Кінець рабства

           HefinancedmoreespeciallyaBalininichiefcalledHajiDaman.CaptainWhalley,noddingsignificantlyhisbushywhiteeyebrows,hadverygoodreasontoknowsomethingofthat.Theworldhadprogressedsincethattime.

           Mr.VanWykdemurredwithunexpectedacrimony.Progressedinwhat?hewantedtoknow.

           Why,inknowledgeoftruth,indecency,injustice,inorder—inhonestytoo,sincemenharmedeachothermostlyfromignorance.Itwas,CaptainWhalleyconcludedquaintly,morepleasanttolivein.

           Mr.VanWykwhimsicallywouldnotadmitthatMr.Massy,forinstance,wasmorepleasantnaturallythantheBalininipirates.

           Theriverhadnotgainedmuchbythechange.Theywereintheirwayeverybitashonest.MassywaslessferociousthanHajiDamannodoubt,but...

           “Andwhataboutyou,mygoodsir?”CaptainWhalleylaughedadeepsoftlaugh.“Youareanimprovement,surely.”

           Hecontinuedinaveinofpleasantry.Agoodcigarwasbetterthanaknockonthehead—thesortofwelcomehewouldhavefoundonthisriverfortyorfiftyyearsago.Thenleaningforwardslightly,hebecameearnestlyserious.Itseemsasif,outsidetheirownsea-gypsytribes,theserovershadhatedallmankindwithanincomprehensible,bloodthirstyhatred.Meantimetheirdepredationshadbeenstopped,andwhatwastheconsequence?Thenewgenerationwasorderly,peaceable,settledinprosperousvillages.Hecouldspeakfrompersonalknowledge.Andeventhefewsurvivorsofthattime—oldmennow—hadchangedsomuch,thatitwouldhavebeenunkindtorememberagainstthemthattheyhadeverslitathroatintheirlives.