captains courageous-第4部分

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quarter…deck。

〃You　an'　me　we'll　sluice　that　out　when　they're　through。　'Send　we'll
hev　full　pens　to…night！　I've　seen　her　down　ha'af　a　foot　with　fish
waitin'　to　clean；　an'　we　stood　to　the　tables　till　we　was　splittin'
ourselves　instid　o'　them；　we　was　so　sleepy。　Yes；　they're　comm'　in
naow。〃　Dan　looked　over　the　low　bulwarks　at　half　a　dozen　dories
rowing　towards　them　over　the　shining；　silky　sea。

〃I've　never　seen　the　sea　from　so　low　down；〃　said　Harvey。　〃It's　fine。〃

The　low　sun　made　the　water　all　purple　and　pinkish；　with　golden
lights　on　the　barrels　of　the　long　swells；　and　blue　and　green
mackerel　shades　in　the　hollows。　Each　schooner　in　sight　seemed　to
be　pulling　her　dories　towards　her　by　invisible　strings；　and　the　little
black　figures　in　the　tiny　boats　pulled　like　clockwork　toys。　〃They've
struck　on　good；〃　said　Dan；　between　his　half…shut　eyes。　〃Manuel
hain't　room　fer　another　fish。　Low　ez　a　lily…pad　in　still　water；
Aeneid　he？〃

〃Which　is　Manuel？　I　don't　see　how　you　can　tell　'em　'way　off；　as
you　do。〃

〃Last　boat　to　the　south'ard。　He　fund　you　last　night；〃　said　Dan；
pointing。　〃Manuel　rows　Portugoosey；　ye　can't　mistake　him。　East　o'
him…he's　a　heap　better'n　he　rows…is　Pennsylvania。　Loaded　with
saleratus；　by　the　looks　of　him。　East　o'　him…see　how　pretty　they
string　out　all　along…with　the　humpy　shoulders；　is　Long　Jack。　He's　a
Galway　man　inhabitin'　South　Boston；　where　they　all　live　mostly；
an'　mostly　them　Galway　men　are　good　in　a　boat。　North；　away
yonder…you'll　hear　him　tune　up　in　a　minute　is　Tom　Platt。　Man…
o'…war's　man　he　was　on　the　old　Ohio　first　of　our　navy；　he　says；　to
go　araound　the　Horn。　He　never　talks　of　much　else；　'cept　when　he
sings；　but　he　has　fair　fishin'　luck。　There！　What　did　I　tell　you？〃

A　melodious　bellow　stole　across　the　water　from　the　northern　dory。
Harvey　heard　something　about　somebody's　hands　and　feet　being
cold；　and　then：

〃Bring　forth　the　chart；　the　doleful　chart；　
See　where　them　mountings　meet！　
The　clouds　are　thick　around　their　heads；　
The　mists　around　their　feet。〃

〃Full　boat；〃　said　Dan；　with　a　chuckle。　〃II　he　give　us　'0　Captain'　it's
topping'　too！〃

The　bellow　continued：

〃And　naow　to　thee；　0　Capting；　
Most　earnestly　I　pray；　
That　they　shall　never　bury　me　
In　church　or　cloister　gray。〃

〃Double　game　for　Tom　Platt。　He'll　tell　you　all　about　the　old　Ohio
tomorrow。　'See　that　blue　dory　behind　him？　He's　my　uncle；…Dad's
own　brother；…an'　ef　there's　any　bad　luck　loose　on　the　Banks　she'll
fetch　up　agin　Uncle　Salters；　sure。　Look　how　tender　he's　rowin'。　I'll
lay　my　wage　and　share　he's　the　only　man　stung　up　to…day…an'　he's
stung　up　good。〃

〃What'll　sting　him？〃　said　Harvey；　getting　interested。

〃Strawberries；　mostly。　Pumpkins；　sometimes；　an'　sometimes
lemons　an'　cucumbers。　Yes；　he's　stung　up　from　his　elbows　down。
That　man's　luck's　perfectly　paralyzin'。　Naow　we'll　take　a…bolt　o'　the
tackles　an'　hist　'em　in。　Is　it　true　what　you　told　me　jest　now；　that　you
never　done　a　hand's　turn　o'　work　in　all　your　born　life？　Must　feel
kinder　awful；　don't　it？〃

〃I'm　going　to　try　to　work；　anyway；〃　Harvey　replied　stoutly。　〃Only
it's　all　dead　new。〃

〃Lay　a…holt　o'　that　tackle；　then。　Behind　ye！〃

Harvey　grabbed　at　a　rope　and　long　iron　hook　dangling　from　one　of
the　stays　of　the　mainmast；　while　Dan　pulled　down　another　that　ran
from　something　he　called　a　'topping…lift；〃　as　Manuel　drew
alongside　in　his　loaded　dory。　The　Portuguese　smiled　a　brilliant
smile　that　Harvey　learned　to　know　well　later；　and　with　a
short…handled　fork　began　to　throw　fish　into　the　pen　on　deck。　〃Two
hundred　and　thirty…one；〃　he　shouted。

〃Give　him　the　hook；〃　said　Dan；　and　Harvey　ran　it　into　Manuel's
hands。　He　slipped　it　through　a　loop　of　rope　at　the　dory's　bow；
caught　Dan's　tackle；　hooked　it　to　the　stern…becket；　and　clambered
into　the　schooner。

〃Pull！〃　shouted　Dan；　and　Harvey　pulled；　astonished　to　find　how
easily　the　dory　rose。

〃Hold　on；　she　don't　nest　in　the　crosstrees！〃　Dan　laughed；　and
Harvey　held　on；　for　the　boat　lay　in　the　air　above　his　head。

〃Lower　away；〃　Dan　shouted；　and　as　Harvey　lowered；　Dan　swayed
the　light　boat　with　one　hand　till　it　landed　softly　just　behind　the
mainmast。　〃They　don't　weigh　nothin'　empty。　The　was　right　smart
fer　a　passenger。

There's　more　trick　to　it　in　a　sea…way。〃

〃Ah　ha！〃　said　Manuel；　holding　out　a　brown　hand。　〃You　are　some
pretty　well　now？　This　time　last　night　the　fish　they　fish　for　you。
Now　you　fish　for　fish。。　Eh；　wha…at？〃

〃I'm…I'm　ever　so　grateful；〃　Harvey　stammered；　and　his　unfortunate
hand　stole　to　his　pocket　once　more；　but　he　remembered　that　he　had
no　money　to　offer。　When　he　knew　Manuel　better　the　mere　thought
of　the　mistake　he　might　have　made　would　cover　him　with　hot；
uneasy　blushes　in　his　bunk。

〃There　is　no　to　be　thankful　for　to　me！〃　said　Manuel。　〃How　shall　I
leave　you　dreeft；　dreeft　all　around　the　Banks？　Now　you　are　a
fisherman　eh；　wha…at？　Ouh！　Auh！〃　He　bent　backward　and　forward
stiffly　from　the　hips　to　get　the　kinks　out　of　himself。

〃I　have　not　cleaned　boat　to…day。　Too　busy。　They　struck　on　queek。
Danny；　my　son；　clean　for　me。〃

Harvey　moved　forward　at　once。　Here　was　something　he　could　do
for　the　man　who　had　saved　his　life。

Dan　threw　him　a　swab；　and　he　leaned　over　the　dory；　mopping　up
the　slime　clumsily；　but　with　great　good…will。　〃Hike　out　the
foot…boards；　they　slide　in　them　grooves；〃　said　Dan。　〃Swab　'em　an'
lay　'em　down。　Never　let　a　foot…board　jam。　Ye　may　want　her　bad
some　day。　Here's　Long　Jack。〃

A　stream　of　glittering　fish　flew　into　the　pen　from　a　dory　alongside。

〃Manuel；　you　take　the　tackle。　I'll　fix　the　tables。　Harvey；　clear
Manuel's　boat。　Long　Jack's　nestin'　on　the　top　of　her。〃

Harvey　looked　up　from　his　swabbing　at　the　bottom　of　another　dory
just　above　his　head。

〃Jest　like　the　Injian　puzzle…boxes；　ain't　they？〃　said　Dan；　as　the　one
boat　dropped　into　the　other。

〃Takes　to　ut　like　a　duck　to　water；〃　said　Long　Jack；　a
grizzly…chinned；　long…lipped　Galway　man；　bending　to　and　fro
exactly　as　Manuel　had　done。　Disko　in　the　cabin　growled　up　the
hatchway；　and　they　could　hear　him　suck　his　pencil。

〃Wan　hunder　an'　forty…nine　an'　a　half…bad　luck　to　ye；　Discobolus！〃
said　Long　Jack。　〃I'm　murderin'　meself　to　fill　your　pockuts。　Slate　ut　
for　a　bad　catch。　The　Portugee　has　bate　me。〃

Whack　came　another　dory　alongside；　and　more　fish　shot　into　the
pen。

〃Two　hundred　and　three。　let's　look　at　the　passenger！〃　The　speaker
was　even　larger　than　the　Galway　man；　and　his　face　was　made
curious　by　a　purple　Cut　running　slant…ways　from　his　left　eye　to　the
right　corner　of　his　mouth。

Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　Harvey　swabbed　each　dory　as　it
came　down；　pulled　out　the　foot…boards；　and　laid　them　in　the
bottom　of　the　boat。

〃He's　caught　on　good；〃　said　the　scarred　man；　who　was　Toni　Platt；
watching　him　critically。　〃There　are　two　ways　o'　doin'　everything。
One's　fisher…fashion…any　end　first　an；　a　slippery　hitch　over　all…an'
the　other's

〃What　we　did　on　the　old　Ohio！〃　Dan　interrupted；　brushing　into　the
knot　of　men　with　a　long　board　on　legs。　〃Get　out　o'　here；　Tom　Platt；
an'　leave　me　fix　the　tables。〃

He　jammed　one　end　of　the　board　into　two　nicks　in　the　bulwarks；
kicked　out　the　leg；　and　ducked　just　in　time　to　avoid　a　swinging
blow　from　the　man…o'…war's　man。

〃An'　they　did　that　on　the　Ohio；　too；　Danny。　See？〃　said　Tom　Platt；
laughing。

〃Guess　they　was　swivel…eyed；　then；　fer　it　didn't　git　home；　and　I
know　who'll　find　his　boots　on　the　main…truck　ef　he　don't　leave　us
alone。　Haul　ahead！　I'm　busy；　can't　ye　see？〃

〃Danny；　ye　lie　on　the　cable　an'　sleep　all　day；〃　said　Long　Jack。
〃You're　the　hoight　av　impidence；　an'　I'm　persuaded　ye'll　corrupt
our　supercargo　in　a　week。〃

〃His　name's　Harvey；〃　said　Dan；　waving　two　strangely　shaped
knives；　〃an'　he'll　be　worth　five　of　any　Sou'　Boston　clam…digger　'fore
long。〃　He　laid　the　knives　tastefully　on　the　table；　cocked　his　head
on　one　side；　and　admired　the　effect

〃I　think　it's　forty…two；〃　said　a　small　voice　overside；　and　there　was　a
roar　of　laughter　as　another　voice　answered；　〃Then　my　luck's　turned
fer　onct；　'caze　I'm　forty…five；　though　I　be　stung　outer　all　shape。〃

〃Forty…two　or　forty…five。　I've　lost　count；〃　the　small　voice　said。

〃It's　Penn　an'　Uncle　Salters　caountin'　catch。　This　beats　the　circus
any　　day；〃　said　Dan。　〃Jest　look　at　'em！〃

〃Come　income　in！〃　roared　Long　Jack。　〃It's。　wet　out　yondher；
children。〃

〃Forty…two；　ye　said。〃　This　was　Uncle　Salters。

〃I'll　count　again；　then；〃　the　voice　replied　meekly。　The　two　dories
swung　together　and　bunted　into　the　schooner's　side。

〃Patience　o'　Jerusalem！〃　snapped　Uncle　Salters；　backing　water
with　a　splash。　〃What　possest　a　farmer　like　you　to　set　foot　in　a　boat
beats　me。　You've　nigh　stove　me　all　up。〃

〃I　am　sorry；　Mr。　Salters。　I　came　to　sea　on　account　of　nervous
dyspepsia。　You　advised　me；　I　think。〃

〃You　an'　your　nervis　dyspepsy　be　drowned　in　the　Whale…hole；〃
roared　Uncle　Salters；　a　fat　and　tubby　little　man。　〃You're　comin'
down　on　me　agin。　Did　ye　say　forty…two　or　forty…five？〃

〃I've　forgotten；　Mr。　Salters。　let's　count。〃

〃Don't　see　as　it　could　be　forty…five。　I'm　forty…five；〃　said　Uncle
Salters。　〃You　count　keerful；　Penn。〃

Disko　Troop　came　out　of　the　cabin。　〃Salters；　you　pitch　your　fish　in
naow　at　once；〃　he　said　in　the　tone　of　authority。

〃Don't　spile　the　catch；　Dad；〃　Dan　murmured。　〃Them　two　are　on'y
jest　beginnin'。〃

〃Mother　av　delight！　He's　forkin'　them　wan　by　wan；〃　howled　Long
Jack；　as　Uncle　Salters　got　to　work　laboriously；　the　little　man　in　the
other　dory　counting　a　line　of　notches　on　the　gunwale。

〃That　was　last　week's　catch；〃　he　said；　looking　up　plaintively；　his
forefinger　where　he　had　left　off。

Manuel　nudged　Dan；　who　darted　to　the　after…tackle；　and；　leaning
far　overside；　slipped　the　hook　into　the　stern…rope　as　Manuel　made
her　fast　forward。　The　others　pulled　gallantly　and　swung　the　boat
in…man；　fish；　and　all。

〃One；　two；　four…nine；〃　said　Tom　Platt；　counting　with　a　practised
eye。　〃Forty…seven。　Penn；　you're　it！〃　Dan　let　the　after…tackle　run；　and
slid　him　out　of　the　stern　on　to　the　deck　amid　a　torrent　of　his　own
fish。

〃Hold　on！〃　roared　Uncle　Salters；　bobbing　by　the　waist。　〃Hold　on；
I'm　a　bit　mixed　in　my　caount。〃

He　had　no　time　to　protest；　but　was　hove　inboard　and　treated　like
〃Pennsy