end of the tether-第27节
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consequence？ The new generation was orderly； peace…
able； settled in prosperous villages。 He could speak
from personal knowledge。 And even the few survivors
of that timeold men nowhad changed so much； that
it would have been unkind to remember against them
that they had ever slit a throat in their lives。 He had
one especially in his mind's eye： a dignified； venerable
headman of a certain large coast village about sixty
miles sou'west of Tampasuk。 It did one's heart good
to see himto hear that man speak。 He might have
been a ferocious savage once。 What men wanted was
to be checked by superior intelligence； by superior
knowledge； by superior force tooyes； by force held in
trust from God and sanctified by its use in accordance
with His declared will。 Captain Whalley believed a dis…
position for good existed in every man； even if the
world were not a very happy place as a whole。 In the
wisdom of men he had not so much confidence。 The dis…
position had to be helped up pretty sharply sometimes；
he admitted。 They might be silly； wrongheaded； un…
happy； but naturally evilno。 There was at bottom
a complete harmlessness at least 。 。 。
〃Is there？〃 Mr。 Van Wyk snapped acrimoniously。
Captain Whalley laughed at the interjection； in the
good humor of large； tolerating certitude。 He could
look back at half a century； he pointed out。 The smoke
oozed placidly through the white hairs hiding his kindly
lips。
〃At all events；〃 he resumed after a pause； 〃I am
glad that they've had no time to do you much harm as
yet。〃
This allusion to his comparative youthfulness did not
offend Mr。 Van Wyk； who got up and wriggled his
shoulders with an enigmatic half…smile。 They walked
out together amicably into the starry night towards
the river…side。 Their footsteps resounded unequally on
the dark path。 At the shore end of the gangway the
lantern； hung low to the handrail； threw a vivid light
on the white legs and the big black feet of Mr。 Massy
waiting about anxiously。 From the waist upwards he
remained shadowy； with a row of buttons gleaming up
to the vague outline of his chin。
〃You may thank Captain Whalley for this；〃 Mr。 Van
Wyk said curtly to him before turning away。
The lamps on the veranda flung three long squares
of light between the uprights far over the grass。 A bat
flitted before his face like a circling flake of velvety
blackness。 Along the jasmine hedge the night air
seemed heavy with the fall of perfumed dew； flower…
beds bordered the path； the clipped bushes uprose in
dark rounded clumps here and there before the house；
the dense foliage of creepers filtered the sheen of the
lamplight within in a soft glow all along the front；
and everything near and far stood still in a great im…
mobility； in a great sweetness。
Mr。 Van Wyk （a few years before he had had occasion
to imagine himself treated more badly than anybody
alive had ever been by a woman） felt for Captain
Whalley's optimistic views the disdain of a man who
had once been credulous himself。 His disgust with the
world （the woman for a time had filled it for him com…
pletely） had taken the form of activity in retirement；
because； though capable of great depth of feeling； he
was energetic and essentially practical。 But there was
in that uncommon old sailor； drifting on the outskirts
of his busy solitude； something that fascinated his
skepticism。 His very simplicity （amusing enough） was
like a delicate refinement of an upright character。 The
striking dignity of manner could be nothing else； in a
man reduced to such a humble position； but the ex…
pression of something essentially noble in the character。
With all his trust in mankind he was no fool； the seren…
ity of his temper at the end of so many years； since it
could not obviously have been appeased by success； wore
an air of profound wisdom。 Mr。 Van Wyk was amused
at it sometimes。 Even the very physical traits of the
old captain of the Sofala； his powerful frame； his re…
poseful mien； his intelligent； handsome face； the big
limbs； the benign courtesy； the touch of rugged severity
in the shaggy eyebrows； made up a seductive person…
ality。 Mr。 Van Wyk disliked littleness of every kind；
but there was nothing small about that man； and in
the exemplary regularity of many trips an intimacy had
grown up between them； a warm feeling at bottom under
a kindly stateliness of forms agreeable to his fastidious…
ness。
They kept their respective opinions on all worldly
matters。 His other convictions Captain Whalley never
intruded。 The difference of their ages was like another
bond between them。 Once； when twitted with the un…
charitableness of his youth； Mr。 Van Wyk； running his
eye over the vast proportions of his interlocutor； re…
torted in friendly banter
〃Oh。 You'll come to my way of thinking yet。 You'll
have plenty of time。 Don't call yourself old： you look
good for a round hundred。〃
But he could not help his stinging incisiveness； and
though moderating it by an almost affectionate smile；
he added
〃And by then you will probably consent to die from
sheer disgust。〃
Captain Whalley； smiling too； shook his head。 〃God
forbid！〃
He thought that perhaps on the whole he deserved
something better than to die in such sentiments。 The
time of course would have to come； and he trusted to
his Maker to provide a manner of going out of which
he need not be ashamed。 For the rest he hoped he
would live to a hundred if need be： other men had been
known； it would be no miracle。 He expected no miracles。
The pronounced； argumentative tone caused Mr。 Van
Wyk to raise his head and look at him steadily。 Cap…
tain Whalley was gazing fixedly with a rapt expression；
as though he had seen his Creator's favorable decree
written in mysterious characters on the wall。 He kept
perfectly motionless for a few seconds； then got his vast
bulk on to his feet so impetuously that Mr。 Van Wyk
was startled。
He struck first a heavy blow on his inflated chest： and；
throwing out horizontally a big arm that remained
steady； extended in the air like the limb of a tree on
a windless day
〃Not a pain or an ache there。 Can you see this shake
in the least？〃
His voice was low； in an awing； confident contrast with
the headlong emphasis of his movements。 He sat down
abruptly。
〃This isn't to boast of it； you know。 I am nothing；〃
he said in his effortless strong voice； that seemed to
come out as naturally as a river flows。 He picked up the
stump of the cigar he had laid aside； and added peace…
fully； with a slight nod； 〃As it happens； my life is
necessary； it isn't my own； it isn'tGod knows。〃
He did not say much for the rest of the evening； but
several times Mr。 Van Wyk detected a faint smile of
assurance flitting under the heavy mustache。
Later on Captain Whalley would now and then consent
to dine 〃at the house。〃 He could even be induced to
drink a glass of wine。 〃Don't think I am afraid of it；
my good sir；〃 he explained。 〃There was a very good
reason why I should give it up。〃
On another occasion； leaning back at ease； he remarked；
〃You have treated me mostmost humanely； my dear
Mr。 Van Wyk； from the very first。〃
〃You'll admit there was some merit；〃 Mr。 Van Wyk
hinted slyly。 〃An associate of that excellent Massy。
。 。 。 Well； well； my dear captain； I won't say a word
against him。〃
〃It would be no use your saying anything against
him；〃 Captain Whalley affirmed a little moodily。 〃As
I've told you before； my lifemy work； is necessary； not
for myself alone。 I can't choose〃 。 。 。 He paused；
turned the glass before him right round。 。 。 。 〃I have
an only childa daughter。〃
The ample downward sweep of his arm over the table
seemed to suggest a small girl at a vast distance。 〃I
hope to see her once more before I die。 Meantime it's
enough to know that she has me sound and solid； thank
God。 You can't understand how one feels。 Bone of my
bone； flesh of my flesh； the very image of my poor wife。
Well； she 。 。 。〃
Again he paused； then pronounced stoically the words；
〃Sh
