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instead of five。 〃I cannot do that；〃 was all he had said；
simply； but with so much decision that Massy desisted
at once from pressing the point； but had thought to
himself； 〃Can't！ Old curmudgeon。 WON'T！ He must
have lots of money； but he would like to get hold of a
soft berth and the sixth part of my profits for nothing
if he only could。〃
And during these years Massy's dislike grew under the
restraint of something resembling fear。 The simplicity
of that man appeared dangerous。 Of late he had
changed； however； had appeared less formidable and
with a lessened vigor of life； as though he had received
a secret wound。 But still he remained incomprehensible
in his simplicity； fearlessness； and rectitude。 And when
Massy learned that he meant to leave him at the end of
the time； to leave him confronted with the problem of
boilers； his dislike blazed up secretly into hate。
It had made him so clear…eyed that for a long time now
Mr。 Sterne could have told him nothing he did not
know。 He had much ado in trying to terrorize that
mean sneak into silence； he wanted to deal alone with
the situation； andincredible as it might have ap…
peared to Mr。 Sternehe had not yet given up the de…
sire and the hope of inducing that hated old man to
stay。 Why！ there was nothing else to do； unless he were
to abandon his chances of fortune。 But now； suddenly；
since the crossing of the bar at Batu Beru things
seemed to be coming rapidly to a point。 It disquieted
him so much that the study of the winning numbers
failed to soothe his agitation： and the twilight in the
cabin deepened； very somber。
He put the list away； muttering once more； 〃Oh； no；
my boy； you don't。 Not if I know it。〃 He did not
mean the blinking； eavesdropping humbug to force his
action。 He took his head again into his hands； his im…
mobility confined in the darkness of this shut…up little
place seemed to make him a thing apart infinitely re…
moved from the stir and the sounds of the deck。
He heard them： the passengers were beginning to
jabber excitedly； somebody dragged a heavy box
past his door。 He heard Captain Whalley's voice
above
〃Stations； Mr。 Sterne。〃 And the answer from some…
where on deck forward
〃Ay； ay； sir。〃
〃We shall moor head up stream this time； the ebb
has made。〃
〃Head up stream； sir。〃
〃You will see to it； Mr。 Sterne。〃
The answer was covered by the autocratic clang on the
engine…room gong。 The propeller went on beating
slowly： one； two； three； one； two； threewith pauses as
if hesitating on the turn。 The gong clanged time after
time； and the water churned this way and that by the
blades was making a great noisy commotion alongside。
Mr。 Massy did not move。 A shore…light on the other
bank； a quarter of a mile across the river； drifted； no
bigger than a tiny star； passing slowly athwart the cir…
cle of the port。 Voices from Mr。 Van Wyk's jetty an…
swered the hails from the ship； ropes were thrown and
missed and thrown again； the swaying flame of a torch
carried in a large sampan coming to fetch away in state
the Rajah from down the coast cast a sudden ruddy
glare into his cabin； over his very person。 Mr。 Massy
did not move。 After a few last ponderous turns the
engines stopped； and the prolonged clanging of the
gong signified that the captain had done with them。 A
great number of boats and canoes of all sizes boarded
the off…side of the Sofala。 Then after a time the tumult
of splashing； of cries； of shuffling feet； of packages
dropped with a thump； the noise of the native passen…
gers going away； subsided slowly。 On the shore； a
voice； cultivated； slightly authoritative； spoke very
close alongside
〃Brought any mail for me this time？〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Van Wyk。〃 This was from Sterne； an…
swering over the rail in a tone of respectful cordiality。
〃Shall I bring it up to you？〃
But the voice asked again
〃Where's the captain？〃
〃Still on the bridge； I believe。 He hasn't left his
chair。 Shall I 。 。 。〃
The voice interrupted negligently。
〃I will come on board。〃
〃Mr。 Van Wyk；〃 Sterne suddenly broke out with an
eager effort； 〃will you do me the favor 。 。 。〃
The mate walked away quickly towards the gangway。
A silence fell。 Mr。 Massy in the dark did not move。
He did not move even when he heard slow shuffling
footsteps pass his cabin lazily。 He contented himself
to bellow out through the closed door
〃YouJack！〃
The footsteps came back without haste； the door
handle rattled； and the second engineer appeared in the
opening； shadowy in the sheen of the skylight at his
back； with his face apparently as black as the rest of
his figure。
〃We have been very long coming up this time；〃 Mr。
Massy growled； without changing his attitude。
〃What do you expect with half the boiler tubes
plugged up for leaks。〃 The second defended himself
loquaciously。
〃None of your lip；〃 said Massy。
〃None of your rotten boilersI say；〃 retorted his
faithful subordinate without animation； huskily。 〃Go
down there and carry a head of steam on them yourself
if you dare。 I don't。〃
〃You aren't worth your salt then；〃 Massy said。 The
other made a faint noise which resembled a laugh but
might have been a snarl。
〃Better go slow than stop the ship altogether；〃 he
admonished his admired superior。 Mr。 Massy moved
at last。 He turned in his chair； and grinding his
teeth
〃Dam' you and the ship！ I wish she were at the
bottom of the sea。 Then you would have to starve。〃
The trusty second engineer closed the door gently。
Massy listened。 Instead of passing on to the bath…
room where he should have gone to clean himself； the
second entered his cabin； which was next door。 Mr。
Massy jumped up and waited。 Suddenly he heard the
lock snap in there。 He rushed out and gave a violent
kick to the door。
〃I believe you are locking yourself up to get drunk；〃
he shouted。
A muffled answer came after a while。
〃My own time。〃
〃If you take to boozing on the trip I'll fire you out；〃
Massy cried。
An obstinate silence followed that threat。 Massy
moved away perplexed。 On the bank two figures ap…
peared； approaching the gangway。 He heard a voice
t