Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street

134 THE PIAZZA TALES
The man assented with an inward chuckle, grasping
the tiller-head firmly. Upon this, unperceived by the
American, the two blacks eyed the sailor intently.
r -
Finding all right at the helm, the pilot went forward
\ to the forecastle, to see how matters stood there.
I
The ship now had way enough to breast the current.
With the approach of evening, the breeze would be sure
to freshen.
Having done all that was needed for the present,
Captain Delano, giving his last orders to the sailors,
turned aft to report affairs to Don Benito in the cabin ;
perhaps additionally incited to rejoin him by the hope
of snatching a moment's private chat while the servant
was engaged upon deck.
From opposite sides, there were, beneath the poop,
one further forward than
two approaches to the cabin ;
the other, and consequently communicating with a longer
passage. Marking the servant still above, Captain Delano,
taking the nighest entrance— the one last named, and
at whose porch Atufal still stood— hurried on his way,
till, arrived at the cabin threshold, he paused an instant,
a little to recover from his eagerness. Then, with the
words of his intended business upon his lips, he entered.
As he advanced toward the seated Spaniard, he heard
another footstep, keeping time with his. From the
opposite door, a salver in hand, the servant was likewise
advancing.
1
Confound the faithful fellow,' thought Captain
'
what a vexatious coincidence.'
Delano ;
Possibly the vexation might have been something
different, were it not for the brisk confidence inspired
by the breeze. But even as it was, he felt a slight
twinge, from a sudden indefinite association in his mind
of Babo with Atufal.
1
Don Benito,' said he '
I give you joy ; the breeze