Лорд Джим

Chapter 14

           Hewasamanwithanimmensegirthofchest,arugged,clean-shavedfaceofmahoganycolour,andtwoblunttuftsofiron-grey,thick,wiryhairsonhisupperlip.Hehadbeenpearler,wrecker,trader,whalertoo,Ibelieve;inhisownwordsanythingandeverythingamanmaybeatsea,butapirate.ThePacific,northandsouth,washisproperhunting-ground;buthehadwanderedsofarafieldlookingforacheapsteamertobuy.Latelyhehaddiscoveredsohesaidaguanoislandsomewhere,butitsapproachesweredangerous,andtheanchorage,suchasitwas,couldnotbeconsideredsafe,tosaytheleastofit.“Asgoodasagold-mine,”hewouldexclaim.“RightbanginthemiddleoftheWalpoleReefs,andifit’strueenoughthatyoucangetnoholding-groundanywhereinlessthanfortyfathom,thenwhatofthat?Therearethehurricanes,too.Butit’safirst-ratething.Asgoodasagold-minebetter!Yetthere’snotafoolofthemthatwillseeit.Ican’tgetaskipperorashipownertogoneartheplace.SoImadeupmymindtocarttheblessedstuffmyself.”...Thiswaswhatherequiredasteamerfor,andIknewhewasjustthennegotiatingenthusiasticallywithaParseefirmforanold,brig-rigged,sea-anachronismofninetyhorse-power.Wehadmetandspokentogetherseveraltimes.HelookedknowinglyafterJim.“Takesittoheart?”heaskedscornfully.“Verymuch,”Isaid.“Thenhe’snogood,”heopined.“What’salltheto-doabout?Abitofass’sskin.Thatneveryetmadeaman.

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