Конец рабства
IX
Hemadeuphismindtoinheritthechargeofthissteamerifitwastobedoneatall;notindeedestimatingthecommandoftheSofalaasaverygreatcatch,butforthereasonthat,outEastespecially,tomakeastartiseverything,andonecommandleadstoanother.
Hebeganbypromisinghimselftobehavewithgreatcircumspection;Massy’ssomberandfantastichumorsintimidatedhimasbeingoutsideone’susualseaexperience;buthewasquiteintelligentenoughtorealizealmostfromthefirstthathewasthereinthepresenceofanexceptionalsituation.Hispeculiarpryingimaginationpenetrateditquickly;thefeelingthattherewasinitanelementwhicheludedhisgraspexasperatedhisimpatiencetogeton.Andsoonetripcametoanend,thenanother,andhehadbegunhisthirdbeforehesawanopeningbywhichhecouldstepinwithanysortofeffect.Ithadallbeenveryqueerandveryobscure;somethinghadbeengoingonnearhim,asifseparatedbyachasmfromthecommonlifeandtheworkingroutineoftheship,whichwasexactlylikethelifeandtheroutineofanyothercoastingsteamerofthatclass.
Thenonedayhemadehisdiscovery.
Itcametohimafteralltheseweeksofwatchfulobservationandpuzzledsurmises,suddenly,likethelong-soughtsolutionofariddlethatsuggestsitselftothemindinaflash.Notwiththesameauthority,however.
