captains courageous-第16部分

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fer　a　year　or　more　on　account　of　his　stories。

Counahan　the　Navigator！　Tck！　Tck！　Dead　these　fifteen　year；　ain't
he？〃

〃Seventeen；　I　guess。　He　died　the　year　the　Caspar　McVeagh　was
built；　but　he　could　niver　keep　things　sep'rate。　Steyning　tuk　him　fer
the　reason　the　thief　tuk　the　hot　stove…bekaze　there　was　nothin'　else
that　season。　The　men　was　all　to　the　Banks；　and　Counahan　he
whacked　up　an　iverlastin'　hard　crowd　fer　crew。　Rum！　Ye　cud　ha'
floated　the　Manila；　insurance　an'　all；　in　fwhat　they　stowed　aboard
her。　They　lef'　Boston　Harbour　for　the　great　Grand　Bank　wid　a
roarin'　nor'wester　behind　'em　an'　all　hands　full　to　the　bung。　An'　the
hivens　looked　after　thim；　for　divil　a　watch　did　they　set；　an'　divil　a
rope　did　they　lay　hand　to；　till　they'd　seen　the　bottom　av　a
fifteen…gallon　cask　o'　bug…juice。　That　was　about　wan　week；　so　far
as　Counahan　remembered。　（If　I　cud　only　tell　the　tale　as　he　told　ut！）
All　that　whoile　the　wind　blew　like　ould　glory；　an'　the　Marilla…'twas
summer；　and　they'd　give　her　a　foretopmast…struck　her　gait　and　kept
ut。　Then　Counahan　tuk　the　hog…yoke　an'　thrembled　over　it　for　a
whoile；　an'　made　out；　betwix'　that　an'　the　chart　an'　the　singin'　in　his
head；　that　they　was　to　the　south'ard　o'　Sable　Island；　gettin'　along
glorious；　but　speakin'　nothin'。　Then　they　broached　another　keg；　an'
quit　speculatin'　about　anythin'　fer　another　spell。　The　Marilla　she
lay　down　whin　she　dropped　Boston　Light；　and　she　never　lufted　her
lee…rail　up　to　that　time…hustlin'　on　one　an'　the　same　slant。　But　they
saw　no　weed；　nor　gulls；　nor　schooners；　an'　prisintiy　they　obsarved
they'd　bin　out　a　matter　o'　fourteen　days　and　they　mis…trusted　the
Bank　has　suspinded　payment。　So　they　sounded；　an'　got　sixty
fathom。　'That's　me；'　sez　Counahan。　'That's　me　iv'ry　time！　I've　run
her　slat　on　the　Bank　fer　you；　an'　when　we　get　thirty　fathom　we'll
turn　in　like　little　men。　Counahan　is　the　b'y；'　sez　he。　'Counahan　the
Navigator！'

〃Nex'　cast　they　got　ninety。　Sez　Counahan：　'Either　the　lead…line's　tuk
to　stretchin'　or　else　the　Bank's　sunk。'

〃They　hauled　ut　up；　bein'　just　about　in　that　state　when　ut　seemed
right　an'　reasonable；　and　sat　down　on　the　deck　countin'　the　knots；
an'　gettin'　her　snarled　up　hijjus。　The　Marilla　she'd　struck　her　gait；
an'　she　hild　ut；　an'　prisindy　along　came　a　tramp；　an'　Counahan　
spoke　her。

'Hev　ye　seen　any　fishin'…boats　now？'　sez　he；　quite　casual。

'There's　lashin's　av　them　off　the　Irish　coast；'　sez　the　tramp。

'Aah！　go　shake　yerseif；'　sez　Counahan。　'Fwhat　have　I　to　do　wid　the
Irish　coast？'

〃'Then　fwhat　are　ye　doin'　here？'　sez　the　tramp。

'Sufferin'　Christianity！'　sez　Counahan　（he　always　said　that　whin　his
pumps　sucked　an'　he　was　not　feelin'　good）…'Sufferin'　Christianity！'
he　sez；　'where　am　I　at？'

'Thirty…five　mile　west…sou'west　o'　Cape　Clear；'　sez　the　tramp；　'if
that's　any　consolation　to　you。'

〃Counahan　fetched　wan　jump；　four　feet　sivin　inches；　measured　by
the　cook。

'Consolation！'　sez　he；　bould　as　brass。　'D'ye　take　me　fer　a　dialect？
Thirty…five　mile　from　Cape　Clear；　an'　fourteen　days　from　Boston
Light。　Sufferin'　Christianity；　'tis　a　record；　an'　by　the　same　token　I've
a　mother　to　Skibbereen！'　Think　av　ut！　The　gall　av　um！　But　ye　see
he　could　niver　keep　things　sep'rate。

〃The　crew　was　mostly　Cork　an'　Kerry　men；　barrin'　one　Marylander
that　wanted　to　go　back；　but　they　called　him　a　mutineer；　an'　they　ran
the　ould　Marilla　into　Skibbereen；　an'　they　had　an　illigant　time
visitin'　around　with　frinds　on　the　ould　sod　fer　a　week。　Thin　they
wint　back；　an'　it　cost　'em　two　an'　thirty　days　to　beat　to　the　Banks
again。　'Twas　gettin'　on　towards　fall；　and　grub　was　low；　so
Counahan　ran　…　her　back　to　Boston；　wid　no　more　bones　to　ut。〃

〃And　what　did　the　firm　say？〃　Harvey　demanded。

〃Fwhat　could　they？　The　fish　was　on　the　Banks；　an'　Counahan　was
at。　T…wharf　talkin'　av　his　record　trip　east！　They　tuk　their
satisfaction　out　av　that；　an'　ut　all　came　av　not　keepin'　the　crew　and
the　rum　sep'rate　in　the　first　place；　an'　confusin'　Skibbereen　wid
'Queereau；　in　the　second。　Counahan　the　Navigator；　rest　his　sowi！
He　was　an　imprompju　citizen！〃

〃Once　I　was　in　the　Lucy　Holmes；〃　said　Manuel；　in　his　gentle　voice。
〃They　not　want　any　of　her　feesh　in　Gloucester。　Eh；　wha…at？　Give　us
no　price。　So　we　go　across　the　water；　and　think　to　sell　to　some　Fayal　
man。　Then　it　blow　fresh；　and　we　cannot　see　well。　Eh；　wha…at？　Then　
it　blow　some　mQre　fresh；　and　we　go　down　below　and　drive　very　
fast…no　one　know　where。　By　and　by　we　see　a　land；　and　it　get　some　
hot。　Then　come　two；　three　nigger　in　a　brick。　Eh；　wha…at？　We　ask　
where　we　are；　and　they　say…now；　what　you　all　think？〃

〃Grand　Canary；〃　said　Disko；　alter　a　moment。　Manuel　shook　his
head；　smiling。

〃Blanco；〃　said　Tom　Platt。

〃No。　Worse　than　that。　We　was　below　Bezagos；　and　the　brick　she
was　from　Liberia！　So　we　sell　our　feesh　there！　Not　bad；　so？　Eh；
wha…at？〃

〃Can　a　schooner　like　this　go　right　across　to　Africa？〃　said　Harvey。

〃Go　araound　the　Horn　ef　there's　anythin'　worth　goin'　fer；　and　the
grub　holds　aout；〃　said　Disko。　〃My　father　he　run　his　packet；　an'　she
was　a　kind　o'　pinkey；　abaout　fifty　ton；　I　guess；…the　Rupert；…he　run
her　over　to　Greenland's　icy　mountains　the　year　ha'af　our　fleet　was
tryin'　alter　cod　there。　An'　what's　more；　he　took　my　mother　along
with　him；…to　show　her　haow　the　money　was　earned；　I　presoom；…an'
they　was　all　iced　up；　an'　I　was　born　at　Disko。　Don't　remember
nothin'　abaout　it；　o'　course。　We　come　back　when　the　ice　eased　in
the　spring；　but　they　named　me　fer　the　place。　Kinder　mean　trick　to
put　up　on　a　baby；　but　we're　all　baound　to　make　mistakes　in　aour
lives。〃

〃Sure！　Sure！〃　said　Salters；　wagging　his　head。　〃All　baound　to　make
mistakes；　an'　I　tell　you　two　boys　here　thet　alter　you've　made　a
mistake…ye　don't　make　fewer'n　a　hundred　a　day…the　next　best
thing's　to　own　up　to　it　like　men。〃

Long　Jack　winked　one　tremendous　wink　that　embraced　all　hands
except　Disko　and　Salters；　and　the　incident　was　closed。

Then　they　made　berth　alter　berth　to　the　northward；　the　dories　out
almost　every　day；　running　along　the　east　edge　of　the　Grand　Bank　in
thirty…　to　forty…fathom　water；　and　fishing　steadily。

It　was　here　Harvey　first　met　the　squid；　who　is　one　of　the　best
cod…baits；　but　uncertain　in　his　moods。　They　　　

88　　Rudyard　Kipling

were　waked　out　of　their　bunks　one　black　night　by　yells　of　〃Squid
0！〃　from　Salters；　and　for　an　hour　and　a　half　every　soul　aboard　hung
over　his　squid…jig…a　piece　of　lead　painted　red　and　armed　at　the
lower　end　with　a　circle　of　pins　bent　backward　like　half…opened
umbrella　ribs。　The　squid…for　some　unknown　reason…likes；　and
wraps　himself　round；　this　thing；　and　is　hauled　up　ere　he　can　escape
from　the　pins。　But　as　he　leaves　his　home　he　squirts　first　water　and
next　ink　into　his　captor's　face；　and　it　was　curious　to　see　the　men
weaving　their　heads　from　side　to　side　to　dodge　the　shot。　They　were
as　black　as　sweeps　when　the　flurry　ended；　but　a　pile　of　fresh　squid
lay　on　the　deck；　and　the　large　cod　thinks　very　well　of　a　little　shiny
piece　of　squid　tentacle　at　the　tip　of　a　clam…baited　hook。　Next　day
they　caught　many　fish；　and　met　the　Carrie　Pitman；　to　whom　they
shouted　their　luck；　and　she　wanted　to　trade…seven　cod　for　one
fair…sized　squid；　but　Disko　would　not　agree　at　the　price；　and　the
Carrie　dropped　sullenly　to　leeward　and　anchored　half　a　mile　away；
in　the　hope　of　striking　on　to　some　for　herself。

Disco　said　nothing　till　after　supper；　when　he　sent　Dan　and　Manuel
out　to　buoy　the　We're　Here's　cable　and　announced　his　intention　of
turning　in　with　the　broad…axe。　Dan　naturally　repeated　these
remarks　to　the　dory　from　the　Carrie；　who　wanted　to　know　why
they　were　buoying　their　cable；　since　they　were　not　on　rocky
bottom。

〃Dad　sez　he　wouldn't　trust　a　ferryboat　within　five　mile　o'　you；〃
Dan　howled　cheerfully。

〃Why　don't　he　git　out；　then？　Who's　hinderin'？〃　said　the　other。

〃'Cause　you've　jest　the　same　ex　lee…bowed　him；　an'　he　don't　take　that
from　any　boat；　not　to　speak　o'　sech　a　driftin'　gurry…butt　as　you　be。〃

〃She　ain't　driftin'　any　this　trip；〃　said　the　man　angrily；　for　the　Carrie
Pitman　had　an　unsavory　reputation　for　breaking　her　ground…　tackle。

〃Then　haow　d'you　make　berths？〃　said　Dan。　〃It's　her　best　p'int　o'
sailin'。　An'　ef　she's　quit　driftin'；　what　in　thunder　are　you　doin'　with
a　new　jib…boom？〃　That　shot　went　home。

〃Hey；　you　Portugoosy　organ…grinder；　take　your　monkey　back　to
Gloucester。　Go　back　to　school；　Dan　Troop；〃　was　the　answer。

〃0…ver…alls！　0…ver…alls！〃　yelled　Dan；　who　knew　that　one　of　the
Carrie's　crew　had　worked　in　an　overall　factory　the　winter　before。

〃Shrimp！　Gloucester　shrimp！　Git　aout；　you　Novy！〃

To　call　a　Gloucester　man　a　Nova　Scotian　is　not　well　received。　Dan
answered　in　kind。

〃Novy　yourself；　ye　Scrabble…towners！　ye　Chatham　wreckers！　Git
aout　with　your　brick　in　your　stockin'！〃　And　the　forces　separated；
but　Chatharn　had　the　worst　of　it。

〃I　knew　haow　'twould　be；〃　said　Disko。　〃She's　drawed　the　wind
raound　already。　Some　one　oughter　put　a　deesist　on　thet　packet。
She'll　snore　till　midnight；　an'　jest　when　we're　gettin'　our　sleep　she'll
strike　adrift。　Good　job　we　ain't　crowded　with　craft　hereaways。　But
I　ain't　goin'　to　up　anchor　fer　Chatham。　She　may　hold。〃

The　wind；　which　had　hauled　round；　rose　at　sundown　and　blew
steadily。　There　was　not　enough　sea；　though；　to　disturb　even　a
dory's　tackle；　but　the　Carrie　Pitman　was　a　law　unto　herself。　At　the
end　of　the　boys'　watch　they　heard　the　crack…crack…crack　of　a　huge
muzzle…loading　revolver　aboard　her。

〃Gory；　glory；　hallelujah！〃　sung　Dan。　〃Here　she　comes；　Dad；
butt…end　first；　walkin'　in　her　sleep　same's　she　done　on　'Queereau。〃

Had　she　been　any　other　boat　Disko　would　have　taken　his　chances；
but　now　he　cut　the　cable　as　the　Carrie　Pitman；　with　all　the　North
Atlantic　to　play　in；　lurched　down　directly　upon　them。　The　We're
Here；　under　jib　and　riding…sail；　gave　her　no　more　room　than　was
absolutely　necessary；…Disko　did　not　wish　to　spend　a　week　hunting
for　his　cable；…but　scuttled　up　into　the　wind　as　the　Carrie　passed
within　easy　hail；　a　silent　and　angry　boat；　at　the　mercy　of　a　raking
broadside　of　Bank　chaff。

〃Good　evenin'；〃　said　Disko；　raising　his　head…gear；　〃an'　haow　does
your　garden　grow？〃

〃Go　to　Ohio　an'　hir