captains courageous-第5部分

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I'm　a　bit　mixed　in　my　caount。〃

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

〃Forty…one；〃　said　Tom　Platt。　〃Beat　by　a　farmer；　Salters。　An'　you
sech　a　sailor；　too！〃

〃'Tweren't　fair　caount；〃　said　he；　stumbling　out　of　the　pen；　〃an'　I'm
stung　up　all　to　pieces。〃

His　thick　hands　were　puffy　and　mottled　purply　white。

〃Some　folks　will　find　strawberry…bottom；〃　said　Dan；　addressing　the
newly　risen　moon；　〃ef　they　hev　to　dive　fer　it；　seems　to　me。〃

〃An'　others；〃　said　Uncle　Salters；　〃eats　the　fat　o'　the　land　in　sloth；
an'　mocks　their　own　blood…kin。〃

〃Seat　ye！　Seat　ye！〃　a　voice　Harvey　had　not　heard　called　from　the
foc'sle。　Disko　Troop；　Tom　Platt；　Long　Jack；　and　Salters　went
forward　on　the　word。　Little　Penn　bent　above　his　square　deep…sea
reel　and　the　tangled　cod…lines；　Manuel　lay　down　full　length　on　the
deck；　and　Dan　dropped　into　the　hold；　where　Harvey　heard　him
banging　casks　with　a　hammer。

〃Salt；〃　he　said；　returning。　〃Soon　as　we're　through　supper　we　git　to
dressing…down。　You'll　pitch　to　Dad。　Tom　Platt　an'　Dad　they　stow
together；　an'　you'll　hear　'em　arguin'。　We're　second　ha'af；　you　an'　me
an'　Manuel　an'　Penn…the　youth　an'　beauty　o'　the　boat。〃

〃What's　the　good　of　that？〃　said　Harvey。　〃I'm　hungry。〃

〃They'll　be　through　in　a　minute。　Suff！　She　smells　good　to…night。
Dad　ships　a　good　cook　ef　he　do　suffer　with　his　brother。　It's　a　full
catch　today；　Aeneid　it？〃　He　pointed　at　the　pens　piled　high　with
cod。　〃What　water　did　ye　hev；　Manuel？〃

〃Twenty…fife　father；〃　said　the　Portuguese；　sleepily。　〃They　strike　on
good　an'　queek。　Some　day　I　show　you；　Harvey。〃

The　moon　was　beginning　to　walk　on　the　still　sea　before　the　elder
men　came　aft。　The　cook　had　no　need　to　cry　〃second　half。〃　Dan　and
Manuel　were　down　the　hatch　and　at　table　ere　Tom　Platt；　last　and
most　deliberate　of　the　elders；　had　finished　wiping　his　mouth　with
the　back　of　his　hand。　Harvey　followed　Penn；　and　sat　down　before　a
tin　pan　of　cod's　tongues　and　sounds；　mixed　with　scraps　of　pork　and
fried　potato；　a　loaf　of　hot　bread；　and　some　black　and　powerful
coffee。　Hungry　as　they　were；　they　waited　while　〃Pennsylvania〃
solemnly　asked　a　blessing。　Then　they　stoked　in　silence　till　Dan
drew　a　breath　over　his　tin　cup　and　demanded　of　Harvey　how　　he
felt。

〃'Most　full；　but　there's　just　room　for　another　piece。〃

The　cook　was　a　huge；　jet…black　negro；　and；　unlike　all　the　negroes
Harvey　had　met；　did　not　talk；　contenting　himself　with　smiles　and
dumb…show　invitations　to　eat　more。

〃See；　Harvey；〃　said　Dan；　rapping　with　his　fork　on　the　table；　〃it's
jest　as　I　said。　The　young　an'　handsome　men…like　me　an'　Pennsy　an'
you　an'　Manuel…we're　second　ha'af；　an'　we　eats　when　the　first　ha'af
are　through。　They're　the　old　fish；　an'　they're　mean　an'　humpy；　an'
their　stummicks　has　to　be　humoured；　so　they　come　first；　which
they　don't　deserve。　Aeneid　that　so；　doctor？〃

The　cook　nodded。

〃Can't　he　talk？〃　said　Harvey　in　a　whisper。

〃'Nough　to　get　along。　Not　much　o'　anything　we　know。　His　natural
tongue's　kinder　curious。　Comes　from　the　innards　of　Cape　Breton；
he　does；　where　the　farmers　speak　homemade　Scotch。　Cape
Breton's　full　o'　niggers　whose　folk　run　in　there　durin'　aour　war；　an'
they　talk　like　farmers…all　huffy…chuffy。〃

〃That　is　not　Scotch；〃　said　〃Pennsylvania。〃　〃That　is　Gaelic。　So　I
read　in　a　book。〃

〃Penn　reads　a　heap。　Most　of　what　he　says　is　so…'cep'　when　it　comes
to　a　caount　o'　fish…eh？〃

〃Does　your　father　just　let　them　say　how　many　they've　caught
without　checking　them？〃　said　Harvey。

〃Why；　yes。　Where's　the　sense　of　a　man　lyin'　fer　a　few　old　cod？〃

〃Was　a　man　once　lied　for　his　catch；〃　Manuel　put　in。　〃Lied　every
day。　Fife；　ten；　twenty…fife　more　fish　than　come　he　say　there　was。〃

〃Where　was　that？〃　said　Dan。　〃None　o'　aour　folk。〃

〃Frenchman　of　Anguille。〃

〃Ah！　Them　West　Shore　Frenchmen　don't　caount　anyway。　Stands　to
reason　they　can't　caount　Ef　you　run　acrost　any　of　their　soft　hooks；
Harvey；　you'll　know　why；〃　said　Dan；　with　an　awful　contempt。

〃Always　more　and　never　less；　
Every　time　we　come　to　dress；〃

Long　Jack　roared　down　the　hatch；　and　the　〃second　ha'af〃
scrambled　up　at　once。

The　shadow　of　the　masts　and　rigging；　with　the　never…furled
riding…sail；　rolled　to　and　fro　on　the　heaving　deck　in　the　moonlight；
and　the　pile　of　fish　by　the　stern　shone　like　a　dump　of　fluid　silver。
In　the　hold　there　were　tramplings　and　rumblings　where　Disko
Troop　and　Tom　Platt　moved　among　the　salt…bins。　Dan　passed
Harvey　a　pitchfork；　and　led　him　to　the　inboard　end　of　the　rough
table；　where　Uncle　Salters　was　drumming　impatiently　with　a
knife…haft。　A　tub　of　salt　water　lay　at　his　feet。

〃You　pitch　to　Dan　an'　Tom　Platt　down　the　hatch；　an'　take　keer
Uncle　Salters　don't　cut　yer　eye　out；〃　said　Dan；　swinging　himself
into　the　hold。　〃I'll　pass　salt　below。〃

Penn　and　Manuel　stood　knee　deep　among　cod　in　the　pen；
flourishing　drawn　knives。　Long　Jack；　a　basket　at　his　feet　and
mittens　on　his　hands；　faced　Uncle　Salters　at　the　table；　and　Harvey
stared　at　the　pitchfork　and　the　tub。

〃Hi！〃　shouted　Manuel；　stooping　to　the　fish；　and　bringing　one　up
with　a　finger　under…　its　gill　and　a　finger　in　its　eyes。　He　laid　it　on
the　edge　of　the　pen；　the　knife…blade　glimmered　with　a　sound　of
tearing；　and　the　fish；　slit　from　throat　to　vent；　with　a　nick　on　either
side　of　the　neck；　dropped　at　Long　Jack's　feet。

〃Hi！〃　said　Long　Jack；　with　a　scoop　of　his　mittened　hand。　The　cod's
liver　dropped　in　the　basket。　Another　wrench　and　scoop　sent　the
head　and　offal　flying；　and　the　empty　fish　slid　across　to　Uncle
Salters；　who　snorted　fiercely。　There　was　another　sound　of　tearing；
the　backbone　flew　over　the　bulwarks；　and　the　fish；　headless；
gutted；　and　open；　splashed　in　the　tub；　sending　the　salt　water　into
Harvey's　astonished　mouth。　After　the　first　yell；　the　men　were
silent。　The　cod　moved　along　as　though　they　were　alive；　and　long
ere　Harvey　had　ceased　wondering　at　the　miraculous　dexterity　of　it
all；　his　tub　was　full。

〃Pitch！〃　grunted　Uncle　Salters；　without　turning　his　head；　and
Harvey　pitched　the　fish　by　twos　and　threes　down　the　hatch。

〃Hi！　Pitch　'em　bunchy；〃　shouted　Dan。　〃Don't　scatter！

Uncle　Salters　is　the　best　splitter　in　the　fleet。　Watch　him　mind　his
book！〃

Indeed；　it　looked　a　little　as　though　the　round　uncle　were　cutting
magazine　pages　against　time。　Manuel's　body；　cramped　over　from
the　hips；　stayed　like　a　statue；　but　his　long　arms　grabbed　the　fish
without　ceasing。　Little　Penn　toiled　valiantly；　but　it　was　easy　to　see
he　was　weak。　Once　or　twice　Manuel　found　time　to　help　him
without　breaking　the　chain　of　supplies；　and　once　Manuel　howled
because　he　had　caught　his　finger　in　a　Frenchman's　hook。　These
hooks　are　made　of　soft　metal；　to　be　rebent　after　use；　but　the　cod
very　often　get　away　with　them　and　are　hooked　again　elsewhere；
and　that　is　one　of　the　many　reasons　why　the　Gloucester　boats
despise　the　Frenchmen。

Down　below；　the　rasping　sound　of　rough　salt　rubbed　on　rough
flesh　sounded　like　the　whirring　of　a　grindstonesteady　undertune
to　the　〃click…nick〃　of　knives　in　the　pen；　the　wrench　and　shloop　of
torn　heads；　dropped　liver；　and　flying　offal；　the　〃caraaah〃　of　Uncle
Salters's　knife　scooping　away　backbones；　and　the　flap　of　wet；　open
bodies　falling　into　the　tub。

At　the　end　of　an　hour　Harvey　would　have　given　the　world　to　rest；
for　fresh；　wet　cod　weigh　more　than　you　would　think；　and　his　back
ached　with　the　steady　pitching。　But　he　felt　for　the　first　time　in　his
life　that　he　was　one　of　the　working　gang　of　men；　took　pride　in　the
thought；　and　held　on　sullenly。

〃Knife　oh！〃　shouted　Uncle　Salters　at　last。　Penn　doubled　up；
gasping　among　the　fish；　Manuel　bowed　back　and　forth　to　supple
himself；　and　Long　Jack　leaned　over　the　bulwarks。　The　cook
appeared；　noiseless　as　a　black　shadow；　collected　a　mass　of
backbones　and　heads；　and　retreated。

〃Blood…ends　for　breakfast　an'　head…chowder；〃　said　Long　Jack；
smacking　his　lips。

〃Knife　oh！〃　repeated　Uncle　Salters；　waving　the　flat；　curved
splitter's　weapon。

〃Look　by　your　foot；　Harve；〃　cried　Dan　below。

Harvey　saw　half　a　dozen　knives　stuck　in　a　cleat　in　the　hatch
combing。　He　dealt　these　around；　taking　over　the　dulled　ones。

〃Water！〃　said　Disko　Troop。

〃Scuffle…butt's　for'ard　an'　the　dipper's　alongside。　Hurry；　Harve；〃
said　Dan。

He　was　back　in　a　minute　with　a　big　dipperful　of　stale　brown　water
which　tasted　like　nectar；　and　loosed　the　jaws　of　Disko　and　Tom
Platt。

〃These　are　cod；〃　said　Disko。　〃They　ain't　Damarskus　figs；　Tom
Platt；　nor　yet　silver　bars。　I've　told　you　that　ever　single　time　since
we've　sailed　together。〃

〃A　matter　o'　seven　seasons；〃　returned　Tom　Platt　coolly。　〃Good
stowin's　good　stowin'　all　the　same；　an'　there's　a　right　an'　a　wrong
way　o'　stowin'　ballast　even。　If　you'd　ever　seen　four　hundred　ton　o'
iron　set　into　the~〃

〃Hi！〃　With　a　yell　from　Manuel　the　work　began　again；　and　never
stopped　till　the　pen　was　empty。　The　instant　the　last　fish　was　down；
Disko　Troop　rolled　alt　to　the　cabin　with　his　brother；　Manuel　and
Long　Jack　went　forward；　Tom　Platt　only　waited　long　enough　to
slide　home　the　hatch　ere　he　too　disappeared。　In　half　a　minute
Harvey　heard　deep　snores　in　the　cabin；　and　he　was　staring　blankly
at　Dan　and　Penn。

〃I　did　a　little　better　that　time；　Danny；〃　said　Penn；　whose　eyelids
were　heavy　with　sleep。　〃But　I　think　it　is　my　duty　to　help　clean。〃

〃'Wouldn't　hev　your　conscience　fer　a　thousand　quintal；〃　said　Dan。
〃Turn　in；　Penn。　You've　no　call　to　do　boy's　work。　Draw　a　bucket；
Harvey。　Oh；　Penn；　dump　these　in　the　gurry…butt　'fore　you　sleep。
Kin　you　keep　awake　that　long？〃

Penn　took　up　the　heavy　basket　of　fish…livers；　emptied　them　into　a
cask　with　a　hinged　top　lashed　by　the　foc'sle；　then　he　too　dropped
out　of　sight　in　the　cabin。

〃Boys　clean　up　after　dressin'　down　an'　first　watch　in　ca'am　weather
is　boy's　watch　on　the　We're　Here。〃　Dan　sluiced　the　pen
energetically；　unshipped　the　table；　set　it　up　to　dry　in　the　moonlight；
ran　the　red　knife…blades　through　a　wad　of　oakum；　and　began　to
sharpen　them　on　a　tiny　grindstone；　as　Harvey　threw　offal　and
backbones　overboard　under　his　direction。

At　the　first　splash　a　silvery…white　ghost　rose　bolt　upright　from　the
oily　water　and　sighed　a　weird　whistling　sigh。　Harvey　started　back
with　a　shout；　but　Dan