end of the tether-第3节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
body else； but that the prop she had selected seemed on
closer examination 〃a rather poor stick〃even in the
matter of health。 He disliked his son…in…law's studied
civility perhaps more than his method of handling the
sum of money he had given Ivy at her marriage。 But
of his apprehensions he said nothing。 Only on the day
of his departure； with the hall…door open already； hold…
ing her hands and looking steadily into her eyes； he
had said； 〃You know； my dear； all I have is for you and
the chicks。 Mind you write to me openly。〃 She had
answered him by an almost imperceptible movement of
her head。 She resembled her mother in the color of her
eyes； and in characterand also in this； that she under…
stood him without many words。
Sure enough she had to write； and some of these letters
made Captain Whalley lift his white eye…brows。 For
the rest he considered he was reaping the true reward of
his life by being thus able to produce on demand what…
ever was needed。 He had not enjoyed himself so much
in a way since his wife had died。 Characteristically
enough his son…in…law's punctuality in failure caused him
at a distance to feel a sort of kindness towards the man。
The fellow was so perpetually being jammed on a lee
shore that to charge it all to his reckless navigation
would be manifestly unfair。 No； no！ He knew well
what that meant。 It was bad luck。 His own had been
simply marvelous； but he had seen in his life too many
good menseamen and othersgo under with the sheer
weight of bad luck not to recognize the fatal signs。 For
all that； he was cogitating on the best way of tying up
very strictly every penny he had to leave； when； with a
preliminary rumble of rumors （whose first sound reached
him in Shanghai as it happened）； the shock of the big
failure came； and； after passing through the phases of
stupor； of incredulity； of indignation； he had to accept
the fact that he had nothing to speak of to leave。
Upon that； as if he had only waited for this catas…
trophe； the unlucky man； away there in Melbourne； gave
up his unprofitable game； and sat downin an invalid's
bath…chair at that too。 〃He will never walk again；〃
wrote the wife。 For the first time in his life Captain
Whalley was a bit staggered。
The Fair Maid had to go to work in bitter earnest now。
It was no longer a matter of preserving alive the memory
of Dare…devil Harry Whalley in the Eastern Seas； or
of keeping an old man in pocket…money and clothes； with；
perhaps； a bill for a few hundred first…class cigars
thrown in at the end of the year。 He would have to
buckle…to； and keep her going hard on a scant allowance
of gilt for the ginger…bread scrolls at her stem and
stern。
This necessity opened his eyes to the fundamental
changes of the world。 Of his past only the familiar
names remained； here and there； but the things and the
men； as he had known them； were gone。 The name of
Gardner； Patteson； & Co。 was still displayed on the
walls of warehouses by the waterside； on the brass plates
and window…panes in the business quarters of more than
one Eastern port； but there was no longer a Gardner
or a Patteson in the firm。 There was no longer for Cap…
tain Whalley an arm…chair and a welcome in the private
office； with a bit of business ready to be put in the way
of an old friend； for the sake of bygone services。 The
husbands of the Gardner girls sat behind the desks in
that room where； long after he had left the employ； he
had kept his right of entrance in the old man's time。
Their ships now had yellow funnels with black tops；
and a time…table of appointed routes like a confounded
service of tramways。 The winds of December and June
were all one to them； their captains （excellent young
men he doubted not） were； to be sure； familiar with
Whalley Island； because of late years the Government
had established a white fixed light on the north end （with
a red danger sector over the Condor Reef）； but most of
them would have been extremely surprised to hear that
a flesh…and…blood Whalley still existedan old man
going about the world trying to pick up a cargo here
and there for his little bark。
And everywhere it was the same。 Departed the men
who would have nodded appreciatively at the mention
of his name； and would have thought themselves bound
in honor to do something for Dare…devil Harry Whalley。
Departed the opportunities which he would have known
how to seize； and gone with them the white…winged flock
of clippers that lived in the boisterous uncertain life of
the winds； skimming big fortunes out of the foam of
the sea。 In a world that pared down the profits to an
irreducible minimum； in a world that was able to count
its disengaged tonnage twice over every day； and in
which lean charters were snapped up by cable three
months in advance； there were no chances of fortune for
an individual wandering haphazard with a little bark
hardly indeed any room to exist。
He found it more difficult from year to year。 He suf…
fered greatly from the smallness of remittances he was
able to send his daughter。 Meantime he had given up
good cigars； and even in the matter of inferior cheroots
limited himself to six a day。 He never told her of his
difficulties； and she never enlarged upon her struggle
to live。 Their confidence in each other needed no ex…
planations； and their perfect understanding endured
without protestations of gratitude or regret。 He would
have been shocked if she had taken it into her head to
thank him in so many words； but he found it perfectly
natural that she should tell him she needed two hundred
pounds。
He had come in with the Fair Maid in ballast to look
for a freight in the Sofala's port of registry； and her
letter met him there。 Its tenor was that it was no use
mincing matters。 Her only resource was in opening a
boarding…house； for which the prospects； she judged；
were good。 Good enough； at any rate； to make her tell
him frankly that with two hundred pounds she could
make a start。 He had torn the envelope open； hastily；
on deck； where it was handed to him by the ship…
chandler's runner； who had brought his mail at the mo…
ment of anchoring。 For the second time in his life he
was appalled； and remained stock…still at the cabin door
with the paper trembling between his fingers。 Open a
boarding…house！ Two hundred pounds for a start！ The
only resource！ And he did not know where to lay his
hands on two hundred pence。
All that night Captain Whalley walked the poop of
his anchored ship； as though he had been about to close
with the land in thick weather； and uncertain of his
position after a run of many gray days without a sight
of sun； moon； or stars。 The black night twinkled with
the guiding lights of seamen and the steady straight
lines of lights on shore； and all around the Fair Maid
the riding lights of ships cast trembling trails upon the
water of the roadstead。 Captain Whalley saw not a
gleam anywhere till the dawn broke and he found out
that his clothing was soaked through with the heavy
dew。
His ship was awake。 He stopped short； stroked his
wet beard； and descended the poop ladder backwards；
with tired feet。 At the sight of him the chief officer；
lounging about sleepily on the quarterdeck； remained
open…mouthed in the middle of a great early…morning
yawn。
〃Good morning to you；〃 pronounced Captain Whal…
ley solemnly； passing into the cabin。 But he checked
himself in the doorway； and without looking back； 〃By
the bye；〃 he said； 〃there should be an empty wooden
case put away in the lazarette。 It has not been broken
uphas it？〃
The mate shut his mouth； and then asked as if dazed；
〃What empty case； sir？〃
〃A big flat packing…case belonging to that painting in
my room。 Let it be taken up on deck and tell the
carpenter to look it over。 I may want to use it before
long。〃
The chief officer did not stir a limb till he had heard
the door of the captain's state…room slam within the
cuddy。 Then he beckoned aft the second mate with his
forefinger to tell him that there was something 〃in the
wind。〃
When the bell rang Captain Whalley's authoritative
voice boomed out through
