Кінець рабства

V

           Itisn’tlikesellingsailing-ships.Steamersdogetoutofdate,besidesgettingold.”

           “Hemusthavelaidbyagoodbitofmoneythough,”observedCaptainWhalleyquietly.

           TheHarbor-masterpuffedouthispurplecheekstoanamazingsize.

           “Notastiver,Harry.Not—a—single—sti-ver.”

           Hewaited;butasCaptainWhalley,strokinghisbeardslowly,lookeddownonthegroundwithoutaword,hetappedhimontheforearm,tiptoed,andsaidinahoarsewhisper—

           “TheManillalotteryhasbeeneatinghimup.”

           Hefrownedalittle,noddingintinyaffirmativejerks.Theyallweregoinginforit;athirdofthewagespaidtoships’officers(“inmyport,”hesnorted)wenttoManilla.Itwasamania.ThatfellowMassyhadbeenbittenbyitliketherestofthemfromthefirst;butafterwinningonceheseemedtohavepersuadedhimselfhehadonlytotryagaintogetanotherbigprize.Hehadtakendozensandscoresofticketsforeverydrawingsince.Whatwiththisviceandhisignoranceofaffairs,eversincehehadimprovidentlyboughtthatsteamerhehadbeenmoreorlessshortofmoney.

           This,inCaptainEliott’sopinion,gaveanopeningforasensiblesailor-manwithafewpoundstostepinandsavethatfoolfromtheconsequencesofhisfolly.Itwashiscrazetoquarrelwithhiscaptains.Hehadhadsomereallygoodmentoo,whowouldhavebeentoogladtostayifhewouldonlyletthem.Butno.Heseemedtothinkhewasnoownerunlesshewaskickingsomebodyoutinthemorningandhavingarowwiththenewmanintheevening.

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Roboto Lora
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