captains courageous-第11部分

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old…fashioned　creaky　tune；　and　all　joined　in　the　chorus。　This　is　one
stanza：

〃Now　Aprile　is　over　and　melted　the　snow；　
And　outer　Noo　Bedford　we　shortly　must　tow；　
Yes；　out　o'　Noo　Bedford　we　shortly　must　clear；　
We're　the　whalers　that　never　see　wheat　in　the　ear。't

Here　the　fiddle　went　very　softly　for　a　while　by　itself；　and　then：

〃Wheat…in…the…ear；　my　true…love's　posy　blowin；　
Wheat…in…the…ear；　we're　goin'　off　to　sea；　
Wheat…in…the…ear；　I　left　you　fit　for　sowin；
When　I　come　back　a　loaf　o'　bread　you'll　be！〃

　That　made　Harvey　almost　weep；　though　he　could　not　tell　why。　But
it　was　much　worse　when　the　cook　dropped　the　potatoes　and　held
out　his　hands　for　the　fiddle。　Still　leaning　against　the　locker　door；
he　struck　into　a　tune　that　was　like　something　very　bad　but　sure　to
happen　whatever　you　did。　After　a　little　he　sang；　in　an　unknown
tongue；　his　big　chin　down　on　the　fiddle…tail；　his　white　eyeballs
glaring　in　the　lam~light。　Harvey　swung　out　of　his　bunk　to　hear
better；　and　amid　the　straining　of　the　timbers　and　the　wash　of　the
waters　the　tune　crooned　and　moaned　on；　like　lee　surf　in　a　blind
fog；　till　it　ended　with　a　wail。

〃Jimmy　Christmas！　Thet　gives　me　the　blue　creevles；〃　said　Dan。
〃What　in　thunder　is　it？〃

〃The　song　of　Fin　McCoul；〃　said　the　cook；　〃when　he　wass　going　to
Norway。〃　His　English　was　not　thick；　but　all　clear…cut；　as　though　it
came　from　a　phonograph。

〃Faith；　I've　been　to　Norway；　but　I　didn't　make　that　unwholesim
noise。　'Tis　like　some　of　the　old　songs；　though；〃　said　Long　Jack；
sighing。

〃Don't　let's　hev　another　'thout　somethin'　between；〃　said　Dan；　and
the　accordion　struck　up　a　rattling；　catchy　tune　that　ended：

〃It's　six　an'　twenty　Sundays　sence　las'　we　saw　the　land；　
With　fifteen　hunder　quintal；　
An'　fifteen　hunder　quintal；　
'Teen　hunder　toppin'　quintal；　
'Twix'　old　'Queereau　an'　Grand！〃

〃Hold　on！〃　roared　Tom　Platt。　〃D'ye　want　to　nail　the　trip；　Dan？
That's　Jonah　sure；　'less　you　sing　it　after　all　our　salt's　wet。〃

〃No；　'tain't　Is　it；　Dad？　Not　unless　you　sing　the　very　las'　verse。　You
can't　learn　me　anything　on　Jonahs！〃

〃What's　that？〃　said　Harvey。　〃What's　a　Jonah？〃

〃A　Jonah's　anything　that　spoils　the　luck。　Sometimes　it's　a
man…sometimes　it's　a　boy…or　a　bucket。　I've　known　a　splittin'…knife
Jonah　two　trips　till　we　was　on　to　her；〃　said　Tom　Platt。　〃There's　all
sorts　o'　Jonahs。　Jim　Bourke　was　one　till　he　was　drowned　on
Georges。　I'd　never　ship　with　Jim　Bourke；　not　if　I　was　starin'。　There
wuz　a　green　dory　on　the　Ezra　Flood。　Thet　was　a　Jonah；　too；　the
worst　sort　o'　Jonah。　Drowned　four　men；　she　did；　an'　used　to　shine
fiery　0；　nights　in　the　nest〃

〃And　you　believe　that？〃　said　Harvey；　remembering　what　Tom　Platt
had　said　about　candles　and　models。　〃Haven't　we　all　got　to　take
what's　served？〃

A　mutter　of　dissent　ran　round　the　bunks。　〃Outboard；　yes；　inboard；
things　can　happen；〃　said　Disko。　〃Don't　you　go　makin'　a　mock　of
Jonahs；　young　feller。〃

〃Well；　Harve　ain't　no　Jonah。　Day　after　we　catched　him；〃　Dan　cut
in；　〃we　had　a　toppin'　good　catch。〃

The　cook　threw　up　his　head　and　laughed　suddenly…a　queer；　thin
laugh。　He　was　a　most　disconcerting　nigger。

〃Murder！〃　said　Long　Jack。　〃Don't　do　that　again；　doctor。　We　ain't
used　to　ut〃

〃What's　wrong？〃　said　Dan。　〃Ain't　he　our　mascot；　and　didn't　they
strike　on　good　after　we'd　struck　him？〃

〃Oh！　yess；〃　said　the　cook。　〃I　know　that；　but　the　catch　iss　not　finish
yet。〃

〃He　ain't　goin'　to　do　us　any　harm；〃　said　Dan；　hotly。　〃Where　are　ye
hintin'　an'　edgin'　to？　He's　all　right〃

〃No　harm。　No。　But　one　day　he　will　be　your　master；　Danny。〃

〃That　all？〃　said　Dan；　placidly。　〃He　wun't…not　by　a　jugful。〃

〃Master！〃　said　the　cook；　pointing　to　Harvey。　〃Man！〃　and　he
pointed　to　Dan。

〃That's　news。　Haow　soon？〃　said　Dan；　with　a　laugh。

〃In　some　years；　and　I　shall　see　it。　Master　and　man…man　and
master。〃

〃How　in　thunder　d'ye　work　that　out？〃　said　Tom　Platt。

〃In　my　head；　where　I　can　see。〃

〃Haow？〃　This　from　all　the　others　at　once。

〃I　do　not　know；　but　so　it　will　be。〃　He　dropped　his　head；　and　went
on　peeling　the　potatoes；　and　not　another　word　could　they　get　out　of
him。

〃Well；〃　said　Dan；　〃a　heap　o'　things'll　hev　to　come　abaout　'fore
Harve's　any　master　o'　mine；　but　I'm　glad　the　doctor　ain't　choosen　to
mark　him　for　a　Jonah。　Now；　I　mistrust　Uncle　Salters　fer　the
Jonerest　Jonah　in　the　Fleet　regardin'　his　own　special　luck。　Dunno
ef　it's　spreadin'　same's　smallpox。　He　ought　to　be　on　the　Carrie
Pitman。　That　boat's　her　own　Jonah；　sure…crews　an'　gear　made　no
differ　to　her　driftin'。　Jiminy　Christmas！　She'll　etch　loose　in　a　flat
ca'am。〃

〃We're　well　clear　o'　the　Fleet；　anyway；〃　said　Disko。　〃Carrie
Pitman　an'　all。〃　There　was　a　rapping　on　the　deck。

〃Uncle　Salters　has　catched　his　luck；〃　said　Dan　as　his　father
departed。

〃It's　blown　clear；〃　Disko　cried；　and　all　the　foc'sle　tumbled　up　for　a
bit　of　fresh　air。　The　fog　had　gone；　but　a　sullen　sea　ran　in　great
rollers　behind　it。　The　We're　Here　slid；　as　it　were；　into　long；　sunk
avenues　and　ditches　which　felt　quite　sheltered　and　homelike　if　they
would　only　stay　still；　but　they　changed　without　rest　or　mercy；　and
flung　up　the　schooner　to　crown　one　peak　of　a　thousand　gray　hills；
while　the　wind　hooted　through　her　rigging　as　she　zigzagged　down
the　slopes。　Far　away　a　sea　would　burst　into　a　sheet　of　foam；　and
the　others　would　follow　suit　as　at　a　signal；　till　Harvey's　eyes　swam
with　the　vision　of　interlacing　whites　and　grays。　Four　or　five　Mother

Carey's　chickens　stormed　round　in　circles；　shrieking　as　they　swept
past　the　bows。　A　rain…squall　or　two　strayed　aimlessly　over　the
hopeless　waste；　ran　down　'wind　and　back　again；　and　melted　away。

〃Seerns　to　me　I　saw　somethin'　flicker　jest　naow　over　yonder；〃　said
Uncle　Salters；　pointing　to　the　northeast。

〃Can't　be　any　of　the　fleet；〃　said　Disko；　peering　under　his　eyebrows；
a　hand　on　the　foc'sle　gangway　as　the　solid　bows　hatcheted　into　the
troughs。　〃Sea's　oilin'　over　dretful　fast。　Danny；　don't　you　want　to
skip　up　a　piece　an'　see　how　aour　trawl…buoy　lays？〃

Danny；　in　his　big　boots；　trotted　rather　than　climbed　up　the　main
rigging　（this　consumed　Harvey　with　envy）；　hitched　himself　around
the　reeling　cross…trees；　and　let　his　eye　rove　till　it　caught　the　tiny
black　buoy…flag　on　the　shoulder　of　a　mile…away　swell。

〃She's　all　right；〃　he　hailed。　〃Sail　0！　Dead　to　the　no'th'ard；　corain'
down　like　smoke！　Schooner　she　be；　too。'；。

They　waited　yet　another　half…hour；　il~e　sky　clearing　in　patches；
with　a　flicker　of　sickly　sun　from　time　to　time　that　made　patches　of
olive…green　water。　Then　a　stump…foremast　lifted；　ducked；　and
disappeared；　to。　be　followed　on　the　next　wave　by　a　high　stern　with
old…fash…ioned　wooden　snail's…horn　davits。　The　snails　were
red…tanned。

〃Frenchmen！〃　shouted　Dan。　〃No；　'tain't；　neither。　Daad！〃


'That's　no　French；〃　said　Disko。　〃Salters；　your　blame　luck　holds
tighter'n　a　screw　in　a　keg…head。〃

〃I've　eyes。　It's　Uncle　Abishai。〃

〃You　can't　nowise　tell　fer　sure。〃

〃The　head…king　of　all　Jonahs；〃　groaned　Tom　Platt。　〃Oh；　Salters；
Salters；　why　wasn't　you　abed　an'　asleep？〃

〃How　could　I　tell？〃　said　poor　Salters；　as　the　schooner　swung　up。

She　might　have　been　the　very　Flying　Dutchman；　so　foul；　draggled；
and　unkempt　was　every　rope　and　stick　aboard。　Her　old…style
quarterdeck　was　some　or　five　feet　high；　and　her　rigging　flew
knotted　and　tangled　like　weed　at　a　wharf…end。　She　was　running
before　the　wind…yawing　frightfully…her　staysail　let　down　to　act　as　a
sort　of　extra　foresail；…〃scandalized；〃　they　call　it；…and　her　foreboom
guyed　out　over　the　side。　Her　bowsprit　cocked　up　like　an
old…fashioned　frigate's；　her　jib…boom　had　been　fished　and　s~iced
and　nailed　and　clamped　beyond　further　repair；　and　as　she　hove
herself　forward；　and　sat　down　on　her　broad　tail；　she　looked　for　all
the　world　like　a　blouzy；　frouzy；　bad　old　woman　sneering　at　a
decent　girl。

〃That's　Abishal；〃　said　Salters。　〃Full　o'　gin　an'　Judique　men；　an'　the
judgments　o'　Providence　layin'　fer　him　an'　never　takin'　good　holt
He's　run　in　to　bait；　Miquelon　way。〃

〃He'll　run　her　under；〃　said　Long　Jack。　〃That's　no　rig　fer　this
weather。〃

〃Not　he；　'r　he'd'a　done　it　long　ago；〃　Disko　replied。　〃Looks　's　if　he
cal'lated　to　run　us　under。　Ain't　she　daown　by　the　head　more　'n
natural；　Tom　Platt？〃

〃Ef　it's　his　style　o'　loadin'　her　she　ain't　safe；〃　said　the　sailor　slowly。
〃Ef　she's　spewed　her　oakum　he'd　better　git　to　his　pumps　mighty
quick。〃

The　creature　threshed　up；　wore　round　with　a　clatter　and　raffle；　and
lay　head　to　wind　within　ear…shot。

A　gray…beard　wagged　over　the　bulwark；　and　a　thick　voice　yelled
something　Harvey　could　not　understand。　But　Disko's　face
darkened。　〃He'd　resk　every　stick　he　hez　to　carry　bad　news。　Says
we're　in　fer　a　shift　o'　wind。　He's　in　fer　worse。　Abishai！　Abi…shai！〃
He　waved　his　arm　up　and　down　with　the　gesture　of　a　man　at　the
pumps；　and　pointed　forward。　The　crew　mocked　him　and　laughed。

〃Jounce　ye；　an'　strip　ye　an'　trip　ye！〃　yelled　Uncle　Abishal。　〃A　livin'
gale…a　livin'　gale。　Yab！　Cast　up　fer　your　last　trip；　all　you　Gloucester
haddocks。　You　won't　see　Gloucester　no　more；　no　more！〃

〃Crazy　full…as　usual；〃　said　Tom　Platt。　〃Wish　he　hadn't　spied　us；
though。〃

She　drifted　out　of　hearing　while　the　gray…head　yelled　something
about　a　dance　at　the　Bay　of　Bulls　and　a　dead　man　in　the　foc'sle。
Harvey　shuddered。　He　had　seen　the　sloven　tilled　decks　and　the
savage…eyed　crew。

〃An'　that's　a　fine　little　floatin'　hell　fer　her　draught；〃　said　Long　Jack。
〃I　wondher　what　mischief　he's　been　at　ashore。〃

〃He's　a　trawler；〃　Dan　explained　to　Harvey；　〃an'　he　runs　in　fer　bait
all　along　the　coast。　Oh；　no；　not　home；　he　don't　go。　He　deals　along
the　south　an'　east　shore　up　yonder。〃　He　nodded　in　the　direction　of
the　pitiless　Newfoundland　beaches。　〃Dad　won't　never　take　me
ashore　there。　They're　a　mighty　tough　crowd…an'　Abishal's　the
toughest。　You　saw　his　boat？　Well；　she's　nigh　seventy　year　old；　they
say；　the　last　o'　the　old　Marblehead　heel…tappers。　They　don't　make
them　quarterdecks　any　more。　Abishal　don't　use　Marblehead；
though。　He　ain't　wanted　there。　He　jes'　drif's　araound；　in　debt；
trawlin'　an'　cussin'　like　you've　heard。　Bin　a　Jonah　fer　years　an；
years；　he　hez。　'Gits　liquor　frum　the　Feecamp　boats　fer　makin'　spells
an'　selling　wind