Кінець рабства
X
Whatwasit?Indolenceorwhat?
Thatoldskippermusthavebeengrowinglazyforyears.TheyallgrewlazyoutEasthere(Sternewasveryconsciousofhisownunimpairedactivity);theygotslackallover.Buthetoweredveryerectonthebridge;andquitelowbyhisside,asyouseeasmallchildlookingovertheedgeofatable,thebatteredsofthatandthebrownfaceoftheSerangpeepedoverthewhitecanvasscreenoftherail.
NodoubttheMalaywasstandingback,nearertothewheel;butthegreatdisparityofsizeincloseassociationamusedSterneliketheobservationofabizarrefactinnature.Theywereasqueerfishoutoftheseaasanyinit.
HesawCaptainWhalleyturnhisheadquicklytospeaktohisSerang;thewindwhippedthewholewhitemassofthebeardsideways.Hewouldbedirectingthechaptolookatthecompassforhim,orwhatnot.Ofcourse.Toomuchtroubletostepoverandseeforhimself.Sterne’sscornforthatbodilyindolencewhichovertakeswhitemenintheEastincreasedonreflection.Someofthemwouldbeutterlylostiftheyhadn’tallthesenativesattheirbeckandcall;theygrewperfectlyshamelessaboutittoo.Hewasnotofthatsort,thankGod!Itwasn’tinhimtomakehimselfdependentforhisworkonanyshriveled-uplittleMalaylikethat.Asifonecouldevertrustasillynativeforanythingintheworld!Butthatfineoldmanthoughtdifferently,itseems.Theretheyweretogether,neverfarapart;apairofthem,recallingtothemindanoldwhaleattendedbyalittlepilot-fish.
Thefancifulnessofthecomparisonmadehimsmile.
