end of the tether-第31节
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this very trip； he gave an attentive assent。 He was
aware。 One heard of nothing else on board all the
blessed day long。 As to Massy； it was no secret that he
was in a jolly deep hole with these worn…out boilers。
He would have to borrow somewhere a couple of hun…
dred first of all to pay off the captain； and then he
would have to raise money on mortgage upon the ship
for the new boilersthat is； if he could find a lender at
all。 At best it meant loss of time； a break in the trade；
short earnings for the yearand there was always the
danger of having his connection filched away from him
by the Germans。 It was whispered about that he had
already tried two firms。 Neither would have anything
to do with him。 Ship too old； and the man too well
known in the place。 。 。 。 Mr。 Sterne's final rapid wink…
ing remained buried in the deep darkness sibilating with
his whispers。
〃Supposing； then； he got the loan；〃 Mr。 Van Wyk
resumed in a deliberate undertone； 〃on your own show…
ing he's more than likely to get a mortgagee's man
thrust upon him as captain。 For my part； I know that
I would make that very stipulation myself if I had to
find the money。 And as a matter of fact I am thinking
of doing so。 It would be worth my while in many ways。
Do you see how this would bear on the case under dis…
cussion？〃
〃Thank you； sir。 I am sure you couldn't get any…
body that would care more for your interests。〃
〃Well； it suits my interest that Captain Whalley
should finish his time。 I shall probably take a passage
with you down the Straits。 If that can be done； I'll be
on the spot when all these changes take place； and in a
position to look after YOUR interests。〃
〃Mr。 Van Wyk； I want nothing better。 I am sure
I am infinitely 。 。 。〃
〃I take it； then； that this may be done without any
trouble。〃
〃Well； sir； what risk there is can't be helped； but
（speaking to you as my employer now） the thing is
more safe than it looks。 If anybody had told me of it
I wouldn't have believed it； but I have been looking on
myself。 That old Serang has been trained up to the
game。 There's nothing the matter with hishis
limbs； sir。 He's got used to doing things himself in a
remarkable way。 And let me tell you； sir； that Cap…
tain Whalley； poor man； is by no means useless。 Fact。
Let me explain to you； sir。 He stiffens up that old
monkey of a Malay； who knows well enough what to do。
Why； he must have kept captain's watches in all sorts of
country ships off and on for the last five…and…twenty
years。 These natives； sir； as long as they have a white
man close at the back； will go on doing the right thing
most surprisingly welleven if left quite to themselves。
Only the white man must be of the sort to put starch
into them； and the captain is just the one for that。
Why； sir； he has drilled him so well that now he needs
hardly speak at all。 I have seen that little wrinkled
ape made to take the ship out of Pangu Bay on a
blowy morning and on all through the islands； take
her out first…rate； sir； dodging under the old man's
elbow； and in such quiet style that you could not have
told for the life of you which of the two was doing the
work up there。 That's where our poor friend would be
still of use to the ship even ififhe could no longer
lift a foot； sir。 Provided the Serang does not know
that there's anything wrong。〃
〃He doesn't。〃
〃Naturally not。 Quite beyond his apprehension。
They aren't capable of finding out anything about us；
sir。〃
〃You seem to be a shrewd man；〃 said Mr。 Van Wyk
in a choked mutter； as though he were feeling sick。
〃You'll find me a good enough servant； sir。〃
Mr。 Sterne hoped now for a handshake at least； but
unexpectedly； with a 〃What's this？ Better not to be
seen together；〃 Mr。 Van Wyk's white shape wavered；
and instantly seemed to melt away in the black air under
the roof of boughs。 The mate was startled。 Yes。
There was that faint thumping clatter。
He stole out silently from under the shade。 The
lighted port…hole shone from afar。 His head swam with
the intoxication of sudden success。 What a thing it
was to have a gentleman to deal with！ He crept aboard；
and there was something weird in the shadowy stretch
of empty decks； echoing with shouts and blows proceed…
ing from a darker part amidships。 Mr。 Massy was
raging before the door of the berth： the drunken voice
within flowed on undisturbed in the violent racket of
kicks。
〃Shut up！ Put your light out and turn in； you
confounded swilling pigyou！ D'you hear me； you
beast？〃
The kicking stopped； and in the pause the muzzy
oracular voice announced from within
〃Ah！ Massy； nowthat's another thing。 Massy's
deep。〃
〃Who's that aft there？ You； Sterne？ He'll drink
himself into a fit of horrors。〃 The chief engineer ap…
peared vague and big at the corner of the engine…
room。
〃He will be good enough for duty to…morrow。 I would
let him be； Mr。 Massy。〃
Sterne slipped away into his berth； and at once had
to sit down。 His head swam with exultation。 He got
into his bunk as if in a dream。 A feeling of profound
peace； of pacific joy； came over him。 On deck all was
quiet。
Mr。 Massy； with his ear against the door of Jack's
cabin； listened critically to a deep stertorous breathing
within。 This was a dead…drunk sleep。 The bout was
over： tranquilized on that score； he too went in； and
with slow wriggles got out of his old tweed jacket。 It
was a garment with many pockets； which he used to put
on at odd times of the day； being subject to sudden
chilly fits； and when he felt warmed he would take it off
and hang it about anywhere all over the ship。 It would
be seen swinging on belaying…pins； thrown over the
heads of winches； suspended on people's very door…
handles for that matter。 Was he not the owner？ But
his favorite place was a hook on a wooden awning
stanchion on the bridge； almost against the binnacle。
He had even in the early days more than one tussle on
that point with Captain Whalley； who desired the
bridge to be kept tidy。 He had been overawed then。
Of late； though； he had been able to defy his partner
with impunity。 Captain Whalley never seemed to
notice anything now。 As to the Malays； in their awe
of that scowling man not one of the crew would dream
of laying a hand on the thing； no matter where or what
it swung from。
With an unexpectedness which made Mr。 Massy jump
and drop the coat at his feet； there came from the next
berth the crash and thud of a headlong； jingling； clat…
tering fall。 The faithful Jack must have dropped to
sleep suddenly as he sat at his revels； and now had
gone over chair and all； breaking； as it seemed by the
sound； every single glass and bottle in the place。 After
the terrific smash all was still for a time in there； as
though he had killed himself outright on the spot。 Mr。
Massy held his breath。 At last a sleepy uneasy groan…
ing sigh was exhaled slowly on the other side of the
bulkhead。
〃I hope to goodness he's too drunk to wake up now；〃
muttered Mr。 Massy。
The sound of a softly knowing laugh nearly drove
him to despair。 He swore violently under his breath。
The fool would keep him awake all night now for cer…
tain。 He cursed his luck。 He wanted to forget his
maddening troubles in sleep sometimes。 He could detect
no movements。 Without apparently making the slight…
est attempt to get up； Jack went on sniggering to him…
self where he lay； then began to speak； where he had
left off as it were
〃Massy！ I love the dirty rascal。 He would like to
see his poor old Jack starvebut just you look where
he has climbed to。〃 。 。 。 He hiccoughed in a superior；
leisurely manner。 。 。 。 〃Ship…owning it with the best。
A lottery ticket you want。 Ha！ ha！ I will give you
lottery tickets； my boy。 Let the old ship sink and the
old chum starvethat's right。 He don't go wrong
Massy don't。 Not he。 He's a geniusthat man is。
That's the way to win your money。 Ship and chum
must go。〃
〃The silly fool has taken it to heart；〃 muttered Massy
to himself。 And； listening with
