Таємний спільник
II
“Don’tyouthink,”Isaid,“thattheheavyseawhich,youtoldme,cameaboardjustthenmighthavekilledtheman?Ihaveseenthesheerweightofaseakillamanveryneatly,bysimplybreakinghisneck.”
“GoodGod!”heuttered,impressively,fixinghissmearyblueeyesonme.“Thesea!Nomankilledbytheseaeverlookedlikethat.”Heseemedpositivelyscandalizedatmysuggestion.AndasIgazedathimcertainlynotpreparedforanythingoriginalonhispart,headvancedhisheadclosetomineandthrusthistongueoutatmesosuddenlythatIcouldn’thelpstartingback.
Afterscoringovermycalmnessinthisgraphicwayhenoddedwisely.IfIhadseenthesight,heassuredme,IwouldneverforgetitaslongasIlived.Theweatherwastoobadtogivethecorpseaproperseaburial.Sonextdayatdawntheytookituponthepoop,coveringitsfacewithabitofbunting;hereadashortprayer,andthen,justasitwas,initsoilskinsandlongboots,theylauncheditamongstthosemountainousseasthatseemedreadyeverymomenttoswallowuptheshipherselfandtheterrifiedlivesonboardofher.
“Thatreefedforesailsavedyou,”Ithrewin.
“UnderGod—itdid,”heexclaimedfervently.“Itwasbyaspecialmercy,Ifirmlybelieve,thatitstoodsomeofthosehurricanesqualls.”
“Itwasthesettingofthatsailwhich—”Ibegan.
“God’sownhandinit,”heinterruptedme.“Nothinglesscouldhavedoneit.Idon’tmindtellingyouthatIhardlydaredgivetheorder.
