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thump of the engines reverberated regularly like the
strokes of a metronome beating the measure of the vast
silence； the shadow of the western wall had fallen across
the river； and the smoke pouring backwards from the
funnel eddied down behind the ship； spread a thin
dusky veil over the somber water； which； checked by
the flood…tide； seemed to lie stagnant in the whole
straight length of the reaches。
Sterne's body； as if rooted on the spot； trembled slightly
from top to toe with the internal vibration of the ship；
from under his feet came sometimes a sudden clang of
iron； the noisy burst of a shout below； to the right the
leaves of the tree…tops caught the rays of the low sun；
and seemed to shine with a golden green light of their
own shimmering around the highest boughs which stood
out black against a smooth blue sky that seemed to
droop over the bed of the river like the roof of a tent。
The passengers for Batu Beru； kneeling on the planks；
were engaged in rolling their bedding of mats busily；
they tied up bundles； they snapped the locks of wooden
chests。 A pockmarked peddler of small wares threw his
head back to drain into his throat the last drops out of
an earthenware bottle before putting it away in a roll
of blankets。 Knots of traveling traders standing about
the deck conversed in low tones； the followers of a small
Rajah from down the coast； broad…faced； simple young
fellows in white drawers and round white cotton caps
with their colored sarongs twisted across their bronze
shoulders； squatted on their hams on the hatch； chewing
betel with bright red mouths as if they had been tasting
blood。 Their spears； lying piled up together within the
circle of their bare toes； resembled a casual bundle of
dry bamboos； a thin； livid Chinaman； with a bulky
package wrapped up in leaves already thrust under his
arm； gazed ahead eagerly； a wandering Kling rubbed
his teeth with a bit of wood； pouring over the side a
bright stream of water out of his lips； the fat Rajah
dozed in a shabby deck…chair；and at the turn of every
bend the two walls of leaves reappeared running
parallel along the banks； with their impenetrable solidity
fading at the top to a vaporous mistiness of countless
slender twigs growing free； of young delicate branches
shooting from the topmost limbs of hoary trunks； of
feathery heads of climbers like delicate silver sprays
standing up without a quiver。 There was not a sign
of a clearing anywhere； not a trace of human habita…
tion； except when in one place； on the bare end of a low
point under an isolated group of slender tree…ferns； the
jagged； tangled remnants of an old hut on piles ap…
peared with that peculiar aspect of ruined bamboo walls
that look as if smashed with a club。 Farther on； half
hidden under the drooping bushes； a canoe containing
a man and a woman； together with a dozen green cocoa…
nuts in a heap； rocked helplessly after the Sofala had
passed； like a navigating contrivance of venturesome
insects； of traveling ants； while two glassy folds of
water streaming away from each bow of the steamer
across the whole width of the river ran with her up
stream smoothly； fretting their outer ends into a brown
whispering tumble of froth against the miry foot of
each bank。
〃I must；〃 thought Sterne； 〃bring that brute Massy
to his bearings。 It's getting too absurd in the end。
Here's the old man up there buried in his chairhe
may just as well be in his grave for all the use he'll ever
be in the worldand the Serang's in charge。 Because
that's what he is。 In charge。 In the place that's mine
by rights。 I must bring that savage brute to his bear…
ings。 I'll do it at once； too 。 。 。〃
When the mate made an abrupt start； a little brown
half…naked boy； with large black eyes； and the string
of a written charm round his neck； became panic…struck
at once。 He dropped the banana he had been munch…
ing； and ran to the knee of a grave dark Arab in flow…
ing robes； sitting like a Biblical figure； incongruously；
on a yellow tin trunk corded with a rope of twisted
rattan。 The father； unmoved； put out his hand to pat
the little shaven poll protectingly。
XI
Sterne crossed the deck upon the track of the chief
engineer。 Jack； the second； retreating backwards down
the engine…room ladder； and still wiping his hands；
treated him to an incomprehensible grin of white teeth
out of his grimy hard face； Massy was nowhere to be
seen。 He must have gone straight into his berth。
Sterne scratched at the door softly； then； putting his
lips to the rose of the ventilator； said
〃I must speak to you； Mr。 Massy。 Just give me a
minute or two。〃
〃I am busy。 Go away from my door。〃
〃But pray； Mr。 Massy 。 。 。〃
〃You go away。 D'you hear？ Take yourself off alto…
getherto the other end of the shipquite away 。 。 。〃
The voice inside dropped low。 〃To the devil。〃
Sterne paused： then very quietly
〃It's rather pressing。 When do you think you will
be at liberty； sir？〃
The answer to this was an exasperated 〃Never〃； and
at once Sterne； with a very firm expression of face；
turned the handle。
Mr。 Massy's staterooma narrow； one…berth cabin
smelt strongly of soap； and presented to view a swept；
dusted； unadorned neatness； not so much bare as barren；
not so much severe as starved and lacking in humanity；
like the ward of a public hospital； or rather （owing to
the small size） like the clean retreat of a desperately
poor but exemplary person。 Not a single photograph
frame ornamented the bulkheads； not a single article of
clothing； not as much as a spare cap； hung from the
brass hooks。 All the inside was painted in one plain
tint of pale blue； two big sea…chests in sailcloth covers
and with iron padlocks fitted exactly in the space under
the bunk。 One glance was enough to embrace all the
strip of scrubbed planks within the four unconcealed
corners。 The absence of the usual settee was striking；
the teak…wood top of the washing…stand seemed hermeti…
cally closed； and so was the lid of the writing…desk；
which protruded from the partition at the foot of the
bed…place； containing a mattress as thin as a pancake
under a threadbare blanket with a faded red stripe； and
a folded mosquito…net against the nights spent in harbor。
There was not a scrap of paper anywhere in sight； no
boots on the floor； no litter of any sort； n