within the tides-第19节
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〃H'm！ You must have it in your own way … of course。 Well。
Partner。 George Dunbar puts his top…hat on and tells me to wait a
moment。 。 。 George always looked as though he were making a few
thousands a year … a city swell。 。 。 Come along； old man！ And he
and Captain Harry go out together … some business with a solicitor
round the corner。 Captain Harry； when he was in England； used to
turn up in his brother's office regularly about twelve。 Sat in a
corner like a good boy； reading the paper and smoking his pipe。 So
they go out。 。 。 Model brothers； says Cloete … two love…birds … I
am looking after the tinned…fruit side of this cozy little show。 。
。 Gives me that sort of talk。 Then by…and…by： What sort of old
thing is that Sagamore？ Finest ship out … eh？ I dare say all ships
are fine to you。 You live by them。 I tell you what； I would just
as soon put my money into an old stocking。 Sooner！〃
He drew a breath； and I noticed his hand； lying loosely on the
table； close slowly into a fist。 In that immovable man it was
startling； ominous； like the famed nod of the Commander。
〃So； already at that time … note … already；〃 he growled。
〃But hold on；〃 I interrupted。 〃The Sagamore belonged to Mundy and
Rogers； I've been told。〃
He snorted contemptuously。 〃Damn boatmen … know no better。 Flew
the firm's HOUSE…FLAG。 That's another thing。 Favour。 It was like
this： When old man Dunbar died； Captain Harry was already in
command with the firm。 George chucked the bank he was clerking in
… to go on his own with what there was to share after the old chap。
George was a smart man。 Started warehousing； then two or three
things at a time： wood…pulp； preserved…fruit trade； and so on。
And Captain Harry let him have his share to work with。 。 。 I am
provided for in my ship； he says。 。 。 But by…and…by Mundy and
Rogers begin to sell out to foreigners all their ships … go into
steam right away。 Captain Harry gets very upset … lose command；
part with the ship he was fond of … very wretched。 Just then； so
it happened； the brothers came in for some money … an old woman
died or something。 Quite a tidy bit。 Then young George says：
There's enough between us two to buy the Sagamore with。 。 。 But
you'll need more money for your business； cries Captain Harry … and
the other laughs at him： My business is going on all right。 Why；
I can go out and make a handful of sovereigns while you are trying
to get your pipe to draw； old man。 。 。 Mundy and Rogers very
friendly about it： Certainly； Captain。 And we will manage her for
you； if you like； as if she were still our own。 。 。 Why； with a
connection like that it was good investment to buy that ship。
Good！ Aye； at the time。〃
The turning of his head slightly toward me at this point was like a
sign of strong feeling in any other man。
〃You'll mind that this was long before Cloete came into it at all；〃
he muttered； warningly。
〃Yes。 I will mind；〃 I said。 〃We generally say： some years
passed。 That's soon done。〃
He eyed me for a while silently in an unseeing way； as if engrossed
in the thought of the years so easily dealt with； his own years；
too； they were； the years before and the years （not so many） after
Cloete came upon the scene。 When he began to speak again； I
discerned his intention to point out to me； in his obscure and
graphic manner； the influence on George Dunbar of long association
with Cloete's easy moral standards； unscrupulously persuasive gift
of humour （funny fellow）； and adventurously reckless disposition。
He desired me anxiously to elaborate this view； and I assured him
it was quite within my powers。 He wished me also to understand
that George's business had its ups and downs （the other brother was
meantime sailing to and fro serenely）； that he got into low water
at times； which worried him rather； because he had married a young
wife with expensive tastes。 He was having a pretty anxious time of
it generally； and just then Cloete ran up in the city somewhere
against a man working a patent medicine （the fellow's old trade）
with some success； but which； with capital； capital to the tune of
thousands to be spent with both hands on advertising； could be
turned into a great thing … infinitely better … paying than a gold…
mine。 Cloete became excited at the possibilities of that sort of
business； in which he was an expert。 I understood that George's
partner was all on fire from the contact with this unique
opportunity。
〃So he goes in every day into George's room about eleven； and sings
that tune till George gnashes his teeth with rage。 Do shut up。
What's the good？ No money。 Hardly any to go on with； let alone
pouring thousands into advertising。 Never dare propose to his
brother Harry to sell the ship。 Couldn't think of it。 Worry him
to death。 It would be like the end of the world coming。 And
certainly not for a business of that kind！ 。 。 。 Do you think it
would be a swindle？ asks Cloete； twitching his mouth。 。 。 George
owns up： No…would be no better than a squeamish ass if he thought
that； after all these years in business。
〃Cloete looks at him hard … Never thought of SELLING the ship。
Expected the blamed old thing wouldn't fetch half her insured value
by this time。 Then George flies out at him。 What's the meaning；
then； of these silly jeers at ship…owning for the last three weeks？
Had enough of them； anyhow。
〃Angry at having his mouth made to water； see。 Cloete don't get
excited。 。 。 I am no squeamish ass； either； says he； very slowly。
'Tisn't selling your old Sagamore wants。 The blamed thing wants
tomahawking （seems the name Sagamore means an Indian chief or
something。 The figure…head was a half…naked savage with a feather
over one ear and a hatchet in his belt）。 Tomahawking； says he。
〃What do you mean？ asks George。 。 。 Wrecking … it could be managed
with perfect safety； goes on Cloete … your brother would then put
in his share of insurance money。 Needn't tell him exactly what
for。 He thinks you're the smartest business man that ever lived。
Make his fortune； too。 。 。 George grips the desk with both hands in
his rage。 。 。 You think my brother's a man to cast away his ship on
purpose。 I wouldn't even dare think of such a thing in the same
room with him … the finest fellow that ever lived。 。 。 Don't make
such noise； they'll hear you outside； says Cloete； and he tells him
that his brother is the salted pattern of all virtues； but all
that's necessary is to induce him to stay ashore for a voyage … for
a holiday … take a rest … why not？ 。 。 。 In fact； I have in view
somebody up to that sort of game … Cloete whispers。
〃George nearly chokes。 。 。 So you think I am of that sort … you
think ME capable … What do you take me for？ 。 。 。 He almost loses
his head； while Cloete keeps cool； only gets white about the gills。
。 。 I take you for a man who will be most cursedly hard up before
long。 。 。 He goes to the door and sends away the clerks … there
were only two … to take their lunch hour。 Comes back 。 。 。 What
are you indignant about？ Do I want you to rob the widow and
orphan？ Why； man！ Lloyd's a corporation； it hasn't got a body to
starve。 There's forty or more of them perhaps who underwrote the
lines on that silly ship of yours。 Not one human being would go
hungry or cold for it。 They take every risk into consideration。
Everything I tell you。 。 。 That sort of talk。 H'm！ George too
upset to speak … only gurgles and waves his arms； so sudden； you
see。 The other； warming his back at the fire； goes on。 Wood…pulp
business next door to a failure。 Tinned…fruit trade nearly played
out。 。 。 You're frightened； he says； but the law is only meant to
frighten fools away。 。 。 And he shows how safe casting away that
ship would be。 Premiums paid for so many； many years。 No shadow
of suspicion could arise。 And； dash it all！ a ship must meet her
end some day。 。 。
〃I am not frightened。 I am indignant；〃 says George Dunbar。
〃Cloete boiling with rage inside。 Chance of a lifetime … his
chance！ And he says kindly： Your wife'll be much more indignant
when you ask her to get out of that pretty house of yours and pile
in into a two…pair back … with kids perhaps； too。 。 。
〃George had no children。 Married a couple of years； looked forward
to a kid or two very much。 Feels more upset than ever。 Talks
about an honest man for father； and so on。 Cloete grins： You be
quick before they come； and they'll have a rich man for father； and
no one the worse for it。 That's the beauty of the thing。
〃George nearly cries。 I believe
