Кінець рабства
V
SoIlookedupalistofthemIkeepbymeandsentwordforHamilton—theworstloaferofthemall—andjustmadehimgo.ThreatenedtoinstructthestewardoftheSailors’Hometohavehimturnedoutneckandcrop.Hedidnotthinktheberthwasgoodenough—if—you—please.‘I’veyourlittlerecordsbyme,’saidI.‘Youcameashorehereeighteenmonthsago,andyouhaven’tdonesixmonths’worksince.YouareindebtforyourboardnowattheHome,andIsupposeyoureckontheMarineOfficewillpayintheend.Eh?Soitshall;butifyoudon’ttakethischance,awayyougotoEngland,assistedpassage,bythefirsthomewardsteamerthatcomesalong.Youarenobetterthanapauper.Wedon’twantanywhitepaupershere.’Iscaredhim.Butlookatthetroubleallthisgaveme.”
“Youwouldnothavehadanytrouble,”CaptainWhalleysaidalmostinvoluntarily,“ifyouhadsentforme.”
CaptainEliottwasimmenselyamused;heshookwithlaughterashewalked.Butsuddenlyhestoppedlaughing.Avaguerecollectionhadcrossedhismind.Hadn’thehearditsaidatthetimeoftheTravancoreandDeccansmashthatpoorWhalleyhadbeencleanedoutcompletely.“Fellow’shardup,byheavens!”hethought;andatoncehecastasidelongupwardglanceathiscompanion.ButCaptainWhalleywassmilingausterelystraightbeforehim,withacarriageoftheheadinconceivableinapennilessman—andhebecamereassured.Impossible.Couldnothavelosteverything.Thatshiphadbeenonlyahobbyofhis.
