benito cereno-第4部分

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t　least；　have　gone　beyond　the　style　of　the　day　among　South　Americans　of　his　class。　Though　on　the　present　voyage　sailing　from　Buenos　Ayres；　he　had　avowed　himself　a　native　and　resident　of　Chili；　whose　inhabitants　had　not　so　generally　adopted　the　plain　coat　and　once　plebeian　pantaloons；　but；　with　a　becoming　modification；　adhered　to　their　provincial　costume；　picturesque　as　any　in　the　world。　Still；　relatively　to　the　pale　history　of　the　voyage；　and　his　own　pale　face；　there　seemed　something　so　incongruous　in　the　Spaniard's　apparel；　as　almost　to　suggest　the　image　of　an　invalid　courtier　tottering　about　London　streets　in　the　time　of　the　plague。　　　　　The　portion　of　the　narrative　which；　perhaps；　most　excited　interest；　as　well　as　some　surprise；　considering　the　latitudes　in　question；　was　the　long　calms　spoken　of；　and　more　particularly　the　ship's　so　long　drifting　about。　Without　communicating　the　opinion；　of　course；　the　American　could　not　but　impute　at　least　part　of　the　detentions　both　to　clumsy　seamanship　and　faulty　navigation。　Eyeing　Don　Benito's　small；　yellow　hands；　he　easily　inferred　that　the　young　captain　had　not　got　into　command　at　the　hawse…hole　but　the　cabin…window；　and　if　so；　why　wonder　at　incompetence；　in　youth；　sickness；　and　aristocracy　united？　Such　was　his　democratic　conclusion。　　　　　But　drowning　criticism　in　compassion；　after　a　fresh　repetition　of　his　sympathies；　Captain　Delano　having　heard　out　his　story；　not　only　engaged；　as　in　the　first　place；　to　see　Don　Benito　and　his　people　supplied　in　their　immediate　bodily　needs；　but；　also；　now　further　promised　to　assist　him　in　procuring　a　large　permanent　supply　of　water；　as　well　as　some　sails　and　rigging；　and；　though　it　would　involve　no　small　embarrassment　to　himself；　yet　he　would　spare　three　of　his　best　seamen　for　temporary　deck　officers；　so　that　without　delay　the　ship　might　proceed　to　Concepcion；　there　fully　to　refit　for　Lima；　her　destined　port。　　　　　Such　generosity　was　not　without　its　effect；　even　upon　the　invalid。　His　face　lighted　up；　eager　and　hectic；　he　met　the　honest　glance　of　his　visitor。　With　gratitude　he　seemed　overcome。　　　　　〃This　excitement　is　bad　for　master；〃　whispered　the　servant；　taking　his　arm；　and　with　soothing　words　gently　drawing　him　aside。　　　　　When　Don　Benito　returned；　the　American　was　pained　to　observe　that　his　hopefulness；　like　the　sudden　kindling　in　his　cheek；　was　but　febrile　and　transient。　　　　　Ere　long；　with　a　joyless　mien；　looking　up　toward　the　poop；　the　host　invited　his　guest　to　accompany　him　there；　for　the　benefit　of　what　little　breath　of　wind　might　be　stirring。　　　　　As　during　the　telling　of　the　story；　Captain　Delano　had　once　or　twice　started　at　the　occasional　cymballing　of　the　hatchet…polishers；　wondering　why　such　an　interruption　should　be　allowed；　especially　in　that　part　of　the　ship；　and　in　the　ears　of　an　invalid；　and；　moreover；　as　the　hatchets　had　anything　but　an　attractive　look；　and　the　handlers　of　them　still　less　so；　it　was；　therefore；　to　tell　the　truth；　not　without　some　lurking　reluctance；　or　even　shrinking；　it　may　be；　that　Captain　Delano；　with　apparent　complaisance；　acquiesced　in　his　host's　invitation。　The　more　so；　since　with　an　untimely　caprice　of　punctilio；　rendered　distressing　by　his　cadaverous　aspect；　Don　Benito；　with　Castilian　bows；　solemnly　insisted　upon　his　guest's　preceding　him　up　the　ladder　leading　to　the　elevation；　where；　one　on　each　side　of　the　last　step；　sat　four　armorial　supporters　and　sentries；　two　of　the　ominous　file。　Gingerly　enough　stepped　good　Captain　Delano　between　them；　and　in　the　instant　of　leaving　them　behind；　like　one　running　the　gauntlet；　he　felt　an　apprehensive　twitch　in　the　calves　of　his　legs。　　　　　But　when；　facing　about；　he　saw　the　whole　file；　like　so　many　organ…grinders；　still　stupidly　intent　on　their　work；　unmindful　of　everything　beside；　he　could　not　but　smile　at　his　late　fidgeting　panic。　　　　　Presently；　while　standing　with　Don　Benito；　looking　forward　upon　the　decks　below；　he　was　struck　by　one　of　those　instances　of　insubordination　previously　alluded　to。　Three　black　boys；　with　two　Spanish　boys；　were　sitting　together　on　the　hatches；　scraping　a　rude　wooden　platter；　in　which　some　scanty　mess　had　recently　been　cooked。　Suddenly；　one　of　the　black　boys；　enraged　at　a　word　dropped　by　one　of　his　white　companions；　seized　a　knife；　and　though　called　to　forbear　by　one　of　the　oakum…pickers；　struck　the　lad　over　the　head；　inflicting　a　gash　from　which　blood　flowed。　　　　　In　amazement；　Captain　Delano　inquired　what　this　meant。　To　which　the　pale　Benito　dully　muttered；　that　it　was　merely　the　sport　of　the　lad。　　　　　〃Pretty　serious　sport；　truly；〃　rejoined　Captain　Delano。　〃Had　such　a　thing　happened　on　board　the　Bachelor's　Delight；　instant　punishment　would　have　followed。〃　　　　　At　these　words　the　Spaniard　turned　upon　the　American　one　of　his　sudden；　staring；　half…lunatic　looks；　then；　relapsing　into　his　torpor；　answered；　〃Doubtless；　doubtless；　Senor。〃　　　　　Is　it；　thought　Captain　Delano；　that　this　helpless　man　is　one　of　those　paper　captains　I've　known；　who　by　policy　wink　at　what　by　power　they　cannot　put　down？　I　know　no　sadder　sight　than　a　commander　who　has　little　of　command　but　the　name。　　　　　〃I　should　think；　Don　Benito；〃　he　now　said；　glancing　toward　the　oakum…picker　who　had　sought　to　interfere　with　the　boys；　〃that　you　would　find　it　advantageous　to　keep　all　your　blacks　employed；　especially　the　younger　ones；　no　matter　at　what　useless　task；　and　no　matter　what　happens　to　the　ship。　Why；　even　with　my　little　band；　I　find　such　a　course　indispensable。　I　once　kept　a　crew　on　my　quarterdeck　thrumming　mats　for　my　cabin；　when；　for　three　days；　I　had　given　up　my　ship…　mats；　men；　and　all…　for　a　speedy　loss；　owing　to　the　violence　of　a　gale　in　which　we　could　do　nothing　but　helplessly　drive　before　it。〃　　　　　〃Doubtless；　doubtless；〃　muttered　Don　Benito。　　　　　〃But；〃　continued　Captain　Delano；　again　glancing　upon　the　oakum…pickers　and　then　at　the　hatchet…polishers；　near　by；　〃I　see　you　keep　some　at　least　of　your　host　employed。〃　　　　　〃Yes；〃　was　again　the　vacant　response。　　　　　〃Those　old　men　there；　shaking　their　pows　from　their　pulpits；〃　continued　Captain　Delano；　pointing　to　the　oakum…pickers；　〃seem　to　act　the　part　of　old　dominies　to　the　rest；　little　heeded　as　their　admonitions　are　at　times。　Is　this　voluntary　on　their　part；　Don　Benito；　or　have　you　appointed　them　shepherds　to　your　flock　of　black　sheep？〃　　　　　〃What　posts　they　fill；　I　appointed　them；〃　rejoined　the　Spaniard　in　an　acrid　tone；　as　if　resenting　some　supposed　satiric　reflection。　　　　　〃And　these　others；　these　Ashantee　conjurors　here；〃　continued　Captain　Delano；　rather　uneasily　eyeing　the　brandished　steel　of　the　hatchet…polishers；　where　in　spots　it　had　been　brought　to　a　shine；　〃this　seems　a　curious　business　they　are　at；　Don　Benito？〃　　　　　〃In　the　gales　we　met；〃　answered　the　Spaniard；　〃what　of　our　general　cargo　was　not　thrown　overboard　was　much　damaged　by　the　brine。　Since　coming　into　calm　weather；　I　have　had　several　cases　of　knives　and　hatchets　daily　brought　up　for　overhauling　and　cleaning。〃　　　　　〃A　prudent　idea；　Don　Benito。　You　are　part　owner　of　ship　and　cargo；　I　presume；　but　not　of　the　slaves；　perhaps？〃　　　　　〃I　am　owner　of　all　you　see；〃　impatiently　returned　Don　Benito；　〃except　the　main　company　of　blacks；　who　belonged　to　my　late　friend；　Alexandro　Aranda。〃　　　　　As　he　mentioned　this　name；　his　air　was　heart…broken；　his　knees　shook；　his　servant　supported　him。　　　　　Thinking　he　divined　the　cause　of　such　unusual　emotion；　to　confirm　his　surmise；　Captain　Delano；　after　a　pause；　said；　〃And　may　I　ask；　Don　Benito；　whether…　since　awhile　ago　you　spoke　of　some　cabin　passengers…　the　friend；　whose　loss　so　afflicts　you；　at　the　outset　of　the　voyage　accompanied　his　blacks？〃　　　　　〃Yes。〃　　　　　〃But　died　of　the　fever？〃　　　　　〃Died　of　the　fever。…　Oh；　could　I　but…〃　　　　　Again　quivering；　the　Spaniard　paused。　　　　　〃Pardon　me；〃　said　Captain　Delano　slowly；　〃but　I　think　that；　by　a　sympathetic　experience；　I　conjecture；　Don　Benito；　what　it　is　that　gives　the　keener　edge　to　your　grief。　It　was　once　my　hard　fortune　to　lose　at　sea　a　dear　friend；　my　own　brother；　then　supercargo。　Assured　of　the　welfare　of　his　spirit；　its　departure　I　could　have　borne　like　a　man；　but　that　honest　eye；　that　honest　hand…　both　of　which　had　so　often　met　mine…　and　that　warm　heart；　all；　all…　like　scraps　to　the　dogs…　to　throw　all　to　the　sharks！　It　was　then　I　vowed　never　to　have　for　fellow…voyager　a　man　I　loved；　unless；　unbeknown　to　him；　I　had　provided　every　requisite；　in　case　of　a　fatality；　for　embalming　his　mortal　part　for　interment　on　shore。　Were　your　friend's　remains　now　on　board　this　ship；　Don　Benito；　not　thus　strangely　would　the　mention　of　his　name　affect　you。〃　　　　　〃On　board　this　ship？〃　echoed　the　Spaniard。　Then；　with　horrified　gestures；　as　directed　against　some　spectre；　he　unconsciously　fell　into　the　ready　arms　of　his　attendant；　who；　with　a　silent　appeal　toward　Captain　Delano；　seemed　beseeching　him　not　again　to　broach　a　theme　so　unspeakably　distressing　to　his　master。　　　　　This　poor　fellow　now；　thought　the　pained　American；　is　the　victim　of　that　sad　superstition　which　associates　goblins　with　the　deserted　body　of　man；　as　ghosts　with　an　abandoned　house。　How　unlike　are　we　made！　What　to　me；　in　like　case；　would　have　been　a　solemn　satisfaction；　the　bare　suggestion；　even；　terrifies　the　Spaniard　into　this　trance。　Poor　Alexandro　Aranda！　what　would　you　say　could　you　see　your　friend…　who；　on　former　voyages；　when　you　for　months　were　left　behind；　has；　I　dare　say；　often　longed；　and　longed；　for　one　peep　at　you…　now　transported　with　terror　at　the　least　thought　of　having　you　anyway　nigh　him。　　　　　At　this　moment；　with　a　dreary　graveyard　toll；　betokening　a　flaw；　the　ship's　forecastle　bell；　smote　by　one　of　the　grizzled　oakum…pickers；　proclaimed　ten　o'clock　through　the　leaden　calm；　when　Captain　Delano's　attention　was　caught　by　the　moving　figure　of　a　gigantic　black；　emerging　from　the　general　crowd　below；　and　slowly　advancing　toward　the　elevated　poop。　An　iron　collar　was　about　his　neck；　from　which　depended　a　chain；　thrice　wound　round　his　body；　the　terminating　links　padlocked　together　at　a　broad　band　of　iron；　his　girdle。　　　　　〃How　like　a　mute　Atufal　moves；〃　murmured　the　servant。　　　　　The　black　mounted　the　steps　of　the　poop；　and；　like　a　brave　prisoner；　brought　up　to　receive　sentence；　stood　in　unquailing　muteness　before　Don　Benito；　now　recovered　from　his　attack。　　　　　At