able，settledinprosperousvillages.Hecouldspeakfrompersonalknowledge.Andeventhefewsurvivorsofthattime——oldmennow——hadchangedsomuch，thatitwouldhavebeenunkindtorememberagainstthemthattheyhadeverslitathroatintheirlives.Hehadoneespeciallyinhismind’seye：adignified，venerableheadmanofacertainlargecoastvillageaboutsixtymilessou’westofTampasuk.Itdidone’sheartgoodtoseehim——tohearthatmanspeak.Hemighthavebeenaferocioussavageonce.Whatmenwantedwastobecheckedbysuperiorintelligence，bysuperiorknowledge，bysuperiorforcetoo——yes，byforceheldintrustfromGodandsanctifiedbyitsuseinaccordancewithHisdeclaredwill.CaptainWhalleybelievedadis—
　　positionforgoodexistedineveryman，eveniftheworldwerenotaveryhappyplaceasawhole.Inthewisdomofmenhehadnotsomuchconfidence.Thedis—
　　positionhadtobehelpedupprettysharplysometimes，headmitted.Theymightbesilly，wrongheaded，un—
　　happy;butnaturallyevil——no.Therewasatbottomacompleteharmlessnessatleast
　　"Isthere？"Mr.VanWyksnappedacrimoniously.
　　CaptainWhalleylaughedattheinterjection，inthegoodhumoroflarge，toleratingcertitude.Hecouldlookbackathalfacentury，hepointedout.Thesmokeoozedplacidlythroughthewhitehairshidinghiskindlylips.
　　"Atallevents，"heresumedafterapause，"Iamgladthatthey’vehadnotimetodoyoumuchharmasyet."
　　ThisallusiontohiscomparativeyouthfulnessdidnotoffendMr.VanWyk，whogotupandwriggledhisshoulderswithanenigmatichalf—smile.Theywalkedouttogetheramicablyintothestarrynighttowardstheriver—side.Theirfootstepsresoundedunequallyonthedarkpath.Attheshoreendofthegangwaythelantern，hunglowtothehandrail，threwavividlightonthewhitelegsandthebigblackfeetofMr.Massywaitingaboutanxiously.Fromthewaistupwardsheremainedshadowy，witharowofbuttonsgleaminguptothevagueoutlineofhischin.
　　"YoumaythankCaptainWhalleyforthis，"Mr.VanWyksaidcurtlytohimbeforeturningaway.
　　Thelampsontheverandaflungthreelongsquaresoflightbetweentheuprightsfaroverthegrass.Abatflittedbeforehisfacelikeacirclingflakeofvelvetyblackness.Alongthejasminehedgethenightairseemedheavywiththefallofperfumeddew;flower—
　　bedsborderedthepath;theclippedbushesuproseindarkroundedclumpshereandtherebeforethehouse;
　　thedensefoliageofcreepersfilteredthesheenofthelamplightwithininasoftglowallalongthefront;
　　andeverythingnearandfarstoodstillinagreatim—
　　mobility，inagreatsweetness.
　　Mr.VanWyk（afewyearsbeforehehadhadoccasiontoimaginehimselftreatedmorebadlythananybodyalivehadeverbeenbyawoman）feltforCaptainWhalley’soptimisticviewsthedisdainofamanwhohadoncebeencreduloushimself.Hisdisgustwiththeworld（thewomanforatimehadfilleditforhimcom—
　　pletely）hadtakentheformofactivityinretirement，because，thoughcapableofgreatdepthoffeeling，hewasenergeticandessentiallypractical.Buttherewasinthatuncommonoldsailor，driftingontheoutskirtsofhisbusysolitude，somethingthatfascinatedhisskepticism.Hisverysimplicity（amusingenough）waslikeadelicaterefinementofanuprightcharacter.Thestrikingdignityofmannercouldbenothingelse，inamanreducedtosuchahumbleposition，buttheex—
　　pressionofsomethingessentiallynobleinthecharacter.
　　Withallhistrustinmankindhewasnofool;theseren—
　　ityofhistemperattheendofsomanyyears，sinceitcouldnotobviouslyhavebeenappeasedbysuccess，woreanairofprofoundwisdom.Mr.VanWykwasamusedatitsometimes.EventheveryphysicaltraitsoftheoldcaptainoftheSofala，hispowerfulframe，hisre—
　　posefulmien，hisintelligent，handsomeface，thebiglimbs，thebenigncourtesy，thetouchofruggedseverityintheshaggyeyebrows，madeupaseductiveperson—
　　ality.Mr.VanWykdislikedlittlenessofeverykind，buttherewasnothingsmallaboutthatman，andintheexemplaryregularityofmanytripsanintimacyhadgrownupbetweenthem，awarmfeelingatbottomunderakindlystatelinessofformsagreeabletohisfastidious—
　　ness.
　　Theykepttheirrespectiveopinionsonallworldlymatters.HisotherconvictionsCaptainWhalleyneverintruded.Thedifferenceoftheirageswaslikeanotherbondbetweenthem.Once，whentwittedwiththeun—
　　charitablenessofhisyouth，Mr.VanWyk，runninghiseyeoverthevastproportionsofhisinterlocutor，re—
　　tortedinfriendlybanter——
　　"Oh.You’llcometomywayofthinkingyet.You’llhaveplentyoftime.Don’tcallyourselfold：youlookgoodforaroundhundred."
　　Buthecouldnothelphisstingingincisiveness，andthoughmoderatingitbyanalmostaffectionatesmile，headded——
　　"Andbythenyouwillprobablyconsenttodiefromsheerdisgust."
　　CaptainWhalley，smilingtoo，shookhishead."Godforbid！"
　　Hethoughtthatperhapsonthewholehedeservedsomethingbetterthantodieinsuchsentiments.Thetimeofcoursewouldhavetocome，andhetrustedtohisMakertoprovideamannerofgoingoutofwhichheneednotbeashamed.Fortheresthehopedhewouldlivetoahundredifneedbe：othermenhadbeenknown;itwouldbenomiracle.Heexpectednomiracles.
　　Thepronounced，argumentativetonecausedMr.VanWyktoraisehisheadandlookathimsteadily.Cap—
　　tainWhalleywasgazingfixedlywitharaptexpression，asthoughhehadseenhisCreator’sfavorabledecreewritteninmysteriouscharactersonthewall.Hekeptperfectlymotionlessforafewseconds，thengothisvastbulkontohisfeetsoimpetuouslythatMr.VanWykwasstartled.
　　Hestruckfirstaheavyblowonhisinflatedchest：and，throwingouthorizontallyabigarmthatremainedsteady，extendedintheairlikethelimbofatreeonawindlessday——
　　"Notapainoranachethere.Canyouseethisshakeintheleast？"
　　Hisvoicewaslow，inanawing，confidentcontrastwiththeheadlongemphasisofhismovements.Hesatdownabruptly.
　　"Thisisn’ttoboastofit，youknow.Iamnothing，"
　　hesaidinhiseffortlessstrongvoice，thatseemedtocomeoutasnaturallyasariverflows.Hepickedupthestumpofthecigarhehadlaidaside，andaddedpeace—
　　fully，withaslightnod，"Asithappens，mylifeisnecessary;itisn’tmyown，itisn’t——Godknows."
　　Hedidnotsaymuchfortherestoftheevening，butseveraltimesMr.VanWykdetectedafaintsmileofassuranceflittingundertheheavymustache.
　　LateronCaptainWhalleywouldnowandthenconsenttodine"atthehouse."Hecouldevenbeinducedtodrinkaglassofwine."Don’tthinkIamafraidofit，mygoodsir，"heexplained."TherewasaverygoodreasonwhyIshouldgiveitup."
　　Onanotheroccasion，leaningbackatease，heremarked，"Youhavetreatedmemost——mosthumanely，mydearMr.VanWyk，fromtheveryfirst."
　　"You’lladmittherewassomemerit，"Mr.VanWykhintedslyly."AnassociateofthatexcellentMassy
　　Well，well，mydearcaptain，Iwon’tsayawordagainsthim."
　　"Itwouldbenouseyoursayinganythingagainsthim，"CaptainWhalleyaffirmedalittlemoodily."AsI’vetoldyoubefore，mylife——mywork，isnecessary，notformyselfalone.Ican’tchoose"Hepaused，turnedtheglassbeforehimrightround"Ihaveanonlychild——adaughter."
　　Theampledownwardsweepofhisarmoverthetableseemedtosuggestasmallgirlatavastdistance."I
　　hopetoseeheroncemorebeforeIdie.Meantimeit’senoughtoknowthatshehasmesoundandsolid，thankGod.Youcan’tunderstandhowonefeels.Boneofmybone，fleshofmyflesh;theveryimageofmypoorwife.
　　Well，she"
　　Againhepaused，thenpronouncedstoicallythewords，"Shehasahardstruggle."
　　Andhisheadfellonhisbreast，hiseyebrowsremainedknitted，asbyaneffortofmeditation.Butgenerallyhismindseemedsteepedintheserenityofboundlesstrustinahigherpower.Mr.VanWykwonderedsometimeshowmuchofitwasduetothesplendidvitalityoftheman，tothebodilyvigorwhichseemstoimpartsome—
　　thingofitsforcetothesoul.Buthehadlearnedtolikehimverymuch.
　　XIII
　　ThiswasthereasonwhyMr.Sterne’sconfidentialcom—
　　munication，deliveredhurriedlyontheshorealongsidethedarksilentship，haddisturbedhisequanimity.Itwasthemostincomprehensibleandunexpectedthingthatcouldhappen;andtheperturbationofhisspiritwassogreatthat，forgettingallabouthisletters，heranrapidlyupthebridgeladder.
　　Theportabletablewasbeingputtogetherfordinnertotheleftofthewheelbytwopig—tailed"boys，"whoasusualsnarledateachotheroverthejob，whileanother，adoleful，burly，veryyellowChinaman，resemblingMr.
　　Massy，waitedapatheticallywiththeclothoverhisarmandapileofthickdinner—platesagainsthischest.A
　　commoncabinlampwithitsglobemissing，broughtupfrombelow，hadbeenhookedtothewoodenframeworkoftheawning;theside—screenshadbeenloweredallround;CaptainWhalleyfillingthedepthsofthewicker—
　　chairseemedtositbenumbedinacanvastentcrudelylighted，andusedforthestoringofnauticalobjects;ashabbysteering—wheel，abatteredbrassbinnacleonastoutmahoganystand，twodingylife—buoys，anoldcorkfenderlyinginacorner，dilapidateddeck—lockerswithloopsofthinropeinsteadofdoor—handles.
　　HeshookofftheappearanceofnumbnesstoreturnMr.VanWyk’sunusuallybriskgreeting，butrelapseddirectlyafterwards.Toacceptapressinginvitationtodinner"upatthehouse"costhimanotherveryvisiblephysicaleffort.Mr.VanWyk，perplexed，foldedhisarms，andleaningbackagainsttherail，withhislittle，black，shinyfeetwellout，examinedhimcovertly.
　　"I’venoticedoflatethatyouarenotquiteyourself，oldfriend."
　　Heputanaffectionategentlenessintothelasttwowords.Therealintimacyoftheirintercoursehadneverbeensovividlyexpressedbefore.
　　"Tut，tut，tut！"
　　Thewicker—chaircreakedheavily.
　　"Irritable，"commentedMr.VanWyktohimself;andaloud，"I’llexpecttoseeyouinhalfanhour，then，"hesaidnegligently，movingoff.
　　"Inhalfanhour，"CaptainWhalley’srigidsilveryheadrepeatedbehindhimasifoutofatrance.
　　Amidships，below，twovoices，closeagainsttheengine—
　　room，couldbeheardansweringeachother——oneangryandslow，theotheralert.
　　"Itellyouthebeasthaslockedhimselfintogetdrunk."
　　"Can’thelpitnow，Mr.Massy.Afterall，amanhasarighttoshuthimselfupinhiscabininhisowntime."
　　"Nottogetdrunk."
　　"Iheardhimswearthattheworrywiththeboilerswasenoughtodriveanymantodrink，"Sternesaidmaliciously.
　　Massyhissedoutsomethingaboutburstingthedoorin.Mr.VanWyk，toavoidthem，crossedinthedarktotheothersideofthedeserteddeck.Theplankingofthelittlewharfrattledfaintlyunderhishastyfeet.
　　"Mr.VanWyk！Mr.VanWyk！"
　　Hewalkedon：somebodywasrunningonthepath.
　　"You’veforgottentogetyourmail."
　　Sterne，holdingabundleofpapersinhishand，caughtupwithhim.
　　"Oh，thanks."
　　But，astheothercontinuedathiselbow，Mr.VanWykstoppedshort.Theoverhangingeaves，descend—
　　inglowuponthelightedfrontofthebungalow，threwtheirblackstraight—edgedshadowintothegreatbodyofthenightonthatside.Everythingwasverystill.
　　Atinkleofcutleryandaslightjingleofglasseswereheard.Mr.VanWyk’sservantswerelayingthetablefortwoontheveranda.
　　"I’mafraidyougivemenocreditwhateverformygoodintentionsinthematterI’vespokentoyouabout，"
　　saidSterne.
　　"Isimplydon’tunderstandyou."
　　"CaptainWhalleyisaveryaudaciousman，buthewillunderstandthathisgameisup.That’sallthatanybodyneedeverknowofitfromme.Believeme，I
　　amveryconsiderateinthis，butdutyisduty.Idon’twanttomakeafuss.AllIaskyou，ashisfriend，istotellhimfrommethatthegame’sup.Thatwillbesufficient."
　　Mr.VanWykfeltaloathsomedismayatthisqueerprivilegeoffriendship.Hewouldnotdemeanhimselfbyaskingfortheslightestexplanation;todrivetheotherawaywithcontumelyhedidnotthinkprudent——
　　asyet，atanyrate.Somuchassurancestaggeredhim.
　　Whocouldtellwhattherecouldbeinit，hethought？
　　HisregardforCaptainWhalleyhadthetenacityofadisinterestedsentiment，andhispracticalinstinctcom—
　　ingtohisaid，heconcealedhisscorn.
　　"Igather，then，thatthisissomethinggrave."
　　"Verygrave，"Sterneassentedsolemnly，delightedathavingproducedaneffectatlast.Hewasreadytoaddsomeeffusiveprotestationsofregretatthe"unavoida—
　　blenecessity，"butMr.VanWykcuthimshort——verycivilly，however.
　　OnceontheverandaMr.VanWykputhishandsinhispockets，and，straddlinghislegs，stareddownatablackpantherskinlyingonthefloorbeforearocking—
　　chair."Itlooksasifthefellowhadnottheplucktoplayhisownpreciousgameopenly，"hethought.
　　Thiswastrueenough.InthefaceofMassy’slastrebuffSternedarednotdeclarehisknowledge.Hisobjectwassimplytogetchargeofthesteamerandkeepitforsometime.Massywouldneverforgivehimforforcinghimselfon;butifCaptainWhalleylefttheshipofhisownaccord，thecommandwoulddevolveuponhimfortherestofthetrip;sohehituponthebrilliantideaofscaringtheoldmanaway.Avaguemenace，amerehint，wouldbeenoughinsuchabrazencase;and，withastrangeadmixtureofcompassion，hethoughtthatBatuBeruwasaverygoodplaceforthrowingupthesponge.Theskippercouldgoashorequietly，andstaywiththatDutchmanofhis.Weren’tthesetwoasthickasthievestogether？Andonreflec—
　　tionheseemedtoseethattherewasawaytoworkthewholethingthroughthatgreatfriendoftheoldman’s.
　　Thiswasanotherbrilliantidea.Hehadaninbornpreferenceforcircuitousmethods.Inthisparticularcasehedesiredtoremaininthebackgroundasmuchaspossible，toavoidexasperatingMassyneedlessly.
　　Nofuss！Letitallhappennaturally.
　　Mr.VanWykallthroughthedinnerwasconsciousofasenseofisolationthatinvadessometimestheclose—
　　nessofhumanintercourse.CaptainWhalleyfailedlamentablyandobviouslyinhisattemptstoeatsome—
　　thing.Heseemedovercomebyastrangeabsent—
　　mindedness.Hishandwouldhoverirresolutely，asifleftwithoutguidancebyapreoccupiedmind.Mr.VanWykhadheardhimcomingupfromalongwayoffintheprofoundstillnessoftheriver—side，andhadnoticedtheirresolutecharacterofthefootfalls.Thetoeofhisboothadstruckthebottomstairasthoughhehadcomealongmooningwithhisheadintheairrightuptothestepsoftheveranda.HadthecaptainoftheSofalabeenanothersortofmanhewouldhavesuspectedtheworkofagethere.Butoneglanceathimwasenough.
　　Time——after，indeed，markinghimforitsown——hadgivenhimuptohisusefulness，inwhichhissimplefaithwouldseeaproofofDivinemercy."HowcouldI...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：

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