Кінець рабства
XIII
Itwasagarmentwithmanypockets,whichheusedtoputonatoddtimesoftheday,beingsubjecttosuddenchillyfits,andwhenhefeltwarmedhewouldtakeitoffandhangitaboutanywhereallovertheship.Itwouldbeseenswingingonbelaying-pins,thrownovertheheadsofwinches,suspendedonpeople’sverydoor-handlesforthatmatter.Washenottheowner?Buthisfavoriteplacewasahookonawoodenawningstanchiononthebridge,almostagainstthebinnacle.HehadevenintheearlydaysmorethanonetussleonthatpointwithCaptainWhalley,whodesiredthebridgetobekepttidy.Hehadbeenoverawedthen.Oflate,though,hehadbeenabletodefyhispartnerwithimpunity.CaptainWhalleyneverseemedtonoticeanythingnow.AstotheMalays,intheiraweofthatscowlingmannotoneofthecrewwoulddreamoflayingahandonthething,nomatterwhereorwhatitswungfrom.
WithanunexpectednesswhichmadeMr.Massyjumpanddropthecoatathisfeet,therecamefromthenextberththecrashandthudofaheadlong,jingling,clatteringfall.ThefaithfulJackmusthavedroppedtosleepsuddenlyashesatathisrevels,andnowhadgoneoverchairandall,breaking,asitseemedbythesound,everysingleglassandbottleintheplace.Aftertheterrificsmashallwasstillforatimeinthere,asthoughhehadkilledhimselfoutrightonthespot.Mr.Massyheldhisbreath.Atlastasleepyuneasygroaningsighwasexhaledslowlyontheothersideofthebulkhead.
“Ihopetogoodnesshe’stoodrunktowakeupnow,”mutteredMr.Massy.
