Кінець рабства
VIII
Hehadsweptthedecksofships,hadtendedtheirhelms,hadmindedtheirstores,hadrisenatlasttobeaSerang;andhisplacidmindhadremainedasincapableofpenetratingthesimplestmotivesofthoseheservedastheythemselveswereincapableofdetectingthroughthecrustoftheearththesecretnatureofitsheart,whichmaybefireormaybestone.ButhehadnodoubtwhateverthattheSofalawasoutofthepropertrackforcrossingthebaratBatuBeru.
Itwasaslighterror.Theshipcouldnothavebeenmorethantwiceherownlengthtoofartothenorthward;andawhitemanatalossforacause(sinceitwasimpossibletosuspectCaptainWhalleyofblunderingignorance,ofwantofskill,orofneglect)wouldhavebeeninclinedtodoubtthetestimonyofhissenses.ItwassomesuchfeelingthatkeptMassymotionless,withhisteethlaidbarebyananxiousgrin.NotsotheSerang.Hewasnottroubledbyanyintellectualmistrustofhissenses.Ifhiscaptainchosetostirthemuditwaswell.Hehadknowninhislifewhitemenindulgeinoutbreaksequallystrange.Hewasonlygenuinelyinterestedtoseewhatwouldcomeofit.Atlast,apparentlysatisfied,hesteppedbackfromtherail.
Hehadmadenosound:CaptainWhalley,however,seemedtohaveobservedthemovementsofhisSerang.Holdinghisheadrigidly,heaskedwithamerestirofhislips—
“Goingaheadstill,Serang?”
“Stillgoingalittle,Tuan,”answeredtheMalay.Thenaddedcasually,“Sheisover.
