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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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