end of the tether-第14节
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be stirring the mud now； which made him peep over the
side。
His peering eyes； set aslant in a face of the Chinese
type； a little old face； immovable； as if carved in old
brown oak； had informed him long before that the ship
was not headed at the bar properly。 Paid off from
the Fair Maid； together with the rest of the crew； after
the completion of the sale； he had hung； in his faded
blue suit and floppy gray hat； about the doors of the
Harbor Office； till one day； seeing Captain Whalley
coming along to get a crew for the Sofala； he had put
himself quietly in the way； with his bare feet in the dust
and an upward mute glance。 The eyes of his old com…
mander had fallen on him favorablyit must have
been an auspicious dayand in less than half an hour
the white men in the 〃Ofiss〃 had written his name on
a document as Serang of the fire…ship Sofala。 Since
that time he had repeatedly looked at that estuary； upon
that coast； from this bridge and from this side of the
bar。 The record of the visual world fell through his
eyes upon his unspeculating mind as on a sensitized
plate through the lens of a camera。 His knowledge was
absolute and precise； nevertheless； had he been asked
his opinion； and especially if questioned in the down…
right； alarming manner of white men； he would have
displayed the hesitation of ignorance。 He was certain
of his factsbut such a certitude counted for little
against the doubt what answer would be pleasing。
Fifty years ago； in a jungle village； and before he was
a day old； his father （who died without ever seeing
a white face） had had his nativity cast by a man of
skill and wisdom in astrology； because in the arrange…
ment of the stars may be read the last word of human
destiny。 His destiny had been to thrive by the favor
of various white men on the sea。 He had swept the
decks of ships； had tended their helms； had minded their
stores； had risen at last to be a Serang； and his placid
mind had remained as incapable of penetrating the sim…
plest motives of those he served as they themselves were
incapable of detecting through the crust of the earth
the secret nature of its heart； which may be fire or may
be stone。 But he had no doubt whatever that the Sofala
was out of the proper track for crossing the bar at
Batu Beru。
It was a slight error。 The ship could not have been
more than twice her own length too far to the north…
ward； and a white man at a loss for a cause （since it
was impossible to suspect Captain Whalley of blunder…
ing ignorance； of want of skill； or of neglect） would
have been inclined to doubt the testimony of his senses。
It was some such feeling that kept Massy motionless；
with his teeth laid bare by an anxious grin。 Not so the
Serang。 He was not troubled by any intellectual mis…
trust of his senses。 If his captain chose to stir the mud
it was well。 He had known in his life white men indulge
in outbreaks equally strange。 He was only genuinely
interested to see what would come of it。 At last； appar…
ently satisfied； he stepped back from the rail。
He had made no sound： Captain Whalley； however；
seemed to have observed the movements of his Serang。
Holding his head rigidly； he asked with a mere stir of
his lips
〃Going ahead still； Serang？〃
〃Still going a little； Tuan；〃 answered the Malay。
Then added casually； 〃She is over。〃
The lead confirmed his words； the depth of water in…
creased at every cast； and the soul of excitement de…
parted suddenly from the lascar swung in the canvas
belt over the Sofala's side。 Captain Whalley or…
dered the lead in； set the engines ahead without haste；
and averting his eyes from the coast directed the
Serang to keep a course for the middle of the en…
trance。
Massy brought the palm of his hand with a loud smack
against his thigh。
〃You grazed on the bar。 Just look astern and see
if you didn't。 Look at the track she left。 You can see
it plainly。 Upon my soul； I thought you would！ What
made you do that？ What on earth made you do that？
I believe you are trying to scare me。〃
He talked slowly； as it were circumspectly； keeping his
prominent black eyes on his captain。 There was also a
slight plaintive note in his rising choler； for； primarily；
it was the clear sense of a wrong suffered undeservedly
that made him hate the man who； for a beggarly five
hundred pounds； claimed a sixth part of the profits
under the three years' agreement。 Whenever his resent…
ment got the better of the awe the person of Captain
Whalley inspired he would positively whimper with
fury。
〃You don't know what to invent to plague my life
out of me。 I would not have thought that a man of
your sort would condescend 。 。 。〃
He paused； half hopefully； half timidly； whenever
Captain Whalley made the slightest movement in the
deck…chair； as though expecting to be conciliated by a
soft speech or else rushed upon and hunted off the
bridge。
〃I am puzzled；〃 he went on again； with the watchful
unsmiling baring of his big teeth。 〃I don't know what
to think。 I do believe you are trying to frighten me。
You very nearly planted her on the bar for at least
twelve hours； besides getting the engines choked with
mud。 Ships can't afford to lose twelve hours on a trip
nowadaysas you ought to know very well； and do
know very well to be sure； only 。 。 。〃
His slow volubility； the sideways cranings of his neck；
the black glances out of the very corners of his eyes；
left Captain Whalley unmoved。 He looked at the deck
with a severe frown。 Massy waited for some little time；
then began to threaten plaintively。
〃You think you've got me bound hand and foot in
that agreement。 You think you can torment me in any
way you please。 Ah！ But remember it has another
six weeks to run yet。 There's time for me to dismiss
you before the three years are out。 You will do yet
something that will give me the chance to dismiss you；
and make you wait a twelvemonth for your money before
you can take yourself off and pull out your five hundred；
and leave me without a penny to get the new boilers for
her。 You gloat over that ideadon't you？ I do be…
lieve you sit here gloating。 It's as if I had sold my
soul for five hundred pounds to be everlastingly damned
in the end。 。 。 。〃
He paused； without apparent exasperation； then con…
tinued evenly
〃。 。 。 With the boilers worn out and the survey hang…
ing over my head； Captain Whalley Captain
Whalley； I say； what do you do with your money？ You
must have stacks of money somewherea man like you
must。 It stands to reason。 I am not a fool； you know；
Captain Whalleypartner。〃
Again he paused； as though he had done for good。
He passed his tongue over his lips； gave a backward
glance at the Serang conning the ship with quiet whis…
pers and slight signs of the hand。 The wash of the
propeller sent a swift ripple； crested with dark froth；
upon a long flat spit of black slime。 The Sofala had
entered the river； the trail she had stirred up over the
bar was a mile astern of her now； out of sight； had dis…
appeared utterly； and the smooth； empty sea along the
coast was left behind in the glittering desolation of sun…
shine。 On each side of her； low down； the growth of
somber twisted mangroves covered the semi…liquid banks；
and Massy continued in his old tone； with an abrupt
start； as if his speech had been ground out of him； like
the tune of a music…box； by turning a handle。
〃Though if anybody ever got the best of me； it is you。
I don't mind saying this。 I've said itthere！ What
more can you want？ Isn't that enough for your pride；
Captain Whalley。 You got over me from the first。 It's
all of a piece； when I look back at it。 You allowed me
to insert that clause about intemperance without saying
anything； only looking very sick when I made a point
of it going in black on white。 How could I tell what
was wrong about you。 There's generally something
wrong somewhere。 And； lo and behold！ when you
come on board it turns out that you've been in the
habit of drinking nothing but water for years and
years。〃
His dogmatic reproachful whine stopped。 He
