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as likely as not after he had been listening to little
Lena's chatter about the suffering doll； for instance。
The Hermann children always besieged him about
his legs closely； though； in a gentle way； he shrank
from them a little。 He seemed； however； to feel a
great affection for the whole family。 For Hermann
himself especially。 He sought his company。 In
this case； for instance； he must have been waiting
for him； because as soon as he appeared Falk rose
hastily； and they went out together。 Then Schom…
berg expounded in my hearing to three or four
people his theory that Falk was after Captain Her…
mann's niece； and asserted confidently that nothing
would come of it。 It was the same last year when
Captain Hermann was loading here； he said。
Naturally； I did not believe Schomberg； but I
own that for a time I observed closely what went
on。 All I discovered was some impatience on Her…
mann's part。 At the sight of Falk； stepping over
the gangway； the excellent man would begin to
mumble and chew between his teeth something that
sounded like German swear…words。 However； as
I've said； I'm not familiar with the language； and
Hermann's soft； round…eyed countenance remained
unchanged。 Staring stolidly ahead he greeted
him with； 〃Wie gehts；〃 or in English； 〃How are
you？〃 with a throaty enunciation。 The girl would
look up for an instant and move her lips slightly：
Mrs。 Hermann let her hands rest on her lap to talk
volubly to him for a minute or so in her pleasant
voice before she went on with her sewing again。
Falk would throw himself into a chair； stretch his
big legs； as like as not draw his hands down his face
passionately。 As to myself； he was not pointedly
impertinent： it was rather as though he could not
be bothered with such trifles as my existence； and
the truth is that being a monopolist he was under
no necessity to be amiable。 He was sure to get his
own extortionate terms out of me for towage
whether he frowned or smiled。 As a matter of fact；
he did neither： but before many days elapsed he
managed to astonish me not a little and to set
Schomberg's tongue clacking more than ever。
It came about in this way。 There was a shallow
bar at the mouth of the river which ought to have
been kept down； but the authorities of the State
were piously busy gilding afresh the great Buddhist
Pagoda just then； and I suppose had no money to
spare for dredging operations。 I don't know how
it may be now； but at the time I speak of that sand…
bank was a great nuisance to the shipping。 One of
its consequences was that vessels of a certain
draught of water； like Hermann's or mine； could not
complete their loading in the river。 After taking
in as much as possible of their cargo； they had to
go outside to fill up。 The whole procedure was an
unmitigated bore。 When you thought you had as
much on board as your ship could carry safely over
the bar； you went and gave notice to your agents。
They； in their turn； notified Falk that so…and…so
was ready to go out。 Then Falk （ostensibly when it
fitted in with his other work； but； if the truth were
known； simply when his arbitrary spirit moved
him）； after ascertaining carefully in the office that
there was enough money to meet his bill； would
come along unsympathetically； glaring at you with
his yellow eyes from the bridge； and would drag you
out dishevelled as to rigging； lumbered as to the
decks； with unfeeling haste； as if to execution。 And
he would force you too to take the end of his own
wire hawser； for the use of which there was of course
an extra charge。 To your shouted remonstrances
against that extortion this towering trunk with one
hand on the engine…room telegraph only shook its
bearded head above the splash； the racket； and the
clouds of smoke in which the tug； backing and fill…
ing in the smother of churning paddle…wheels be…
haved like a ferocious and impatient creature。 He
had her manned by the cheekiest gang of lascars I
ever did see； whom he allowed to bawl at you inso…
lently； and； once fast； he plucked you out of your
berth as if he did not care what he smashed。 Eigh…
teen miles down the river you had to go behind him；
and then three more along the coast to where a
group of uninhabited rocky islets enclosed a shel…
tered anchorage。 There you would have to lie at
single anchor with your naked spars showing to
seaward over these barren fragments of land scat…
tered upon a very intensely blue sea。 There was
nothing to look at besides but a bare coast； the mud…
dy edge of the brown plain with the sinuosities of
the river you had left； traced in dull green； and the
Great Pagoda uprising lonely and massive with
shining curves and pinnacles like the gorgeous and
stony efflorescence of tropical rocks。 You had
nothing to do but to wait fretfully for the balance
of your cargo； which was sent out of the river with
the greatest irregularity。 And it was open to you
to console yourself with the thought that； after all；
this stage of bother meant that your departure from
these shores was indeed approaching at last。
We both had to go through that stage； Hermann
and I； and there was a sort of tacit emulation be…
tween the ships as to which should be ready first。
We kept on neck and neck almost to the finish； when
I won the race by going personally to give notice in
the forenoon； whereas Hermann； who was very slow
in making up his mind to go ashore； did not get to
the agents' office till late in the day。 They told him
there that my ship was first on turn for next morn…
ing； and I believe he told them he was in no hurry。
It suited him better to go the day after。
That evening； on board the Diana； he sat with
his plump knees well apart； staring and puffing at
the curved mouthpiece of his pipe。 Presently he
spoke with some impatience to his niece about put…
ting the children to bed。 Mrs。 Hermann； who was
talking to Falk； stopped short and looked at her
husband uneasily； but the girl got up at once and
drove the children before her into the cabin。 In a
little while Mrs。 Hermann had to leave us to quell
what； from the sounds inside； must have been a dan…
gerous mutiny。 At this Hermann grumbled to him…
self。 For half an hour longer Falk left alone with
us fidgeted on his chair； sighed lightly； then at last；
after drawing his hands down his face； got up； and
as if renouncing the hope of making himself under…
stood （he hadn't opened his mouth once） he said in
English： 〃Well。 。 。 。 Good night； Captain Her…
mann。〃 He stopped for a moment before my chair
and looked down fixedly； I may even say he glared：
and he went so far as to make a deep noise in his
throat。 There was in all this something so marked
that for the first time in our limited intercourse of
nods and grunts he excited in me something like
interest。 But next moment he disappointed me
for he strode away hastily withou