`Itappearsheaddressedhimselfinthefirstinstancetotheprincipalshipping-master。ArchieRuthvelhadjustcomein，and，ashisstorygoes，wasabouttobeginhisarduousdaybygivingadressing-downtohischiefclerk。Someofyoumighthaveknownhim——anobliginglittlePortuguesehalf-castewithamiserableskinnyneck，andalwaysonthehoptogetsomethingfromtheshipmastersinthewayofeatables——apieceofsaltpork，abagofbiscuits，afewpotatoes，orwhatnot。Onevoyage，Irecollect，Itippedhimalivesheepoutoftheremnantofmysea-stock：notthatIwantedhimtodoanythingforme——hecouldn’t，youknow——butbecausehischildlikebeliefinthesacredrighttoperquisitesquitetouchedmyheart。Itwassostrongastobealmostbeautiful。Therace——thetworacesrather——andtheclimate……However，nevermind。IknowwhereIhaveafriendforlife。
　　`Well，Ruthvelsayshewasgivinghimaseverelecture——onofficialmorality，Isuppose——whenheheardakindofsubduedcommotionathisback，andturninghisheadhesaw，inhisownwords，somethingroundandenormous，resemblingasixteen-hundredweightsugar-hogsheadwrappedinstripedflannelette，up-endedinthemiddleofthelargefloorspaceintheoffice。Hedeclareshewassotakenabackthatforquiteanappreciabletimehedidnotrealizethethingwasalive，andsatstillwonderingforwhatpurposeandbywhatmeansthatobjecthadbeentransportedinfrontofhisdesk。Thearchwayfromtheante-roomwascrowdedwithpunkah-pullers，sweepers，policepeons，thecoxswainandcrewoftheharboursteam-launch，allcraningtheirnecksandalmostclimbingoneachother’sbacks。Quiteariot。Bythattimethefellowhadmanagedtotugandjerkhishatclearofhishead，andadvancedwithslightbowsatRuthvel，whotoldmethesightwassodiscomposingthatforsometimehelistenedquiteunabletomakeoutwhatthatapparitionwanted。Itspokeinavoiceharshandlugubriousbutintrepid，andlittlebylittleitdawneduponArchiethatthiswasadevelopmentofthePatnacase。Hesaysthatassoonasheunderstoodwhoitwasbeforehimhefeltquiteunwell——Archieissosympatheticandeasilyupset——butpulledhimselftogetherandshouted：“Stop!Ican’tlistentoyou。YoumustgototheMasterAttendant。Ican’tpossiblylistentoyou。CaptainElliotisthemanyouwanttosee。Thisway，thisway。“Hejumpedup，ranroundthatlongcounter，pulled，shoved：theotherlethim，surprisedbutobedientatfirst，andonlyatthedooroftheprivateofficesomesortofanimalinstinctmadehimhangbackandsnortlikeafrightenedbullock。“Lockhere!what’sup？Letgo!Lookhere!“Archieflungopenthedoorwithoutknocking。“ThemasterofthePatna，sir，“heshouts。“Goin，captain。“
　　Hesawtheoldmanlifthisheadfromsomewritingssosharpthathisnose-nippersfelloff，bangedthedoorto，andfledtohisdesk，wherehehadsomepaperswaitingforhissignature：buthesaystherowthatburstoutintherewassoawfulthathecouldn’tcollecthissensessufficientlytorememberthespellingofhisownname。Archie’sthemostsensitiveshipping-masterinthetwohemispheres。Hedeclareshefeltasthoughhehadthrownamantoahungrylion。Nodoubtthenoisewasgreat。Ihearditdownbelow，andIhaveeveryreasontobelieveitwasheardclearacrosstheEsplanadeasfarastheband-stand。OldfatherElliothadagreatstockofwordsandcouldshout——anddidn’tmindwhoheshoutedateither。HewouldhaveshoutedattheViceroyhimself。Asheusedtotellme：“IamashighasIcanget；mypensionissafe。I’veafewpoundslaidby，andiftheydon’tlikemynotionsofdutyIwouldjustassoongohomeasnot。Iamanoldman，andIhavealwaysspokenmymind。AllIcarefornowistoseemygirlsmarriedbeforeIdie。“Hewasalittlecrazyonthatpoint。Histhreedaughterswereawfullynice，thoughtheyresembledhimamazingly，andonthemorningshewokeupwithagloomyviewoftheirmatrimonialprospectstheofficewouldreaditinhiseyeandtremble，because，theysaid，hewassuretohavesomebodyforbreakfast。However，thatmorninghedidnoteattherenegade，but，ifImaybeallowedtocarryonthemetaphor，chewedhimupverysmall，sotospeak，and——ah!ejectedhimagain。
　　`ThusinaveryfewmomentsIsawhismonstrousbulkdescendinhasteandstandstillontheoutersteps。Hehadstoppedclosetomeforthepurposeofprofoundmeditation：hislargepurplecheeksquivered。Hewasbitinghisthumb，andafterawhilenoticedmewithasidelongvexedlook。
　　Theotherthreechapsthathadlandedwithhimmadealittlegroupwaitingatsomedistance。Therewasasallow-faced，meanlittlechapwithhisarminasling，andalongindividualinablueflannelcoat，asdryasachipandnostouterthanabroomstick，withdroopinggreymoustaches，wholookedabouthimwithanairofjauntyimbecility。Thethirdwasanupstanding，broad-shoulderedyouth，withhishandsinhispockets，turninghisbackontheothertwowhoappearedtobetalkingtogetherearnestly。HestaredacrosstheemptyEsplanade。Aramshacklegharry，alldustandvenetianblinds，pulledupshortoppositethegroup，andthedriver，throwinguphisrightfootoverhisknee，gavehimselfuptothecriticalexaminationofhistoes。Theyoungchap，makingnomovement，notevenstirringhishead，juststaredintothesunshine。ThiswasmyfirstviewofJim。Helookedasunconcernedandunapproachableasonlytheyoungcanlook。Therehestood，clean-limbed，clean-faced，firmonhisfeet，aspromisingaboyasthesunevershoneon；and，lookingathim，knowingallheknewandalittlemoretoo，IwasangryasthoughIhaddetectedhimtryingtogetsomethingoutofmebyfalsepretences。Hehadnobusinesstolooksosound。
　　Ithoughttomyself——Well，ifthissortcangowronglikethat……andIfeltasthoughIcouldflingdownmyhatanddanceonitfromsheermortification，asIoncesawtheskipperofanItalianbarquedobecausehisdufferofamategotintoamesswithhisanchorswhenmakingaflyingmoorinaroadsteadfullofships。Iaskedmyself，seeinghimthereapparentlysomuchatease——Ishesilly？ishecallous？Heseemedreadytostartwhistlingatune。Andnote，Ididnotcarearapaboutthebehaviouroftheothertwo。Theirpersonssomehowfittedthetalethatwaspublicproperty，andwasgoingtobethesubjectofanofficialinquiry。“Thatoldmadrogueupstairscalledmeahound，“saidthecaptainofthePatna。Ican’ttellwhetherherecognizedme——Iratherthinkhedid；butatanyrateourglancesmet。Heglared——Ismiled；houndwastheverymildestepithetthathadreachedmethroughtheopenwindow。“Didhe？“Isaidfromsomestrangeinabilitytoholdmytongue。Henodded，bithisthumbagain，sworeunderhisbreath：thenliftinghisheadandlookingatmewithsullenandpassionateimpudence——“Bah!thePacificisbig，myfriendt。YoudamnedEnglishmencandoyourworst；Iknowwherethere’splentyroomforamanlikeme：
　　IamwellaguaindtinApia，inHonolulu，in……“Hepausedreflectively，whilewithouteffortIcoulddepicttomyselfthesortofpeoplehewas“aguaindt“withinthoseplaces。Iwon’tmakeasecretofitthatIhadbeen“aguaindt“withnotafewofthatsortmyself。Therearetimeswhenamanmustactasthoughlifewereequallysweetinanycompany。I’veknownsuchatime，and，what’smore，Ishan’tnowpretendtopullalongfaceovermynecessity，becauseagoodmanyofthatbadcompanyfromwantofmoral——moral——whatshallIsay？——posture，orfromsomeotherequallyprofoundcause，weretwiceasinstructiveandtwentytimesmoreamusingthantheusualrespectablethiefofcommerceyoufellowsasktositatyourtablewithoutanyrealnecessity——fromhabit，fromcowardice，fromgoodnature，fromahundredsneakingandinadequatereasons。
　　“`YouEnglishmenareallrogues，“wentonmypatrioticFlensborgorStettinAustralian，Ireallydon’trecollectnowwhatdecentlittleportontheshoresoftheBalticwasdefiledbybeingthenestofthatpreciousbird。“Whatareyoutoshout？Eh？Youtellme？Youarenobetterthanotherpeople，andthatoldrougehemakeGottamfusswithme。“Histhickcarcasstrembledonitslegsthatwerelikeapairofpillars；ittrembledfromheadtofoot。“That’swhatyouEnglishalwaysmake——makeatam’fuss——foranylittlething，becauseIwasnotborninyourtam’country。Takeawaymycertificate。Takeit。Idon’twantthecertificate。Amanlikemedon’twantyourverfluchtecertificate。Ishpitonit。“Hespat。“IvillanAmericancitizenbegome，“hecried，frettingandfumingandshufflinghisfeetasiftofreehisanklesfromsomeinvisibleandmysteriousgraspthatwouldnotlethimgetawayfromthatspot。Hemadehimselfsowarmthatthetopofhisbulletheadpositivelysmoked。Nothingmysteriouspreventedmefromgoingaway：curiosityisthemostobviousofsentiments，anditheldmetheretoseetheeffectofafullinformationuponthatyoungfellowwho，handsinpockets，andturninghisbackuponthesidewalk，gazedacrossthegrass-plotsoftheEsplanadeattheyellowporticooftheMalabarHotelwiththeairofamanabouttogoforawalkassoonashisfriendisready。
　　That’showhelooked，anditwasodious。Iwaitedtoseehimover-whelmed，confounded，piercedthroughandthrough，squirminglikeanimpaledbeetle——andIwashalfafraidtoseeittoo——ifyouunderstandwhatImean。Nothingmoreawfulthantowatchamanwhohasbeenfoundout，notinacrimebutinamorethancriminalweakness。Thecommonestsortoffortitudepreventsusfrombecomingcriminalsinalegalsense；itisfromweaknessunknown，butperhapssuspected，asinsomepartsoftheworldyoususpectadeadlysnakeineverybush——fromweaknessthatmayliehidden，watchedorunwatched，prayedagainstormanfullyscorned，repressedormaybeignoredmorethanhalfalifetime，notoneofusissafe。Wearesnaredintodoingthingsforwhichwegetcallednames，andthingsforwhichwegethanged，andyetthespiritmaywellsurvive——survivethecondemnations，survivethehalter，byJove!Andtherearethings——theylooksmallenoughsometimestoo——bywhichsomeofusaretotallyandcompletelyundone。Iwatchedtheyoungsterthere。Ilikedhisappearance；Iknewhisappearance；hecamefromtherightplace；hewasoneofus。Hestoodthereforalltheparentageofhiskind，formenandwomenbynomeanscleveroramusing，butwhoseveryexistenceisbaseduponhonestfaith，andupontheinstinctofcourage。
　　Idon’tmeanmilitarycourage，orcivilcourage，oranyspecialkindofcourage。Imeanjustthatinbornabilitytolooktemptationsstraightintheface——areadinessunintellectualenough，goodnessknows，butwithoutpose——apowerofresistance，don’tyousee，ungraciousifyoulike，butpriceless——anunthinkingandblessedstiffnessbeforetheoutwardandinwardterrors，beforethemightofnature，andtheseductivecorruptionofmen——backedbyafaithinvulnerabletothestrengthoffacts，tothecontagionofexample，tothesolicitationofideas。Hangideas!Theyaretramps，vagabonds，knockingattheback-doorofyourmind，eachtakingalittleofyoursubstance，eachcarryingawaysomecrumbofthatbeliefinafewsimplenotionsyoumustclingtoifyouwanttolivedecentlyandwouldliketodieeasy!
　　`ThishasnothingtodowithJim，directly；onlyhewasoutwardlysotypicalofthatgood，stupidkindweliketofeelmarchingrightandleftofusinlife，ofthekindthatisnotdisturbedbythevagariesofintelligenceandtheperversionsof——ofnerves，letussay。Hewasthekindoffellowyouwould，onthestrengthofhislooks，leaveinchargeofthedeck——figurativelyandprofessionallyspeaking。IsayIwould，andIoughttoknow。Haven’tIturnedoutyoungstersenoughinmytime，fortheserviceoftheRedRag，tothecraftofthesea，tothecraftwhosewholesecretcouldbeexpressedinoneshortsentence，andyetmustbedrivenafresheverydayintoyoungheadstillitbecomesthecomponentpartofeverywakingthought——tillitispresentineverydreamoftheiryoungsleep!Theseahasbeengoodtome，butwhenIrememberalltheseboysthatpassedthroughmyhands，somegrownupnowandsomedrownedbythistime，butallgoodstuffforthesea，Idon’tthinkIhavedonebadlybyiteither。WereItogohometo-morrow，Ibetthatbeforetwodayspassedovermyheadsomesunburntyoungchiefmatewouldovertakemeatsomedockgatewayorother，andafreshdeepvoicespeakingabovemyhatwouldask：“Don’tyourememberme，sir？Why!littleSo-and-so。Suchandsuchaship。Itwasmyfirstvoyage。“
　　AndIwouldrememberabewilderedlittleshaver，nohigherthanthebackofthischair，withamotherandperhapsabigsisteronthequay，veryquietbuttooupsettowavetheirhandkerchiefsattheshipthatglidesoutgentlybetweenthepier-heads：orperhapssomedecentmiddle-agedfatherwhohadcomeearlywithhisboytoseehimoff，andstaysallthemorningbecauseheisinterestedinthewindlassapparently，andstaystoolong，andhasgottoscrambleashoreatlastwithnotimeatalltosaygood-bye。
　　Themudpilotonthepoopsingsouttomeinadrawl：“Holdherwiththechecklineforamoment，MisterMate。There’sagentlemanwantstogetshore……Upwithyou，sir。NearlygotcarriedofftoTalcahuano，didn’tyou？Now’syourtime；easydoesit……Allright。Slackawayagainforwardthere。’Thetugs，smokinglikethepitofperdition，getholdandchurntheoldriverintofury；thegentlemanashoreisdustinghisknees——thebenevolentstewardhasshiedhisumbrellaafterhim。Allveryproper。Hehasofferedhisbitofsacrificetothesea，andnowhemaygohomepretendinghethinksnothingofit；andthelittlewillingvictimshallbeverysea-sickbeforenextmorning。Byandby，whenhehaslearnedallthelittlemysteriesandtheonegreatsecretofthecraft，heshallbefittoliveordieastheseamaydecree；andthemanwhohadtakenahandinthisfoolgame，inwhichtheseawinseverytoss，willbepleasedtohavehisbackslappedbyaheavyyounghand，andtohearacheerysea-puppyvioce：“Doyourememberme，sir？ThelittleSo-and-so。“
　　`Itellyouthisisgood；ittellsyouthatonceinyourlifeatleastyouhadgonetherightwaytowork。Ihavebeenthusslapped，andIhavewinced，fortheslapwasheavy，andIhaveglowedalldaylongandgonetobedfeelinglesslonelyintheworldbyvirtueofthatheartythump。