Зима тревоги нашей

           OldCap’nrememberedthefightsovershares,thequibblingwithstores,suspicionofeveryplankandkeelson,thelawsuits,yes,andthekillings—overwomen,glory,adventure?Notatall.Overmoney.Itwasararepartnership,hesaid,thatlastedmorethanonevoyage,andblisteringfeudseverafterward,continuingafterthecausewasforgotten.

           TherewasonebitternessoldCap’nHawleydidnotforget,acrimehecouldnotforgive.Hemusthavetoldmeaboutitmanytimes,standingorsittingontherimofOldHarbor.Wespentagoodlytimethere,heandI.Irememberhimpointingwithhisnarwhalstick.

           "TakethatthirdrockonWhitsunReef,"hesaid."Gother?Now,lineherupwiththetipofPortyPointathighwater.Seeitthere?Now—halfacable-lengthoutonthatlineiswhereshelies,atleastherkeel."

           "TheBelle-Adair?"

           "TheBelle-Adair."

           "Ourship."

           "Halfours,apartnership.Sheburnedatanchor—burnedtothewaterline.Ineverbelieveditwasanaccident."

           "Youthinkshewasfired,sir?"

           "Ido."

           "But—butyoucan’tdothat."

           "Icouldn’t."

           "Whodid?"

           "Idon’tknow."

           "Why?"

           "Insurance."

           "Thenit’snodifferentnow."

           "Nodifferent."

           "Theremustbesomedifference."

           "Onlyinasinglemanalone—onlyinonemanalone.There’stheonlypower—onemanalone.Can’tdependonanythingelse."

           HeneverspoketoCap’nBakeragain,myfathertoldme,buthedidn’tcarryittohisson,Mr.BankerBaker.Hewouldn’tdothatanymorethanhewouldburnaship.