud.Shipscan’taffordtolosetwelvehoursonatripnowadays—asyououghttoknowverywell,anddoknowverywelltobesure,only...”

           Hisslowvolubility,thesidewayscraningsofhisneck,theblackglancesoutoftheverycornersofhiseyes,leftCaptainWhalleyunmoved.Helookedatthedeckwithaseverefrown.Massywaitedforsomelittletime,thenbegantothreatenplaintively.

           “Youthinkyou’vegotmeboundhandandfootinthatagreement.Youthinkyoucantormentmeinanywayyouplease.Ah!Butrememberithasanothersixweekstorunyet.There’stimeformetodismissyoubeforethethreeyearsareout.Youwilldoyetsomethingthatwillgivemethechancetodismissyou,andmakeyouwaitatwelvemonthforyourmoneybeforeyoucantakeyourselfoffandpulloutyourfivehundred,andleavemewithoutapennytogetthenewboilersforher.Yougloatoverthatidea—don’tyou?Idobelieveyousitheregloating.It’sasifIhadsoldmysoulforfivehundredpoundstobeeverlastinglydamnedintheend....”

           Hepaused,withoutapparentexasperation,thencontinuedevenly—

           “...Withtheboilerswornoutandthesurveyhangingovermyhead,CaptainWhalley—CaptainWhalley,Isay,whatdoyoudowithyourmoney?Youmusthavestacksofmoneysomewhere—amanlikeyoumust.Itstandstoreason.Iamnotafool,youknow,CaptainWhalley—partner.