Конец рабства
V
Whatwaswantedforhimwasamasterwithacoupleofhundredorsototakeaninterestintheshiponproperconditions.Youdon’tdischargeamanfornofault,onlybecauseofthefunoftellinghimtopackuphistrapsandgoashore,whenyouknowthatinthatcaseyouareboundtobuybackhisshare.Ontheotherhand,afellowwithaninterestintheshipisnotlikelytothrowuphisjobinahuffaboutatrifle.HehadtoldMassythat.Hehadsaid:“‘Thiswon’tdo,Mr.Massy.WearegettingverysickofyouhereintheMarineOffice.Whatyoumustdonowistotrywhetheryoucouldgetasailortojoinyouaspartner.Thatseemstobetheonlyway.’Andthatwassoundadvice,Harry.”
CaptainWhalley,leaningonhisstick,wasperfectlystillallover,andhishand,arrestedintheactofstroking,graspedhiswholebeard.Andwhatdidthefellowsaytothat?
ThefellowhadtheaudacitytoflyoutattheMaster-Attendant.Hehadreceivedtheadviceinamostimpudentmanner.“Ididn’tcomeheretobelaughedat,”hehadshrieked.“IappealtoyouasanEnglishmanandashipownerbroughttothevergeofruinbyanillegalconspiracyofyourbeggarlysailors,andallyoucondescendtodoformeistotellmetogoandgetapartner!”...Thefellowhadpresumedtostampwithrageontheflooroftheprivateoffice.Wherewashegoingtogetapartner?Washebeingtakenforafool?Notasingleoneofthatcontemptiblelotashoreatthe“Home”hadtwopenceinhispockettoblesshimselfwith.Theverynativecursinthebazaarknewthatmuch....
