第29章

Underahillapartyoffishermenhadlitawoodfire，theflamesofwhichcouldbeseenplayingupon，andpickingout，thewhitehullofaboat——thedarkfigureofamantherein，afishingnetsuspendedfromsomestakes，andawomaninayellowbodicewhowassittingbesidethefire。Also，amidthegoldenradiancetherecouldbedistinguishedaquiveringoftheleavesonthelowerbranchesofthetreewhereunderthewomansatshaded。

Alltheriverwascalm，andnotasoundoccurredtobreakthestillnessashore，whiletheairundertheawningofthethird-classportionofthevesselfeltasstiflingasduringtheearlierpartoftheday。Bythistimetheconversationofthepassengers，dampedbytheshadowofdusk，hadmergedintoasinglesoundwhichresembledthehummingofbees；andamiditonecouldnotdistinguishnordivinewhowasspeaking，northesubjectofdiscussion，sinceeverywordthereinseemeddisconnected，eventhoughallappearedtobetalkingamicably，andinorder，concerningacommontopic。Atonemomentasuppressedlaughfromayoungwomanwouldreachtheear；inthecabin，apartywhohadagreedtosingasongofgeneralacceptationwerefailingtohituponone，anddisputingthepointinlowanddispassionateaccents；andineach，suchsoundtherewassomethingvespertinal，gentlysad，softlyprayer-like。

Frombehindthefirewoodnearmeathick，raspingvoicesaidindeliberatetones:

“Atfirsthewasausefulyoungfellowenough，andcleanandspruce；butlately，hehasbecomeshabbyanddirty，andisgoingtothedogs。“

Anothervoice，loudandgruff，replied:

“Aha！Avoidtheladies，oroneisboundtogoamiss。“

“Thesayinghasitthatalwaysafishmakesfordeeperwater。“

“Besides，heisafool，andthatisworsestill。Bytheway，heisarelativeofyours，isn’the？“

“Yes。Heismybrother。“

“Indeed？Thenprayforgiveme。“

“Certainly；but，tospeakplainly，heisafool。“

AtthismomentIsawthepassengerinthebuffpea-jacketapproachthesally-port，graspwithhislefthandastanchion，andstepontothegratingunderwhichoneofthepaddle-wheelswaschurningthewatertofoam。Therehestoodlookingoverthebulwarkswithaswingingmotionakintothatofabatwhen，grapplingsomeobjectoranotherwithitswings，ithangssuspendedintheair。Thefactthattheman’scapwasdrawntightlyoverhisearscausedthelattertostickoutalmosttothepointofabsurdity。

Presentlyheturnedandpeeredintothegloomundertheawning，though，seemingly，hefailedtodistinguishmyselfreposingonthefirewood。Thisenabledmetogainaclearviewofafacewithasharpnose，sometuftsoflight-colouredhaironcheeksandchin，andapairofsmall，muddy-lookingeyes。Hestoodthereasthoughhewerelisteningtosomething。

Allofasuddenhesteppedfirmlytothesally-port，swiftlyunlashedfromtheirontop-railamop，andthrewitoverboard。

Thenhesetaboutunlashingasecondarticleofthesamespecies。

“Hi！“Ishoutedtohim。“Whatareyoudoingthere？“

Withastartthemanturnedround，clappedahandtohisforeheadtodiscovermywhereabouts，andrepliedsoftlyandrapidl

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