Кінець рабства
XII
Hehadoneespeciallyinhismind’seye:adignified,venerableheadmanofacertainlargecoastvillageaboutsixtymilessou’westofTampasuk.Itdidone’sheartgoodtoseehim—tohearthatmanspeak.Hemighthavebeenaferocioussavageonce.Whatmenwantedwastobecheckedbysuperiorintelligence,bysuperiorknowledge,bysuperiorforcetoo—yes,byforceheldintrustfromGodandsanctifiedbyitsuseinaccordancewithHisdeclaredwill.CaptainWhalleybelievedadispositionforgoodexistedineveryman,eveniftheworldwerenotaveryhappyplaceasawhole.Inthewisdomofmenhehadnotsomuchconfidence.Thedispositionhadtobehelpedupprettysharplysometimes,headmitted.Theymightbesilly,wrongheaded,unhappy;butnaturallyevil—no.Therewasatbottomacompleteharmlessnessatleast...
“Isthere?”Mr.VanWyksnappedacrimoniously.
CaptainWhalleylaughedattheinterjection,inthegoodhumoroflarge,toleratingcertitude.Hecouldlookbackathalfacentury,hepointedout.Thesmokeoozedplacidlythroughthewhitehairshidinghiskindlylips.
“Atallevents,”heresumedafterapause,“Iamgladthatthey’vehadnotimetodoyoumuchharmasyet.”
ThisallusiontohiscomparativeyouthfulnessdidnotoffendMr.VanWyk,whogotupandwriggledhisshoulderswithanenigmatichalf-smile.Theywalkedouttogetheramicablyintothestarrynighttowardstheriver-side.Theirfootstepsresoundedunequallyonthedarkpath.
