captains courageous-第6部分

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oily　water　and　sighed　a　weird　whistling　sigh。　Harvey　started　back
with　a　shout；　but　Dan　only　laughed。

〃Grampus；〃　said　he。　〃Beggin'　fer　fish…heads。　They　up…eend　the　way
when　they're　hungry。　Breath　on　him　like　the　doleful　tombs；　hain't
he？〃　A　horrible　stench　of　decayed　fish　filled　the　air　as　the　pillar　of
white　sank；　and　the　water　bubbled　oilily。　〃Hain't　ye　never　seen　a
grampus　up…eend　before？　You'll　see　'em　by　hundreds　'fore　ye're
through。　Say；　it's　good　to　hev　a　boy　aboard　again。　Otto　was　too　old；
an'　a　Dutchy　at　that。　Him　an'　me　we　fought　consid'ble。　'Wouldn't
ha'　keered　fer　that　ef　he'd　hed　a　Christian　tongue　in　his　head。
Sleepy？〃

〃Dead　sleepy；〃　said　Harvey；　nodding　forward。

〃Mustn't　sleep　on　watch。　Rouse　up　an'　see　ef　our　anchor…light's
bright　an'　shinin'。　You're　on　watch　now；　Harve。〃

〃Pshaw！　What's　to　hurt　us？　'Bright's　day。　Sn…orrr！〃

〃Jest　when　things　happen；　Dad　says。　Fine　weather's　good　sleepin'；
an'　'fore　you　know；　mebbe；　you're　cut　in　two　by　a　liner；　an'
seventeen　brass…bound　officers；　all　gen'elmen；　lift　their　hand　to　it
that　your　lights　was　aout　an'　there　was　a　thick　fog。　Harve；　I've
kinder　took　to　you；　but　ef　you　nod　onet　more　I'll　lay　into　you　with　a
rope's　end。〃

The　moon；　who　sees　many　strange　things　on　the　Banks；　looked
down　on　a　slim　youth　in　knickerbockers　and　a　red　jersey；
staggering　around　the　cluttered　decks　of　a　seventy…ton　schooner；
while　behind　him；　waving　a　knotted　rope；　walked；　after　the　manner
of　an　executioner；　a　boy　who　yawned　and　nodded　between　the
blows　he　dealt。

The　lashed　wheel　groaned　and　kicked　softly；　the　riding…sail　slatted
a　little　in　the　shifts　of　the　light　wind；　the　windlass　creaked；　and　the
miserable　procession　continued。　Harvey　expostulated；　threatened；
whimpered；　and　at　last　wept　outright；　while　Dan；　the　words
clotting　on　his　tongue；　spoke　of　the　beauty　of　watchfulness　and
slashed　away　with　the　rope's　end；　punishing　the　dories　as　often　as
he　hit　Harvey。　At　last　the　clock　in　the　cabin　struck　ten；　and　upon
the　tenth　stroke　little　Penn　crept　on　deck。　He　found　two　boys　in
two　tumbled　heaps　side　by　side　on　the　main　hatch；　so　deeply
asleep　that　he　actually　rolled　them　to　their　berths。

CHAPTER　　III

It　was　the　forty…fathom　slumber　that　clears　the　soul　and　eye　and
heart；　and　sends　you　to　breakfast　ravening。　They　emptied　a　big　tin
dish　of　juicy　fragments　of　fish…the　blood…ends　the　cook　had
collected　overnight。　They　cleaned　up　the　plates　and　pans　of　the
elder　mess；　who　were　out　fishing；　sliced　pork　for　the　midday　meal；
swabbed　down　the　foc'sle；　filled　the　lamps；　drew　coal　and　water
for　the　cook；　and　investigated　the　fore…hold；　where　the　boat's　stores
were　stacked。　It　was　another　perfect　day…soft；　mild；　and　clear；　and
Harvey　breathed　to　the　very　bottom　of　his　lungs。

More　schooners　had　crept　up　in　the　night；　and　the　long　blue　seas
were　full　of　sails　and　dories。　Far　away　on　the　horizon；　the　smoke　of
some　liner；　her　hull　invisible；　smudged　the　blue；　and　to　eastward　a
big　ship's　top…gallant　sails；　just　lifting；　made　a　square　nick　in　it。
Disko　Troop　was　smoking　by　the　roof　of　the　cabin~ne　eye　on　the
craft　around；　and　the　other　on　the　little　fly　at　the　main…mast…head。

〃When　Dad　kerfiummoxes　that　way；〃　said　Dan　in　a　whisper；　〃he's
doin'　some　high…line　thinkin'　fer　all　hands。　I'll　lay　my　wage　an'
share　we'll　make　berth　soon。　Dad　he　knows　the　cod；　an'　the　Fleet
they　know　Dad　knows。　'See　'em　comm'　up　one　by　one；　lookin'　fer
nothin'　in　particular；　o'　course；　but　scrowgin'　on　us　all　the　time？
There's　the　Prince　Leboo；　she's　a　Chat…ham　boat。　She's　crep'　up
sence　last　night。　An'　see　that　big　one　with　a　patch　in　her　foresail　an'
a　new　jib？　She's　the　Carrie　Pitman　from　West　Chat…ham。　She　won't
keep　her　canvas　long　onless　her　luck's　changed　since　last　season。
She　don't　do　much　'cep'　drift。　There　ain't　an　anchor　made　'II　hold
her。　。　。　。　When　the　smoke　puffs　up　in　little　rings　like　that；　Dad's
studyin'　the　fish。　Ef　we　speak　to　him　now；　he'll　git　mad。　Las'　time　I
did；　he　jest　took　an'　hove　a　boot　at　me。〃

Disko　Troop　stared　forward；　the　pipe　between　his　teeth；　with　eyes
that　saw　nothing。　As　his　son　said；　he　was　studying　the　fish…pitting
his　knowledge　and　experience　on　the　Banks　against　the　roving　cod
in　his　own　sea。　He　accepted　the　presence　of　the　inquisitive
schooners　on　the　horizon　as　a　compliment　to　his　powers。　But　now
that　it　was　paid；　he　wished　to　draw　away　and　make　his　berth　alone；
till　it　was　time　to　go　up　to　the　Virgin　and　fish　in　the　streets　of　that
roaring　town　upon　the　waters。　So　Disko　Troop　thought　of　recent
weather；　and　gales；　currents；　food…supplies；　and　other　domestic
arrangements；　from　the　point　of　view　of　a　twenty…pound　cod；　was；
in　fact；　for　an　hour　a　cod　himself；　and　looked　remarkably　like　one。
Then　he　removed　the　pipe　from　his　teeth。

〃Dad；〃　said　Dan；　〃we've　done　our　chores。　Can't　we　go　overside　a
piece？　It's　good　catchin'　weather。〃

〃Not　in　that　cherry…coloured　rig　ner　them　ha'af　baked　brown　shoes。
Give　him　suthin'　fit　to　wear。〃

〃Dad's　pleased…that　settles　it；〃　said　Dan；　delightedly；　dragging
Harvey　into　the　cabin；　while　Troop　pitched　a　key　down　the　steps。
〃Dad　keeps　my　spare　rig　where　he　kin　overhaul　it；　'cause　Ma　sez
I'm　keerless。〃　He　rummaged　through　a　locker；　and　in　less　than
three　minutes　Harvey　was　adorned　with　fisherman's　rubber　boots
that　came　half　up　his　thigh；　a　heavy　blue　jersey　well　darned　at　the
elbows；　a　pair　of　nippers；　and　a　sou'wester。

〃Naow　ye　look　somethin'　like；〃　said　Dan。　〃Hurry！〃

〃Keep　nigh　an'　handy；〃　said　Troop　〃an'　don't　go　visitin'　racund　the
Fleet。　If　any　one　asks　you　what　I'm　cal'latin'　to　do；　speak　the
truth…fer　ye　don't　know。〃

A　little　red　dory；　labelled　Hattie　S。；　lay　astern　of　the　schooner。　Dan
hauled　in　the　painter；　and　dropped　lightly　on　to　the　bottom　boards；
while　Harvey　tumbled　clumsily　after。

〃That's　no　way　o'　gettin'　into　a　boat；〃　said　Dan。　〃Ef　there　was　any
sea　you'd　go　to　the　bottom；　sure。　You　got　to　learn　to　meet　her。〃

Dan　fitted　the　thole…pins；　took　the　forward　thwart　and　watched
Harvey's　work。　The　boy　had　rowed；　in　a　lady…like　fashion；　on　the
Adirondack　ponds；　but　there　is　a　difference　between　squeaking
pins　and　well…balanced　ruflocks…light　sculls　and　stubby；　eight…foot
sea…oars。　They　stuck　in　the　gentle　swell；　and　Harvey　grunted。

〃Short！　Row　short！〃　said　Dan。　〃Ef　you　cramp　your　oar　in　any　kind
o'　sea　you're　liable　to　turn　her　over。　Ain't　she　a　daisy？　Mine；　too。〃

The　little　dory　was　specklessly　clean。　In　her　bows　lay　a　tiny
anchor；　two　jugs　of　water；　and　some　seventy　fathoms　of　thin；
brown　dory…roding。　A　tin　dinner…horn　rested　in　cleats　just　under
Harvey's　right　hand；　beside　an　ugly…looking　maul；　a　short　gaff；　and
a　shorter　wooden　stick。　A　couple　of　lin~；　with　very　heavy　leads
and　double　cod…hooks；　all　neatly　coiled　on　square　reels；　were　stuck
in　their　place　by　the　gunwale。

〃Where's　the　sail　and　mast？〃　said　Harvey；　for　his　hands　were
beginning　to　blister。

Dan　chuckled。　〃Ye　don't　sail　fishin'…dories　much。　Ye　pull；　but　ye
needn't　pull　so　hard。　Don't　you　wish　you　owned　her？〃

〃Well；　I　gtiess　my　father　might　give　me　one　or　two　if　I　asked　'em；〃
Harvey　replied。　He　had　been　too　busy　to　think　much　of　his　family
till　then。

〃That's　so。　I　forgot　your　dad's　a　millionaire。　You　don't　act
rnillionary　any；　naow。　But　a　dory　an'　craft　an'　gear〃…Dan　spoke　as
though　she　were　a　whaleboat　…〃costs　a　heap。　Think　your　dad　'u'd
give　you　one　fer…fer　a　pet　like？〃

〃Shouldn't　wonder。　It　would　be　'most　the　ouly　thing　I　haven't　stuck
him　for　yet。〃

'Must　be　an　expensive　kinder　kid　to　home。　Don't　slitheroo　thet
way；　Harve。　Short's　the　trick；　because　no　sea's　ever　dead　still；　an'
the　swells　'il~〃

Crack！　The　loom　of　the　oar　kicked　Harvey　under　the　chin　and
knocked　him　backwards。

〃That　was　what　I　was　goin'　to　say。　I　hed　to　learn　too；　but　I　wasn't
more　than　eight　years　old　when　I　got　my　schoolin'。〃

Harvey　regained　his　seat　with　aching　jaws　and　a　frown。

〃No　good　gettin'　mad　at　things；　Dad　says。　It's　our　own　fault　ef　we
can't　handle　'em；　he　says。　Le's　try　here。　Manuel　'll　give　us　the
water。〃

The　〃Portugee〃　was　rocking　fully　a　mile　away；　but　when　Dan
up…ended　an　oar　he　waved　his　left　arm　three　times。

〃Thirty　fathom；〃　said　Dan；　stringing　a　salt　clam　on　to　the　hook。
〃Over　with　the　doughboys。　Bait　same's　I　do；　Harvey；　an'　don't　snarl
your　reel。〃

Dan's　line　was　out　long　before　Harvey　had　mastered　the　mystery　of
baiting　and　heaving　out　the　leads。　The　dory　drifted　along　easily。　It
was　not　worth　while　to　anchor　till　they　were　sure　of　good　ground。

〃Here　we　come！〃　Dan　shouted；　and　a　shower　of　spray　rattled　on
Harvey's　shoulders　as　a　big　cod　flapped　and　kicked　alongside。
〃Muckie；　Harvey；　muckle！　Under　your　hand！　Onick！〃

Evidently　〃muckle〃　could　not　be　the　dinner…horn；　so　Harvey　passed
over　the　maul；　and　Dan　scientifically　stunned　the　fish　before　he
pulled　it　inboard；　and　wrenched　out　the　hook　with　the　short
wooden　stick　he　called　a　〃go~stick。〃　Then　Harvey　felt　a　tug；　and
pulled　up　zealously。

〃Why；　these　are　strawberries！〃　he　shouted。　〃Look！〃

The　hook　had　fouled　among　a　bunch　of　strawberries；　red　on　one
side　and　white　on　the　other…perfect　reproductions　of　the　land　fruit；
except　that　there　were　no　leaves；　and　the　stem　was　all　pipy　and
slimy。

〃Don't　tech　'em。　Slat　'em　off。　Don't

The　warning　came　too　late。　Harvey　had　picked　them　from　the
hook；　and　was　admiring　them。

〃Ouch！〃　he　cried；　for　his　fingers　throbbed　as　though　he　had
grasped　many　nettles。

〃Nnow　ye　know　what　strawberry…bottom　means。　Nothin'　'cep'　fish
should　be　teched　with　the　naked　fingers；　Dad　says。　Slat　'em　off
agin　the　guunel；　an'　bait　up；　Harve。　Lookin'　won't　help　any。　It's　all
in　the　wages。〃

Harvey　smiled　at　the　thought　of　his　ten　and　a　half　dollars　a　month；
and　wondered　what　his　mother　would　say　if　she　could　see　him
hanging　over　the　edge　of　a　fishing…dory　in　mid…ocean。　She　suffered
agonies　whenever　he　went　out　on　Saranac　Lake；　and；　by　the　way；
Harvey　remembered　distinctly　that　he　used　to　laugh　at　her
annieties。　Suddenly　the　line　flashed　through　his　hand；　stinging
even　through　the　〃nippers；〃　the　woolen　cirdets　supposed　to　protect
it。

〃He's　a　logy。　Give　him　room　accordin'　to　his　strength；〃　cried　Dan。
〃I'll