Кінець рабства
IX
Hemadeboldtosaytherewasnothingintheworldagainsthim,and,ashehadhappenedtohearthatthemateoftheSofalahadbeentakentothehospitalthatmorningwithasunstroke,hethoughttherewouldbenoharminseeingwhetherhewouldnotdo....
HehadcometoCaptainWhalleyfreshlyshaved,red-faced,thin-flanked,throwingouthisleanchest;andhadrecitedhislittletalewithanopenandmanlyassurance.Nowandthenhiseyelidsquiveredslightly,hishandwouldstealuptotheendoftheflamingmustache;hiseyebrowswerestraight,furry,ofachestnutcolor,andthedirectnessofhisfrankgazeseemedtotrembleonthevergeofimpudence.CaptainWhalleyhadengagedhimtemporarily;then,theothermanhavingbeenorderedhomebythedoctors,hehadremainedforthenexttrip,andthenthenext.Hehadnowattainedpermanency,andtheperformanceofhisdutieswasmarkedbyanairofserious,single-mindedapplication.Directlyhewasspokento,hebegantosmileattentively,withagreatdeferenceexpressedinhiswholeattitude;buttherewasintherapidwinkingwhichwentonallthetimesomethingquizzical,asthoughhehadpossessedthesecretofsomeuniversaljokecheatingallcreationandimpenetrabletoothermortals.
GraveandsmilinghewatchedMassycomedownstepbystep;whenthechiefengineerhadreachedthedeckheswungabout,andtheyfoundthemselvesfacetoface.
