Кінець рабства
II
Departedthemenwhowouldhavenoddedappreciativelyatthementionofhisname,andwouldhavethoughtthemselvesboundinhonortodosomethingforDare-devilHarryWhalley.Departedtheopportunitieswhichhewouldhaveknownhowtoseize;andgonewiththemthewhite-wingedflockofclippersthatlivedintheboisterousuncertainlifeofthewinds,skimmingbigfortunesoutofthefoamofthesea.Inaworldthatpareddowntheprofitstoanirreducibleminimum,inaworldthatwasabletocountitsdisengagedtonnagetwiceovereveryday,andinwhichleanchartersweresnappedupbycablethreemonthsinadvance,therewerenochancesoffortuneforanindividualwanderinghaphazardwithalittlebark—hardlyindeedanyroomtoexist.
Hefounditmoredifficultfromyeartoyear.Hesufferedgreatlyfromthesmallnessofremittanceshewasabletosendhisdaughter.Meantimehehadgivenupgoodcigars,andeveninthematterofinferiorcherootslimitedhimselftosixaday.Henevertoldherofhisdifficulties,andsheneverenlargeduponherstruggletolive.Theirconfidenceineachotherneedednoexplanations,andtheirperfectunderstandingenduredwithoutprotestationsofgratitudeorregret.Hewouldhavebeenshockedifshehadtakenitintoherheadtothankhiminsomanywords,buthefounditperfectlynaturalthatsheshouldtellhimsheneededtwohundredpounds.
HehadcomeinwiththeFairMaidinballasttolookforafreightintheSofala’sportofregistry,andherlettermethimthere.Itstenorwasthatitwasnousemincingmatters.
