end of the tether-第9节
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he could not bring himself to take into his confidence
at this juncture； and the other went on with his intimate
outpourings； and as remote from his hearer as though
he had been talking on a hill…top a mile away。
He was in a bit of a quandary now as to the steamer
Sofala。 Ultimately every hitch in the port came into
his hands to undo。 They would miss him when he was
gone in another eighteen months； and most likely some
retired naval officer had been pitchforked into the ap…
pointmenta man that would understand nothing and
care less。 That steamer was a coasting craft having a
steady trade connection as far north as Tenasserim； but
the trouble was she could get no captain to take her
on her regular trip。 Nobody would go in her。 He
really had no power； of course； to order a man to take
a job。 It was all very well to stretch a point on the
demand of a consul…general； but 。 。 。
〃What's the matter with the ship？〃 Captain Whalley
interrupted in measured tones。
〃Nothing's the matter。 Sound old steamer。 Her
owner has been in my office this afternoon tearing his
hair。〃
〃Is he a white man？〃 asked Whalley in an interested
voice。
〃He calls himself a white man；〃 answered the Master…
Attendant scornfully； 〃but if so； it's just skin…deep
and no more。 I told him that to his face too。〃
〃But who is he； then？〃
〃He's the chief engineer of her。 See THAT； Harry？〃
〃I see；〃 Captain Whalley said thoughtfully。 〃The
engineer。 I see。〃
How the fellow came to be a shipowner at the same
time was quite a tale。 He came out third in a home
ship nearly fifteen years ago； Captain Eliott remem…
bered； and got paid off after a bad sort of row both
with his skipper and his chief。 Anyway； they seemed
jolly glad to get rid of him at all costs。 Clearly a mu…
tinous sort of chap。 Well； he remained out here； a per…
fect nuisance； everlastingly shipped and unshipped； un…
able to keep a berth very long； pretty nigh went
through every engine…room afloat belonging to the
colony。 Then suddenly； 〃What do you think hap…
pened； Harry？〃
Captain Whalley； who seemed lost in a mental effort
as of doing a sum in his head； gave a slight start。 He
really couldn't imagine。 The Master…Attendant's voice
vibrated dully with hoarse emphasis。 The man actually
had the luck to win the second prize in the Manilla lot…
tery。 All these engineers and officers of ships took
tickets in that gamble。 It seemed to be a perfect mania
with them all。
Everybody expected now that he would take himself
off home with his money； and go to the devil in his own
way。 Not at all。 The Sofala； judged too small and
not quite modern enough for the sort of trade she was
in； could be got for a moderate price from her owners；
who had ordered a new steamer from Europe。 He
rushed in and bought her。 This man had never given
any signs of that sort of mental intoxication the mere
fact of getting hold of a large sum of money may pro…
ducenot till he got a ship of his own； but then he
went off his balance all at once： came bouncing into the
Marine Office on some transfer business； with his hat
hanging over his left eye and switching a little cane in
his hand； and told each one of the clerks separately that
〃Nobody could put him out now。 It was his turn。
There was no one over him on earth； and there never
would be either。〃 He swaggered and strutted between
the desks； talking at the top of his voice； and trembling
like a leaf all the while； so that the current business
of the office was suspended for the time he was in there；
and everybody in the big room stood open…mouthed
looking at his antics。 Afterwards he could be seen
during the hottest hours of the day with his face as
red as fire rushing along up and down the quays to look
at his ship from different points of view： he seemed
inclined to stop every stranger he came across just to
let them know 〃that there would be no longer anyone
over him； he had bought a ship； nobody on earth could
put him out of his engine…room now。〃
Good bargain as she was； the price of the Sofala took
up pretty near all the lottery…money。 He had left him…
self no capital to work with。 That did not matter so
much； for these were the halcyon days of steam coasting
trade； before some of the home shipping firms had
thought of establishing local fleets to feed their main
lines。 These； when once organized； took the biggest
slices out of that cake； of course； and by…and…by a squad
of confounded German tramps turned up east of Suez
Canal and swept up all the crumbs。 They prowled on
the cheap to and fro along the coast and between the
islands； like a lot of sharks in the water ready to snap
up anything you let drop。 And then the high old times
were over for good； for years the Sofala had made no
more； he judged； than a fair living。 Captain Eliott
looked upon it as his duty in every way to assist an
English ship to hold her own； and it stood to reason
that if for want of a captain the Sofala began to miss
her trips she would very soon lose her trade。 There was
the quandary。 The man was too impracticable。 〃Too
much of a beggar on horseback from the first；〃 he ex…
plained。 〃Seemed to grow worse as the time went on。
In the last three years he's run through eleven skippers；
he had tried every single man here； outside of the regu…
lar lines。 I had warned him before that this would not
do。 And now； of course； no one will look at the Sofala。
I had one or two men up at my office and talked to
them； but； as they said to me； what was the good of
taking the berth to lead a regular dog's life for a
month and then get the sack at the end of the first trip？
The fellow； of course； told me it was all nonsense； there
has been a plot hatching for years against him。 And
now it had come。 All the horrid sailors in the port had
conspired to bring him to his knees； because he was an
engineer。〃
Captain Eliott emitted a throaty chuckle。
〃And the fact is； that if he misses a couple more trips
he need never trouble himself to start again。 He won't
find any cargo in his old trade。 There's too much com…
petition nowadays for people to keep their stuff lying
about for a ship that does not turn up when she's ex…
pected。 It's a bad lookout for him。 He swears he will
shut himself on board and starve to death in his cabin
rather than sell hereven if he could find a buyer。 And
that's not likely in the least。 Not even the Japs would
give her insured value for her。 It isn't like selling
sailing…ships。 Steamers DO get out of date； besides get…
ting old。〃
〃He must have laid by a good bit of money though；〃
observed Captain Whalley quietly。
The Harbor…master puffed out his purple cheeks to
an amazing size。
〃Not a stiver； Harry。 Notasinglesti…ver。〃
He waited； but as Captain Whalley； stroking his
beard slowly； looked down on the ground without a
word； he tapped him on the forearm； tiptoed； and said
in a hoarse whisper
〃The Manilla lottery has been eating him up。〃
He frowned a little； nodding in tiny affirmative jerks。
They all were going in for it； a third of the wages
paid to ships' officers （〃in my port；〃 he snorted） went
to Manilla。 It was a mania。 That fellow Massy had
been bitten by it like the rest of them from the first；
but after winning once he seemed to have persuaded
himself he had only to try again to get another big
prize。 He had taken dozens and scores of tickets for
every drawing since。 What with this vice and his ig…
norance of affairs； ever since he had improvidently
bought that steamer he had been more or less short of
money。
This； in Captain Eliott's opinion； gave an opening
for a sensible sailor…man with a few pounds to step in
and save that fool from the consequences of his folly。
It was his craze to quarrel with his captains。 He had
had some really good men too； who would have been
too glad to stay if he would only let them。 But no。 He
seemed to think he was no owner unless he was kicking
somebody out in the morning and having a row with
the new man in the evening。 What was wanted for him
was a master with a couple of hund
