Лорд Джим

Chapter 38

           Theysightedmail-boatsmovingontheirappointedroutes;passedwell-foundhomeshipswithrustyironsidesanchoredintheshallowseawaitingforachangeofweatherortheturnofthetide;anEnglishgunboat,whiteandtrim,withtwoslimmasts,crossedtheirbowsonedayinthedistance;andonanotheroccasionaDutchcorvette,blackandheavilysparred,loomedupontheirquarter,steamingdeadslowinthemist.Theyslippedthroughunseenordisregarded,awan,sallow-facedbandofutteroutcasts,enragedwithhungerandhuntedbyfear.Brown’sideawastomakeforMadagascar,whereheexpected,ongroundsnotaltogetherillusory,toselltheschoonerinTamatave,andnoquestionsasked,orperhapsobtainsomemoreorlessforgedpapersforher.YetbeforehecouldfacethelongpassageacrosstheIndianOceanfoodwaswanted—watertoo.

           ‘PerhapshehadheardofPatusan—orperhapshejustonlyhappenedtoseethenamewritteninsmalllettersonthechart—probablythatofalargishvillageupariverinanativestate,perfectlydefenceless,farfromthebeatentracksoftheseaandfromtheendsofsubmarinecables.Hehaddonethatkindofthingbefore—inthewayofbusiness;andthisnowwasanabsolutenecessity,aquestionoflifeanddeath—orratherofliberty.Ofliberty!Hewassuretogetprovisions—bullocks—rice—sweet-potatoes.Thesorryganglickedtheirchops.

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