captains courageous-第26部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


oversea　plunder。　There　sat　a　large　woman；　silent　and　grave；　with
the　dim　eyes　of　those　who　look　long　to　sea　for　the　return　of　their　　
beloved。　Cheyne　addressed　himself　to　her；　and　she　gave　consent
wearily。

〃We　lose　one　hundred　a　year　from　Gloucester　only；　Mr。　Cheyne；〃
she　said…〃one　hundred　boys　an'　men；　and　I've　come　so's　to　hate　the
sea　as　if　'twuz　alive　an'　listenin'。　God　never　made　it　fer　humans　to
anchor　on。　These　packets　o'　yours　they　go　straight　out；　I　take　it'
and　straight　home　again？〃

〃As　straight　as　the　winds　let　'em；　and　I　give　a　bonus　for　record
passages。　Tea　don't　improve　by　being　at　sea。〃

〃When　he　wuz　little　he　used　to　play　at　keeping　store；　an'　I　had
hopes　he　might　follow　that　up。　But　soon's　he　could　paddle　a　dory　I
knew　that　were　goin'　to　be　denied　me。〃

〃They're　square…riggers；　Mother；　iron…built　an'　well　found。
Remember　what　Phil's　sister　reads　you　when　she　gits　his　letters。〃

〃I've　never　known　as　Phil　told　lies；　but　he's　too　venturesome　（like
most　of　'em　that　use　the　sea）。　If　Dan　sees　fit；　Mr。　Cheyne；　he　can
go…fer　all　o'　me。〃

〃She　jest　despises　the　ocean；〃　Disko　explained；　〃an'　I…I　dunno　haow
to　act　polite；　I　guess；　er　I'd　thank　you　better。〃

〃My　father…my　own　eldest　brother…two　nephews…an'　my　second
sister's　man；〃　she　said；　dropping　her　head　on　her　hand。　〃Would　you
care　fer　any　one　that　took　all　those？〃

Cheyne　was　relieved　when　Dan　turned　up　and　accepted　with　more
delight　than　he　was　able　to　put　into　words。　Indeed；　the　offer　meant
a　plain　and　sure　road　to　all　desirable　things；　but　Dan　thought　most
of　commanding　watch　on　broad　decks；　and　looking　into　far…away
harbours。

Mrs。　Cheyne　had　spoken　privately　to　the　unaccountable　Manuel　in
the　matter　of　Harvey's　rescue。　He　seemed　to　have　no　desire　for
money。　Pressed　hard；　he　said　that　he　would　take　five　dollars；
because　he　wanted　to　buy　something　for　a　girl。　Otherwise…〃How
shall　I　take　money　when　I　make　so　easy　my　eats　and　smokes？　You
will　giva　some　if　I　like　or　no？　Eh；　wha…at？。　Then　you　shall　giva　me
money；　but　not　that　way。　You　shall　giva　all　you　can　think。〃　He
introduced　her　to　a　snuffy　Portuguese　priest　with　a　list　of　semi…destitute　
widows　as　long　as　his　cassock。　As　a　strict　Unitarian；　Mrs。　Cheyne　
could　not　sympathize　with　the　creed；　but　she　ended　by　respecting　the　
brown；　voluble　little　man。

Manuel；　faithful　son　of　the　Church；　appropriated　all　the　blessings
showered　on　her　for　her　charity。　〃That　letta　me　out；〃　said　he。　〃I
have　now　ver'　good　absolutions　for　six　months〃；　and　he　strolled
forth　to　get　a　handkerchief　for　the　girl　of　the　hour　and　to　break　the
hearts　of　all　the　others。

Salters　went　West　for　a　season　with　Penn；　and　left　no　address
behind。　He　had　a　dread　that　these　mlllionary　people；　with　wasteful
private　cars；　might　take　undue　interest　in　his　companion。　It　was
better　to　visit　inland　relatives　till　the　coast　was　clear。　〃Never　you
be　adopted　by　rich　folk；　Penn；〃　he　said　in　the　cars；　〃or　I'll　take　'n'
break　this　checker…board　over　your　head。　Ef　you　forgif　your　name
agin…which　is　Pratt…you　remember　you　belong　with　Salters　Troop；
an'　set　down　right　where　you　are　till　I　come　fer　you。　Don't　go
taggin'　araound　after　them　whose　eyes　bung　out　with　fatness；
accordin'　to　Scripcher。〃

CHAPTER　X

But　it　was　otherwise　with　the　We're　Here's　silent　cook；　for　he　came
up；　his　kit　in　a　handkerchief；　and　boarded　the　〃Constance。〃　Pay
was　no　particular　object；　and　he　did　not　in　the　least　care　where　he
slept。　His　business；　as　revealed　to　him　in　dreams；　was　to　follow
Harvey　for　the　rest　of　his　days。　They　tried　argument　and；　at　last；
persuasion；　but　there　is　a　difference　between　one　Cape　Breton　and
two　Alabama　negroes；　and　the　matter　was　referred　to　Cheyne　by
the　cook　and　porter。　The　millionaire　only　laughed。　He　presumed
Harvey　might　need　a　body…servant　some　day　or　other；　and　was　sure
that　one　volunteer　was　worth　five　hirelings。　Let　the　man　stay；
therefore；　even　though　he　called　himself　MacDonald　and　swore　in
Gaelic。　The　car　could　go　back　to　Boston；　where；　if　he　were　still　of
the　same　mind；　they　would　take　him　West。

With　the　〃Constance；〃　which　in　his　heart　of　hearts　he　loathed；
departed　the　last　remnant　of　Cheyne's　millionairedom；　and　he　gave
himself　up　to　an　energetic　idleness。　This　Gloucester　was　a　new
town　in　a　new　land；　and　he　purposed　to　〃take　it　in；〃　as　of　old　he
had　taken　in　all　the　cities　from　Snohomish　to　San　Diego　of　that
world　whence　he　hailed。　They　made　money　along　the　crooked
street　which　was　half　wharf　and　half　ship's　store：　as　a　leading
professional　he　wished　to　learn　how　the　noble　game　was　played。
Men　said　that　four　out　of　every　five　fish…balls　served　at　New
England's　Sunday　breakfast　came　from　Gloucester；　and
overwhelmed　him　with　figures　in　proof…statistics　of　boats；　gear；
wharf…frontage；　capital　invested；　salting；　packing；　factories；
insurance；　wages；　repairs；　and　profits。　He　talked　with　the　owners
of　the　large　fleets　whose　skippers　were　little　more　than　hired　men；　
and　whose　crews　were　almost　all　Swedes　or　Portuguese。　Then　he　
conferred　with　Disko；　one　of　the　few　who　owned　their　craft；　and　
compared　notes　in　his　vast　head。　He　coiled　himself　away　on　
chain…cables　in　marine　junk…shops；　asking　questions　with　cheerful；　
unslaked　Western　curiosity；　till　all　the　water…front　wanted　to　know　
〃what　in　thunder　that　man　was　after；　anyhow。〃　He　prowled　into　the　
Mutual　Insurance　rooms；　and　demanded　explanations　of　the　mysterious
remarks　chalked　up　on　the　blackboard　day　by　day；　and　that　brought　
down　upon　him　secretaries　of　every　Fisherman's　Widow　and　Orphan　
Aid　Society　within　the　city　limits。　They　begged　shamelessly；　each　
man　anxious　to　beat　the　other　institution's　record；　and　Cheyne　
tugged　at　his　beard　and　handed　them　all　over　to　Mrs。　Cheyne。

She　was　resting　in　a　boarding…house　near　Eastern　Point…a　strange
establishment；　managed；　apparently；　by　the　boarders；　where　the
table…cloths　were　red…and…white…checkered　and　the　population；
who　seemed　to　have　known　one　another　intimately　for　years；　rose
up　at　midnight　to　make　Welsh　rarebits　if　it　felt　hungry。　On　the
second　morning　of　her　stay　Mrs。　Cheyne　put　away　her　diamond
solitaires　before　she　came　down　to　breakfast。

〃They're　most　delightful　people；〃　she　confided　to　her　husband；　〃so
friendly　and　simple；　too；　though　they　are　all　Boston；　nearly。〃

〃That　isn't　simpleness；　Mama；〃　he　said；　looking　across　the
boulders　behind　the　apple…trees　where　the　hammocks　were　slung。
〃It's　the　other　thing；　that　w~that　I　haven't　got。〃

〃It　can't　be；〃　said　Mrs。　Cheyne　quietly。　〃There　isn't　a　woman　here
owns　a　dress　that　cost　a　hundred　dollars。　Why；　we~〃

〃I　know　it；　dear。　We　have~f　course　we　have。　I　guess　it's　only　the
style　they　wear　East。　Are　you　having　a　good　time？〃

〃I　don't　see　very　much　of　Harvey；　he's　always　with　you；　but　I　ain't
near　as　nervous　as　I　was。〃

'7　haven't　had　such　a　good　time　since　Willie　died。　I　never　rightly
understood　that　I　had　a　son　before　this。　Harve's　got　to　be　a　great
boy。　'Anything　I　can　fetch　　

140　　Rudyard　Kipling

you；　dear？　'Cushion　under　your　head？　Well；　we'll　go　down　to　the
wharf　again　and　look　around。〃

Harvey　was　his　father's　shadow　in　those　days；　and　the　two　strolled
along　side　by　side；　Cheyne　using　the　grades　as　an　excuse　for　laying
his　hand　on　the　boy's　square　shoulder。　It　was　then　that　Harvey
noticed　and　admired　what　had　never　struck　him　before…his　father's
curious　power　of　getting　at　the　heart　of　new　matters　as　learned
from　men　in　the　street。

〃How　d'you　make　'em　tell　you　everything　without　opening　your
head？〃　demanded　the　son；　as　they　came　out　of　a　rigger's　loft。

〃I've　dealt　with　quite　a　few　men　In　my　time；　Harve；　and　one　sizes
'em　up　somehow；　I　guess。　I　know　something　about　myself；　too。〃
Then；　after　a　pause；　as　they　sat　down　on　a　wharf…edge：　〃Men　can
'most　always　tell　when　a　man　has　handled　things　for　himself；　and
then　they　treat　him　as　one　of　themselves。〃

〃Same　as　they　treat　me　down　at　Wouverman's　wharf。　I'm　one　of　the
crowd　now。　Disko　has　told　every　one　I've　earned　my　pay。〃　Harvey
spread　out　his　hands　and　rubbed　the　palms　together。　〃They're　all
soft　again；〃　he　said　dolefully。

〃Keep　'em　that　way　for　the　next　few　years；　while　you're　getting
your　education。　You　can　harden　'em　up　after。〃

〃Ye…es；　I　suppose　so；〃　was　the　reply；　in　no　delighted　voice。

〃It　rests　with　you；　Harve。　You　can　take　cover　behind　your　mama；
of　course；　and　put　her　on　to　fussing　about　your　nerves　and　your
high…strungness　and　all　that　kind　of　poppycock。〃

〃Have　I　ever　done　that？〃　said　Harvey；　uneasily。

His　father　turned　where　he　sat　and　thrust　out　a　long　hand。　〃You
know　as　well　as　I　do　that　I　can't　make　anything　of　you　if　you　don't
act　straight　by　me。　I　can　handle　you　alone　if　you'll　stay　alone；　but　I
don't　pretend　to　manage　both　you　and　Mama。　Life's　too　short；
anyway。〃

〃Don't　make　me　out　much　of　a　fellow；　does　it？〃

〃I　guess　it　was　my　fault　a　good　deal；　but　if　you　want　the　truth；　you
haven't　been　much　of　anything　up　to　date。　Now；　have　you？〃

〃Umm！　Disko　thinks　。　。　。　Say；　what　d'you　reckon　it's　cost　you　to
raise　me　from　the　start…first；　last　and　all　over？〃

Cheyne　smiled。　〃I've　never　kept　track；　but　I　should　estimate；　in
dollars　and　cents；　nearer　fifty　than　forty　thousand；　maybe　sixty。
The　young　generation　comes　high。　It　has　to　have　things；　and　it　tires
of　'em；　and…the　old　man　foots　the　bill。〃

Harvey　whistled；　but　at　heart　he　was　rather　pleased　to　think　that
his　upbringing　had　cost　so　much。　〃And　all　that's　sunk　capital；　isn't
it？〃

〃Invested；　Harve。　Invested；　I　hope。〃

〃Making　it　only　thirty　thousand；　the　thirty　I've　earned　is　about　ten
cents　on　the　hundred。　That's　a　mighty　poor　catch。〃　Harvey　wagged
his　head　solemnly。

Cheyne　laughed　till　he　nearly　fell　off　the　pile　into　the　water。

〃Disko　has　got　a　heap　more　than　that　out　of　Dan　since　he　was　ten；
and　Dan's　at　school　half　the　year；　too。〃

〃Oh；　that's　what　you're　after；　is　it？〃

〃No。　I'm　not　after　anything。　I'm　not　stuck　on　myself　any　just
now…that's　all。　。　。　。　I　ought　to　be　kicked。〃

〃I　can't　do　it；　old　man；　or　I　would；　I　presume；　if　I'd　been　made　that
way。〃

〃Then　I'd　have　remembered　it　to　the　last　day　I　lived…and　never
forgiven　you；〃　said　Harvey；　his　chin　on　his　doub