end of the tether-第18节
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the wide base of the group； the submerged level of
broken waste and refuse left over from the building of
the coast near by； projecting its dangerous spurs； all
awash； far into the channel； and bristling with wicked
long spits often a mile long： with deadly spits made of
froth and stones。
And even nothing more than a brisk breezeas on
that morning； the voyage before； when the Sofala left
Pangu bay early； and Mr。 Sterne's discovery was to
blossom out like a flower of incredible and evil aspect
from the tiny seed of instinctive suspicion；even such
a breeze had enough strength to tear the placid mask
from the face of the sea。 To Sterne； gazing with indif…
ference； it had been like a revelation to behold for the
first time the dangers marked by the hissing livid
patches on the water as distinctly as on the engraved
paper of a chart。 It came into his mind that this was
the sort of day most favorable for a stranger attempt…
ing the passage： a clear day； just windy enough for
the sea to break on every ledge； buoying； as it were；
the channel plainly to the sight； whereas during a calm
you had nothing to depend on but the compass and the
practiced judgment of your eye。 And yet the suc…
cessive captains of the Sofala had had to take her
through at night more than once。 Nowadays you could
not afford to throw away six or seven hours of a
steamer's time。 That you couldn't。 But then use is
everything； and with proper care 。 。 。 The channel
was broad and safe enough； the main point was to hit
upon the entrance correctly in the darkfor if a man
got himself involved in that stretch of broken water
over yonder he would never get out with a whole ship
if he ever got out at all。
This was Sterne's last train of thought independent
of the great discovery。 He had just seen to the secur…
ing of the anchor； and had remained forward idling
away a moment or two。 The captain was in charge on
the bridge。 With a slight yawn he had turned away
from his survey of the sea and had leaned his shoulders
against the fish davit。
These； properly speaking； were the very last moments
of ease he was to know on board the Sofala。 All the
instants that came after were to be pregnant with pur…
pose and intolerable with perplexity。 No more idle；
random thoughts； the discovery would put them on the
rack； till sometimes he wished to goodness he had been
fool enough not to make it at all。 And yet； if his
chance to get on rested on the discovery of 〃something
wrong；〃 he could not have hoped for a greater stroke
of luck。
X
The knowledge was too disturbing； really。 There was
〃something wrong〃 with a vengeance； and the moral
certitude of it was at first simply frightful to contem…
plate。 Sterne had been looking aft in a mood so idle；
that for once he was thinking no harm of anyone。 His
captain on the bridge presented himself naturally to
his sight。 How insignificant； how casual was the
thought that had started the train of discoverylike an
accidental spark that suffices to ignite the charge of a
tremendous mine！
Caught under by the breeze； the awnings of the fore…
deck bellied upwards and collapsed slowly； and above
their heavy flapping the gray stuff of Captain Whalley's
roomy coat fluttered incessantly around his arms and
trunk。 He faced the wind in full light； with his great
silvery beard blown forcibly against his chest； the eye…
brows overhung heavily the shadows whence his glance
appeared to be staring ahead piercingly。 Sterne could
just detect the twin gleam of the whites shifting under
the shaggy arches of the brow。 At short range these
eyes； for all the man's affable manner； seemed to look
you through and through。 Sterne never could defend
himself from that feeling when he had occasion to speak
with his captain。 He did not like it。 What a big
heavy man he appeared up there； with that little
shrimp of a Serang in close attendanceas was usual
in this extraordinary steamer！ Confounded absurd cus…
tom that。 He resented it。 Surely the old fellow could
have looked after his ship without that loafing native
at his elbow。 Sterne wriggled his shoulders with dis…
gust。 What was it？ Indolence or what？
That old skipper must have been growing lazy for
years。 They all grew lazy out East here （Sterne was
very conscious of his own unimpaired activity）； they
got slack all over。 But he towered very erect on the
bridge； and quite low by his side； as you see a small
child looking over the edge of a table； the battered soft
hat and the brown face of the Serang peeped over the
white canvas screen of the rail。
No doubt the Malay was standing back； nearer to the
wheel； but the great disparity of size in close associa…
tion amused Sterne like the observation of a bizarre fact
in nature。 They were as queer fish out of the sea as
any in it。
He saw Captain Whalley turn his head quickly to
speak to his Serang； the wind whipped the whole white
mass of the beard sideways。 He would be directing the
chap to look at the compass for him； or what not。 Of
course。 Too much trouble to step over and see for him…
self。 Sterne's scorn for that bodily indolence which
overtakes white men in the East increased on reflection。
Some of them would be utterly lost if they hadn't all
these natives at their beck and call； they grew perfectly
shameless about it too。 He was not of that sort； thank
God！ It wasn't in him to make himself dependent for
his work on any shriveled…up little Malay like that。 As
if one could ever trust a silly native for anything in
the world！ But that fine old man thought differently；
it seems。 There they were together； never far apart；
a pair of them； recalling to the mind an old whale at…
tended by a little pilot…fish。
The fancifulness of the comparison made him smile。
A whale with an inseparable pilot…fish！ That's what
the old man looked like； for it could not be said he
looked like a shark； though Mr。 Massy had called him
that very name。 But Mr。 Massy did not mind what he
said in his savage fits。 Sterne smiled to himselfand
gradually the ideas evoked by the sound； by the im…
agined shape of the word pilot…fish； the ideas of aid； of
guidance needed and received； came uppermost in his
mind： the word pilot awakened the idea of trust； of
dependence； the idea of welcome； clear…eyed help brought
to the seaman groping for the land in the dark： groping
blindly in fogs： feeling their way in the thick weather
of the gales that； filling the air with a salt mist blown
up from the sea； contract the range of sight on all
sides to a shrunken horizon that seems within reach of
the hand。
A pilot sees better than a stranger； because his local
knowledge； like a sharper vision； completes the shapes
of things hurriedly glimpsed； penetrates the veils of
mist spread over the land by the storms of the sea； de…
fines with certitude the outlines of a coast lying under
the pall of fog； the forms of landmarks half buried in a
starless night as in a shallow grave。 He recognizes be…
cause he already knows。 It is not to his far…reaching
eye but to his more extensive knowledge that the pilot
looks for certitude； for this certitude of the ship's posi…
tion on which may depend a man's good fame and the
peace of his conscience； the justification of the trust
deposited in his hands； with his own life too； which is
seldom wholly his to throw away； and the humble lives
of others rooted in distant affections； perhaps； and made
as weighty as the lives of kings by the burden of the
awaiting mystery。 The pilot's knowledge brings relief
and certitude to the commander of a ship； the Serang；
however； in his fanciful suggestion of a pilot…fish at…
tending a whale； could not in any way be credited with
a superior knowledge。 Why should he have it？ These
two men had come on that run togetherthe white and
the brownon the same day： and of course a white man
would learn more in a week than the best native would
in a month。 He was made to stick to the skipper as
though he were of some useas the pilot…fish； they say；
is to the whale。 But howit was very markedhow？
A pilot…fisha pilota 。 。 。 But if not superior
knowledge then 。
