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II

           Itseemedimpossiblethatwecouldtouchanythingwithoutlosingit,andthenourlasthopewouldhavebeengone.”

           Theterrorofthatgalewasonhimyet.Ilethimgoonforabit,thensaid,casually—asifreturningtoaminorsubject:

           “Youwereveryanxioustogiveupyourmatetotheshorepeople,Ibelieve?”

           Hewas.Tothelaw.Hisobscuretenacityonthatpointhadinitsomethingincomprehensibleandalittleawful;something,asitwere,mystical,quiteapartfromhisanxietythatheshouldnotbesuspectedof“countenancinganydoingsofthatsort.”Seven-and-thirtyvirtuousyearsatsea,ofwhichovertwentyofimmaculatecommand,andthelastfifteenintheSephora,seemedtohavelaidhimundersomepitilessobligation.

           “Andyouknow,”hewenton,gropingshame-facedlyamongsthisfeelings,“Ididnotengagethatyoungfellow.Hispeoplehadsomeinterestwithmyowners.Iwasinawayforcedtotakehimon.Helookedverysmart,verygentlemanly,andallthat.Butdoyouknow—Ineverlikedhim,somehow.Iamaplainman.Yousee,hewasn’texactlythesortforthechiefmateofashipliketheSephora.”

           IhadbecomesoconnectedinthoughtsandimpressionswiththesecretsharerofmycabinthatIfeltasifI,personally,werebeinggiventounderstandthatI,too,wasnotthesortthatwouldhavedoneforthechiefmateofashipliketheSephora.Ihadnodoubtofitinmymind.

           “Notatallthestyleofman.Youunderstand,”heinsisted,superfluously,lookinghardatme.

           Ismiledurbanely.Heseemedatalossforawhile.

           “IsupposeImustreportasuicide.

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