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.
