Кінець рабства

           VanWykunderstoodatoncethathewouldneverseeheranymore.Buthedidnotknowwhathadhappenedtillsomemonthsafterwards,when,inanativecraftlenthimbyhisSultan,hehadmadehiswaytotheSofala’sportofregistry,wherealreadyherexistenceandtheofficialinquiryintoherlosswasbeginningtobeforgotten.

           Ithadnotbeenaveryremarkableorinterestingcase,exceptforthefactthatthecaptainhadgonedownwithhissinkingship.Itwastheonlylifelost;andMr.VanWykwouldnothavebeenabletolearnanydetailshaditnotbeenforSterne,whomhemetonedayonthequaynearthebridgeoverthecreek,almostontheveryspotwhereCaptainWhalley,topreservehisdaughter’sfivehundredpoundsintact,hadturnedtogetasampanwhichwouldtakehimonboardtheSofala.

           FromafarMr.VanWyksawSterneblinkstraightathimandraisehishandtohishat.Theydrewintotheshadeofabuilding(itwasabank),andthematerelatedhowtheboatwiththecrewgotintoPanguBayaboutsixhoursaftertheaccident,andhowtheyhadlivedforafortnightinastateofdestitutionbeforetheyfoundanopportunitytogetawayfromthatbeastlyplace.Theinquiryhadexoneratedeverybodyfromallblame.Thelossoftheshipwasputdowntoanunusualsetofthecurrent.Indeed,itcouldnothavebeenanythingelse:therewasnootherwaytoaccountfortheshipbeingsetsevenmilestotheeastwardofherpositionduringthemiddlewatch.

           “Apieceofbadluckforme,sir.”

           Sternepassedhistongueonhislips,andglancedaside.“Ilosttheadvantageofbeingemployedbyyou,sir.