Кінець рабства

           Ifyouwanttodeflectthemagneticneedleofaship’scompass,softironisthebest;likewisemanysmallpiecesinthepocketsofajacketwouldhavemoreeffectthanafewlargeones,becauseinthatwayyouobtainagreateramountofsurfaceforweightinyouriron,andit’ssurfacethattells.

           Heslippedoutswiftly—twostridessufficed—andinhiscabinheperceivedthathishandswereallred—redwithrust.Itdisconcertedhim,asthoughhehadfoundthemcoveredwithblood:helookedhimselfoverhastily.Why,histrowserstoo!Hehadbeenrubbinghisrustypalmsonhislegs.

           Hetoreoffthewaistbandbuttoninhishaste,brushedhiscoat,washedhishands.Thentheairofguiltlefthim,andhesatdowntowait.

           Hesatboltuprightandweightedwithironinhischair.Hehadahard,lumpybulkagainsteachhip,feltthescrappyironinhispocketstouchhisribsateverybreath,thedownwarddragofallthesepoundshanginguponhisshoulders.Helookedverydulltoo,sittingidlethere,andhisyellowface,withmotionlessblackeyes,hadsomethingpassiveandsadinitsquietness.

           Whenheheardeightbellsstruckabovehishead,heroseandmadereadytogoout.Hismovementsseemedaimless,hislowerliphaddroppedalittle,hiseyesroamedaboutthecabin,andthetremendoustensionofhiswillhadrobbedthemofeveryvestigeofintelligence.

           WiththelaststrokeofthebelltheSerangappearednoiselesslyonthebridgetorelievethemate.Sterneoverflowedwithgoodnature,sincehehadnothingmoretodesire.