Кінець рабства

           Anddirectlyhehadsteppedasidethequartermaster,amiddle-aged,pock-marked,SumatraMalay,almostasdarkasanegro,perceivedwithamazementthatinthatshorttime,inthissmoothwater,withnowindatall,theshiphadgoneswingingfaroutofhercourse.Hehadneverknownhergetawaylikethisbefore.Withaslightgruntofastonishmentheturnedthewheelhastilytobringherheadbacknorth,whichwasthecourse.Thegrindingofthesteering-chains,thechidingmurmursoftheSerang,whohadcomeovertothewheel,madeaslightstir,whichattractedCaptainWhalley’sanxiousattention.Hesaid,“Takebettercare.”Theneverythingsettledtotheusualquietonthebridge.Mr.Massyhaddisappeared.

           Buttheironinthepocketsofthecoathaddoneitswork;andtheSofala,headingnorthbythecompass,madeuntruebythissimpledevice,wasnolongermakingasafecourseforPanguBay.

           Thehissofwaterpartedbyherstem,thethrobofherengines,allthesoundsofherfaithfulandlaboriouslife,wentonuninterruptedinthegreatcalmoftheseajoiningonallsidesthemotionlesslayerofcloudoverthesky.Agentlestillnessasvastastheworldseemedtowaituponherpath,envelopingherlovinglyinasupremecaress.Mr.Massythoughttherecouldbenobetternightforanarrangedshipwreck.

           RunuphighanddryononeofthereefseastofPangu—waitfordaylight—holeinthebottom—outboats—PanguBaysameevening.That’saboutit.