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The Mirror of the Sea-Part24_JOSEPH CONRAD (1857-1924)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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to know the exact position of the patrol craft in the

neighbourhood. The news could not have been more favourable. The



officer mentioned a small place on the coast some twelve miles off,

where, unsuspicious and unready, she was lying at anchor, with her



sails unbent, painting yards and scraping spars. Then he left us

after the usual compliments, smirking reassurringly over his



shoulder.

I had kept below pretty close all day from excess of prudence. The



stake played on that trip was big.

"We are ready to go at once, but for Cesar, who has been missing



ever since breakfast," announced Dominic to me in his slow, grim

way.



Where the fellow had gone, and why, we could not imagine. The

usual surmises in the case of a missingseaman did not apply to



Cesar's absence. He was too odious for love, friendship, gambling,

or even casualintercourse. But once or twice he had wandered away



like this before.

Dominic went ashore to look for him, but returned at the end of two



hours alone and very angry, as I could see by the token of the

invisible smile under his moustache being intensified. We wondered



what had become of the wretch, and made a hurried investigation

amongst our portable property. He had stolen nothing.



"He will be back before long," I said confidently.

Ten minutes afterwards one of the men on deck called out loudly:



"I can see him coming."

Cesar had only his shirt and trousers on. He had sold his coat,



apparently for pocket-money.

"You knave!" was all Dominic said, with a terrible softness of



voice. He restrained his choler for a time. "Where have you been,

vagabond?" he asked menacingly.



Nothing would induce Cesar to answer that question. It was as if

he even disdained to lie. He faced us, drawing back his lips and



gnashing his teeth, and did not shrink an inch before the sweep of

Dominic's arm. He went down as if shot, of course. But this time



I noticed that, when picking himself up, he remained longer than

usual on all fours, baring his big teeth over his shoulder and



glaring upwards at his uncle with a new sort of hate in his round,

yellow eyes. That permanentsentiment seemed pointed at that



moment by especialmalice and curiosity. I became quite

interested. If he ever manages to put poison in the dishes, I



thought to myself, this is how he will look at us as we sit at our

meal. But I did not, of course, believe for a moment that he would



ever put poison in our food. He ate the same things himself.

Moreover, he had no poison. And I could not imagine a human being



so blinded by cupidity as to sell poison to such an atrocious

creature.



XLIV.

We slipped out to sea quietly at dusk, and all through the night



everything went well. The breeze was gusty; a southerly blow was

making up. It was fair wind for our course. Now and then Dominic



slowly and rhythmically struck his hands together a few times, as

if applauding the performance of the Tremolino. The balancelle



hummed and quivered as she flew along, dancing lightly under our

feet.



At daybreak I pointed out to Dominic, amongst the several sail in

view running before the gathering storm, one particular vessel.



The press of canvas she carried made her loom up high, end-on, like

a gray columnstandingmotionless directly in our wake.



"Look at this fellow, Dominic," I said. "He seems to be in a

hurry."



The Padrone made no remark, but, wrapping his black cloak close




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