benito cereno-第6部分

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　look　very　earnestly　at　the　questioner；　who；　instead　of　meeting　the　glance；　with　every　token　of　craven　discomposure　dropped　his　eyes　to　the　deck；　presenting　an　unworthy　contrast　to　his　servant；　who；　just　then；　was　kneeling　at　his　feet　adjusting　a　loose　shoe…buckle；　his　disengaged　face　meantime；　with　humble　curiosity；　turned　openly　up　into　his　master's　downcast　one。　　　　　The　Spaniard；　still　with　a　guilty　shuffle；　repeated　his　question：　　　　　〃And…　and　will　be　to…night；　Senor？〃　　　　　〃Yes；　for　aught　I　know；〃　returned　Captain　Delano；…　〃but　nay；〃　rallying　himself　into　fearless　truth；　〃some　of　them　talked　of　going　off　on　another　fishing　party　about　midnight。〃　　　　　〃Your　ships　generally　go…　go　more　or　less　armed；　I　believe；　Senor？〃　　　　　〃Oh；　a　six…pounder　or　two；　in　case　of　emergency；〃　was　the　intrepidly　indifferent　reply；　〃with　a　small　stock　of　muskets；　sealing…spears；　and　cutlasses；　you　know。〃　　　　　As　he　thus　responded；　Captain　Delano　again　glanced　at　Don　Benito；　but　the　latter's　eyes　were　averted；　while　abruptly　and　awkwardly　shifting　the　subject；　he　made　some　peevish　allusion　to　the　calm；　and　then；　without　apology；　once　more；　with　his　attendant；　withdrew　to　the　opposite　bulwarks；　where　the　whispering　was　resumed。　　　　　At　this　moment；　and　ere　Captain　Delano　could　cast　a　cool　thought　upon　what　had　just　passed；　the　young　Spanish　sailor　before　mentioned　was　seen　descending　from　the　rigging。　In　act　of　stooping　over　to　spring　inboard　to　the　deck；　his　voluminous；　unconfined　frock；　or　shirt；　of　coarse　woollen；　much　spotted　with　tar；　opened　out　far　down　the　chest；　revealing　a　soiled　under…garment　of　what　seemed　the　finest　linen；　edged；　about　the　neck；　with　a　narrow　blue　ribbon；　sadly　faded　and　worn。　At　this　moment　the　young　sailor's　eye　was　again　fixed　on　the　whisperers；　and　Captain　Delano　thought　he　observed　a　lurking　significance　in　it；　as　if　silent　signs　of　some　freemason　sort　had　that　instant　been　interchanged。　　　　　This　once　more　impelled　his　own　glance　in　the　direction　of　Don　Benito；　and；　as　before；　he　could　not　but　infer　that　himself　formed　the　subject　of　the　conference。　He　paused。　The　sound　of　the　hatchet…polishing　fell　on　his　ears。　He　cast　another　swift　side…look　at　the　two。　They　had　the　air　of　conspirators。　In　connection　with　the　late　questionings；　and　the　incident　of　the　young　sailor；　these　things　now　begat　such　return　of　involuntary　suspicion；　that　the　singular　guilelessness　of　the　American　could　not　endure　it。　Plucking　up　a　gay　and　humorous　expression；　he　crossed　over　to　the　two　rapidly；　saying：　〃Ha；　Don　Benito；　your　black　here　seems　high　in　your　trust；　a　sort　of　privy…counsellor；　in　fact。〃　　　　　Upon　this；　the　servant　looked　up　with　a　good…natured　grin；　but　the　master　started　as　from　a　venomous　bite。　It　was　a　moment　or　two　before　the　Spaniard　sufficiently　recovered　himself　to　reply；　which　he　did；　at　last；　with　cold　constraint：　〃Yes；　Senor；　I　have　trust　in　Babo。〃　　　　　Here　Babo；　changing　his　previous　grin　of　mere　animal　humour　into　an　intelligent　smile；　not　ungratefully　eyed　his　master。　　　　　Finding　that　the　Spaniard　now　stood　silent　and　reserved；　as　if　involuntarily；　or　purposely　giving　hint　that　his　guest's　proximity　was　inconvenient　just　then；　Captain　Delano；　unwilling　to　appear　uncivil　even　to　incivility　itself；　made　some　trivial　remark　and　moved　off；　again　and　again　turning　over　in　his　mind　the　mysterious　demeanour　of　Don　Benito　Cereno。　　　　　He　had　descended　from　the　poop；　and；　wrapped　in　thought；　was　passing　near　a　dark　hatchway；　leading　down　into　the　steerage；　when；　perceiving　motion　there；　he　looked　to　see　what　moved。　The　same　instant　there　was　a　sparkle　in　the　shadowy　hatchway；　and　he　saw　one　of　the　Spanish　sailors；　prowling　there；　hurriedly　placing　his　hand　in　the　bosom　of　his　frock；　as　if　hiding　something。　Before　the　man　could　have　been　certain　who　it　was　that　was　passing；　he　slunk　below　out　of　sight。　But　enough　was　seen　of　him　to　make　it　sure　that　he　was　the　same　young　sailor　before　noticed　in　the　rigging。　　　　　What　was　that　which　so　sparkled？　thought　Captain　Delano。　It　was　no　lamp…　no　match…　no　live　coal。　Could　it　have　been　a　jewel？　But　how　come　sailors　with　jewels？…　or　with　silk…trimmed　undershirts　either？　Has　he　been　robbing　the　trunks　of　the　dead　cabin　passengers？　But　if　so；　he　would　hardly　wear　one　of　the　stolen　articles　on　board　ship　here。　Ah；　ah…　if　now　that　was；　indeed；　a　secret　sign　I　saw　passing　between　this　suspicious　fellow　and　his　captain　awhile　since；　if　I　could　only　be　certain　that　in　my　uneasiness　my　senses　did　not　deceive　me；　then…　　　　　Here；　passing　from　one　suspicious　thing　to　another；　his　mind　revolved　the　point　of　the　strange　questions　put　to　him　concerning　his　ship。　　　　　By　a　curious　coincidence；　as　each　point　was　recalled；　the　black　wizards　of　Ashantee　would　strike　up　with　their　hatchets；　as　in　ominous　comment　on　the　white　stranger's　thoughts。　Pressed　by　such　enigmas　and　portents；　it　would　have　been　almost　against　nature；　had　not；　even　into　the　least　distrustful　heart；　some　ugly　misgivings　obtruded。　　　　　Observing　the　ship　now　helplessly　fallen　into　a　current；　with　enchanted　sails；　drifting　with　increased　rapidity　seaward；　and　noting　that；　from　a　lately　intercepted　projection　of　the　land；　the　sealer　was　hidden；　the　stout　mariner　began　to　quake　at　thoughts　which　he　barely　durst　confess　to　himself。　Above　all；　he　began　to　feel　a　ghostly　dread　of　Don　Benito。　And　yet　when　he　roused　himself；　dilated　his　chest；　felt　himself　strong　on　his　legs；　and　coolly　considered　it…　what　did　all　these　phantoms　amount　to？　　　　　Had　the　Spaniard　any　sinister　scheme；　it　must　have　reference　not　so　much　to　him　（Captain　Delano）　as　to　his　ship　（the　Bachelor's　Delight）。　Hence　the　present　drifting　away　of　the　one　ship　from　the　other；　instead　of　favouring　any　such　possible　scheme；　was；　for　the　time　at　least；　opposed　to　it。　Clearly　any　suspicion；　combining　such　contradictions；　must　need　be　delusive。　Beside；　was　it　not　absurd　to　think　of　a　vessel　in　distress…　a　vessel　by　sickness　almost　dismanned　of　her　crew…　a　vessel　whose　inmates　were　parched　for　water…　was　it　not　a　thousand　times　absurd　that　such　a　craft　should；　at　present；　be　of　a　piratical　character；　or　her　commander；　either　for　himself　or　those　under　him；　cherish　any　desire　but　for　speedy　relief　and　refreshment？　But　then；　might　not　general　distress；　and　thirst　in　particular；　be　affected？　And　might　not　that　same　undiminished　Spanish　crew；　alleged　to　have　perished　off　to　a　remnant；　be　at　that　very　moment　lurking　in　the　hold？　On　heart…broken　pretence　of　entreating　a　cup　of　cold　water；　fiends　in　human　form　had　got　into　lonely　dwellings；　nor　retired　until　a　dark　deed　had　been　done。　And　among　the　Malay　pirates；　it　was　no　unusual　thing　to　lure　ships　after　them　into　their　treacherous　harbours；　or　entice　boarders　from　a　declared　enemy　at　sea；　by　the　spectacle　of　thinly　manned　or　vacant　decks；　beneath　which　prowled　a　hundred　spears　with　yellow　arms　ready　to　upthrust　them　through　the　mats。　Not　that　Captain　Delano　had　entirely　credited　such　things。　He　had　heard　of　them…　and　now；　as　stories；　they　recurred。　The　present　destination　of　the　ship　was　the　anchorage。　There　she　would　be　near　his　own　vessel。　Upon　gaining　that　vicinity；　might　not　the　San　Dominick；　like　a　slumbering　volcano；　suddenly　let　loose　energies　now　hid？　　　　　He　recalled　the　Spaniard's　manner　while　telling　his　story。　There　was　a　gloomy　hesitancy　and　subterfuge　about　it。　It　was　just　the　manner　of　one　making　up　his　tale　for　evil　purposes；　as　he　goes。　But　if　that　story　was　not　true；　what　was　the　truth？　That　the　ship　had　unlawfully　come　into　the　Spaniard's　possession？　But　in　many　of　its　details；　especially　in　reference　to　the　more　calamitous　parts；　such　as　the　fatalities　among　the　seamen；　the　consequent　prolonged　beating　about；　the　past　sufferings　from　obstinate　calms；　and　still　continued　suffering　from　thirst；　in　all　these　points；　as　well　as　others；　Don　Benito's　story　had　been　corroborated　not　only　by　the　wailing　ejaculations　of　the　indiscriminate　multitude；　white　and　black；　but　likewise…　what　seemed　impossible　to　be　counterfeit…　by　the　very　expression　and　play　of　every　human　feature；　which　Captain　Delano　saw。　If　Don　Benito's　story　was　throughout　an　invention；　then　every　soul　on　board；　down　to　the　youngest　Negress；　was　his　carefully　drilled　recruit　in　the　plot：　an　incredible　inference。　And　yet；　if　there　was　ground　for　mistrusting　the　Spanish　captain's　veracity；　that　inference　was　a　legitimate　one。　　　　　In　short；　scarce　an　uneasiness　entered　the　honest　sailor's　mind　but；　by　a　subsequent　spontaneous　act　of　good　sense；　it　was　ejected。　At　last　he　began　to　laugh　at　these　forebodings；　and　laugh　at　the　strange　ship　for；　in　its　aspect　someway　siding　with　them；　as　it　were；　and　laugh；　too；　at　the　odd…looking　blacks；　particularly　those　old　scissors…grinders；　the　Ashantees；　and　those　bed…ridden　old　knitting…women；　the　oakum…pickers；　and；　in　a　human　way；　he　almost　began　to　laugh　at　the　dark　Spaniard　himself；　the　central　hobgoblin　of　all。　　　　　For　the　rest；　whatever　in　a　serious　way　seemed　enigmatical；　was　now　good…naturedly　explained　away　by　the　thought　that；　for　the　most　part；　the　poor　invalid　scarcely　knew　what　he　was　about；　either　sulking　in　black　vapours；　or　putting　random　questions　without　sense　or　object。　Evidently；　for　the　present；　the　man　was　not　fit　to　be　entrusted　with　the　ship。　On　some　benevolent　plea　withdrawing　the　command　from　him；　Captain　Delano　would　yet　have　to　send　her　to　Concepcion　in　charge　of　his　second　mate；　a　worthy　person　and　good　navigator…　a　plan　which　would　prove　no　wiser　for　the　San　Dominick　than　for　Don　Benito；　for…　relieved　from　all　anxiety；　keeping　wholly　to　his　cabin…　the　sick　man；　under　the　good　nursing　of　his　servant；　would　probably；　by　the　end　of　the　passage；　be　in　a　measure　restored　to　health　and　with　that　he　should　also　be　restored　to　authority。　　　　　Such　were　the　American's　thoughts。　They　were　tranquillizing。　There　was　a　difference　between　the　idea　of　Don　Benito's　darkly　preordaining　Captain　Delano's　fate；　and　Captain　Delano's　lightly　arranging　Don　Benito's。　Nevertheless；　it　was　not　without　something　of　relief　that　the　good　seaman　presently　perceived　his　whale…boat　in　the　distance。　Its　absence　had　been　prolonged　by　unexpected　detention　at　the　sealer's　side；　as　well　as　its　returning　trip　lengthened　by　the　continual　recession　of　the　goal