Викрадений
Chapter 8
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Sothepairsatdownandhob-a-nobbed;andwhiletheydidso,themurderer,whohadbeenlyingandwhimperinginhisberth,raisedhimselfuponhiselbowandlookedatthemandatme.
Thatwasthefirstnightofmynewduties;andinthecourseofthenextdayIhadgotwellintotherunofthem.Ihadtoserveatthemeals,whichthecaptaintookatregularhours,sittingdownwiththeofficerwhowasoffduty;allthedaythroughIwouldberunningwithadramtooneorotherofmythreemasters;andatnightIsleptonablanketthrownonthedeckboardsattheaftermostendoftheround-house,andrightinthedraughtofthetwodoors.Itwasahardandacoldbed;norwasIsufferedtosleepwithoutinterruption;forsomeonewouldbealwayscominginfromdecktogetadram,andwhenafreshwatchwastobeset,twoandsometimesallthreewouldsitdownandbrewabowltogether.Howtheykepttheirhealth,Iknownot,anymorethanhowIkeptmyown.
Andyetinotherwaysitwasaneasyservice.Therewasnoclothtolay;themealswereeitherofoatmealporridgeorsaltjunk,excepttwiceaweek,whentherewasduff:andthoughIwasclumsyenoughand(notbeingfirmonmysealegs)sometimesfellwithwhatIwasbringingthem,bothMr.Riachandthecaptainweresingularlypatient.Icouldnotbutfancytheyweremakinguplee-waywiththeirconsciences,andthattheywouldscarcehavebeensogoodwithmeiftheyhadnotbeenworsewithRansome.
AsforMr.Shuan,thedrinkorhiscrime,orthetwotogether,hadcertainlytroubledhismind.
