Кінець рабства

           “Itlooksasifthefellowhadnottheplucktoplayhisownpreciousgameopenly,”hethought.

           Thiswastrueenough.InthefaceofMassy’slastrebuffSternedarednotdeclarehisknowledge.Hisobjectwassimplytogetchargeofthesteamerandkeepitforsometime.Massywouldneverforgivehimforforcinghimselfon;butifCaptainWhalleylefttheshipofhisownaccord,thecommandwoulddevolveuponhimfortherestofthetrip;sohehituponthebrilliantideaofscaringtheoldmanaway.Avaguemenace,amerehint,wouldbeenoughinsuchabrazencase;and,withastrangeadmixtureofcompassion,hethoughtthatBatuBeruwasaverygoodplaceforthrowingupthesponge.Theskippercouldgoashorequietly,andstaywiththatDutchmanofhis.Weren’tthesetwoasthickasthievestogether?Andonreflectionheseemedtoseethattherewasawaytoworkthewholethingthroughthatgreatfriendoftheoldman’s.Thiswasanotherbrilliantidea.Hehadaninbornpreferenceforcircuitousmethods.Inthisparticularcasehedesiredtoremaininthebackgroundasmuchaspossible,toavoidexasperatingMassyneedlessly.Nofuss!Letitallhappennaturally.

           Mr.VanWykallthroughthedinnerwasconsciousofasenseofisolationthatinvadessometimestheclosenessofhumanintercourse.CaptainWhalleyfailedlamentablyandobviouslyinhisattemptstoeatsomething.Heseemedovercomebyastrangeabsentmindedness.Hishandwouldhoverirresolutely,asifleftwithoutguidancebyapreoccupiedmind.Mr.