{"id":"01KG6YHCVAKBVG93K8AZ2KMK64","cid":"bafkreietrb4y6wm6x5kszt3vym6ipx22h4ozjzj64dyitvqmxxt66cepse","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":4601,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.409Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 26","source_file":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","start_line":4541,"text":"all those day-long enigmas and contradictions, except they were\r\nintended to mystify, preliminary to some stealthy blow? Atufal, the\r\npretended rebel, but punctual shadow, that moment lurked by the\r\nthreshold without. He seemed a sentry, and more. Who, by his own\r\nconfession, had stationed him there? Was the negro now lying in wait?\r\n\r\nThe Spaniard behind—his creature before: to rush from darkness to light\r\nwas the involuntary choice.\r\n\r\nThe next moment, with clenched jaw and hand, he passed Atufal, and\r\nstood unharmed in the light. As he saw his trim ship lying peacefully\r\nat anchor, and almost within ordinary call; as he saw his household\r\nboat, with familiar faces in it, patiently rising and falling, on the\r\nshort waves by the San Dominick’s side; and then, glancing about the\r\ndecks where he stood, saw the oakum-pickers still gravely plying their\r\nfingers; and heard the low, buzzing whistle and industrious hum of the\r\nhatchet-polishers, still bestirring themselves over their endless\r\noccupation; and more than all, as he saw the benign aspect of nature,\r\ntaking her innocent repose in the evening; the screened sun in the\r\nquiet camp of the west shining out like the mild light from Abraham’s\r\ntent; as charmed eye and ear took in all these, with the chained figure\r\nof the black, clenched jaw and hand relaxed. Once again he smiled at\r\nthe phantoms which had mocked him, and felt something like a tinge of\r\nremorse, that, by harboring them even for a moment, he should, by\r\nimplication, have betrayed an atheist doubt of the ever-watchful\r\nProvidence above.\r\n\r\nThere was a few minutes’ delay, while, in obedience to his orders, the\r\nboat was being hooked along to the gangway. During this interval, a\r\nsort of saddened satisfaction stole over Captain Delano, at thinking of\r\nthe kindly offices he had that day discharged for a stranger. Ah,\r\nthought he, after good actions one’s conscience is never ungrateful,\r\nhowever much so the benefited party may be.\r\n\r\nPresently, his foot, in the first act of descent into the boat, pressed\r\nthe first round of the side-ladder, his face presented inward upon the\r\ndeck. In the same moment, he heard his name courteously sounded; and,\r\nto his pleased surprise, saw Don Benito advancing—an unwonted energy in\r\nhis air, as if, at the last moment, intent upon making amends for his\r\nrecent discourtesy. With instinctive good feeling, Captain Delano,\r\nwithdrawing his foot, turned and reciprocally advanced. As he did so,\r\nthe Spaniard’s nervous eagerness increased, but his vital energy\r\nfailed; so that, the better to support him, the servant, placing his\r\nmaster’s hand on his naked shoulder, and gently holding it there,\r\nformed himself into a sort of crutch.\r\n\r\nWhen the two captains met, the Spaniard again fervently took the hand\r\nof the American, at the same time casting an earnest glance into his\r\neyes, but, as before, too much overcome to speak.\r\n\r\nI have done him wrong, self-reproachfully thought Captain Delano; his\r\napparent coldness has deceived me: in no instance has he meant to\r\noffend.\r\n\r\nMeantime, as if fearful that the continuance of the scene might too\r\nmuch unstring his master, the servant seemed anxious to terminate it.\r\nAnd so, still presenting himself as a crutch, and walking between the\r\ntwo captains, he advanced with them towards the gangway; while still,\r\nas if full of kindly contrition, Don Benito would not let go the hand\r\nof Captain Delano, but retained it in his, across the black’s body.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 26"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGRZTEE5859WYJDPVXVM1","peer_type":"intro","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YHCVAHGA9WNW4QXCWSDKE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YHDD4XCGKK67Q3V1SRGMS","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:58:00.042Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:58:05.237Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}