captains courageous-第1部分

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Captains　Courageous

by　Rudyard　Kipling




TO
JAMES　CONLAND；　M。D。；
Brattleboro；　Vermont

I　ploughed　the　land　with　horses；
But　my　heart　was　ill　at　ease；
For　the　old　sea…faring　men
Came　to　me　now　and　then；
With　their　sagas　of　the　seas。
Longfellow。




CHAPTER　I

The　weather　door　of　the　smoking…room　had　been　left　open　to　the
North　Atlantic　fog；　as　the　big　liner　rolled　and　lifted；　whistling　to
warn　the　fishing…fleet。

〃That　Cheyne　boy's　the　biggest　nuisance　aboard；〃　said　a　man　in　a
frieze　overcoat；　shutting　the　door　with　a　bang。　〃He　isn't　wanted
here。　He's　too　fresh。〃

A　white…haired　German　reached　for　a　sandwich；　and　grunted
between　bites：　〃I　know　der　breed。　Ameriga　is　full　of　dot　kind。　I　dell
you　you　should　imbort　ropes'　ends　free　under　your　dariff。〃

〃Pshaw！　There　isn't　any　real　harm　to　him。　He's　more　to　be　pitied
than　anything；〃　a　man　from　New　York　drawled；　as　he　lay　at　full
length　along　the　cushions　under　the　wet　skylight。　〃They've　dragged
him　around　from　hotel　to　hotel　ever　since　he　was　a　kid。　I　was
talking　to　his　mother　this　morning。　She's　a　lovely　lady；　but　she
don't　pretend　to　manage　him。　He's　going　to　Europe　to　finish　his
education。〃

〃Education　isn't　begun　yet。〃　This　was　a　Philadelphian；　curled　up　in
a　corner。　〃That　boy　gets　two　hundred　a　month　pocket…money；　he
told　me。　He　isn't　sixteen　either。〃

〃Railroads；　his　father；　aind't　it？〃　said　the　German。

〃Yep。　That　and　mines　and　lumber　and　shipping。　Built　one　place　at
San　Diego；　the　old　man　has；　another　at　Los　Angeles；　owns　half　a
dozen　railroads；　half　the　lumber　on　the　Pacific　slope；　and　lets　his
wife　spend　the　money；〃　the　Philadelphian　went　on　lazily。　〃The
West　don't　suit　her；　she　says。　She　just　tracks　around　with　the　boy
and　her　nerves；　trying　to　find　out　what'll　amuse　him；　I　guess。
Florida；　Adirondacks；　Lakewood；　Hot　Springs；　New　York；　and
round　again。　He　isn't　much　more　than　a　second…hand　hotel　clerk
now。　When　he's　finished　in　Europe　he'll　be　a　holy　terror。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　the　old　man　attending　to　him　personally？〃
said　a　voice　from　the　frieze　ulster。

〃Old　man's　piling　up　the　rocks。　'Don't　want　to　be　disturbed；　I　guess。
He'll　find　out　his　error　a　few　years　from　now。　'Pity；　because　there's
a　heap　of　good　in　the　boy　if　you　could　get　at　it。〃

〃Mit　a　rope's　end；　mit　a　rope's　end！〃　growled　the　German。

Once　more　the　door　banged；　and　a　slight；　slim…built　boy　perhaps
fifteen　years　old；　a　hall…smoked　cigarette　hanging　from　one　corner
of　his　mouth；　leaned　in　over　the　high　footway。　His　pasty　yellow
complexion　did　not　show　well　on　a　person　of　his　years；　and　his
look　was　a　mixture　of　irresolution；　bravado；　and　very　cheap
smart…ness。　He　was　dressed　in　a　cherrycoloured　blazer；
knickerbockers；　red　stockings；　and　bicycle　shoes；　with　a　red
flannel　cap　at　the　back　of　the　head。　After　whistling　between　his
teeth；　as　he　eyed　the　company；　he　said　in　a　loud；　high　voice：　〃Say；
it's　thick　outside。　You　can　hear　the　fish…boats　squawking　all　around
us。　Say；　wouldn't　it　be　great　if　we　ran　down　one？〃

〃Shut　the　door；　Harvey；〃　said　the　New　Yorker。　〃Shut　the　door　and
stay　outside。　You're　not　wanted　here。〃

〃Who'll　stop　me？〃　he　answered；　deliberately。　〃Did　you　pay　for　my
passage；　Mister　Martin？　'Guess　I've　as　good　right　here　as　the　next
man。〃

He　picked　up　some　dice　from　a　checkerboard　and　began　throwing；
right　hand　against　left。

〃Say；　gen'elmen；　this　is　deader'n　mud。　Can't　we　make　a　game　of
poker　between　us？〃

There　was　no　answer；　and　he　puffed　his　cigarette；　swung　his　legs；
and　drummed　on　the　table　with　rather　dirty　fingers。　Then　he　pulled
out　a　roll　of　bills　as　if　to　count　them。

〃How's　your　mama　this　afternoon？〃　a　man　said。　〃I　didn't　see　her　at
lunch。〃

〃In　her　state…room；　I　guess。　She's　'most　always　sick　on　the　ocean。
I'm　going　to　give　the　stewardess　fifteen　dollars　for　looking　after
her。　I　don't　go　down　more　'n　I　can　avoid。　It　makes　me　feel
mysterious　to　pass　that　butler's…pantry　place。　Say；　this　is　the　first
time　I've　been　on　the　ocean。〃

〃Oh；　don't　apologize；　Harvey。〃

〃Who's　apologizing？　This　is　the　first　time　I've　crossed　the　ocean；
gen'elmen；　and；　except　the　first　day；　I　haven't　been　sick　one　little
bit。　No；　sir！〃　He　brought　down　his　fist　with　a　triumphant　bang；
wetted　his　finger；　and　went　on　counting　the　bills。

〃Oh；　you're　a　high…grade　machine；　with　the　writing　in　plain　sight；〃
the　Philadelphian　yawned。　〃You'll　blossom　into　a　credit　to　your
country　if　you　don't　take　care。〃

〃I　know　it。　I'm　an　American…first；　last；　and　all　the　time。　I'll　show
'em　that　when　I　strike　Europe。　Piff！　My　cig's　out。　I　can't　smoke　the
truck　the　steward　sells。　Any　gen'elman　got　a　real　Turkish　cig　on
him？〃

The　chief　engineer　entered　for　a　moment；　red；　smiling；　and　wet。
〃Say；　Mac；〃　cried　Harvey　cheerfully；　〃how　are　we　hitting　it？〃

〃Vara　much　in　the　ordinary　way；〃　was　the　grave　reply。　〃The　young
are　as　polite　as　ever　to　their　elders；　an'　their　elders　are　e'en　tryin'　to
appreciate　it。〃

A　low　chuckle　came　from　a　corner。　The　German　opened　his
cigar…case　and　handed　a　shiny　black　cigar　to　Harvey。

〃Dot　is　der　broper　apparatus　to　smoke；　my　young　friendt；〃　he　said。
〃You　vill　dry　it？　Yes？　Den　you　vill　be　efer　so　happy。〃

Harvey　lit　the　unlovely　thing　with　a　flourish：　he　felt　that　he　was
getting　on　in　grownup　society。

〃It　would　take　more　'n　this　to　keel　me　over；〃　he　said；　ignorant　that
he　was　lighting　that　terrible　article；　a　Wheeling　〃stogie'。〃

〃Dot　we　shall　bresently　see；〃　said　the　German。　〃Where　are　we
now；　Mr。　Mactonal'？〃

〃Just　there　or　thereabouts；　Mr。　Schaefer；〃　said　the　engineer。　〃We'll
be　on　the　Grand　Bank　to…night；　but　in　a　general　way　o'　speaking'；
we're　all　among　the　fishing…fleet　now。　We've　shaved　three　dories
an'　near　scalped　the　boom　off　a　Frenchman　since　noon；　an'　that's
close　sailing'；　ye　may　say。〃

〃You　like　my　cigar；　eh？〃　the　German　asked；　for　Harvey's　eyes　were
full　of　tears。

〃Fine；　full　flavor；〃　he　answered　through　shut　teeth。

〃Guess　we've　slowed　down　a　little；　haven't　we？　I'll　skip　out　and　see
what　the　log　says。〃

〃I　might　if　I　has　you；〃　said　the　German。

Harvey　staggered　over　the　wet　decks　to　the　nearest　rail。　He　was
very　unhappy；　but　he　saw　the　deck…steward　lashing　chairs　together；
and；　since　he　had　boasted　before　the　man　that　he　was　never
seasick；　his　pride　made　him　go　aft　to　the　second…saloon　deck　at　the
stern；　which　was　finished　in　a　turtle…back。　The　deck　was　deserted；
and　he　crawled　to　the　extreme　end　of　it；　near　the　flag…pole。　There
he　doubled　up　in　limp　agony；　for　the　Wheeling　〃stag〃　joined　with
the　surge　and　jar　of　the　screw　to　sieve　out　his　soul。　His　head
swelled；　sparks　of　fire　danced　before　his　eyes；　his　body　seemed　to
lose　weight；　while　his　heels　wavered　in　the　breeze。　He　was　fainting
from　seasickness；　and　a　roll　of　the　ship　tilted　him　over　the　rail　on
to　the　smooth　lip　of　the　turtle…back。　Then　a　low；　gray　mother…wave
swung　out　of　the　fog；　tucked　Harvey　under　one　arm；　so　to　speak；
and　pulled　him　off　and　away　to　leeward；　the　great　green　closed
over　him；　and　he　went　quietly　to　sleep。

He　was　roused　by　the　sound　of　a　dinner…horn　such　as　they　used　to
blow　at　a　summer…school　he　had　once　attended　in　the　Adirondacks。
Slowly　he　remembered　that　he　was　Harvey　Cheyne；　drowned　and
dead　in　mid…ocean；　but　was　too　weak　to　fit　things　together。　A　new
smell　filled　his　nostrils；　wet　and　clammy　chills　ran　down　his　back；
and　he　was　helplessly　full　of　salt　water。　When　he　opened　his　eyes；
he　perceived　that　he　was　still　on　the　top　of　the　sea；　for　it　was
running　round　him　in　silver…coloured　hills；　and　he　was　lying　on　a
pile　of　half…dead　fish；　looking　at　a　broad　human　back　clothed　in　a
blue　jersey。

〃It's　no　good；〃　thought　the　boy。　〃I'm　dead；　sure　enough；　and　this
thing　is　in　charge。〃

He　groaned；　and　the　figure　turned　its　head；　showing　a　pair　of　little
gold　rings　half　hidden　in　curly　black　hair。

〃Aha！　You　feel　some　pretty　well　now？〃　it　said。　〃Lie　still　so：　we
trim　better。〃

With　a　swift　jerk　he　sculled　the　flickering　boat…head　on　to　a
foamless　sea　that　lifted　her　twenty　full　feet；　only　to　slide　her　into　a
glassy　pit　beyond。　But　this　mountain…climbing　did　not　interrupt
blue…jersey's　talk。　〃Fine　good　job；　I　say；　that　I　catch　you。　Eh；
wha…at？　Better　good　job；　I　say；　your　boat　not　catch　me。　How　you
come　to　fall　out？〃

〃I　was　sick；〃　said　Harvey；　〃sick；　and　couldn't　help　it。〃

〃Just　in　time　I　blow　my　horn；　and　your　boat　she　yaw　a　little。　Then　I
see　you　come　all　down。　Eh；　wha…at？　I　think　you　are　cut　into　baits
by　the　screw；　but　you　dreeft…dreeft　to　me；　and　I　make　a　big　fish　of
you。　So　you　shall　not　die　this　time。〃

〃Where　am　I？〃　said　Harvey；　who　could　not　see　that　life　was
particularly　safe　where　he　lay。

〃You　are　with　me　in　the　dory…Manuel　my　name；　and　I　come　from
schooner　We're　Here　of　Gloucester。　I　live　to　Gloucester。　By…and…by
we　get　supper。　Eh；　wha…at？〃

He　seemed　to　have　two　pairs　of　bands　and　a　head　of　cast…iron；　for；
not　content　with　blowing　through　a　big　conch…shell；　he　must　needs
stand　up　to　it；　swaying　with　the　sway　of　the　flat…bottomed　dory；
and　send　a　grinding；　thuttering　shriek　through　the　fog。　How　long
this　entertainment　lasted；　Harvey　could　not　remember；　for　he　lay
back　terrified　at　the　sight　of　the　smoking　swells。　He　fancied　he
heard　a　gun　and　a　horn　and　shouting。　Something　bigger　than　the
dory；　but　quite　as　lively；　loomed　alongside。　Several　voices　talked
at　once；　he　was　dropped　into　a　dark；　heaving　hole；　where　men　in
oilskins　gave　him　a　hot　drink　and　took　off　his　clothes；　and　he　fell
asleep。

When　he　waked　he　listened　for　the　first　breakfast…bell　on　the
steamer；　wondering　why　his　state…room　had　grown　so　small。
Turning；　he　looked　into　a　narrow；　triangular　cave；　lit　by　a　lamp
hung　against　a　huge　square　beam。　A　three…cornered　table　within
arm's　reach　ran　from　the　angle　of　the　bows　to　the　foremast。　At　the
after　end；　behind　a　well…used　Plymouth　stove；　sat　a　boy　about　his
own　age；　with　a　flat　red　face　and　a　pair　of　twinkling　gray　eyes。　He
was　dressed　in　a　blue　jersey　and　high　rubber　boots。　Several　pairs　of
the　same　sort　of　foot…wear；　an　old　cap；　and　some　worn…out　woollen
socks　lay　on　the　floor；　and　black　and　yellow　oilskins　swayed　to　and
fro　beside　the　bunks。　The　place　w