Кінець рабства
V
Well,heremainedouthere,aperfectnuisance,everlastinglyshippedandunshipped,unabletokeepaberthverylong;prettynighwentthrougheveryengine-roomafloatbelongingtothecolony.Thensuddenly,“Whatdoyouthinkhappened,Harry?”
CaptainWhalley,whoseemedlostinamentaleffortasofdoingasuminhishead,gaveaslightstart.Hereallycouldn’timagine.TheMaster-Attendant’svoicevibrateddullywithhoarseemphasis.ThemanactuallyhadthelucktowinthesecondprizeintheManillalottery.Alltheseengineersandofficersofshipstookticketsinthatgamble.Itseemedtobeaperfectmaniawiththemall.
Everybodyexpectednowthathewouldtakehimselfoffhomewithhismoney,andgotothedevilinhisownway.Notatall.TheSofala,judgedtoosmallandnotquitemodernenoughforthesortoftradeshewasin,couldbegotforamoderatepricefromherowners,whohadorderedanewsteamerfromEurope.Herushedinandboughther.Thismanhadnevergivenanysignsofthatsortofmentalintoxicationthemerefactofgettingholdofalargesumofmoneymayproduce—nottillhegotashipofhisown;butthenhewentoffhisbalanceallatonce:camebouncingintotheMarineOfficeonsometransferbusiness,withhishathangingoverhislefteyeandswitchingalittlecaneinhishand,andtoldeachoneoftheclerksseparatelythat“Nobodycouldputhimoutnow.Itwashisturn.Therewasnooneoverhimonearth,andthereneverwouldbeeither.
