“Do not misunderstand the situation,” the Senator said to Karl; “it may be a matter of justice, but at the same time it is a matter of discipline as well. Both matters, especially the latter, are for the captain to decide in this case.”
“So it is,” murmured the stoker. Those who heard and understood this smiled uneasily.
“In any event, we have kept the captain from his official duties far too long, and these undoubtedly accumulate immeasurably upon arriving in New York, so now it is high time we left the ship rather than make matters worse by turning this petty squabble between two engineers into a bigger incident through our completely unnecessary intervention. And I do understand your conduct perfectly, my dear nephew, but that is precisely what gives me the right to take you away from here posthaste.”
“I will have a boat lowered for you immediately,” said the captain, without, to Karl’s utter amazement, raising the least objection to the uncle’s words, although these could unquestionably be considered self-abasement on his uncle’s part. The chief purser raced to his desk and telephoned the captain’s order to the boatswain.
“Time’s running out,” Karl said to himself, “but I can do nothing without offending everyone. I can’t desert my uncle after he’s just found me again. The captain is certainly polite, but that’s where it ends. When it comes to discipline, his courtesy stops, and I’m sure my uncle spoke from the captain’s soul. I don’t want to speak to Schubal and I regret I ever shook his hand. And all the other people here aren’t worth a hill of beans.”
And with these thoughts in his mind, Karl walked slowly over and drew the stoker’s right hand out of his belt, gently cupping it in his own. “Why don’t you say anything?” he asked. “Why do you take everything lying down?”
The stoker merely furrowed his brow, as if searching for the right words to express what he had to say. Meanwhile he gazed down at Karl’s hand and his own.
“You’ve been wronged like no one else on this ship, that I know.” And Karl ran his fingers to and fro between the fingers of the stoker, who peered around with gleaming eyes as if he were experiencing a joy that no one ought to begrudge him.
“But you must defend yourself, say yes and no; otherwise people will have no idea of the truth. You must promise me that you will do as I say, for I have every reason to fear that I will no longer be able to help you.” And now Karl wept as he kissed the stoker’s hand, and then took that cracked and almost lifeless hand and pressed it to his cheeks like a treasure that must be forsaken.—But his uncle the Senator was already at his side, leading him away, if only with the gentlest of pressures.
“The stoker seems to have cast a spell over you,” he said, glancing knowingly at the captain over Karl’s head. “You felt lost, then you found the stoker, and now you feel grateful, that’s all very commendable. But don’t go too far, if only for my sake, and please try to understand your position.”
Noises erupted outside the door and shouts were heard, it even sounded as if someone were being brutally shoved against the door. A sailor entered in a rather disheveled state and had a girl’s apron tied around his waist. “There’s a crowd of people out there,” he yelled, swinging his elbows as if he were still in the crowd. He finally collected himself and was about to salute the captain when he noticed the apron, ripped it off, threw it to the floor, and shouted: “This is disgusting, they’ve tied a girl’s apron on me.” Then he clicked his heels together and saluted. Someone almost laughed, but the captain said severely: “That’s what I call a good mood. Just who is it outside?”
“They’re my witnesses,” said Schubal, stepping forward. “I humbly beg your pardon for their improper behavior. When the crew has the voyage behind them, they sometimes go a little crazy.
“Call them in immediately!” commanded the captain, and turning directly to the Senator, politely but rapidly said: “Please be so good as to take your nephew and follow this sailor, who will bring you to the boat, Mr. Senator, sir. I hardly need say what an honor and a pleasure it has been, Mr. Senator, to have met you in person. I only hope to have the opportunity soon to continue our interrupted conversation about the state of the American fleet, sir, and that it may be interrupted in as agreeable a manner as today.”