Кінець рабства
XIV
”
“Therearecloudsonthesky?”
“Thereare,Tuan.”
“Letherbesteeredstraight.North.”
“Sheisgoingnorth,Tuan.”
TheSerangsteppedback.CaptainWhalleyrecognizedMassy’sfootfallsonthebridge.
Theengineerwalkedovertoportandreturned,passingbehindthechairseveraltimes.CaptainWhalleydetectedanunusualcharacterasofprudentcareinthisprowling.ThenearpresenceofthatmanbroughtwithitalwaysarecrudescenceofmoralsufferingforCaptainWhalley.Itwasnotremorse.Afterall,hehaddonenothingbutgoodtothepoordevil.Therewasalsoasenseofdanger—thenecessityofagreatercare.
Massystoppedandsaid—
“Soyoustillsayyoumustgo?”
“Imustindeed.”
“Andyoucouldn’tatleastleavethemoneyforatermofyears?”
“Impossible.”
“Can’ttrustitwithmewithoutyourcare,eh?”
CaptainWhalleyremainedsilent.Massysigheddeeplyoverthebackofthechair.
“Itwouldjustdotosaveme,”hesaidinatremulousvoice.
“I’vesavedyouonce.”
Thechiefengineertookoffhiscoatwithcarefulmovements,andproceededtofeelforthebrasshookscrewedintothewoodenstanchion.Forthispurposeheplacedhimselfrightinfrontofthebinnacle,thushidingcompletelythecompass-cardfromthequartermasteratthewheel.“Tuan!”thelascaratlastmurmuredsoftly,meaningtoletthewhitemanknowthathecouldnotseetosteer.
Mr.Massyhadaccomplishedhispurpose.Thecoatwashangingfromthenail,withinsixinchesofthebinnacle.
