Лорд Джим

Chapter 42

           HeadmittedtomethatJimwasn’tofthesortthatcanbegotoverbytruckling,andaccordinglyhetookcaretoshowhimselfasamanconfrontingwithoutdismayill-luck,censure,anddisaster.Thesmugglingofafewgunswasnogreatcrime,hepointedout.AstocomingtoPatusan,whohadtherighttosayhehadn’tcometobeg?Theinfernalpeoplehereletlooseathimfrombothbankswithoutstayingtoaskquestions.Hemadethepointbrazenly,for,intruth,DainWaris’senergeticactionhadpreventedthegreatestcalamities;becauseBrowntoldmedistinctlythat,perceivingthesizeoftheplace,hehadresolvedinstantlyinhismindthatassoonashehadgainedafootinghewouldsetfirerightandleft,andbeginbyshootingdowneverythinglivinginsight,inordertocowandterrifythepopulation.Thedisproportionofforceswassogreatthatthiswastheonlywaygivinghimtheslightestchanceofattaininghisends—heaguedinafitofcoughing.Buthedidn’ttellJimthis.Astothehardshipsandstarvationtheyhadgonethrough,thesehadbeenveryreal;itwasenoughtolookathisband.Hemade,atthesoundofashrillwhistle,allhismenappearstandinginarowonthelogsinfullview,sothatJimcouldseethem.Forthekillingoftheman,ithadbeendone—well,ithad—butwasnotthiswar,bloodywar—inacorner?andthefellowhadbeenkilledcleanly,shotthroughthechest,notlikethatpoordevilofhislyingnowinthecreek.Theyhadtolistentohimdyingforsixhours,withhisentrailstornwithslugs.

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