Таємний спільник
I
Ididn’tknoweithertheshiporthepeople.Hadn’thadthetimeinporttolookaboutmeorsizeanybodyup.Andastothecrew,alltheyknewwasthatIwasappointedtotaketheshiphome.Fortherest,Iwasalmostasmuchofastrangeronboardashimself,Isaid.AndatthemomentIfeltitmostacutely.Ifeltthatitwouldtakeverylittletomakemeasuspectpersonintheeyesoftheship’scompany.
Hehadturnedaboutmeantime;andwe,thetwostrangersintheship,facedeachotherinidenticalattitudes.
“Yourladder—”hemurmured,afterasilence.“Who’dhavethoughtoffindingaladderhangingoveratnightinashipanchoredouthere!Ifeltjustthenaveryunpleasantfaintness.AfterthelifeI’vebeenleadingfornineweeks,anybodywouldhavegotoutofcondition.Iwasn’tcapableofswimmingroundasfarasyourrudderchains.And,loandbehold!therewasaladdertogetholdof.AfterIgrippeditIsaidtomyself,‘What’sthegood?’WhenIsawaman’sheadlookingoverIthoughtIwouldswimawaypresentlyandleavehimshouting—inwhateverlanguageitwas.Ididn’tmindbeinglookedat.I—Ilikedit.Andthenyouspeakingtomesoquietly—asifyouhadexpectedme—mademeholdonalittlelonger.Ithadbeenaconfoundedlonelytime—Idon’tmeanwhileswimming.Iwasgladtotalkalittletosomebodythatdidn’tbelongtotheSephora.Astoaskingforthecaptain,thatwasamereimpulse.Itcouldhavebeennouse,withalltheshipknowingaboutmeandtheotherpeopleprettycertaintoberoundhereinthemorning.
