Конец рабства
IX
Itfilledtheleisureofhiswakinghourswiththereveriesofcarefulplansandcompromisingdiscoveries—thedreamsofhissleepwithimagesofluckyturnsandfavorableaccidents.Skippershadbeenknowntosickenanddieatsea,thanwhichnothingcouldbebettertogiveasmartmateachanceofshowingwhathe’smadeof.Theyalsowouldtumbleoverboardsometimes:hehadheardofoneortwosuchcases.Othersagain...But,asitwereconstitutionally,hewasfaithfultothebeliefthattheconductofnosingleoneofthemwouldstandthetestofcarefulwatchingbyamanwho“knewwhat’swhat”andwhokepthiseyes“skinnedprettywell”allthetime.
AfterhehadgainedapermanentfootingonboardtheSofalaheallowedhisperennialhopetorisehigh.Tobeginwith,itwasagreatadvantagetohaveanoldmanforcaptain:thesortofmanbesideswhointhenatureofthingswaslikelytogiveupthejobbeforelongfromonecauseoranother.Sternewasgreatlychagrined,however,tonoticethathedidnotseemanywaynearbeingpasthisworkyet.Still,theseoldmengotopiecesallatoncesometimes.Thentherewastheowner-engineercloseathandtobeimpressedbyhiszealandsteadiness.Sterneneverforamomentdoubtedtheobviousnatureofhisownmerits(hewasreallyanexcellentofficer);only,nowadays,professionalmeritalonedoesnottakeamanalongfastenough.Achapmusthavesomepushinhim,andmustkeephiswitsatworktootohelphimforward.
