Кінець рабства
X
Buthowcouldyoubargainwithamanofthatsort?Itwaslikegoingintoatiger’sdenwithapieceofrawmeatinyourhand.Hewasaslikelyasnottorendyouforyourpains.Infact,hewasalwaysthreateningtodothatverything;andtheurgencyofthecase,combinedwiththeimpossibilityofhandlingitwithsafety,madeSterneinhiswatchesbelowtossandmutteropen-eyedinhisbunk,forhours,asthoughhehadbeenburningwithfever.
Occurrenceslikethecrossingofthebarjustnowwereextremelyalarmingtohisprospects.Hedidnotwanttobeleftbehindbysomeswiftcatastrophe.Massybeingonthebridge,theoldmanhadtobracehimselfupandmakeashow,hesupposed.Butitwasgettingverybadwithhim,verybadindeed,now.EvenMassyhadbeenemboldenedtofindfaultthistime;Sterne,listeningatthefootoftheladder,hadheardtheother’swhimperingandartlessdenunciations.Luckilythebeastwasverystupidandcouldnotseethewhyofallthis.However,smallblametohim;ittookaclevermantohituponthecause.Nevertheless,itwashightimetodosomething.Theoldman’sgamecouldnotbekeptupformanydaysmore.
“Imayyetlosemylifeatthisfooling—letalonemychance,”Sternemumbledangrilytohimself,afterthestoopingbackofthechiefengineerhaddisappearedroundthecorneroftheskylight.Yes,nodoubt—hethought;buttoblurtouthisknowledgewouldnotadvancehisprospects.Onthecontrary,itwouldblastthemutterlyaslikelyasnot.Hedreadedanotherfailure.
