Конец рабства
IX
Allwouldbestill,dumb,almostinvisible—butfortheblottingoutofthelowconstellationsoccultedinturnsbehindthevaguemassesoftheisletswhosetrueoutlineseludedtheeyeamongstthedarkspacesoftheheaven:andtheship’sthreelights,resemblingthreestars—theredandthegreenwiththewhiteabove—herthreelights,likethreecompanionstarswanderingontheearth,heldtheirunswervingcourseforthepassageatthesouthernendofthegroup.Sometimestherewerehumaneyesopentowatchthemcomenearer,travelingsmoothlyinthesombervoid;theeyesofanakedfishermaninhiscanoefloatingoverareef.Hethoughtdrowsily:“Ha!Thefire-shipthatonceineverymoongoesinandcomesoutofPangubay.”Morehedidnotknowofher.Andjustashehaddetectedthefaintrhythmofthepropellerbeatingthecalmwateramileandahalfaway,thetimewouldcomefortheSofalatoalterhercourse,thelightswouldswingoffhimtheirtriplebeam—anddisappear.
Afewmiserable,half-nakedfamilies,asortofoutcasttribeoflong-haired,lean,andwild-eyedpeople,strovefortheirlivinginthislonelywildernessofislets,lyinglikeanabandonedoutworkofthelandatthegatesofthebay.
