Кінець рабства
XI
Hegenerallytookrathermore;alltheearningsoftheshipwentthatway,andalsothewagesheallowedhimselfaschiefengineer.Itwasthewageshepaidtoothersthathebegrudgedwithareasonedandatthesametimeapassionateregret.Hescowledatthelascarswiththeirdeckbrooms,atthequartermastersrubbingthebrassrailswithgreasyrags;hewaseagertoshakehisfistandroarabuseinbadMalayatthepoorcarpenter—atimid,sickly,opium-fuddledChinaman,inloosebluedrawersforallcostume,whoinvariablydroppedhistoolsandfledbelow,withstreamingtailandshakingallover,beforethefuryofthat“devil.”Butitwaswhenheraiseduphiseyestothebridgewhereoneofthesesailorfraudswasalwaysplantedbylawinchargeofhisshipthathefeltalmostdizzywithrage.Heabominatedthemall;itwasanoldfeud,fromthetimehefirstwenttosea,anunlickedcubwithagreatopinionofhimself,intheengine-room.Theslightsthathadbeenputuponhim.Thepersecutionshehadsufferedatthehandsofskippers—ofabsolutenobodiesinasteamshipafterall.Andnowthathehadrisentobeashipownertheywerestillaplaguetohim:hehadabsolutelytopayawaypreciousmoneytotheconceiteduselessloafers:—Asifafullyqualifiedengineer—whowastheowneraswell—werenotfittobetrustedwiththewholechargeofaship.Well!hemadeitprettywarmforthem;butitwasapoorconsolation.Hehadcomeintimetohatetheshiptoofortherepairssherequired,forthecoal-billshehadtopay,forthepoorbeggarlyfreightssheearned.
