falk-第3部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



did　not　seem　very　promising。　　At　the　time；　however；

I　did　not　know　what　an　untrustworthy　humbug

Schomberg　was。　　The　〃boy〃　might　have　been　forty

or　a　hundred　and　forty　for　all　you　could　tell

one　of　those　Chinamen　of　the　death's…head　type　of

face　and　completely　inscrutable。　　Before　the　end　of

the　third　day　he　had　revealed　himself　as　a　confirmed

opium…smoker；　a　gambler；　a　most　audacious　thief；

and　a　first…class　sprinter。　　When　he　departed　at　the

top　of　his　speed　with　thirty…two　golden　sovereigns

of　my　own　hard…earned　savings　it　was　the　last　straw。

I　had　reserved　that　money　in　case　my　difficulties

came　to　the　worst。　　Now　it　was　gone　I　felt　as　poor

and　naked　as　a　fakir。　　I　clung　to　my　ship；　for　all

the　bother　she　caused　me；　but　what　I　could　not　bear

were　the　long　lonely　evenings　in　her　cuddy；　where

the　atmosphere；　made　smelly　by　a　leaky　lamp；　was

agitated　by　the　snoring　of　the　mate。　　That　fellow

shut　himself　up　in　his　stuffy　cabin　punctually　at

eight；　and　made　gross　and　revolting　noises　like　a

water…logged　trump。　　It　was　odious　not　to　be　able

to　worry　oneself　in　comfort　on　board　one's　own

ship。　　Everything　in　this　world；　I　reflected；　even

the　command　of　a　nice　little　barque；　may　be　made

a　delusion　and　a　snare　for　the　unwary　spirit　of

pride　in　man。



From　such　reflections　I　was　glad　to　make　any　es…

cape　on　board　that　Bremen　Diana。　　There　appar…

ently　no　whisper　of　the　world's　iniquities　had　ever

penetrated。　　And　yet　she　lived　upon　the　wide　sea：

and　the　sea　tragic　and　comic；　the　sea　with　its　horrors

and　its　peculiar　scandals；　the　sea　peopled　by　men

and　ruled　by　iron　necessity　is　indubitably　a　part　of

the　world。　　But　that　patriarchal　old　tub；　like　some

saintly　retreat；　echoed　nothing　of　it。　　She　was　world

proof。　　Her　venerable　innocence　apparently　had

put　a　restraint　on　the　roaring　lusts　of　the　sea。　　And

yet　I　have　known　the　sea　too　long　to　believe　in　its

respect　for　decency。　　An　elemental　force　is　ruthlessly

frank。　　It　may；　of　course；　have　been　Hermann's

skilful　seamanship；　but　to　me　it　looked　as　if　the　al…

lied　oceans　had　refrained　from　smashing　these　high

bulwarks；　unshipping　the　lumpy　rudder；　frighten…

ing　the　children；　and　generally　opening　this　fam…

ily's　eyes　out　of　sheer　reticence。　　It　looked　like　reti…

cence。　　The　ruthless　disclosure　was　in　the　end　left

for　a　man　to　make；　a　man　strong　and　elemental

enough　and　driven　to　unveil　some　secrets　of　the　sea

by　the　power　of　a　simple　and　elemental　desire。



This；　however；　occurred　much　later；　and　mean…

time　I　took　sanctuary　in　that　serene　old　ship　early

every　evening。　　The　only　person　on　board　that

seemed　to　be　in　trouble　was　little　Lena；　and　in　due

course　I　perceived　that　the　health　of　the　rag…doll

was　more　than　delicate。　　This　object　led　a　sort　of

〃in　extremis〃　existence　in　a　wooden　box　placed

against　the　starboard　mooring…bitts；　tended　and

nursed　with　the　greatest　sympathy　and　care　by　all

the　children；　who　greatly　enjoyed　pulling　long　faces

and　moving　with　hushed　footsteps。　　Only　the　baby

Nicholaslooked　on　with　a　cold；　ruffianly　leer；

as　if　he　had　belonged　to　another　tribe　altogether。

Lena　perpetually　sorrowed　over　the　box；　and　all　of

them　were　in　deadly　earnest。　　It　was　wonderful　the

way　these　children　would　work　up　their　compassion

for　that　bedraggled　thing　I　wouldn't　have　touched

with　a　pair　of　tongs。　　I　suppose　they　were　exercis…

ing　and　developing　their　racial　sentimentalism　by

the　means　of　that　dummy。　　I　was　only　surprised

that　Mrs。　Hermann　let　Lena　cherish　and　hug　that

bundle　of　rags　to　that　extent；　it　was　so　disreputably

and　completely　unclean。　　But　Mrs。　Hermann　would

raise　her　fine　womanly　eyes　from　her　needlework　to

look　on　with　amused　sympathy；　and　did　not　seen　to

see　it；　somehow；　that　this　object　of　affection　was　a

disgrace　to　the　ship's　purity。　　Purity；　not　cleanli…

ness；　is　the　word。　　It　was　pushed　so　far　that　I　seemed

to　detect　in　this　too　a　sentimental　excess；　as　if　dirt

had　been　removed　in　very　love。　　It　is　impossible　to

give　you　an　idea　of　such　a　meticulous　neatness。　　It

was　as　if　every　morning　that　ship　had　been　ardu…

ously　explored　withwith　toothbrushes。　　Her　very

bowsprit　three　times　a　week　had　its　toilette　made

with　a　cake　of　soap　and　a　piece　of　soft　flannel。　　Ar…

rayedI　MUST　say　arrayedarrayed　artlessly　in

dazzling　white　paint　as　to　wood　and　dark　green　as

to　ironwork　the　simple…minded　distribution　of　these

colours　evoked　the　images　of　simple…minded　peace；

of　arcadian　felicity；　and　the　childish　comedy　of

disease　and　sorrow　struck　me　sometimes　as　an　abom…

inably　real　blot　upon　that　ideal　state。



I　enjoyed　it　greatly；　and　on　my　part　I　brought

a　little　mild　excitement　into　it。　　Our　intimacy　arose

from　the　pursuit　of　that　thief。　　It　was　in　the　even…

ing；　and　Hermann；　who；　contrary　to　his　habits；　had

stayed　on　shore　late　that　day；　was　extricating　him…

self　backwards　out　of　a　little　gharry　on　the　river

bank；　opposite　his　ship；　when　the　hunt　passed。

Realising　the　situation　as　though　he　had　eyes　in　his

shoulder…blades；　he　joined　us　with　a　leap　and　took

the　lead。　　The　Chinaman　fled　silent　like　a　rapid

shadow　on　the　dust　of　an　extremely　oriental　road。

I　followed。　　A　long　way　in　the　rear　my　mate

whooped　like　a　savage。　　A　young　moon　threw　a

bashful　light　on　a　plain　like　a　monstrous　waste

ground：　the　architectural　mass　of　a　Buddhist　tem…

ple　far　away　projected　itself　in　dead　black　on　the

sky。　　We　lost　the　thief　of　course；　but　in　my　disap…

pointment　I　had　to　admire　Hermann's　presence　of

mind。　　The　velocity　that　stodgy　man　developed　in

the　interests　of　a　complete　stranger　earned　my


warm　gratitudethere　was　something　truly　cordial

in　his　exertions。



He　seemed　as　vexed　as　myself　at　our　failure；　and

would　hardly　listen　to　my　thanks。　　He　said　it　was

〃nothings；〃　and　invited　me　on　the　spot　to　come　on

board　his　ship　and　drink　a　glass　of　beer　with　him。

We　poked　sceptically　for　a　while　amongst　the

bushes；　peered　without　conviction　into　a　ditch　or

two。　　There　was　not　a　sound：　patches　of　slime　glim…

mered　feebly　amongst　the　reeds。　　Slowly　we　trudged

back；　drooping　under　the　thin　sickle　of　the　moon；

and　I　heard　him　mutter　to　himself；　〃Himmel！　　Zwei

und　dreissig　Pfund！〃　　He　was　impressed　by　the

figure　of　my　loss。　　For　a　long　time　we　had　ceased　to

hear　the　mate's　whoops　and　yells。



Then　he　said　to　me；　〃Everybody　has　his　troub…

les；〃　and　as　we　went　on　remarked　that　he　would

never　have　known　anything　of　mine　hadn't　he　by　an

extraordinary　chance　been　detained　on　shore　by

Captain　Falk。　　He　didn't　like　to　stay　late　ashore

he　added　with　a　sigh。　　The　something　doleful　in　his

tone　I　put　to　his　sympathy　with　my　misfortune；　of

course。



On　board　the　Diana　Mrs。　Hermann's　fine　eyes

expressed　much　interest　and　commiseration。　　We

had　found　the　two　women　sewing　face　to　face　under

the　open　skylight　in　the　strong　glare　of　the　lamp。

Hermann　walked　in　first；　starting　in　the　very　door…

way　to　pull　off　his　coat；　and　encouraging　me　with

loud；　hospitable　ejaculations：　〃Come　in！　　This

way！　　Come　in；　captain！〃　　At　once；　coat　in　hand；

he　began　to　tell　his　wife　all　about　it。　　Mrs。　Hermann

put　the　palms　of　her　plump　hands　together；　I

smiled　and　bowed　with　a　heavy　heart：　the　niece　got

up　from　her　sewing　to　bring　Hermann's　slippers

and　his　embroidered　calotte；　which　he　assumed　pon…

tifically；　talking　（about　me）　all　the　time。　　Billows

of　white　stuff　lay　between　the　chairs　on　the　cabin

floor；　I　caught　the　words　〃Zwei　und　dreissig

Pfund〃　repeated　several　times；　and　presently　came

the　beer；　which　seemed　delicious　to　my　throat；

parched　with　running　and　the　emotions　of　the　chase。



I　didn't　get　away　till　well　past　midnight；　long

after　the　women　had　retired。　　Hermann　had　been

trading　in　the　East　for　three　years　or　more；　carry…

ing　freights　of　rice　and　timber　mostly。　　His　ship

was　well　known　in　all　the　ports　from　Vladivostok　to

Singapore。　　She　was　his　own　property。　　The　profits

had　been　moderate；　but　the　trade　answered　well

enough　while　the　children　were　small　yet。　　In　an…

other　year　or　so　he　hoped　he　would　be　able　to　sell　the

old　Diana　to　a　firm　in　Japan　for　a　fair　price。　　He

intended　to　return　home；　to　Bremen；　by　mail　boat；

second　class；　with　Mrs。　Hermann　and　the　children。

He　told　me　all　this　stolidly；　with　slow　puffs　at　his

pipe。　　I　was　sorry　when　knocking　the　ashes　out　he

began　to　rub　his　eyes。　　I　would　have　sat　with　him

till　morning。　　What　had　I　to　hurry　on　board　my

own　ship　for？　　To　face　the　broken　rifled　drawer　in

my　state…room。　　Ugh！　　The　very　thought　made　me

feel　unwell。



I　became　their　daily　guest；　as　you　know。　　I　think

that　Mrs。　Hermann　from　the　first　looked　upon　me

as　a　romantic　person。　　I　did　not；　of　course；　tear　my

hair　coram　populo　over　my　loss；　and　she　took　it　for

lordly　indifference。　　Afterwards；　I　daresay；　I　did

tell　them　some　of　my　adventuressuch　as　they　were

and　they　marvelled　greatly　at　the　extent　of　my

experience。　　Hermann　would　translate　what　he

thought　the　most　striking　passages。　　Getting　up　on

his　legs；　and　as　if　delivering　a　lecture　on　a　phenom…

enon；　he　addressed　himself；　with　gestures；　to　the

two　women；　who　would　let　their　sewing　sink　slowly

on　their　laps。　　Meantime　I　sat　before　a　glass　of

Hermann's　beer；　trying　to　look　modest。　　Mrs。　Her…

mann　would　glance　at　me　quickly；　emit　slight

〃Ach's！〃　　The　girl　never　made　a　sound。　　Never。

But　she　too　would　sometimes　raise　her　pale　eyes　to

look　at　me　in　her　unseeing　gentle　way。　　Her　glance

was　by　no　means　stupid；　it　beamed　out　soft　and　dif…

fuse　as　the　moon　beams　upon　a　landscapequite

differently　from　the　scrutinising　inspection　of　the

stars。　　You　were　drowned　in　it；　and　imagined　your…

self　to　appear　blurred。　　And　yet　this　same　glance

when　turned　upon　Christian　Falk　must　have　been

as　efficient　as　the　searchlight　of　a　battle…ship。



Falk　was　the　other　assiduous　visitor　on