rambling idle excursion-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


there　was　only　one　creature　more　fickle　than　a　wooden　ship's　compass；
and　that　was　the　compass　of　an　iron　ship。　　Then　came　reference　to　the
well　known　fact　that　an　experienced　mariner　can　look　at　the　compass　of　a
new　iron　vessel；　thousands　of　mile　from　her　birthplace；　and　tell　which
way　her　head　was　pointing　when　she　was　in　process　of　building。

Now　an　ancient　whale…ship　master　fell　to　talking　about　the　sort　of　crews
they　used　to　have　in　his　early　days。　　Said　he：

〃Sometimes　we'd　have　a　batch　of　college　students　Queer　lot。　　Ignorant？
Why；　they　didn't　know　the　catheads　from　the　main　brace。　　But　if　you　took
them　for　fools　you'd　get　bit；　sure。　　They'd　learn　more　in　a　month　than
another　man　would　in　a　year。　　We　had　one；　once；　in　the　Mary　Ann；　that
came　aboard　with　gold　spectacles　on。　　And　besides；　he　was　rigged　out　from
main　truck　to　keelson　in　the　nobbiest　clothes　that　ever　saw　a　fo'castle。
He　had　a　chestful；　too：　cloaks；　and　broadcloth　coats；　and　velvet　vests；
everything　swell；　you　know；　and　didn't　the　saltwater　fix　them　out　for
him？　　I　guess　not！　　Well；　going　to　sea；　the　mate　told　him　to　go　aloft　and
help　shake　out　the　foreto'gallants'l。　　Up　he　shins　to　the　foretop；　with
his　spectacles　on；　and　in　a　minute　down　he　comes　again；　looking　insulted。
Says　the　mate；　'What　did　you　come　down　for？'　Says　the　chap；　'P'r'aps　you
didn't　notice　that　there　ain't　any　ladders　above　there。'　　You　see　we
hadn't　any　shrouds　above　the　foretop。　　The　men　bursted　out　in　a　laugh
such　as　I　guess　you　never　heard　the　like　of。　　Next　night；　which　was　dark
and　rainy；　the　mate　ordered　this　chap　to　go　aloft　about　something；　and
I'm　dummed　if　he　didn't　start　up　with　an　umbrella　and　a　lantern！　　But　no
matter；　he　made　a　mighty　good　sailor　before　the　voyage　was　done；　and　we
had　to　hunt　up　something　else　to　laugh　at。　　Years　afterwards；　when　I　had
forgot　all　about　him；　I　comes　into　Boston；　mate　of　a　ship；　and　was
loafing　around　town　with　the　second　mate；　and　it　so　happened　that　we
stepped　into　the　Revere　House；　thinking　maybe　we　would　chance　the
salt…horse　in　that　big　diningroom　for　a　flyer；　as　the　boys　say。　　Some
fellows　were　talking　just　at　our　elbow；　and　one　says；　'Yonder's　the　new
governor　of　Massachusettsat　that　table　over　there　with　the　ladies。'
We　took　a　good　look　my　mate　and　I；　for　we　hadn't　either　of　us　ever　see　a
governor　before。　　I　looked　and　looked　at　that　face　and　then　all　of　a
sudden　it　popped　on　me！　　But　didn't　give　any　sign。　　Says　I；　'Mate；　I've　a
notion　to　go　over　and　shake　hands　with　him。'　　Says　he　'I　think　I　see　you
doing　it；　Tom。'　　Says　I；　'Mate　I'm　a…going　to　do　it。'　　Says　he；　'Oh；　yes；
I　guess　so。　　Maybe　you　don't　want　to　bet　you　will；　Tom？'　　Say　I；　'I　don't
mind　going　a　V　on　it；　mate。'　　Says　he　'Put　it　up。'　　'　Up　she　goes；'　says
I；　planking　the　cash。　　This　surprised　him。　　But　he　covered　it；　and　say。
pretty　sarcastic；　'Hadn't　you　better　take　your　grub　with　the　governor　and
the　ladies；　Tom？'　　Says　I　'Upon　second　thoughts；　I　will。'　　Says　he；　'Well
Tom；　you　aye　a　dum　fool。'　　Says　I；　'Maybe　I　am　maybe　I　ain't；　but　the
main　question　is；　do　you　wan　to　risk　two　and　a　half　that　I　won't　do　it？'
'Make　it　a　V；'　says　he。　　'Done；'　says　I。　　I　started；　him　a　giggling　and
slapping　his　hand　on　his　thigh；　he　felt　so　good。　　I　went　over　there　and
leaned　my　knuckle：　on　the　table　a　minute　and　looked　the　governor　in　the
face；　and　says　I；　'Mr。　Gardner；　don't　you　know　me？　　He　stared；　and　I
stared；　and　he　stared。　　Then　all　of　a　sudden　he　sings　out；　'Tom　Bowling；
by　the　holy　poker！　　Ladies；　it's　old　Tom　Bowling；　that　you've　heard　me
talk　aboutshipmate　of　mine　in　the　Mary　Ann。'　　He　rose　up　and　shook
hands　with　me　ever　so　heartyI　sort　of　glanced　around　and　took　a
realizing　sense　of　my　mate's　saucer　eyesand　then　says　the　governor；
'Plant　yourself；　Tom；　plant　yourself；　you　can't　cat　your　anchor　again
till　you've　had　a　feed　with　me　and　the　ladies！'　　I　planted　myself
alongside　the　governor；　and　canted　my　eye　around　toward　my　mate。　　Well；
sir；　his　dead…lights　were　bugged　out　like　tompions；　and　his　mouth　stood
that　wide　open　that　you　could　have　laid　a　ham　in　it　without　him　noticing
it。〃

There　was　great　applause　at　the　conclusion　of　the　old　captain's　story；
then；　after　a　moment's　silence；　a　grave；　pale　young　man　said：

〃Had　you　ever　met　the　governor　before？〃

The　old　captain　looked　steadily　at　this　inquirer　awhile；　and　then　got　up
and　walked　aft　without　making　any　reply。　　One　passenger　after　another
stole　a　furtive　glance　at　the　inquirer；　but　failed　to　make　him　out；　and
so　gave　him　up。　　It　took　some　little　work　to　get　the　talk…machinery　to
running　smoothly　again　after　this　derangement；　but　at　length　a
conversation　sprang　up　about　that　important　and　jealously　guarded
instrument；　a　ship's　timekeeper；　its　exceeding　delicate　accuracy；　and　the
wreck　and　destruction　that　have　sometimes　resulted　from　its　varying　a　few
seemingly　trifling　moments　from　the　true　time；　then；　in　due　course；　my
comrade；　the　Reverend；　got　off　on　a　yarn；　with　a　fair　wind　and　everything
drawing。　　It　was　a　true　story；　tooabout　Captain　Rounceville's　shipwreck
true　in　every　detail。　　It　was　to　this　effect：

Captain　Rounceville's　vessel　was　lost　in　mid…Atlantic；　and　likewise　his
wife　and　his　two　little　children。　　Captain　Rounceville　and　seven　seamen
escaped　with　life；　but　with　little　else。　　A　small；　rudely　constructed
raft　was　to　be　their　home　for　eight　days。　　They　had　neither　provisions
nor　water。　　They　had　scarcely　any　clothing；　no　one　had　a　coat　but　the
captain。　　This　coat　was　changing　hands　all　the　time；　for　the　weather　was
very　cold。　　Whenever　a　man　became　exhausted　with　the　cold；　they　put　the
coat　on　him　and　laid　him　down　between　two　shipmates　until　the　garment　and
their　bodies　had　warmed　life　into　him　again。　　Among　the　sailors　was　a
Portuguese　who　knew　no　English。　　He　seemed　to　have　no　thought　of　his　own
calamity；　but　was　concerned　only　about　the　captain's　bitter　loss　of　wife
and　children。　　By　day　he　would　look　his　dumb　compassion　in　the　captain's
face；　and　by　night；　in　the　darkness　and　the　driving　spray　and　rain；　he
would　seek　out　the　captain　and　try　to　comfort　him　with　caressing　pats　on
the　shoulder。　　One　day；　when　hunger　and　thirst　were　making　their　sure
inroad；　upon　the　men's　strength　and　spirits；　a　floating　barrel　was　seen
at　a　distance。　　It　seemed　a　great　find；　for　doubtless　it　contained　food
of　some　sort。　　A　brave　fellow　swam　to　it；　and　after　long　and　exhausting
effort　got　it　to　the　raft。　　It　was　eagerly　opened。　　It　was　a　barrel　of
magnesia！　　On　the　fifth　day　an　onion　was　spied。　　A　sailor　swam　off　and
got　it。　　Although　perishing　with　hunger；　he　brought　it　in　its　integrity
and　put　it　into　the　captain's　hand。　　The　history　of　the　sea　teaches　that
among　starving；　shipwrecked　men　selfishness　is　rare；　and　a　wonder…
compelling　magnanimity　the　rule。　　The　onion　was　equally　divided　into
eight　parts；　and　eaten　with　deep　thanksgivings。　　On　the　eighth　day　a
distant　ship　was　sighted。　　Attempts　were　made　to　hoist　an　oar；　with
Captain　Rounceville's　coat　on　it　for　a　signal。　　There　were　many　failures；
for　the　men　were　but　skeletons　now；　and　strengthless。　　At　last　success
was　achieved；　but　the　signal　brought　no　help。　　The　ship　faded　out　of
sight　and　left　despair　behind　her。　　By　and　by　another　ship　appeared；
and　passed　so　near　that　the　castaways；　every　eye　eloquent　with　gratitude；
made　ready　to　welcome　the　boat　that　would　be　sent　to　save　them。　　But　this
ship　also　drove　on；　and　left　these　men　staring　their　unutterable　surprise
and　dismay　into　each　other's　ashen　faces。　　Late　in　the　day；　still　another
ship　came　up　out　of　the　distance；　but　the　men　noted　with　a　pang　that　her
course　was　one　which　would　not　bring　her　nearer。　　Their　remnant　of　life
was　nearly　spent；　their　lips　and　tongues　were　swollen；　parched；　cracked
with　eight　days'　thirst；　their　bodies　starved；　and　here　was　their　last
chance　gliding　relentlessly　from　them；　they　would　not　be　alive　when　the
next　sun　rose。　　For　a　day　or　two　past　the　men　had　lost　their　voices；　but
now　Captain　Rounceville　whispered；　〃Let　us　pray。〃　　The　Portuguese　patted
him　on　the　shoulder　in　sign　of　deep　approval。　　All　knelt　at　the　base　of
the　oar　that　was　waving　the　signal…coat　aloft；　an