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holiday romance(浪漫假日)-第7部分

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too   weak   now   to   touch   his   hat;   besides   its   having   been   blown   away   … 

called out; 

     'Savages!' 

     All was now expectation。 

     Presently   fifteen   hundred   canoes;   each   paddled   by   twenty   savages; 

were     seen   advancing     in  excellent    order。   They   were      of  a  light  green 

colour   (the   savages   were);   and   sang;   with   great   energy;   the   following 

strain: 

       Choo a choo a choo tooth。 Muntch; muntch。                 Nycey! Choo a choo a 



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choo tooth。 Muntch; muntch。             Nycey! 

       As the shades of night were by this time closing in; these expressions 

were supposed to embody this simple people's views of the evening hymn。 

But it too soon appeared that the song was a translation of 'For what we 

are going to receive;' &c。 

     The   chief;   imposingly   decorated   with   feathers   of   lively   colours;   and 

having the majestic appearance of a fighting parrot; no sooner understood 

(he   understood   English   perfectly)   that   the   ship   was   'The   Beauty;'   Capt。 

Boldheart;      than   he  fell  upon    his  face   on   the  deck;    and   could   not   be 

persuaded   to   rise   until   the   captain   had   lifted   him   up;   and   told   him   he 

wouldn't hurt him。        All the rest of the savages also fell on their faces with 

marks of terror; and had also to be lifted up one by one。                Thus the fame of 

the   great   Boldheart   had   gone   before   him;   even   among   these   children   of 

Nature。 

     Turtles and oysters were now produced in astonishing numbers; and on 

these   and   yams   the   people   made   a   hearty   meal。     After   dinner   the   chief 

told   Capt。   Boldheart   that   there   was   better   feeding   up   at   the   village;   and 

that he would be glad to take him and his officers there。                Apprehensive of 

treachery;   Boldheart   ordered   his   boat's   crew   to   attend   him   completely 

armed。      And well were it for other commanders if their precautions … but 

let us not anticipate。 

     When the canoes arrived at the beach; the darkness of the night was 

illumined by the light of an immense fire。              Ordering his boat's crew (with 

the intrepid though illiterate William at their head) to keep close and be 

upon their guard; Boldheart bravely went on; arm in arm with the chief。 

     But   how   to   depict   the   captain's   surprise   when   he   found   a   ring    of 

savages singing in chorus that barbarous translation of   'For what we   are 

going to receive;' &c。; which has been given above; and dancing hand in 

hand round the Latin…grammar master; in a hamper with his head shaved; 

while     two   savages    floured    him;   before    putting    him   to  the   fire  to  be 

cooked! 

     Boldheart   now   took   counsel   with   his   officers   on   the   course   to   be 

adopted。      In the mean time; the miserable captive never ceased begging 

pardon     and    imploring     to  be   delivered。     On    the   generous     Boldheart's 



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proposal;   it   was   at   length   resolved   that   he   should   not   be   cooked;   but 

should be allowed to remain raw; on two conditions; namely: 

     1。  That   he   should   never;   under   any   circumstances;   presume   to   teach 

any boy anything any more。 

     2。 That; if taken back to England; he should pass his life in travelling 

to   find   out   boys   who   wanted   their   exercises   done;   and   should   do   their 

exercises for those boys for nothing; and never say a word about it。 

     Drawing   the   sword   from   its   sheath;   Boldheart   swore   him   to   these 

conditions on its shining blade。           The prisoner wept bitterly; and appeared 

acutely to feel the errors of his past career。 

     The captain then ordered his boat's crew to make ready for a volley; 

and after firing to re…load quickly。          'And expect a score or two on ye to go 

head   over   heels;'   murmured   William   Boozey;   'for   I'm   a…looking   at   ye。' 

With those words; the derisive though deadly William took a good aim。 

     'Fire!' 

     The ringing voice of Boldheart was lost in the report of the guns and 

the    screeching      of  the   savages。      Volley     after   volley    awakened       the 

numerous echoes。          Hundreds of savages were killed; hundreds wounded; 

and thousands ran howling into the woods。                  The Latin… grammar master 

had a spare night…cap lent him; and a long…tail coat; which he wore hind 

side   before。    He   presented   a   ludicrous   though   pitiable   appearance;   and 

serve him right。 

     We   now   find   Capt。   Boldheart;   with   this   rescued   wretch   on   board; 

standing off for other islands。          At one of these; not a cannibal island; but 

a pork and vegetable one; he married (only in fun on his part) the king's 

daughter。      Here   he   rested   some   time;   receiving   from   the   natives   great 

quantities of precious stones; gold dust; elephants' teeth; and sandal wood; 

and    getting    very   rich。   This;    too;  though     he  almost    every    day   made 

presents of enormous value to his men。 

     The   ship   being   at   length   as   full   as   she   could   hold   of   all   sorts   of 

valuable things; Boldheart gave orders to weigh the anchor; and turn 'The 

Beauty's'   head   towards   England。        These   orders   were   obeyed   with   three 

cheers; and ere the sun went down full many a hornpipe had been danced 

on deck by the uncouth though agile William。 



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     We     next   find   Capt。    Boldheart     about    three   leagues    off   Madeira; 

surveying      through     his  spy…glass     a  stranger    of  suspicious     appearance 

making sail towards him。          On his firing a gun ahead of her to bring her to; 

she ran up a flag; which he instantly recognised as the flag from the mast 

in the back…garden at home。 

     Inferring from this; that his father had put to sea to seek his long…lost 

son; the captain sent his own boat on board the stranger to inquire if this 

was so; and; if so; whether his father's intentions were strictly honourable。 

The boat came back with a present of greens and fresh meat; and reported 

that   the   stranger   was   'The   Family;'   of   twelve   hundred   tons;   and   had   not 

only the captain's father on board; but also his mother; with the majority of 

his   aunts   and   uncles;    and   all  his  cousins。    It  was    further   reported   to 

Boldheart that the whole of these relations had expressed themselves in a 

becoming manner; and were anxious to embrace him and thank him for the 

glorious     credit   he  had   done    them。   Boldheart     at  once   invited    them   to 

breakfast   next     morning   on    board    'The   Beauty;'   and    gave   orders   for  a 

brilliant ball that should last all day。 

     It  was    in  the  course    of  the   night   that  the  captain    discovered     the 

hopelessness   of      reclaiming   the    Latin…grammar   master。        That    thankless 

traitor was found out; as the two ships lay near each other; communicating 

with 'The Family' by signals; and offering to give up Boldheart。                   He was 

hanged   at   the   yard…arm   the   first   thing   in   the   morning;   after   having   it 

impressively  pointed   out   to   him  by  Boldheart   that   this   was   what   spiters 

came to。 

     The   meeting   between   the   captain   and   his   parents   was   attended   with 

tears。    His uncles and aunts would have attended their meeting with tears 

too;   but   he   wasn't   going   to  stand   that。   His   cousins   were   very   much 

astonished by the size of his ship and the discipline of his men; and were 

greatly  overcome   by  the   splendour   of   his uniform。  He   kindly  conducted 

them round the vessel; and pointed out everything worthy of notice。                      He 

also fired his hundred guns; and found it amusing to witness their alarm。 

     The entertainment surpassed everything ever seen on board ship; and 

lasted from ten in the morning until seven the next morning。                     Only one 

disagreeable incident occurred。           Capt。 Boldheart found himself obliged to 



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put    his  cousin    Tom     in  irons;   for   being   disrespectful。     On    the  boy's 

promising   amendment;   however;   he   was   humanely   released   after   a   few 

hours' close confinement。 

     Boldheart now took his mother down into the great cabin; and asked 

after the young lady with whom; it was well known to the world; he was in 

love。    His   mother   replied   that   the   object   of   his   affections   was   then   at 

school   at   Margate;   for   the   benefit   of   sea…bathing   (it   was   the   month   of 

September); but that she feared the young lady's friends were still opposed 

to   the   union。   Boldheart   at   once   resolved;   if   necessary;   to   bombard   the 

town。 

     Taking the command of his ship with this intention; and putting all but 

fighting men on board 'The Family;' with orders to that vessel to keep in 

company;   Boldheart   soon   anchored           in   Margate   Roads。     Here   he   went 

ashore   well…armed;   and   attended   by   his   boat's   crew   (at 
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