captains courageous-第20部分

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tackle　and　been　blown　to　the　southward；　three　days'　sail。　A　man
died　on　a　Frenchman…it　was　the　same　bark　that　had　traded　tobacco
with　the　We're　Heres。　She　slipped　away　quite　quietly　one　wet；
white　morning；　moved　to　a　patch　of　deep　water；　her　sails　all
hanging　anyhow；　and　Harvey　saw　the　funeral　through　Disko's
spy…glass。　It　was　only　an　oblong　bundle　slid　overside。　They　did　not
seem　to　have　any　form　of　service；　but　in　the　night；　at　anchor；
Harvey　heard　them　across　the　star…powdered　black　water；　singing
something　that　sounded　like　a　hymn。　it　went　to　a　very　slow　tune。

〃La　brigantine　　　
Qui　va　tourner；　
Roule　et　s'incline　
Pour　m'entrainer。　　
Oh；　Vierge　Marie；　　　
Pour　moi　priez　Dieul　　　
Adieu；　patrie；　　
Ouebec；　adjeul〃

　Tom　Platt　visited　her；　because；　he　said；　the　dead　man　was　his
brother　as　a　Freemason。　It　came　out　that　a　wave　had　doubled　the
poor　fellow　over　the　heel　of　the　bowsprit　and　broken　his　back。　The
news　spread　like　a　flash；　for；　contrary　to　general　custom；　the
Frenchman　held　an　auction　of　the　dead　man's　kit；…he　had　no　friends
at　St　Malo　or　Miquelon；…and　everything　was　spread　out　on　the　top
of　the　house；　from　his　red　knitted　cap　to　the　leather　belt　with　the
sheath…knife　at　the　back。　Dan　and　Harvey　were　out　on
twenty…fathom　water　in　the　Hattie　S。；　and　naturally　rowed　over　to
join　the　crowd。　It　was　a　long　pull；　and　they　stayed　some　little　time
while　Dan　bought　the　knife；　which　had　a　curious　brass　handle。
When　they　dropped　overside　and　pushed　off　into　a　drizzle　of　rain
and　a　lop　of　sea；　it　occurred　to　them　that　they　might　get　into
trouble　for　neglecting　the　lines。

〃Guess　'twon't　hurt　us　any　to　be　warmed　up；〃　said　Dan；　shivering
under　his　oilskins；　and　they　rowed　on　into　the　heart　of　a　white　fog；
which；　as　usual；　dropped　on　them　without　warning。

〃There's　too　much　blame　tide　hereabouts　to　trust　to　your　instinks；〃
he　said。　〃Heave　over　the　anchor；　Harve；　and　we'll　fish　a　piece　till
the　thing　lifts。　Bend　on　your　biggest　lead。　Three　pound　ain't　any
too　much　in　this　water。　See　how　she's　tightened　on　her　rodin'
already。〃

There　was　quite　a　little　bubble　at　the　bows；　where　some
irresponsible　Bank　current　held　the　dory　full　stretch　on　her　rope；
but　they　could　not　see　a　boat's　length　in　any　direction。　Harvey
turned　up　his　collar　and　bunched　himself　over　his　reel　with　the　air
of　a　wearied　navigator。　Fog　had　no　special　terrors　for　him　now。
They　fished　a　while　in　silence；　and　found　the　cod　struck　on　well。
Then　Dan　drew　the　sheath…knife　and　tested　the　edge　of　it　on　the
gunwale。

〃That's　a　daisy；〃　said　Harvey。　〃How　did　you　get　it　so　cheap？〃

〃On　account　o'　their　blame　Cath'lic　superstitions；〃　said　Dan；　
jabbing　with　the　bright　blade。　〃They　don't　fancy　takin'
iron　from　off　a　dead　man；　so　to　speak。　'See　them　Arichat
Frenchmen　step　back　when　I　bid？〃

〃But　an　auction　ain't　taking　anythink　off　a　dead　man。　It's　business。〃

〃We　know　it　ain't；　but　there's　no　goin'　in　the　teeth　o'　superstition。
That's　one　o'　the　advantages　o'　livin'　in　a　progressive　country。〃
And　Dan　began　whistling：


〃Oh；　Double　Thatcher；　how　are　you？　
Now　Eastern　Point　comes　inter　view。　
The　girls　an'　boys　we　soon　shall　see；　
At　anchor　off　Cape　Ann！〃

〃Why　didn't　that　Eastport　man　bid；　then？　He　bought　his　boots。
Ain't　Maine　progressive？〃

〃Maine？　Pshaw！　They　don't　know　enough；　or　they　hain't　got
money　enough；　to　paint　their　haouses　in　Maine。　I've　seen　'em。　The
Eastport　man　he　told　me　that　the　knife　had　been　used…so　the
French　captain　told　him…used　up　on　the　French　coast　last　year。〃

〃Cut　a　man？　Heave's　the　muckle。〃　Harvey　hauled　in　his　fish；
rebaited；　and　threw　over。

〃Killed　him！　Course；　when　I　heard　that　I　was　keener'n　ever　to　get
it。〃

〃Christmas！　I　didn't　know　it；〃　said　Harvey；　turning　round。　〃I'll　give
you　a　dollar　for　it　when　I…get　my　wages。　Say；　I'll　give　you　two
dollars。〃

〃Honest？　D'you　like　it　as　much　as　all　that？〃　said　Dan；　flushing。
〃Well；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　kinder　got　it　for　you…to　give；　but　I　didn't
let　on　till　I　saw　how　you'd　take　it。　It's　yours　and　welcome；　Harve；
because　we're　dory…mates；　and　so　on　and　so　forth；　an'　so　followin'。
Catch　a…holt！〃

He　held　it　out；　belt　and　all。

〃But　look　at　here。　Dan；　I　don't　see…〃

〃Take　it。　'Tain't　no　use　to　me。　I　wish　you　to　hev　it。〃　The　temptation
was　irresistible。　〃Dan；　you're　a　white　man；〃　said　Harvey。　〃I'll　keep
it　as　long　as　I　live。〃

〃That's　good　hearin'；〃　said　Dan；　with　a　pleasant　laugh；　and　then；
anxious　to　change　the　subject：　〃　'Look's　if　your　line　was　fast　to
somethin'。〃　　

　〃Fouled；　I　guess；〃　said　Harve；　tugging。　Before　he　pulled　up　he
fastened　the　belt　round　him；　and　with　deep　delight　heard　the　tip　of
the　sheath　click　on　the　thwart。　〃Concern　the　thing！〃　he　cried。　〃She
acts　as　though　she　were　on　strawberry…bottom。　It's　all　sand　here；
ain't　it？〃

Dan　reached　over　and　gave　a　judgmatic　tweak。　〃Hollbut'll　act　that
way　'f　he's　sulky。　Thet's　no　strawberry…bottom。　Yank　her　once　or
twice。　She　gives；　sure。　Guess　we'd　better　haul　up　an'　make　certain。〃

They　pulled　together；　making　fast　at　each　turn　on　the　cleats；　and
the　hidden　weight　rose　sluggishly。

〃Prize；　oh！　Haul！〃　shouted　Dan；　but　the　shout　ended　in　a　shrill；
double　shriek　of　horror；　for　out　of　the　sea　cam~the　body　of　the
dead　Frenchman　buried　two　days　before！　The　hook　had　caught　him
under　the　right　armpit；　and　he　swayed；　erect　and　horrible；　head　and
shoulders　above　water。　His　arms　were　tied　to　his　side；　and…he　had
no　face。　The　boys　fell　over　each　other　in　a　heap　at　the　bottom　of
the　dory；　and　there　they　lay　while　the　thing　bobbed　alongside；　held
on　the　shortened　line。

〃The　tide…the　tide　brought　him！〃　said　Harvey　with　quivering　lips；　as
he　fumbled　at　the　clasp　of　the　belt。

〃Oh；　Lord！　Oh；　Harve！〃　groaned　Dan；　〃be　quick。　He's　come　for　it。
Let　him　have　it。　Take　it　off。〃

〃I　don't　want　it！　1　don't　want　it！〃　cried　Harvey。　〃I　can't　find　the
bu…buckle。〃

〃Quick；　Harve！　He's　on　your　line！〃

Harvey　sat　up　to　unfasten　the　belt；　facing　the　head　that　had　no　face
under　its　streaming　hair。　〃He's　fast　still；〃　he　whispered　to　Dan；　who
slipped　out　his　knife　and　cut　the　line；　as　Harvey　flung　the　belt　far
overside。　The　body　shot　down　with　a　plop；　and　Dan　cautiously　rose
to　his　knees；　whiter　than　the　fog。

〃He　come　for　it。　He　come　for　it。　I've　seen　a　stale　one　hauled　up　on
a　trawl　and　I　didn't　much　care；　but　he　come　to　us　special。〃

〃I　wish…I　wish　I　hadn't　taken　the　knife。　Then　he'd　have　come　on
your　line。〃

〃Dunno　as　thet　would　ba'　made　any　differ。　We're　both　scared　out　
o'　ten　years'　growth。　Oh；　Harve；　did　ye　see　his　head？〃

〃Did　I？　I'll　never　forget　it。　But　look　at　here；　Dan；　it　couldn't　have
been　meant。　It　was　only　the　tide。〃

〃Tide！　He　come　for　it；　Harve。　Why；　they　sunk　him　six　miles　to
south'ard　o'　the　Fleet；　an'　we're　two　miles　from　where　she's　lyin'
now。　They　told　me　he　was　weighted　with　a　fathom　an'　a　half　o'
chain…cable。〃

'Wonder　what　he　did　with　the　knife…up　on　the　French　coast？〃

〃Something　bad。　'Guess　he's　bound　to　take　k　with　him　to　the
Judgment；　an'　so　What　are　you　doin'　with　the　fish？〃

〃Heaving　'em　overboard；〃　said　Harvey。

〃What　for？　We　sha'n't　eat　'em。〃

〃I　don't　care。　I　had　to　look　at　his　face　while　I　was　takin'　the　belt　off。
You　can　keep　your　catch　if　you　like。　I've　no　use　for　mine。〃

Dan　said　nothing；　but　threw　his　fish　over　again。

〃Guess　ifs　best　to　be　on　the　safe　side；〃　he　murmured　at　last。　〃I'd
give　a　month's　pay　if　this　fog　'u'd　lift。　Things　go　abaout　in　a　fog
that　ye　don't　see　in　clear　weather　…yo…hoes　an'　hollerers　and　such
like。　I'm　sorter　relieved　he　come　the　way　he　did　instid　o'　walkin'。
He　might　ha'　walked。〃

〃Do~n't；　Dan！　We're　right　on　top　of　him　now。　'Wish　I　was　safe
aboard；　hem'　pounded　by　Uncle　Saltem。〃

〃They'll　be　lookin'　fer　us　in　a　little。　Gimme　the　tooter。〃　Dan　took
the　tin　dinner…horn；　but　paused　before　he　blew。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Harvey。　〃I　don't　want　to　stay　here　all　night〃

〃Question　is；　haow　he'd　take　it。　There　was　a　man　frurn　down　the
coast　told　me　once　he　was　in　a　schooner　where　they　darsen't　ever
blow　a　horn　to　the　dories；　becaze　the　skipper…not　the　man　he　was
with；　but　a　captain　that　had　run　her　five　years　before…he'd　drowned
a　boy　alongside　in　a　drunk　fit；　an'　ever　after；　that　boy　he'd　row
along…side　too　and　shout；　'Dory！　dory！'　with　the　rest〃

〃Dory！　dory！〃　a　muffled　voice　cried　through　the　fog。　They　cowered
again；　and　the　horn　dropped　from　Dan's　hand。　　


　〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Harvey；　〃it's　the　cook。〃

〃Dunno　what　made　me　think　o'　thet　fool　tale；　either；〃　said　Dan。
〃It's　the　doctor；　sure　enough。〃

〃Dan！　Danny！　Oooh；　Dan！　Harve！　Harvey！　Oooh；　Haarveee！〃

〃We're　here；〃　sung　both　boys　together。　They　heard　oars；　but　could
see　nothing　till　the　cook；　shining　and　dripping；　rowed　into　them。

〃What　iss　happened？〃　said　he。　〃You　will　be　beaten　at　home。〃

〃Thet's　what　we　want。　Thet's　what　we're　sufferin'　for〃　said　Dan。
〃Anything　homey's　good　enough　fer　us。　We've　had　kinder
depressin'　company。〃　As　the　cook　passed。　them　a　line；　Dan　told
him　the　tale。

〃Yess！　He　come　for　hiss　knife；〃　was　all　he　said　at　the　end。

Never　had　the　little　rocking　We're　Here　looked　so　deliciously
home…like　as　when　the　cook；　born　and　bred　in　fogs；　rowed　them
back　to　her。　There　was　a　warm　glow　of　light　from　the　cabin　and　a
satisfying　smell　of　food　forward；　and　it　was　heavenly　to　hear　Disko
and　the　others；　all　quite　alive　and　solid；　leaning　over　the　rail　and
promising　them　a　first…class　pounding。　But　the　cook　was　a　black。
master　of　strategy。　He　did　not　get　the　dories　aboard　till　he　had
given　the　more　striking　points　of　the　tale；　explaining　as　he　backed
and　bumped　round　the　counter　how　Harvey　was　the　mascot　to
destroy　any　possible　bad　luck。　So　the　boys　came　override　as　rather
uncanny　heroes；　and　every　one　asked　them　questions　instead　of
pounding　them　for　making　trouble。　Little　Penn　delivered　quite　a
speech　on　the　folly　of　superstitions；　but　public　opinion　was　against
him　and　in　favour　of　Long　Jack；　who　told　the　most　excruciating
ghost…stories；　till　nearly　midnight。　Under　that　influence　no　one
except　Salters　and　Penn　said　anything　about　〃idolatry；〃　when　the
cook　put　a　lighted　candle；　a　cake　of　flour　and　water；　and　a　pinch　of
salt　on　a　shingle；　and　floated　them