end of the tether-第6节
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was ready to lay hold of anything in an honest way so
that it came quickly to his hand； because the five hun…
dred pounds must be preserved intact for eventual use。
That was the great point。 With the entire five hundred
one felt a substance at one's back； but it seemed to him
that should he let it dwindle to four…fifty or even four…
eighty； all the efficiency would be gone out of the money；
as though there were some magic power in the round
figure。 But what sort of work？
Confronted by that haunting question as by an uneasy
ghost； for whom he had no exorcising formula； Captain
Whalley stopped short on the apex of a small bridge
spanning steeply the bed of a canalized creek with
granite shores。 Moored between the square blocks a sea…
going Malay prau floated half hidden under the arch
of masonry； with her spars lowered down； without a sound
of life on board； and covered from stem to stern with a
ridge of palm…leaf mats。 He had left behind him the
overheated pavements bordered by the stone frontages
that； like the sheer face of cliffs； followed the sweep
of the quays； and an unconfined spaciousness of orderly
and sylvan aspect opened before him its wide plots of
rolled grass； like pieces of green carpet smoothly pegged
out； its long ranges of trees lined up in colossal porticos
of dark shafts roofed with a vault of branches。
Some of these avenues ended at the sea。 It was a ter…
raced shore； and beyond； upon the level expanse； pro…
found and glistening like the gaze of a dark…blue eye；
an oblique band of stippled purple lengthened itself in…
definitely through the gap between a couple of verdant
twin islets。 The masts and spars of a few ships far
away； hull down in the outer roads； sprang straight from
the water in a fine maze of rosy lines penciled on the
clear shadow of the eastern board。 Captain Whalley
gave them a long glance。 The ship； once his own； was
anchored out there。 It was staggering to think that it
was open to him no longer to take a boat at the jetty
and get himself pulled off to her when the evening came。
To no ship。 Perhaps never more。 Before the sale was
concluded； and till the purchase…money had been paid；
he had spent daily some time on board the Fair Maid。
The money had been paid this very morning； and now；
all at once； there was positively no ship that he could
go on board of when he liked； no ship that would need
his presence in order to do her workto live。 It seemed
an incredible state of affairs； something too bizarre to
last。 And the sea was full of craft of all sorts。 There
was that prau lying so still swathed in her shroud of
sewn palm…leavesshe too had her indispensable man。
They lived through each other； this Malay he had never
seen； and this high…sterned thing of no size that seemed
to be resting after a long journey。 And of all the ships
in sight； near and far； each was provided with a man；
the man without whom the finest ship is a dead thing；
a floating and purposeless log。
After his one glance at the roadstead he went on； since
there was nothing to turn back for； and the time must
be got through somehow。 The avenues of big trees ran
straight over the Esplanade； cutting each other at di…
verse angles； columnar below and luxuriant above。 The
interlaced boughs high up there seemed to slumber； not
a leaf stirred overhead： and the reedy cast…iron lamp…
posts in the middle of the road； gilt like scepters；
diminished in a long perspective； with their globes of
white porcelain atop； resembling a barbarous decoration
of ostriches' eggs displayed in a row。 The flaming sky
kindled a tiny crimson spark upon the glistening sur…
face of each glassy shell。
With his chin sunk a little； his hands behind his back；
and the end of his stick marking the gravel with a faint
wavering line at his heels； Captain Whalley reflected
that if a ship without a man was like a body without
a soul； a sailor without a ship was of not much more
account in this world than an aimless log adrift upon the
sea。 The log might be sound enough by itself； tough
of fiber； and hard to destroybut what of that！ And
a sudden sense of irremediable idleness weighted his feet
like a great fatigue。
A succession of open carriages came bowling along the
newly opened sea…road。 You could see across the wide
grass…plots the discs of vibration made by the spokes。
The bright domes of the parasols swayed lightly out…
wards like full…blown blossoms on the rim of a vase； and
the quiet sheet of dark…blue water； crossed by a bar of
purple； made a background for the spinning wheels and
the high action of the horses； whilst the turbaned heads
of the Indian servants elevated above the line of the sea
horizon glided rapidly on the paler blue of the sky。 In
an open space near the little bridge each turn…out trotted
smartly in a wide curve away from the sunset； then pull…
ing up sharp； entered the main alley in a long slow…
moving file with the great red stillness of the sky at
the back。 The trunks of mighty trees stood all touched
with red on the same side； the air seemed aflame under
the high foliage； the very ground under the hoofs of the
horses was red。 The wheels turned solemnly； one after
another the sunshades drooped； folding their colors like
gorgeous flowers shutting their petals at the end of the
day。 In the whole half…mile of human beings no voice
uttered a distinct word； only a faint thudding noise went
on mingled with slight jingling sounds； and the motion…
less heads and shoulders of men and women sitting in
couples emerged stolidly above the lowered hoodsas if
wooden。 But one carriage and pair coming late did not
join the line。
It fled along in a noiseless roll； but on entering the
avenue one of the dark bays snorted； arching his neck
and shying against the steel…tipped pole； a flake of
foam fell from the bit upon the point of a satiny shoul…
der； and the dusky face of the coachman leaned for…
ward at once over the hands taking a fresh grip of the
reins。 It was a long dark…green landau； having a digni…
fied and buoyant motion between the sharply curved
C…springs； and a sort of strictly official majesty in its
supreme elegance。 It seemed more roomy than is usual；
its horses seemed slightly bigger； the appointments a
shade more perfect； the servants perched somewhat
higher on the box。 The dresses of three womentwo
young and pretty； and one； handsome； large； of mature
ageseemed to fill completely the shallow body of the
carriage。 The fourth face was that of a man； heavy
lidded； distinguished and sallow； with a somber； thick；
iron…gray imperial and mustaches； which somehow had
the air of solid appendages。 His Excellency
The rapid motion of that one equipage made all the
others appear utterly inferior； blighted； and reduced to
crawl painfully at a snail's pace。 The landau distanced
the whole file in a sort of sustained rush； the features
of the occupant whirling out of sight left behind an
impression of fixed stares and impassive vacancy； and
after it had vanished in full flight as it were； notwith…
standing the long line of vehicles hugging the curb at
a walk； the whole lofty vista of the avenue seemed to lie
open and emptied of life in the enlarged impression of
an august solitude。
Captain Whalley had lifted his head to look； and his
mind； disturbed in its meditation； turned with wonder
（as men's minds will do） to matters of no importance。
It struck him that it was to this port； where he had
just sold his last ship； that he had come with the very
first he had ever owned； and with his head full of a plan
for opening a new trade with a distant part of the
Archipelago。 The then governor had given him no end
of encouragement。 No Excellency hethis Mr。 Den…
hamthis governor with his jacket off； a man who
tended night and day； so to speak； the growing pros…
perity of the settlement with the self…forgetful devotion
of a nurse for a child she loves； a lone bachelor who
lived as in a camp with the few servants and his three
dogs in what was called then the Government Bungalow：
a low…roofed structure on the half…cleared slope of a
hill； with a new flagstaff in front and a police orderly
on the veranda。 He remembered toiling up that
