Кінець рабства
VIII
”
Theleadconfirmedhiswords;thedepthofwaterincreasedateverycast,andthesoulofexcitementdepartedsuddenlyfromthelascarswunginthecanvasbeltovertheSofala’sside.CaptainWhalleyorderedtheleadin,settheenginesaheadwithouthaste,andavertinghiseyesfromthecoastdirectedtheSerangtokeepacourseforthemiddleoftheentrance.
Massybroughtthepalmofhishandwithaloudsmackagainsthisthigh.
“Yougrazedonthebar.Justlookasternandseeifyoudidn’t.Lookatthetracksheleft.Youcanseeitplainly.Uponmysoul,Ithoughtyouwould!Whatmadeyoudothat?Whatonearthmadeyoudothat?Ibelieveyouaretryingtoscareme.”
Hetalkedslowly,asitwerecircumspectly,keepinghisprominentblackeyesonhiscaptain.Therewasalsoaslightplaintivenoteinhisrisingcholer,for,primarily,itwastheclearsenseofawrongsufferedundeservedlythatmadehimhatethemanwho,forabeggarlyfivehundredpounds,claimedasixthpartoftheprofitsunderthethreeyears’agreement.WheneverhisresentmentgotthebetteroftheawethepersonofCaptainWhalleyinspiredhewouldpositivelywhimperwithfury.
“Youdon’tknowwhattoinventtoplaguemylifeoutofme.Iwouldnothavethoughtthatamanofyoursortwouldcondescend...”
Hepaused,halfhopefully,halftimidly,wheneverCaptainWhalleymadetheslightestmovementinthedeck-chair,asthoughexpectingtobeconciliatedbyasoftspeechorelserusheduponandhuntedoffthebridge.
“Iampuzzled,”hewentonagain,withthewatchfulunsmilingbaringofhisbigteeth.
