the make-believe man-第5部分

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up　like　a　duck；　meant　nothing　more　than　a　wetting。　　But　I　did　not
see　how　I　could　desert　Kinney。

〃Can　you　swim？〃　I　asked

〃Of　course　not！〃　he　answered　gloomily；　〃and；　besides；〃　he　added；
〃our　names　are　on　our　suitcases。　　We　couldn't　take　them　with　us；
and　they'd　find　out　who　we　are。　　If　we　could　only　steal　a　boat！〃　he
exclaimed　eagerly〃one　of　those　on　the　davits；〃　he　urged〃we
could　put　our　suitcases　in　it　and　then；　after　every　one　is　asleep；
we　could　lower　it　into　the　water。〃

The　smallest　boat　on　board　was　certified　to　hold　twenty…five
persons；　and　without　waking　the　entire　ship's　company　we　could　as
easily　have　moved　the　chart…room。　　This　I　pointed　out。

〃Don't　make　objections！〃　Kinney　cried　petulantly。　　He　was　rapidly
recovering　his　spirits。　　The　imminence　of　danger　seemed　to　inspire
him。

〃Think！〃　he　commanded。　　〃Think　of　some　way　by　which　we　can　get　off
this　boat　before　she　reaches　New　Bedford。　　We　MUST！　　We　must　not　be
arrested！　　It　would　be　too　awful！〃　　He　interrupted　himself　with　an
excited　exclamation。

〃I　have　it！〃　he　whispered　hoarsely：　〃I　will　ring　in　the　fire…alarm！
The　crew　will　run　to　quarters。　　The　boats　will　be　lowered。　　We　will
cut　one　of　them　adrift。　　In　the　confusion〃

What　was　to　happen　in　the　confusion　that　his　imagination　had
conjured　up；　I　was　not　to　know。　　For　what　actually　happened　was　so
confused　that　of　nothing　am　I　quite　certain。　　First；　from　the　water
of　the　Sound；　that　was　lapping　pleasantly　against　the　side；　I　heard
the　voice　of　a　man　raised　in　terror。　　Then　came　a　rush　of　feet；
oaths；　and　yells；　then　a　shock　that　threw　us　to　our　knees；　and　a
crunching；　ripping；　and　tearing　roar　like　that　made　by　the　roof　of
a　burning　building　when　it　plunges　to　the　cellar。

And　the　next　instant　a　large　bowsprit　entered　our　cabin　window。
There　was　left　me　just　space　enough　to　wrench　the　door　open；　and
grabbing　Kinney；　who　was　still　on　his　knees；　I　dragged　him　into　the
alleyway。　　He　scrambled　upright　and　clasped　his　hands　to　his　head。

〃Where's　my　hat？〃　he　cried。

I　could　hear　the　water　pouring　into　the　lower　deck　and　sweeping　the
freight　and　trunks　before　it。　　A　horse　in　a　box　stall　was　squealing
like　a　human　being；　and　many　human　beings　were　screaming　and
shrieking　like　animals。　　My　first　intelligent　thought　was　of　the
lovely　lady。　　I　shook　Kinney　by　the　arm。　　The　uproar　was　so　great
that　to　make　him　hear　I　was　forced　to　shout。　　〃Where　is　Lord　Ivy's
cabin？〃　I　cried。　　〃You　said　it's　next　to　his　sister's。　　Take　me
there！〃

Kinney　nodded；　and　ran　down　the　corridor　and　into　an　alleyway　on
which　opened　three　cabins。　　The　doors　were　ajar；　and　as　I　looked
into　each　I　saw　that　the　beds　had　not　been　touched；　and　that　the
cabins　were　empty。　　I　knew　then　that　she　was　still　on　deck。　　I　felt
that　I　must　find　her。　　We　ran　toward　the　companionway。

〃Women　and　children　first！〃　Kinney　was　yelling。　　〃Women　and
children　first！〃　　As　we　raced　down　the　slanting　floor　of　the　saloon
he　kept　repeating　this　mechanically。　　At　that　moment　the　electric
lights　went　out；　and；　except　for　the　oil　lamps；　the　ship　was　in
darkness。　　Many　of　the　passengers　had　already　gone　to　bed。　　These
now　burst　from　the　state…rooms　in　strange　garments；　carrying　life…
preservers；　hand…bags；　their　arms　full　of　clothing。　　One　man　in　one
hand　clutched　a　sponge；　in　the　other　an　umbrella。　　With　this　he
beat　at　those　who　blocked　his　flight。　　He　hit　a　woman　over　the
head；　and　I　hit　him　and　he　went　down。　　Finding　himself　on　his
knees；　be　began　to　pray　volubly。

When　we　reached　the　upper　deck　we　pushed　out　of　the　crush　at　the
gangway　and；　to　keep　our　footing；　for　there　was　a　strong　list　to
port；　clung　to　the　big　flag…staff　at　the　stern。　　At　each　rail　the
crew　were　swinging　the　boats　over　the　side；　and　around　each　boat
was　a　crazy；　fighting　mob。　　Above　our　starboard　rail　towered　the
foremast　of　a　schooner。　　She　had　rammed　us　fair　amidships；　and　in
her　bows　was　a　hole　through　which　you　could　have　rowed　a　boat。
Into　this　the　water　was　rushing　and　sucking　her　down。　　She　was
already　settling　at　the　stern。　　By　the　light　of　a　swinging　lantern
I　saw　three　of　her　crew　lift　a　yawl　from　her　deck　and　lower　it　into
the　water。　　Into　it　they　hurled　oars　and　a　sail；　and　one　of　them
had　already　started　to　slide　down　the　painter　when　the　schooner
lurched　drunkenly；　and　in　a　panic　all　three　of　the　men　ran　forward
and　leaped　to　our　lower　deck。　　The　yawl；　abandoned；　swung　idly
between　the　Patience　and　the　schooner。　　Kinney；　seeing　what　I　saw；
grabbed　me　by　the　arm。

〃There！〃　he　whispered；　pointing；　〃there's　our　chance！〃　　I　saw　that；
with　safety；　the　yawl　could　hold　a　third　person；　and　as　to　who　the
third　passenger　would　be　I　had　already　made　up　my　mind。

〃Wait　here！〃　I　said。

On　the　Patience　there　were　many　immigrants；　only　that　afternoon
released　from　Ellis　Island。　　They　had　swarmed　into　the　life…boats
even　before　they　were　swung　clear；　and　when　the　ship's　officers
drove　them　off；　the　poor　souls；　not　being　able　to　understand；
believed　they　were　being　sacrificed　for　the　safety　of　the　other
passengers。　　So　each　was　fighting；　as　he　thought；　for　his　life　and
for　the　lives　of　his　wife　and　children。　　At　the　edge　of　the
scrimmage　I　dragged　out　two　women　who　had　been　knocked　off　their
feet　and　who　were　in　danger　of　being　trampled。　　But　neither　was　the
woman　I　sought。　　In　the　half…darkness　I　saw　one　of　the　immigrants；
a　girl　with　a　'kerchief　on　her　head；　struggling　with　her　life…belt。
A　stoker；　as　he　raced　past；　seized　it　and　made　for　the　rail。　　In　my
turn　I　took　it　from　him；　and　he　fought　for　it；　shouting：

〃It's　every　man　for　himself　now！〃

〃All　right；〃　I　said；　for　I　was　excited　and　angry；　〃look　out　for
YOURSELF　then！〃　　I　hit　him　on　the　chin；　and　he　let　go　of　the　life…
belt　and　dropped。

I　heard　at　my　elbow　a　low；　excited　laugh；　and　a　voice　said：　〃Well
bowled！　　You　never　learned　that　in　an　office。〃　　I　turned　and　saw
the　lovely　lady。　　I　tossed　the　immigrant　girl　her　life…belt；　and　as
though　I　had　known　Lady　Moya　all　my　life　I　took　her　by　the　hand　and
dragged　her　after　me　down　the　deck。

〃You　come　with　me！〃　I　commanded。　　I　found　that　I　was　trembling　and
that　a　weight　of　anxiety　of　which　I　had　not　been　conscious　had　been
lifted。　　I　found　I　was　still　holding　her　hand　and　pressing　it　in　my
own。　　〃Thank　God！〃　I　said。　　〃I　thought　I　had　lost　you！〃

〃Lost　me！〃　repeated　Lady　Moya。　　But　she　made　no　comment。　　〃I　must
find　my　brother；〃　she　said。

〃You　must　come　with　me！〃　I　ordered。　　〃Go　with　Mr。　Kinney　to　the
lower　deck。　　I　will　bring　that　rowboat　under　the　stern。　　You　will
jump　into　it。

〃I　cannot　leave　my　brother！〃　said　Lady　Moya。

Upon　the　word；　as　though　shot　from　a　cannon；　the　human　whirlpool
that　was　sweeping　the　deck　amidships　cast　out　Stumps　and　hurled　him
toward　us。　　His　sister　gave　a　little　cry　of　relief。　　Stumps
recovered　his　balance　and　shook　himself　like　a　dog　that　has　been　in
the　water。

〃Thought　I'd　never　get　out　of　it　alive！〃　he　remarked　complacently。
In　the　darkness　I　could　not　see　his　face；　but　I　was　sure　he　was
still　vaguely　smiling。　　〃Worse　than　a　foot…ball　night！〃　he
exclaimed；　〃worse　than　Mafeking　night！〃

His　sister　pointed　to　the　yawl。

〃This　gentleman　is　going　to　bring　that　boat　here　and　take　us　away
in　it；〃　she　told　him。　　〃We　had　better　go　when　we　can！〃

〃Right　ho！〃　assented　Stumps　cheerfully。　　〃How　about　Phil？　　He's
just　behind　me。〃

As　he　spoke；　only　a　few　yards　from　us　a　peevish　voice　pierced　the
tumult。

〃I　tell　you；〃　it　cried；　〃you　must　find　Lord　Ivy！　　If　Lord　Ivy〃

A　voice　with　a　strong　and　brutal　American　accent　yelled　in　answer：
〃To　hell　with　Lord　Ivy！〃

Lady　Moya　chuckled。

〃Get　to　the　lower　deck！〃　I　commanded。　　〃I　am　going　for　the　yawl。〃

As　I　slipped　my　leg　over　the　rail　I　heard　Lord　Ivy　say：　〃I'll　find
Phil　and　meet　you。〃

I　dropped　and　caught　the　rail　of　the　deck　below；　and；　hanging　from
it；　shoved　with　my　knees　and　fell　into　the　water。　　Two　strokes
brought　me　to　the　yawl；　and；　scrambling　into　her　and　casting　her
off；　I　paddled　back　to　the　steamer。　　As　I　lay　under　the　stern　I
heard　from　the　lower　deck　the　voice　of　Kinney　raised　importantly。

〃Ladies　first！〃　he　cried。　　〃Her　ladyship　first；　I　mean；〃　he
corrected。　　Even　on　leaving　what　he　believed　to　be　a　sinking　ship；
Kinney　could　not　forget　his　manners。　　But　Mr。　Aldrich　had　evidently
forgotten　his。　　I　heard　him　shout　indignantly：　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I
do！〃

The　voice　of　Lady　Moya　laughed。

〃You'll　be　drowned　if　you　don't！〃　she　answered。　　I　saw　a　black
shadow　poised　upon　the　rail。　　〃Steady　below　there！〃　her　voice
called；　and　the　next　moment；　as　lightly　as　a　squirrel；　she　dropped
to　the　thwart　and　stumbled　into　my　arms。

The　voice　of　Aldrich　was　again　raised　in　anger。　　〃I'd　rather
drown！〃　he　cried。

Lord　Ivy　responded　with　unexpected　spirit。

〃Well；　then；　drown！　　The　water　is　warm　and　it's　a　pleasing　death。〃

At　that；　with　a　bump；　he　fell　in　a　heap　at　my　feet。

〃Easy；　Kinney！〃　I　shouted。　　〃Don't　swamp　us！〃

〃I'll　be　careful！〃　he　called；　and　the　next　instant　hit　my　shoulders
and　I　shook　him　off　on　top　of　Lord　Ivy。

〃Get　off　my　head！〃　shouted　his　lordship。

Kinney　apologized　to　every　one　profusely。　　Lady　Moya　raised　her
voice。

〃For　the　last　time；　Phil；〃　she　called；　〃are　you　coming　or　are　you
not？〃

〃Not　with　those　swindlers；　I'm　not！〃　he　shouted。　　〃I　think　you　two
are　mad！　　I　prefer　to　drown！〃

There　was　an　uncomfortable　silence。　　My　position　was　a　difficult
one；　and；　not　knowing　what　to　say；　I　said　nothing。

〃If　one　must　drown！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Moya　briskly；　〃I　can't　see　it
matters　who　one　drowns　with。〃

In　his　strangely　explosive　manner　Lord　Ivy　shouted　suddenly：　〃Phil；
you're　a　silly　ass。〃

〃Push　off！〃　commanded　Lady　Moya。

I　think；　from　her　tone；　the　order　was　given　more　for　the　benefit　of
Aldrich　than　for　myself。　　Certainly　it　was　effective；　for　on　the
instant　there　was　a　heavy　splash。　　Lord　Ivy　sniffed　scornfully　and
manifested　no　interest。

〃Ah！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃he　prefers　to　drown！〃

Sputtering　and　gasping；　Aldrich　rose　out　of　the　water；　and；　while
we　balanced　the　boat；　climbed　over　the　side。

〃Understand！〃　he　cried　even　while　he　was　still　gasping；　〃I　am　here
under　protest。　　I　am　here　to　protect　you　and　S