Таємний спільник
I
Ineedednomore.IsawitallgoingonasthoughIweremyselfinsidethatothersleepingsuit.
“Ithappenedwhileweweresettingareefedforesail,atdusk.Reefedforesail!Youunderstandthesortofweather.Theonlysailwehadlefttokeeptheshiprunning;soyoumayguesswhatithadbeenlikefordays.Anxioussortofjob,that.Hegavemesomeofhiscursedinsolenceatthesheet.ItellyouIwasoverdonewiththisterrificweatherthatseemedtohavenoendtoit.Terrific,Itellyou—andadeepship.Ibelievethefellowhimselfwashalfcrazedwithfunk.Itwasnotimeforgentlemanlyreproof,soIturnedroundandfelledhimlikeanox.Heupandatme.Weclosedjustasanawfulseamadefortheship.Allhandssawitcomingandtooktotherigging,butIhadhimbythethroat,andwentonshakinghimlikearat,themenaboveusyelling,‘Lookout!lookout!’Thenacrashasiftheskyhadfallenonmyhead.Theysaythatforovertenminuteshardlyanythingwastobeseenoftheship—justthethreemastsandabitoftheforecastleheadandofthepoopallawashdrivingalonginasmotheroffoam.Itwasamiraclethattheyfoundus,jammedtogetherbehindtheforebitts.It’sclearthatImeantbusiness,becauseIwasholdinghimbythethroatstillwhentheypickedusup.Hewasblackintheface.Itwastoomuchforthem.Itseemstheyrushedusafttogether,grippedaswewere,screaming‘Murder!’likealotoflunatics,andbrokeintothecuddy.Andtheshiprunningforherlife,touchandgoallthetime,anyminuteherlastinaseafittoturnyourhairgrayonlya-lookingatit.
