end of the tether-第28节
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Well； she 。 。 。〃
Again he paused； then pronounced stoically the words；
〃She has a hard struggle。〃
And his head fell on his breast； his eyebrows remained
knitted； as by an effort of meditation。 But generally his
mind seemed steeped in the serenity of boundless trust
in a higher power。 Mr。 Van Wyk wondered sometimes
how much of it was due to the splendid vitality of the
man； to the bodily vigor which seems to impart some…
thing of its force to the soul。 But he had learned to
like him very much。
XIII
This was the reason why Mr。 Sterne's confidential com…
munication； delivered hurriedly on the shore alongside
the dark silent ship； had disturbed his equanimity。 It
was the most incomprehensible and unexpected thing
that could happen； and the perturbation of his spirit
was so great that； forgetting all about his letters； he ran
rapidly up the bridge ladder。
The portable table was being put together for dinner
to the left of the wheel by two pig…tailed 〃boys；〃 who
as usual snarled at each other over the job； while another；
a doleful； burly； very yellow Chinaman； resembling Mr。
Massy； waited apathetically with the cloth over his arm
and a pile of thick dinner…plates against his chest。 A
common cabin lamp with its globe missing； brought up
from below； had been hooked to the wooden framework
of the awning； the side…screens had been lowered all
round； Captain Whalley filling the depths of the wicker…
chair seemed to sit benumbed in a canvas tent crudely
lighted； and used for the storing of nautical objects； a
shabby steering…wheel； a battered brass binnacle on a
stout mahogany stand； two dingy life…buoys； an old cork
fender lying in a corner； dilapidated deck…lockers with
loops of thin rope instead of door…handles。
He shook off the appearance of numbness to return
Mr。 Van Wyk's unusually brisk greeting； but relapsed
directly afterwards。 To accept a pressing invitation to
dinner 〃up at the house〃 cost him another very visible
physical effort。 Mr。 Van Wyk； perplexed； folded his
arms； and leaning back against the rail； with his little；
black； shiny feet well out； examined him covertly。
〃I've noticed of late that you are not quite yourself；
old friend。〃
He put an affectionate gentleness into the last two
words。 The real intimacy of their intercourse had never
been so vividly expressed before。
〃Tut； tut； tut！〃
The wicker…chair creaked heavily。
〃Irritable；〃 commented Mr。 Van Wyk to himself； and
aloud； 〃I'll expect to see you in half an hour； then；〃 he
said negligently； moving off。
〃In half an hour；〃 Captain Whalley's rigid silvery
head repeated behind him as if out of a trance。
Amidships； below； two voices； close against the engine…
room； could be heard answering each otherone angry
and slow； the other alert。
〃I tell you the beast has locked himself in to get
drunk。〃
〃Can't help it now； Mr。 Massy。 After all； a man has
a right to shut himself up in his cabin in his own time。〃
〃Not to get drunk。〃
〃I heard him swear that the worry with the boilers
was enough to drive any man to drink；〃 Sterne said
maliciously。
Massy hissed out something about bursting the door
in。 Mr。 Van Wyk； to avoid them； crossed in the dark
to the other side of the deserted deck。 The planking
of the little wharf rattled faintly under his hasty feet。
〃Mr。 Van Wyk！ Mr。 Van Wyk！〃
He walked on： somebody was running on the path。
〃You've forgotten to get your mail。〃
Sterne； holding a bundle of papers in his hand； caught
up with him。
〃Oh； thanks。〃
But； as the other continued at his elbow； Mr。 Van
Wyk stopped short。 The overhanging eaves； descend…
ing low upon the lighted front of the bungalow； threw
their black straight…edged shadow into the great body
of the night on that side。 Everything was very still。
A tinkle of cutlery and a slight jingle of glasses were
heard。 Mr。 Van Wyk's servants were laying the table
for two on the veranda。
〃I'm afraid you give me no credit whatever for my
good intentions in the matter I've spoken to you about；〃
said Sterne。
〃I simply don't understand you。〃
〃Captain Whalley is a very audacious man； but he
will understand that his game is up。 That's all that
anybody need ever know of it from me。 Believe me； I
am very considerate in this； but duty is duty。 I don't
want to make a fuss。 All I ask you； as his friend； is
to tell him from me that the game's up。 That will be
sufficient。〃
Mr。 Van Wyk felt a loathsome dismay at this queer
privilege of friendship。 He would not demean himself
by asking for the slightest explanation； to drive the
other away with contumely he did not think prudent
as yet； at any rate。 So much assurance staggered him。
Who could tell what there could be in it； he thought？
His regard for Captain Whalley had the tenacity of
a disinterested sentiment； and his practical instinct com…
ing to his aid； he concealed his scorn。
〃I gather； then； that this is something grave。〃
〃Very grave；〃 Sterne assented solemnly； delighted at
having produced an effect at last。 He was ready to add
some effusive protestations of regret at the 〃unavoida…
ble necessity；〃 but Mr。 Van Wyk cut him shortvery
civilly； however。
Once on the veranda Mr。 Van Wyk put his hands in his
pockets； and； straddling his legs； stared down at a
black panther skin lying on the floor before a rocking…
chair。 〃It looks as if the fellow had not the pluck
to play his own precious game openly；〃 he thought。
This was true enough。 In the face of Massy's last
rebuff Sterne dared not declare his knowledge。 His
object was simply to get charge of the steamer and
keep it for some time。 Massy would never forgive him
for forcing himself on； but if Captain Whalley left
the ship of his own accord； the command would devolve
upon him for the rest of the trip； so he hit upon the
brilliant idea of scaring the old man away。 A vague
menace； a mere hint； would be enough in such a brazen
case； and； with a strange admixture of compassion； he
thought that Batu Beru was a very good place for
throwing up the sponge。 The skipper could go ashore
quietly； and stay with that Dutchman of his。 Weren't
these two as thick as thieves together？ And on reflec…
tion he seemed to see that there was a way to work the
whole thing through that great friend of the old man's。
This was another brilliant idea。 He had an inborn
preference for circuitous methods。 In this particular
case he desired to remain in the background as much
as possible； to avoid exasperating Massy needlessly。
No fuss！ Let it all happen naturally。
Mr。 Van Wyk all through the dinner was conscious
of a sense of isolation that invades sometimes the close…
ness of human intercourse。 Captain Whalley failed
lamentably and obviously in his attempts to eat some…
thing。 He seemed overcome by a strange absent…
mindedness。 His hand would hover irresolutely； as if
left without guidance by a preoccupied mind。 Mr。 Van
Wyk had heard him coming up from a long way off in
the profound stillness of the river…side； and had noticed
the irresolute character of the footfalls。 The toe of his
boot had struck the bottom stair as though he had come
along mooning with his head in the air right up to the
steps of the veranda。 Had the captain of the Sofala
been another sort of man he would have suspected the
work of age there。 But one glance at him was enough。
Timeafter； indeed； marking him for its ownhad
given him up to his usefulness； in which his simple
faith would see a proof of Divine mercy。 〃How could
I contrive to warn him？〃 Mr。 Van Wyk wondered； as
if Captain Whalley had been miles and miles away； out
of sight and earshot of all evil。 He was sickened by
an immense disgust of Sterne。 To even mention his
threat to a man like Whalley would be positively inde…
cent。 There was something more vile and insulting in
its hint than in a definite charge of crimethe debasing
taint of blackmailing。 〃What could anyone bring
against him？〃 he asked himself。 This was a limpid
personality。
