IX

           OnturningtodescendMassyperceivedtheheadofSternethemateloitering,withhisslyconfidentsmile,hisredmustachesandblinkingeyes,atthefootoftheladder.

           SternehadbeenajuniorinoneofthelargershippingconcernsbeforejoiningtheSofala.Hehadthrownuphisberth,hesaid,“ongeneralprinciples.”Thepromotionintheemploywasveryslow,hecomplained,andhethoughtitwastimeforhimtotryandgetonabitintheworld.Itseemedasthoughnobodywouldeverdieorleavethefirm;theyallstuckfastintheirberthstilltheygotmildewed;hewastiredofwaiting;andhefearedthatwhenavacancydidoccurthebestservantswerebynomeanssureofbeingtreatedfairly.Besides,thecaptainhehadtoserveunder—CaptainProvost—wasanunaccountablesortofman,and,hefancied,hadtakenadisliketohimforsomereasonorother.Fordoingrathermorethanhisbaredutyaslikelyasnot.Whenhehaddoneanythingwronghecouldtakeatalkingto,likeaman;butheexpectedtobetreatedlikeamantoo,andnottobeaddressedinvariablyasthoughhewereadog.HehadaskedCaptainProvostplumpandplaintotellhimwherehewasatfault,andCaptainProvost,inamostscornfulway,hadtoldhimthathewasaperfectofficer,andthatifhedislikedthewayhewasbeingspokentotherewasthegangway—hecouldtakehimselfoffashoreatonce.ButeverybodyknewwhatsortofmanCaptainProvostwas.Itwasnouseappealingtotheoffice.CaptainProvosthadtoomuchinfluenceintheemploy.Allthesame,theyhadtogivehimagoodcharacter.