captains courageous-第27部分

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way。〃

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

〃Exactly。　That's　about　what　I'd　do。　You　see？〃

〃I　see。　The　fault's　with　me　and　no　one　else。　All　the　samey；
something's　got　to　be　done　about　it。〃

Cheyne　drew　a　cigar　from　his　vest…pocket；　bit　off　the　end；　and　fell
to　smoking。　Father　and　son　were　very　much　alike；　for　the　beard　hid
Cheyne's　mouth；　and　Harvey　had　his　father's　slightly　aquiline　nose；
close…set　black　eyes；　and　narrow；　high　cheek…bones。　With　a　touch
of　brown　paint　he　would　have　made　up　very　picturesquely　as　a　Red
Indian　of　the　story…books。

〃Now　you　can　go　on　from　here；〃　said　Cheyne；　slowly；　〃costing　me
between　six　or　eight　thousand　a　year　till　you're　a　voter。　Well；　we'll
call　you　a　man　then。　You　can　go　right　on　from　that；　living　on　me　to
the　tune　of　　forty　or　fitty　thousand；　besides　what　your　mother　will　
give　you；　with　a　valet　and　a　yacht　or　a　fancy…ranch　where　you　can
pretend　to　raise　trotting…stock　and　play　cards　with　your　own　crowd。〃

〃Like　Lorry　Tuck？〃　Harvey　put　in。

〃Yep；　or　the　two　De　Vitre　boys　or　old　man　McQuade's　son。
California's　full　of　'em；　and　here's　an　Eastern　sample　while　we're
talking。〃

A　shiny　black　steam…yacht；　with　mahogany　deck…house；
nickel…plated　binnacles；　and　pink…and…white…striped　awnings
puffed　up　the　harbour；　flying　the　burgee　of　some　New　York　club。
Two　young　men　in　what　they　conceived　to　be　sea　costumes　were
playing　cards　by　the　saloon　skylight；　and　a　couple　of　women　with
red　and　blue　parasols　looked　on　and　laughed　noisily。

〃Shouldn't　care　to　be　caught　out　in　her　in　any　sort　of　a　breeze。　No
beam；〃　said　Harvey；　critically；　as　the　yacht　slowed　to　pick　up　her
mooring…buoy。

〃They're　having　what　stands　them　for　a　good　time。　I　can　give　you
that；　and　twice　as　much　as　that；　Harve。　How'd　you　like　it？〃

〃Caesar！　That's　no　way　to　get　a　dinghy　overside；〃　said　Harvey；　still
intent　on　the　yacht。　〃If　I　couldn't　slip　a　tackle　better　than　that　I'd
stay　ashore。　。　。　。　What　if　I　don't？〃

〃Stay　ashore…or　what？〃

〃Yacht　and　ranch　and　live　on　'the　old　man；'　and…get　behind　Mama
where　there's　trouble；〃　said　Harvey；　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃Why；　in　that　case；　you　come　right　in　with　me；　my　son。〃

〃Ten　dollars　a　month？〃　Another　twinkle。

〃Not　a　cent　more　until　you're　worth　it；　and　you　won't　begin　to
touch　that　for　a　few　years。〃

〃I'd　sooner　begin　sweeping　out　the　office…isn't　that　how　the　big　bugs
start？…and　touch　something　now　than　。

　〃I　know　it；　we　all　feel　that　way。　But　I　guess　we　can　hire　any
sweeping　we　need。　I　made　the　same　mistake　myself　of　starting　in
too　soon。〃

〃Thirty　million　dollars'　worth　o'　mistake；　wasn't　it？　I'd　risk　it　for
that。〃

〃I　lost　some；　and　I　gained　some。　I'll　tell　you。〃

Cheyne　pulled　his　beard　and　smiled　as　he　looked　over　the　still
water；　and　spoke　away　from　Harvey；　who　presently　began　to　be
aware　that　his　father　was　telling　the　story　of　his　life。　He　talked　in　a
low；　even　voice；　without　gesture　and　without　expression；　and　it
was　a　history　for　which　a　dozen　leading　journals　would　cheerfully
have　paid　many　dollars…the　story　of　forty　years　that　was　at　the
same　time　the　story　of　the　New　West；　whose　story　is　yet　to　be
written。

It　began　with　a　kinless　boy　turned　loose　in　Texas；　and　went　on
fantastically　through　a　hundred　changes　and　chops　of　life；　the
scenes　shifting　from　State　after　Western　State；　from　cities　that
sprang　up　m　a　month　and…　in　a　season　utterly　withered　away；　to
wild　ventures　in　wilder　camps　that　are　now　laborious；　paved
municipalities。　It　covered　the　building　of　three　railroads　and　the
deliberate　wreck　of　a　fourth。　It　told　of　steamers；　townships；　forests；
and　mines；　and　the　men　of　every　nation　under　heaven；　manning；
creating；　hewing；　and　digging　these。　It　touched　on　chances　of
gigantic　wealth　flung　before　eyes　that　could　not　see；　or　missed　by
the　merest　accident　of　time　and　travel；　and　through　the　mad　shift
of　things；　sometimes　on　horseback；　more　often　afoot；　now　rich；
now　poor；　in　and　out；　and　back　and　forth；　deck…hand；　train…hand；
contractor；　boarding…house　keeper；　journalist；　engineer；　drummer；
real…estate　agent；　politician；　dead…beat；　rum…seller；　mine~owner；
speculator；　cattle…man；　or　tramp；　moved　Harvey　Cheyne；　alert　and
quiet；　seeking　his　own　ends；　and；　so　he　said；　the　glory　and
advancement　of　his　country。

He　told　of　the　faith　that　never　deserted　him　even　when　he　hung　on
the　ragged　edge　of　despair…the　faith　that　comes　of　knowing　men
and　things。　He　enlarged；　as　though　he　were　talking　to　himself；　on
his　very　great　courage　and　resource　at　all　times。　The　thing　was　so
evident　in　the　man's　mind　that　he　never　even　changed　his　tone。　He
described　how　he　had　bested　his　enemies；　or　forgiven　them；
exactly　as　they　had　bested　or　forgiven　him　in　those　careless　days；
how　he　had　entreated；　cajoled；　and　bullied　towns；　companies；　and
syndicates；　all　for　their　enduring　good；　crawled　round；　through；　or
under　mountains　and　ravines；　dragging　a　string　and　hoop…iron　railroad　
after　him；　and　in　the　end；　how　he　had　sat　still　while　promiscuous
communities　tore　the　last　fragments　of　his　character　to　shreds。

The　tale　held　Harvey　almost　breathless；　his　head　a　little　cocked　to
one　side；　his　eyes　fixed　on　his　father's　face；　as　the　twilight
deepened　and　the　red　cigar…end　lit　up　the　furrowed　cheeks　and
heavy　eyebrows。　It　seemed　to　him　like　watching　a　locomotive
storming　across　country　in　the　dark…a　mile　between　each　glare　of
the　open　fire…door：　but　this　locomotive　could　talk；　and　the　words
shook　and　stirred　the　boy　to　the　core　of　his　soul。　At　last　Cheyne
pitched　away　the　cigar…butt；　and　the　two　sat　in　the　dark　over　the
lapping　water。

〃I've　never　told　that　to　any　one　before；〃said　the　father。

Harvey　gasped。　〃It's　just　the　greatest　thing　that　ever　was！〃　said　he。

〃That's　what　I　got。　Now　I'm　coming　to　what　I　didn't　get。　It　won't
sound　much　of　anything　to　you；　but　I　don't　wish　you　to　be　as　old　as
I　am　before　you　find　out。　I　can　handle　men；　of　course；　and　I'm　no
fool　along　my　own　lines；　but…but…I　can't　compete　with　the　man　who
has　been　taught！　I've　picked　up　as　I　went　along；　and　I　guess　it
sticks　out　all　over　me。〃

〃I've　never　seen　it；〃　said　the　son；　indignantly。

〃You　will；　though；　Harve。　You　will…just　as　soon　as　you're　through
college。　Don't　I　know　it？　Don't　I　know　the　look　on　men's　faces
when　they　think　me　a…a　'mucker；'　as　they　call　it　out　here？　I　can
break　them　to　little　pieces…yes…but　I　can't　get　back　at　'em　to　hurt
'em　where　they　live。　I　don't　say　they're　'way　'way　up；　but　I　feel　I'm
'way；　'way；　'way　off；　somehow。　Now　you've　got　your　chance。
You've　got　to　soak　up　all　the　learning　that's　around；　and　you'll　live
with　a　crowd　that　are　doing　the　same　thing。　They'll　be　doing　it　for
a　few　thousand　dollars　a　year　at　most；　but　remember　you'll　be
doing　it　for　millions。　You'll　learn　law　enough　to　look　after　your
own　property　when　I'm　out　o'　the　light；　and　you'll　have　to　be　solid
with　the　best　men　in　the　market　（they　are　useful　later）；　and　above
all；　you'll　have　to　stow　away　the　plain；　common；　sit…down…with…your
chin…on　your…elbows　book…learning。　Nothing　pays　like　that；　Harve；　
and　it's　bound　to　pay　more　and　more　each　year　in　our　country…in　
business　and　in　politics。　You'll　see。〃

〃There's　no　sugar　in　my　end　of　the　deal；〃　said　Harvey。　〃Four　years
at　college！　'Wish　I'd　chosen　the　valet　and　the　yacht！〃

〃Never　mind；　my　son；〃　Cheyne　insisted。　〃You're　investing　your
capital　where　it'll　bring　in　the　best　returns；　and　I　guess　you　won't
find　our　property　shrunk　any　when　you're　ready　to　take　hold。　Think
it　over；　and　let　me　know　in　the　morning。　Hurry！　We'll　be　late　for
supper！〃

As　this　was　a　business　talk；　there　was　no　need　for　Harvey　to　tell　his
mother　about　it；　and　Cheyne　naturally　took　the　same　point　of　view。
But　Mrs。　Cheyne　saw　and　feared；　and　was　a　little　jealous。　Her　boy；
who　rode　rough…shod　over　her；　was　gone；　and　in　his　stead　reigned　a
keen…faced　youth；　abnormally　silent；　who　addressed　most　of　his
conversation　to　his　father。　She　understood　it　was　business；　and
therefore　a　matter　beyond　her　premises。　If　she　had　any　doubts；　they
were　resolved　when　Cheyne　went　to　Boston　and　brought　back　a
new　diamond　marquise　ring。

〃What　have　you　two　been　doing　now？〃　she　said；　with　a　weak　little
smile；　as　she　turned　it　in　the　light。

〃Talking…just　talking；　Mama；　there's　nothing　mean　about　Harvey。〃

There　was　not。　The　boy　had　made　a　treaty　on　his　own　account。
Railroads；　he　explained　gravely；　interested　him　as　little　as　lumber；
real　estate；　or　mining。　What　his　soul　yearned　alter　was　control　of
his　father's　newly　purchased　sailing…ship。　If　that　could　be　promised
him　within　what　he　conceived　to　be　a　reasonable　time；　he；　for　his
part；　guaranteed　diligence　and　sobriety　at　college　for　four　or　five
years。　In　vacation　he　was　to　be　allowed　full　access　to　all　details
connected　with　the　lin~he　had　not　asked　more　than　two　thousand
questions　about　it；…from　his　father's　most　private　papers　in　the　safe
to　the　tug　in　San　Francisco　harbour。

〃It's　a　deal；〃　said　Cheyne　at　the　last。　〃You'll　alter　your　mind　twenty
times　before　you　leave　college；　o'　course；　but　if　you　take　hold　of　it　
in　proper　shape；　and　if　you　don't　tie　it　up　before　you're　twenty…three；　
I'll　make　the　thing　over　to　you。　How's　that；　Harve？〃

〃Nope；　never　pays　to　split　up　a　going　concern。　There's　too　much
competition　in　the　world　anyway；　and　Disko　says　'blood…kin　hev　to
stick　together。'　His　crowd　never　go　back　on　him。　That's　one　reason；
he　says；　why　they　make　such　big　fares。　Say；　the　We're　Here　goes
off　to　the　Georges　on　Monday。　They　don't　stay　long　ashore；　do
they？〃

〃Well；　we　ought　to　be　going；　too；　I　guess。　I've　left　my　business
hung　up　at　loose　ends　between　two　oceans；　and　it's　time　to　connect
again。　I　just　hate　to　do　it；　though；　haven't　had　a　holiday　like　this　for
twenty　years。〃

〃We　can't　go　without　seeing　Disko　off；〃　said　Harvey；　〃and
Monday's　Memorial　Day。　Let's　stay　over　that；　anyway。〃

〃What　is　this　memorial　business？　They　were　talking　about　it　at　the
boarding…house；〃　said　Cheyne　weakly。　He；　too；　was　not　anxious　to
spoil　the　golden　days。

〃Well；　as　far　as　I　can　make　out；　this　business　is　a　sort　of