Таємний спільник
I
Itookapeepatmydouble,anddiscoveredthathehadnotmoved,hisarmwasstilloverhiseyes;buthischestheaved;hishairwaswet;hischinglistenedwithperspiration.Ireachedoverhimandopenedtheport.
“Imustshowmyselfondeck,”Ireflected.
Ofcourse,theoretically,IcoulddowhatIliked,withnoonetosaynaytomewithinthewholecircleofthehorizon;buttolockmycabindoorandtakethekeyawayIdidnotdare.DirectlyIputmyheadoutofthecompanionIsawthegroupofmytwoofficers,thesecondmatebarefooted,thechiefmateinlongIndia-rubberboots,nearthebreakofthepoop,andthestewardhalfwaydownthepoopladdertalkingtothemeagerly.Hehappenedtocatchsightofmeanddived,thesecondrandownonthemain-deckshoutingsomeorderorother,andthechiefmatecametomeetme,touchinghiscap.
TherewasasortofcuriosityinhiseyethatIdidnotlike.Idon’tknowwhetherthestewardhadtoldthemthatIwas“queer”only,ordownrightdrunk,butIknowthemanmeanttohaveagoodlookatme.Iwatchedhimcomingwithasmilewhich,ashegotintopoint-blankrange,tookeffectandfrozehisverywhiskers.Ididnotgivehimtimetoopenhislips.
“Squaretheyardsbyliftsandbracesbeforethehandsgotobreakfast.”
ItwasthefirstparticularorderIhadgivenonboardthatship;andIstayedondecktoseeitexecuted,too.Ihadfelttheneedofassertingmyselfwithoutlossoftime.
