Викрадений
Chapter 7
Someofthemenlaughed,butnotall;otherswouldgrowasblackasthunder(thinking,perhaps,oftheirownchildhoodortheirownchildren)andbidhimstopthatnonsense,andthinkwhathewasdoing.Asforme,Ifeltashamedtolookathim,andthepoorchildstillcomesaboutmeinmydreams.
Allthistime,youshouldknow,theCovenantwasmeetingcontinualhead-windsandtumblingupanddownagainsthead-seas,sothatthescuttlewasalmostconstantlyshut,andtheforecastlelightedonlybyaswinginglanternonabeam.Therewasconstantlabourforallhands;thesailshadtobemadeandshortenedeveryhour;thestraintoldonthemen’stemper;therewasagrowlofquarrellingalldaylongfromberthtoberth;andasIwasneverallowedtosetmyfootondeck,youcanpicturetoyourselveshowwearyofmylifeIgrewtobe,andhowimpatientforachange.
AndachangeIwastoget,asyoushallhear;butImustfirsttellofaconversationIhadwithMr.Riach,whichputalittleheartinmetobearmytroubles.Gettinghiminafavourablestageofdrink(forindeedheneverlookednearmewhenhewassober),Ipledgedhimtosecrecy,andtoldhimmywholestory.
Hedeclareditwaslikeaballad;thathewoulddohisbesttohelpme;thatIshouldhavepaper,pen,andink,andwriteonelinetoMr.CampbellandanothertoMr.Rankeillor;andthatifIhadtoldthetruth,tentoonehewouldbeable(withtheirhelp)topullmethroughandsetmeinmyrights.
“Andinthemeantime,”sayshe,“keepyourheartup
