Таємний спільник
II
”Andinthesamewhisper,asifwetwowheneverwetalkedhadtosaythingstoeachotherwhichwerenotfitfortheworldtohear,headded,“It’sverywonderful.”
Weremainedsidebysidetalkinginoursecretway—butsometimessilentorjustexchangingawhisperedwordortwoatlongintervals.Andasusualhestaredthroughtheport.Abreathofwindcamenowandagainintoourfaces.Theshipmighthavebeenmooredindock,sogentlyandonanevenkeelsheslippedthroughthewater,thatdidnotmurmurevenatourpassage,shadowyandsilentlikeaphantomsea.
AtmidnightIwentondeck,andtomymate’sgreatsurpriseputtheshiproundontheothertack.Histerriblewhiskersflittedroundmeinsilentcriticism.Icertainlyshouldnothavedoneitifithadbeenonlyaquestionofgettingoutofthatsleepygulfasquicklyaspossible.Ibelievehetoldthesecondmate,whorelievedhim,thatitwasagreatwantofjudgment.Theotheronlyyawned.Thatintolerablecubshuffledaboutsosleepilyandlolledagainsttherailsinsuchaslack,improperfashionthatIcamedownonhimsharply.
“Aren’tyouproperlyawakeyet?”
“Yes,sir!Iamawake.”
“Well,then,begoodenoughtoholdyourselfasifyouwere.Andkeepalookout.Ifthere’sanycurrentwe’llbeclosingwithsomeislandsbeforedaylight.”
Theeastsideofthegulfisfringedwithislands,somesolitary,othersingroups.
