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this was not all。 He could not believe Captain Whalley
to be so confoundedly destitute as not to have some more
money put away somewhere。 If he； Massy； could get
hold of it； that would pay for the boilers； and every…
thing went on as before。 And if she got lost in the
end； so much the better。 He hated her： he loathed the
troubles that took his mind off the chances of fortune。
He wished her at the bottom of the sea； and the in…
surance money in his pocket。 And as； baffled； he left
Captain Whalley's cabin； he enveloped in the same
hatred the ship with the worn…out boilers and the man
with the dimmed eyes。
And our conduct after all is so much a matter of outside
suggestion； that had it not been for his Jack's drunken
gabble he would have there and then had it out with this
miserable man； who would neither help； nor stay； nor
yet lose the ship。 The old fraud！ He longed to kick
him out。 But he restrained himself。 Time enough for
thatwhen he liked。 There was a fearful new thought
put into his head。 Wasn't he up to it after all？ How
that beast Jack had raved！ 〃Find a safe trick to get
rid of her。〃 Well； Jack was not so far wrong。 A very
clever trick had occurred to him。 Aye！ But what of
the risk？
A feeling of pridethe pride of superiority to com…
mon prejudicescrept into his breast； made his heart
beat fast； his mouth turn dry。 Not everybody would
dare； but he was Massy； and he was up to it！
Six bells were struck on deck。 Eleven！ He drank a
glass of water； and sat down for ten minutes or so to
calm himself。 Then he got out of his chest a small
bull's…eye lantern of his own and lit it。
Almost opposite his berth； across the narrow passage
under the bridge； there was； in the iron deck…structure
covering the stokehold fiddle and the boiler…space； a
storeroom with iron sides； iron roof； iron…plated floor；
too； on account of the heat below。 All sorts of rubbish
was shot there： it had a mound of scrap…iron in a corner；
rows of empty oil…cans； sacks of cotton…waste； with a
heap of charcoal； a deck…forge； fragments of an old hen…
coop； winch…covers all in rags； remnants of lamps； and
a brown felt hat； discarded by a man dead now （of a
fever on the Brazil coast）； who had been once mate of
the Sofala； had remained for years jammed forcibly be…
hind a length of burst copper pipe； flung at some time
or other out of the engine…room。 A complete and im…
perious blackness pervaded that Capharnaum of for…
gotten things。 A small shaft of light from Mr。 Massy's
bull's…eye fell slanting right through it。
His coat was unbuttoned； he shot the bolt of the door
（there was no other opening）； and； squatting before the
scrap…heap； began to pack his pockets with pieces of
iron。 He packed them carefully； as if the rusty nuts；
the broken bolts； the links of cargo chain； had been so
much gold he had that one chance to carry away。 He
packed his side…pockets till they bulged； the breast
pocket； the pockets inside。 He turned over the pieces。
Some he rejected。 A small mist of powdered rust began
to rise about his busy hands。 Mr。 Massy knew some…
thing of the scientific basis of his clever trick。 If you
want to deflect the magnetic needle of a ship's compass；
soft iron is the best； likewise many small pieces in the
pockets of a jacket would have more effect than a few
large ones； because in that way you obtain a greater
amount of surface for weight in your iron； and it's sur…
face that tells。
He slipped out swiftlytwo strides sufficedand in
his cabin he perceived that his hands were all redred
with rust。 It disconcerted him； as though he had found
them covered with blood： he looked himself over hastily。
Why； his trowsers too！ He had been rubbing his rusty
palms on his legs。
He tore off the waistband button in his haste； brushed
his coat； washed his hands。 Then the air of guilt left
him； and he sat down to wait。
He sat bolt upright and weighted with iron in his
chair。 He had a hard； lumpy bulk against each hip；
felt the scrappy iron in his pockets touch his ribs at
every breath； the downward drag of all these pounds
hanging upon his shoulders。 He looked very dull too；
sitting idle there； and his yellow face； with motionless
black eyes； had something passive and sad in its quiet…
ness。
When he heard eight bells struck above his head； he
rose and made ready to go out。 His movements seemed
aimless； his lower lip had dropped a little； his eyes
roamed about the cabin； and the tremendous tension of
his will had robbed them of every vestige of intelligence。
With the last stroke of the bell the Serang appeared
noiselessly on the bridge to relieve the mate。 Sterne
overflowed with good nature； since he had nothing more
to desire。
〃Got your eyes well open yet； Serang？ It's middling
dark； I'll wait till you get your sight properly。〃
The old Malay murmured； looked up with his worn
eyes； sidled away into the light of the binnacle； and；
crossing his hands behind his back； fixed his eyes on the
compass…card。
〃You'll have to keep a good look…out ahead for
land； about half…past three。 It's fairly clear； though。
You have looked in on the captain as you came
alongeh？ He knows the time？ Well； then； I am
off。〃
At the foot of the ladder he stood aside for the captain。
He watched him go up with an even； certain tread； and
remained thoughtful for a moment。 〃It's funny；〃 he
said to himself； 〃but you can never tell whether that
man has seen you or not。 He might have heard me
breathe this time。〃
He was a wonderful man when all was said and done。
They said he had had a name in his day。 Mr。 Sterne
could well believe it； and he concluded serenely that
Captain Whalley must be able to see people more or less
as himself just now； for instancebut not being cer…
tain of anybody； had to keep up that unnoticing silence
of manner for fear of giving himself away。 Mr。 Sterne
was a shrewd guesser。
This necessity of every moment brought home to Cap…
tain Whalley's heart the humiliation of his falsehood。
He had drifted into it from paternal love； from in…
credulity； from boundless trust in divine justice meted
out to men's feelings on this earth。 He would give his
poor Ivy the benefit of another month's work； perhaps
the affliction was only temporary。 Surely God would
not rob his child of