Кінець рабства
XIV
Hefidgetedrestlessly,andsuddenlyburstoutclosetoCaptainWhalley—
“Tuan,doyouseeanythingoftheland?”
ThealarmedvoicebroughtCaptainWhalleytohisfeetatonce.He!See!Andatthequestion,thecurseofhisblindnessseemedtofallonhimwithahundredfoldforce.
“What’sthetime?”hecried.
“Half-pastthree,Tuan.”
“Weareclose.Youmustsee.Look,Isay.Look.”
Mr.Massy,awakenedbythesuddensoundoftalkingfromashortdozeontheloweststep,wonderedwhyhewasthere.Ah!Afaintnesscameoverhim.Itisonethingtosowtheseedofanaccidentandanothertoseethemonstrousfruithangingoveryourheadreadytofallinthesoundofagitatedvoices.
“There’snodanger,”hemutteredthickly.
ThehorrorofincertitudehadseizeduponCaptainWhalley,themiserablemistrustofmen,ofthings—oftheveryearth.Hehadsteeredthatverycoursethirty-sixtimesbythesamecompass—ifanythingwascertaininthisworlditwasitsabsolute,unerringcorrectness.Thenwhathadhappened?DidtheSeranglie?Whylie?Why?Washegoingblindtoo?
“Isthereamist?Looklowonthewater.Lowdown,Isay.”
“Tuan,there’snomist.Seeforyourself.”
CaptainWhalleysteadiedthetremblingofhislimbsbyaneffort.Shouldhestoptheenginesatonceandgivehimselfaway.Agustofirresolutionswayedallsortsofbizarrenotionsinhismind.Theunusualhadcome,andhewasnotfittodealwithit.Inthispassageofinexpressibleanguishhesawherface—thefaceofayounggirl—withanamazingstrengthofillusion.
