Кінець рабства
V
CaptainEliottlookeduponitashisdutyineverywaytoassistanEnglishshiptoholdherown;anditstoodtoreasonthatifforwantofacaptaintheSofalabegantomisshertripsshewouldverysoonlosehertrade.Therewasthequandary.Themanwastooimpracticable.“Toomuchofabeggaronhorsebackfromthefirst,”heexplained.“Seemedtogrowworseasthetimewenton.Inthelastthreeyearshe’srunthroughelevenskippers;hehadtriedeverysinglemanhere,outsideoftheregularlines.Ihadwarnedhimbeforethatthiswouldnotdo.Andnow,ofcourse,noonewilllookattheSofala.Ihadoneortwomenupatmyofficeandtalkedtothem;but,astheysaidtome,whatwasthegoodoftakingtheberthtoleadaregulardog’slifeforamonthandthengetthesackattheendofthefirsttrip?Thefellow,ofcourse,toldmeitwasallnonsense;therehasbeenaplothatchingforyearsagainsthim.Andnowithadcome.Allthehorridsailorsintheporthadconspiredtobringhimtohisknees,becausehewasanengineer.”
CaptainEliottemittedathroatychuckle.
“Andthefactis,thatifhemissesacouplemoretripsheneednevertroublehimselftostartagain.Hewon’tfindanycargoinhisoldtrade.There’stoomuchcompetitionnowadaysforpeopletokeeptheirstufflyingaboutforashipthatdoesnotturnupwhenshe’sexpected.It’sabadlookoutforhim.Heswearshewillshuthimselfonboardandstarvetodeathinhiscabinratherthansellher—evenifhecouldfindabuyer.Andthat’snotlikelyintheleast.NoteventheJapswouldgiveherinsuredvalueforher.
