Короли и капуста
The Admiral
Thuswithinthespaceofafewminutesandthedominionofadozen"extradry,"thecountrytookitsplaceamongthenavalpowersoftheworld,andFelipeCarrerabecameentitledtoasaluteofnineteengunswheneverhemightenterport.
ThesouthernracesarelackinginthatparticularkindofhumourthatfindsentertainmentinthedefectsandmisfortunesbestowedbyNature.Owingtothisdefectintheirconstitutiontheyarenotmovedtolaughter(asaretheirnorthernbrothers)bythespectacleofthedeformed,thefeeble-mindedortheinsane.
FelipeCarrerawassentuponearthwithbuthalfhiswits.Therefore,thepeopleofCoraliocalledhim"Elpobrecitoloco"—"thepoorlittlecrazedone"—sayingthatGodhadsentbuthalfofhimtoearth,retainingtheotherhalf.
Asombreyouth,glowering,andspeakingonlyattheraresttimes,Felipewasbutnegatively"loco."Onshorehegenerallyrefusedallconversation.Heseemedtoknowthathewasbadlyhandicappedonland,wheresomanykindsofunderstandingareneeded;butonthewaterhisonetalentsethimequalwithmostmen.FewsailorswhomGodhadcarefullyandcompletelymadecouldhandleasailboataswell.Fivepointsnearerthewindthaneventhebestofthemhecouldsailhissloop.Whentheelementsragedandsetothermentocowering,thedeficienciesofFelipeseemedoflittleimportance.Hewasaperfectsailor,ifanimperfectman.
