end of the tether-第11节
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pan to go and try for the command of the Sofala Cap…
tain Whalley shivered a little。
When on his return he landed on the quay again Venus；
like a choice jewel set low on the hem of the sky； cast
a faint gold trail behind him upon the roadstead； as
level as a floor made of one dark and polished stone。
The lofty vaults of the avenues were blackall black
overheadand the porcelain globes on the lamp…posts
resembled egg…shaped pearls； gigantic and luminous；
displayed in a row whose farther end seemed to sink
in the distance； down to the level of his knees。 He put
his hands behind his back。 He would now consider
calmly the discretion of it before saying the final word
to…morrow。 His feet scrunched the gravel loudlythe
discretion of it。 It would have been easier to appraise
had there been a workable alternative。 The honesty of
it was indubitable： he meant well by the fellow； and
periodically his shadow leaped up intense by his side on
the trunks of the trees； to lengthen itself； oblique and
dim； far over the grassrepeating his stride。
The discretion of it。 Was there a choice？ He seemed
already to have lost something of himself； to have given
up to a hungry specter something of his truth and dig…
nity in order to live。 But his life was necessary。 Let
poverty do its worst in exacting its toll of humiliation。
It was certain that Ned Eliott had rendered him； with…
out knowing it； a service for which it would have been
impossible to ask。 He hoped Ned would not think there
had been something underhand in his action。 He sup…
posed that now when he heard of it he would understand
or perhaps he would only think Whalley an eccentric
old fool。 What would have been the good of telling
himany more than of blurting the whole tale to that
man Massy？ Five hundred pounds ready to invest。 Let
him make the best of that。 Let him wonder。 You want
a captainI want a ship。 That's enough。 B…r…r…r…r。
What a disagreeable impression that empty； dark；
echoing steamer had made upon him。 。 。 。
A laid…up steamer was a dead thing and no mistake；
a sailing…ship somehow seems always ready to spring
into life with the breath of the incorruptible heaven；
but a teamer； thought Captain Whalley； with her fires
out； without the warm whiffs from below meeting you on
her decks； without the hiss of steam； the clangs of iron
in her breastlies there as cold and still and pulseless as
a corpse。
In the solitude of the avenue； all black above and
lighted below； Captain Whalley； considering the dis…
cretion of his course； met； as it were incidentally； the
thought of death。 He pushed it aside with dislike and
contempt。 He almost laughed at it； and in the un…
quenchable vitality of his age only thought with a kind
of exultation how little he needed to keep body and soul
together。 Not a bad investment for the poor woman
this solid carcass of her father。 And for the restin
case of anythingthe agreement should be clear： the
whole five hundred to be paid back to her integrally
within three months。 Integrally。 Every penny。 He
was not to lose any of her money whatever else had
to goa little dignitysome of his self…respect。 He
had never before allowed anybody to remain under any
sort of false impression as to himself。 Well； let that
gofor her sake。 After all； he had never SAID any…
thing misleadingand Captain Whalley felt himself
corrupt to the marrow of his bones。 He laughed a little
with the intimate scorn of his worldly prudence。
Clearly； with a fellow of that sort； and in the peculiar
relation they were to stand to each other； it would not
have done to blurt out everything。 He did not like the
fellow。 He did not like his spells of fawning loquacity
and bursts of resentfulness。 In the enda poor devil。
He would not have liked to stand in his shoes。 Men
were not evil； after all。 He did not like his sleek hair；
his queer way of standing at right angles； with his nose
in the air； and glancing along his shoulder at you。 No。
On the whole； men were not badthey were only silly
or unhappy。
Captain Whalley had finished considering the discre…
tion of that stepand there was the whole long night
before him。 In the full light his long beard would
glisten like a silver breastplate covering his heart； in
the spaces between the lamps his burly figure passed less
distinct； loomed very big； wandering； and mysterious。
No； there was not much real harm in men： and all the
time a shadow marched with him； slanting on his left
handwhich in the East is a presage of evil。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Can you make out the clump of palms yet； Serang？〃
asked Captain Whalley from his chair on the bridge of
the Sofala approaching the bar of Batu Beru。
〃No； Tuan。 By…and…by see。〃 The old Malay； in a
blue dungaree suit； planted on his bony dark feet under
the bridge awning； put his hands behind his back and
stared ahead out of the innumerable wrinkles at the
corners of his eyes。
Captain Whalley sat still； without lifting his head to
look for himself。 Three yearsthirty…six times。 He
had made these palms thirty…six times from the south…
ward。 They would come into view at the proper time。
Thank God； the old ship made her courses and distances
trip after trip； as correct as clockwork。 At last he mur…
mured again
〃In sight yet？〃
〃The sun makes a very great glare； Tuan。〃
〃Watch well； Serang。〃
〃Ya； Tuan。〃
A white man had ascended the ladder from the deck
noiselessly； and had listened quietly to this short col…
loquy。 Then he stepped out on the bridge and began
to walk from end to end； holding up the long cherry…
wood stem of a pipe。 His black hair lay plastered in
long lanky wisps across the bald summit of his head；
he had a furrowed brow； a yellow complexion； and a
thick shapeless nose。 A scanty growth of whisker did
not conceal the contour of his jaw。 His aspect was of
brooding care； and sucking at a curved black mouth…
piece； he presented such a heavy overhanging profile
that even the Serang could not help reflecting sometimes
upon the extreme unloveliness of some white men。
Captain Whalley seemed to brace himself up in his
chair； but gave no recognition whatever to his presence。
The other puffed jets of smoke； then suddenly
〃I could never understand that new mania of yours
of having this Malay here for your shadow； partner。〃
Captain Whalley got up from the chair in all his im…
posing stature and walked across to the binnacle； hold…
ing such an unswerving course that the other had to
back away hurriedly； and remained as if intimidated；
with the pipe trembling in his hand。 〃Walk over me
now；〃 he muttered in a sort of astounded and dis…
comfited whisper。 Then slowly and distinctly he
said
〃Iamnotdirt。〃 And then added defiantly； 〃As
you seem to think。〃
The Serang jerked out
〃See the palms now； Tuan。〃
Captain Whalley strode forward to the rail； but his
eyes； instead of going straight to the point； with the
assured keen glance of a sailor； wandered irresolutely
in space； as though he； the discoverer of new routes； had
lost his way upon this narrow sea。
Another white man； the mate； came up on the bridge。
He was tall； young； lean； with a mustache like a
trooper； and something malicious in the eye。 He took
up a position beside the engineer。 Captain Whalley；
with his back to them； inquired
〃What's on the log？〃
〃Eighty…five；〃 answered the mate quickly； and nudged
the engineer with his elbow。
Captain Whalley's muscular hands squeezed the iron
rail with an extraordinary force； his eyes glared with
an enormous effort； he knitted his eyebrows； the per…
spiration fell from under his hat；and in a faint voice
he murmured； 〃Steady her； Serangwhen she is on
the proper bearing。〃
The silent Malay stepped back； waited a little； and
lifted his arm warningly to the helmsman。 The wheel
revolved rapidly to meet the swing of the ship。 Again
the made nudged the engineer。 But Massy turned upon
him。
〃Mr。 Sterne；〃 he said violently； 〃let me tell you
as a shipownerthat
