Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street

100 THE PIAZZA TALES
enigmatical, was now good-naturedly explained away by
the thought that, for the most part, the poor invalid
scarcely knew what he was about ; either sulking in
black vapours, or putting idle questions without sense
or object. Evidently, for the present, the man was not
fit to be entrusted with the ship. On some benevolent
plea withdrawing the command from him, Captain
Delano would yet have to send her to Conception, in
charge of his second mate, a worthy person and good
navigator —a plan not more convenient for the San
Dominick than for Don Benito ; for, relieved from all
anxiety, keeping wholly to his cabin, the sick man,
under the good nursing of his servant, would, probably,
by the end of the passage, be in a measure restored to
health, and with that he should also be restored to
authority.
Such were the American's thoughts. They were
tranquillising. There was a difference between the idea
of Don Benito's darkly preordaining Captain Delano's
fate, and Captain Delano's lightly arranging Don Benito's.
Nevertheless, it was not without something of relief that
the good seaman presently perceived his whale-boat in
the distance. Its absence had been prolonged by un-
expected detention at the sealer's side, as well as its
returning trip
the goal.
lengthened by the continual recession of
The advancing speck was observed by the blacks.
Their shouts attracted the attention of Don Benito, who,
with a return of courtesy, approaching Captain Delano,
expressed satisfaction at the coming of some supplies,
slight and temporary as they must necessarily prove.
Captain Delano responded ; but while doing so, his
attention was drawn to something passing on the deck
below : among the crowd climbing the landward bul-
warks, anxiously watching the coming boat, two blacks,