end of the tether-第25节
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also parcels of new musicthough the piano （it had
come years ago by the Sofala in the damp atmosphere
of the forests was generally out of tune。 It was vexing
to be cut off from everything for sixty days at a stretch
sometimes； without any means of knowing what was the
matter。 And when the Sofala reappeared Mr。 Van Wyk
would descend the steps of the veranda and stroll over
the grass plot in front of his house； down to the water…
side； with a frown on his white brow。
〃You've been laid up after an accident； I presume。〃
He addressed the bridge； but before anybody could
answer Massy was sure to have already scrambled ashore
over the rail and pushed in； squeezing the palms of his
hands together； bowing his sleek head as if gummed all
over the top with black threads and tapes。 And he
would be so enraged at the necessity of having to offer
such an explanation that his moaning would be posi…
tively pitiful； while all the time he tried to compose
his big lips into a smile。
〃No； Mr。 Van Wyk。 You would not believe it。 I
couldn't get one of those wretches to take the ship out。
Not a single one of the lazy beasts could be induced；
and the law； you know； Mr。 Van Wyk 。 。 。〃
He moaned at great length apologetically； the words
conspiracy； plot； envy； came out prominently； whined
with greater energy。 Mr。 Van Wyk； examining with
a faint grimace his polished finger…nails； would say；
〃H'm。 Very unfortunate；〃 and turn his back on him。
Fastidious； clever； slightly skeptical； accustomed to the
best society （he had held a much…envied shore appoint…
ment at the Ministry of Marine for a year preceding
his retreat from his profession and from Europe）； he
possessed a latent warmth of feeling and a capacity for
sympathy which were concealed by a sort of haughty；
arbitrary indifference of manner arising from his early
training； and by a something an enemy might have
called foppish； in his aspectlike a distorted echo of
past elegance。 He managed to keep an almost mili…
tary discipline amongst the coolies of the estate he had
dragged into the light of day out of the tangle and
shadows of the jungle； and the white shirt he put
on every evening with its stiff glossy front and high
collar looked as if he had meant to preserve the decent
ceremony of evening…dress； but had wound a thick crim…
son sash above his hips as a concession to the wilderness；
once his adversary； now his vanquished companion。
Moreover； it was a hygienic precaution。 Worn wide
open in front； a short jacket of some airy silken stuff
floated from his shoulders。 His fluffy； fair hair； thin
at the top； curled slightly at the sides； a carefully ar…
ranged mustache； an ungarnished forehead； the gleam
of low patent shoes peeping under the wide bottom of
trowsers cut straight from the same stuff as the gossa…
mer coat； completed a figure recalling； with its sash； a
pirate chief of romance； and at the same time the ele…
gance of a slightly bald dandy indulging； in seclusion；
a taste for unorthodox costume。
It was his evening get…up。 The proper time for the
Sofala to arrive at Batu Beru was an hour before sun…
set； and he looked picturesque； and somehow quite cor…
rect too； walking at the water's edge on the background
of grass slope crowned with a low long bungalow with
an immensely steep roof of palm thatch； and clad to the
eaves in flowering creepers。 While the Sofala was being
made fast he strolled in the shade of the few trees left
near the landing…place； waiting till he could go on
board。 Her white men were not of his kind。 The old
Sultan （though his wistful invasions were a nuisance）
was really much more acceptable to his fastidious taste。
But still they were white； the periodical visits of the
ship made a break in the well…filled sameness of the
days without disturbing his privacy。 Moreover； they
were necessary from a business point of view； and
through a strain of preciseness in his nature he was
irritated when she failed to appear at the appointed
time。
The cause of the irregularity was too absurd； and
Massy； in his opinion； was a contemptible idiot。 The
first time the Sofala reappeared under the new agree…
ment swinging out of the bend below； after he had
almost given up all hope of ever seeing her again； he
felt so angry that he did not go down at once to the
landing…place。 His servants had come running to him
with the news； and he had dragged a chair close against
the front rail of the veranda； spread his elbows out；
rested his chin on his hands； and went on glaring at
her fixedly while she was being made fast opposite his
house。 He could make out easily all the white faces on
board。 Who on earth was that kind of patriarch they
had got there on the bridge now？
At last he sprang up and walked down the gravel path。
It was a fact that the very gravel for his paths had
been imported by the Sofala。 Exasperated out of his
quiet superciliousness； without looking at anyone right
or left； he accosted Massy straightway in so determined
a manner that the engineer； taken aback； began to
stammer unintelligibly。 Nothing could be heard but
the words： 〃Mr。 Van Wyk 。 。 。 Indeed； Mr。 Van
Wyk 。 。 。 For the future； Mr。 Van Wyk〃and by the
suffusion of blood Massy's vast bilious face acquired an
unnatural orange tint； out of which the disconcerted
coal…black eyes shone in an extraordinary manner。
〃Nonsense。 I am tired of this。 I wonder you have
the impudence to come alongside my jetty as if I had
it made for your convenience alone。〃
Massy tried to protest earnestly。 Mr。 Van Wyk was
very angry。 He had a good mind to ask that German
firmthose people in Malaccawhat was their name？
boats with green funnels。 They would be only too glad
of the opening to put one of their small steamers on
the run。 Yes； Schnitzler； Jacob Schnitzler； would in a
moment。 Yes。 He had decided to write without delay。
In his agitation Massy caught up his falling pipe。
〃You don't mean it； sir！〃 he shrieked。
〃You shouldn't mismanage your business in this
ridiculous manner。〃
Mr。 Van Wyk turned on his heel。 The other three
whites on the bridge had not stirred during the scene。
Massy walked hastily from side to side； puffed out his
cheeks； suffocated。
〃Stuck up Dutchman！〃
And he moaned out feverishly a long tale of griefs。
The efforts he had made for all these years to please
that man。 This was the return you got for it； eh？
Pretty。 Write to Schnitzlerlet in the green…funnel
boatsget an old Hamburg Jew to ruin him。 No；
really he could laugh。 。 。 。 He laughed sobbingly。 。 。 。
Ha！ ha！ ha！ And make him carry the letter in his own
ship presumably。
He stumbled across a grating and swore。 He would
not hesitate to fling the Dutchman's correspondence
overboardthe whole confounded bundle。 He had
never； never made any charge for that accommodation。
But Captain Whalley； his new partner； would not let
him probably； besides； it would be only putting off the
evil day。 For his own part he would make a hole in the
water rather than look on tamely at the green funnels
overrunning his trade。
He raved aloud。 The China boys hung back with the
dishes at the foot of the ladder。 He yelled from the
bridge down at the deck； 〃Aren't we going to have any
chow this evening at all？〃 then turned violently to
Captain Whalley； who waited； grave and patient； at
the head of the table； smoothing his beard in silence
now and then with a forbearing gesture。
〃You don't seem to care what happens to me。 Don't
you see that this affects your interests as much as mine？
It's no joking matter。〃
He took the foot of the table growling between his
teeth。
〃Unless you have a few thousands put away some…
where。 I haven't。〃
Mr。 Van Wyk dined in his thoroughly lit…up bunga…
low； putting a point of splendor in the night of his
clearing above the dark bank of the river。 Afterwards
he sat down to his piano； and in a pause he became aware
of slow footsteps passing on the path along the front。
A plank or two creaked under a heavy tread； he swung
half round on the music…stool； listening with his finger
