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man reduced to such a humble position； but the ex…
pression of something essentially noble in the character。
With all his trust in mankind he was no fool； the seren…
ity of his temper at the end of so many years； since it
could not obviously have been appeased by success； wore
an air of profound wisdom。 Mr。 Van Wyk was amused
at it sometimes。 Even the very physical traits of the
old captain of the Sofala； his powerful frame； his re…
poseful mien； his intelligent； handsome face； the big
limbs； the benign courtesy； the touch of rugged severity
in the shaggy eyebrows； made up a seductive person…
ality。 Mr。 Van Wyk disliked littleness of every kind；
but there was nothing small about that man； and in
the exemplary regularity of many trips an intimacy had
grown up between them； a warm feeling at bottom under
a kindly stateliness of forms agreeable to his fastidious…
ness。
They kept their respective opinions on all worldly
matters。 His other convictions Captain Whalley never
intruded。 The difference of their ages was like another
bond between them。 Once； when twitted with the un…
charitableness of his youth； Mr。 Van Wyk； running his
eye over the vast proportions of his interlocutor； re…
torted in friendly banter
〃Oh。 You'll come to my way of thinking yet。 You'll
have plenty of time。 Don't call yourself old： you look
good for a round hundred。〃
But he could not help his stinging incisiveness； and
though moderating it by an almost affectionate smile；
he added
〃And by then you will probably consent to die from
sheer disgust。〃
Captain Whalley； smiling too； shook his head。 〃God
forbid！〃
He thought that perhaps on the whole he deserved
something better than to die in such sentiments。 The
time of course would have to come； and he trusted to
his Maker to provide a manner of going out of which
he need not be ashamed。 For the rest he hoped he
would live to a hundred if need be： other men had been
known； it would be no miracle。 He expected no miracles。
The pronounced； argumentative tone caused Mr。 Van
Wyk to raise his head and look at him steadily。 Cap…
tain Whalley was gazing fixedly with a rapt expression；
as though he had seen his Creator's favorable decree
written in mysterious characters on the wall。 He kept
perfectly motionless for a few seconds； then got his vast
bulk on to his feet so impetuously that Mr。 Van Wyk
was startled。
He struck first a heavy blow on his inflated chest： and；
throwing out horizontally a big arm that remained
steady； extended in the air like the limb of a tree on
a windless day
〃Not a pain or an ache there。 Can you see this shake
in the least？〃
His voice was low； in an awing； confident contrast with
the headlong emphasis of his movements。 He sat down
abruptly。
〃This isn't to boast of it； you know。 I am nothing；〃
he said in his effortless strong voice； that seemed to
come out as naturally as a river flows。 He picked up the
stump of the cigar he had laid aside； and added peace…
fully； with a slight nod； 〃As it happens； my life is
necessary； it isn't my own； it isn'tGod knows。〃
He did not say much for the rest of the evening； but
several times Mr。 Van Wyk detected a faint smile of
assurance flitting under the heavy mustache。
Later on Captain Whalley would now and then consent
to dine 〃at the house。〃 He could even be induced to
drink a glass of wine。 〃Don't think I am afraid of it；
my good sir；〃 he explained。 〃There was a very good
reason why I should give it up。〃
On another occasion； leaning back at ease； he remarked；
〃You have treated me mostmost humanely； my dear
Mr。 Van Wyk； from the very first。〃
〃You'll admit there was some merit；〃 Mr。 Van Wyk
hinted slyly。 〃An associate of that excellent Massy。
。 。 。 Well； well； my dear captain； I won't say a word
against him。〃
〃It would be no use your saying anything against
him；〃 Captain Whalley affirmed a little moodily。 〃As
I've told you before； my lifemy work； is necessary； not
for myself alone。 I can't choose〃 。 。 。 He paused；
turned the glass before him right round。 。 。 。 〃I have
an only childa daughter。〃
The ample downward sweep of his arm over the table
seemed to suggest a small girl at a vast distance。 〃I
hope to see her once more before I die。 Meantime it's
enough to know that she has me sound and solid； thank
God。 You can't understand how one feels。 Bone of my
bone； flesh of my flesh； the very image of my poor wife。
Well； she 。 。 。〃
Again he paused； then pronounced stoically the words；
〃She has a hard struggle。〃
And his head fell on his breast； his eyebrows remained
knitted； as by an effort of meditation。 But generally his
mind seemed steeped in the serenity of boundless trust
in a higher power。 Mr。 Van Wyk wondered sometimes
how much of it was due to the splendid vitality of the
man； to the bodily vigor which seems to impart some…
thing of its force to the soul。 But he had learned to
like him very much。
XIII
This was the reason why Mr。 Sterne's confidential com…
munication； delivered hurriedly on the shore alongside
the dark silent ship； had disturbed his equanimity。 It
was the most incomprehensible and unexpected thing
that could happen； and the perturbation of his spirit
was so great that； forgetting all about his letters； he ran
rapidly up the bridge ladder。
The portable table was being put together for dinner
to the left of the wheel by two pig…tailed 〃boys；〃 who
as usual snarled at each other over the job； while another；
a doleful； burly； very yellow Chinaman； resembling Mr。
Massy； waited apathetically with the cloth over his arm
and a pile of thick dinner…plates against his chest。 A
common cabin lamp with its globe missing； brought up
from below； had been hooked to the wooden framework
of the awning； the side…screens had been lowered all
round； Captain Whalley filling the depths of the wicker…
chair seemed to sit benumbed in a canvas tent crudely
lighted； and used for the storing of nautical objects； a
shabby steering…wheel； a battered brass binnacle on a
stout mahogany stand； two dingy life…buoys； an old cork
fender lying in a corner； dilapidated deck…lockers with
loops of thin rope instead of door…handles。
He shook off the appearance of numbness to return
Mr。 Van W