Кінець рабства
X
Reallyinthefirstmomenthehadfeltsickish,asthoughhehadgotablowbelowthebelt:forasecondtheverycoloroftheseaseemedchanged—appearedqueertohiswanderingeye;andhehadapassing,unsteadysensationinallhislimbsasthoughtheearthhadstartedturningtheotherway.
Averynaturalincredulitysucceedingthissenseofupheavalbroughtameasureofrelief.Hehadgasped;itwasover.Butafterwardsduringallthatdaysuddenparoxysmsofwonderwouldcomeoverhiminthemidstofhisoccupations.Hewouldstopandshakehishead.Therevoltofhisincredulityhadpassedawayalmostasquickasthefirstemotionofdiscovery,andforthenexttwenty-fourhourshehadnosleep.Thatwouldneverdo.Atmeal-times(hetookthefootofthetablesetupforthewhitemenonthebridge)hecouldnothelplosinghimselfinafascinatedcontemplationofCaptainWhalleyopposite.Hewatchedthedeliberateupwardmovementsofthearm;theoldmanputhisfoodtohislipsasthoughheneverexpectedtofindanytasteinhisdailybread,asthoughhedidnotknowanythingaboutit.Hefedhimselflikeasomnambulist.“It’sanawfulsight,”thoughtSterne;andhewatchedthelongperiodofmournful,silentimmobility,withabigbrownhandlyinglooselyclosedbythesideoftheplate,tillhenoticedthetwoengineerstotherightandleftlookingathiminastonishment.Hewouldclosehismouthinahurrythen,andloweringhiseyes,winkrapidlyathisplate.Itwasawfultoseetheoldchapsittingthere;itwasevenawfultothinkthatwiththreewordshecouldblowhimupsky-high.
