Кінець рабства
X
Itisnottohisfar-reachingeyebuttohismoreextensiveknowledgethatthepilotlooksforcertitude;forthiscertitudeoftheship’spositiononwhichmaydependaman’sgoodfameandthepeaceofhisconscience,thejustificationofthetrustdepositedinhishands,withhisownlifetoo,whichisseldomwhollyhistothrowaway,andthehumblelivesofothersrootedindistantaffections,perhaps,andmadeasweightyasthelivesofkingsbytheburdenoftheawaitingmystery.Thepilot’sknowledgebringsreliefandcertitudetothecommanderofaship;theSerang,however,inhisfancifulsuggestionofapilot-fishattendingawhale,couldnotinanywaybecreditedwithasuperiorknowledge.Whyshouldhehaveit?Thesetwomenhadcomeonthatruntogether—thewhiteandthebrown—onthesameday:andofcourseawhitemanwouldlearnmoreinaweekthanthebestnativewouldinamonth.Hewasmadetosticktotheskipperasthoughhewereofsomeuse—asthepilot-fish,theysay,istothewhale.Buthow—itwasverymarked—how?Apilot-fish—apilot—a...Butifnotsuperiorknowledgethen...
Sterne’sdiscoverywasmade.Itwasrepugnanttohisimagination,shockingtohisideasofhonesty,shockingtohisconceptionofmankind.Thisenormityaffectedone’soutlookonwhatwaspossibleinthisworld:itwasasifforinstancethesunhadturnedblue,throwinganewandsinisterlightonmenandnature.
