captains courageous-第7部分

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it。

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

〃No；　you　won't；〃　Harvey　snapped；　as　he　hung　on　to　the　line。　〃It's
my　first　fish。　I~is　it　a　whale？〃

〃Halibut；　mebbe。〃　Dan　peered　down　into　the　water　alongside；　and
flourished　the　big　〃muckle；〃　ready　for　all　chances。　Something
white　and　oval　flickered　and　fluttered　through　the　green。　〃I'll　lay
my　wage　an'　share　he's　over　a　hundred。　Are　you　so　everlastin'
anxious　to　land　him　alone？〃

Harvey's　knuckles　were　raw　and　bleeding　where　they　had　been
hanged　against　the　gunwale；　his　face　was　purple…blue　between
excitement　and　exertion；　he　dripped　with　sweat；　and　was
half…blinded　from　staring　at　the　circling　sunlit　ripples　about　the
swiftly　moving　line。　The　boys　were　tired　long　ere　the　halibut；　who
took　charge　of　them　and　the　dory　for　the　next　twenty　minutes。　But
the　big　flat　fish　was　gaffed　and　hauled　in　at　last。

〃Beginner's　luck；〃　said　Dan；　wiping　his　forehead。　〃He'~　all　of　a
hundred。〃

Harvey　looked　at　the　huge　gray…and…mottled　creature　with
unspeakable　pride。　He　had　seen　halibut　many　times　on　marble
slabs　ashore；　but　it　had　never　occurred　to　him　to　ask　how　they
came　inland。　Now　he　knew；　and　every　inch　of　his　body　ached　with
fatigue。

〃Ef　Dad　was　along；〃　said　Dan；　hauling　up；　〃he'd　read　the　signs
plain's　print。　The　fish　are　runnin'　smaller　an'　smaller；　an'　you've
took　'baout　as　logy　a　halibut's　we're　apt　to　find　this　trip。　Yesterday's
catch…did　ye　notice　it？…was　all　big　fish　an'　no　halibut。　Dad　he'd　read
them　signs　right　off。　Dad　says　everythin'　on　the　Banks　is　signs；　an'
can　be　read　wrong　er　right。　Dad's　deeper'n　the　Whale…hole。〃

Even　as　he　spoke　some　one　fired　a　pistol　on　the　We're　Here；　and　a
potato…basket　was　run　up　in　the　fore…rigging。

〃What　did　I　say；　naow？　That's　the　call　fer　the　whole　crowd。　Dad's
onter　something；　er　he'd　never　break　fishin'　this　time　o'　day。　Reel
up；　Harve；　an'　we'll　pull　back。〃

They　were　to　windward　of　the　schooner；　just　ready　to　flirt　the　dory
over　the　still　sea；　when　sounds　of　woe　half　a　mile　off　led　them　to
Penn；　who　was　careering　around　a　fixed　point　for　all　the　world　like
a　gigantic　water…bug。　The　little　man　backed　away　and　came　down
again　with　enormous　energy；　but　at　the　end　of　each　maneuver　his
dory　swung　round　and　snubbed　herself　on　her　rope。

〃We'll　hev　to　help　him；　else　he'll　root　an'　seed　here；〃　said　Dan。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　Harvey。　This　was　a　new　world；　where　he
could　not　lay　down　the　law　to　his　elders；　but　had　to　ask　questions
humbly。　And　the　sea　was　horribly　big　and　unexcited。

〃Anchor's　fouled。　Penn's　always　losing　'em。　Lost　two　this　trip
a'ready…on　sandy　bottom　too…an'　Dad　says　next　one　he　loses；　sure's
fishin'；　he'll　give　him　the　kelleg。　That　'u'd　break　Penn's　heart。〃

〃What's　a　'kelleg'？〃　said　Harvey；　who　had　a　vague　idea　it　might　be
some　kind　of　marine　torture；　like　keel…hauling　in　the　storybooks。

〃Big　stone　instid　of　an　anchor。　You　kin　see　a　kelleg　ridin'　in　the
bows　fur's　you　can　see　a　dory；　an'　all　the　fleet　knows　what　it
means。　They'd　guy　him　dreadful。　Penn　couldn't　stand　that　no
more'n　a　dog　with　a　dipper　to　his　tail。　He's　so　everlastin'　sensitive。
Hello；　Penn！　Stuck　again？　Don't　try　any　more　o'　your　patents。
Come　up　on　her；　and　keep　your　rodin'　straight　up　an'　down。〃

〃It　doesn't　move；〃　said　the　little　man；　panting。　〃It　doesn't　move　at
all；　and　instead　I　tried　everything。〃

〃What's　all　this　hurrah's…nest　for'ard？〃　said　Dan；　pointing　to　a　wild
tangle　of　spare　oars　and　dory…roding；　all　matted　together　by　the
hand　of　inexperience。

〃Oh；　that；〃　said　Penn　proudly；　〃is　a　Spanish　windlass。　Mr。　Salters
showed　me　how　to　make　it；　but　even　that　doesn't　move　her。〃

Dan　bent　low　over　the　gunwale　to　hide　a　smile；　twitched　once　or
twice　on　the　roding；　and；　behold；　the　anchor　drew　at　once。

〃Haul　up；　Penn；〃　he　said　laughing；　〃er　she'll　git　stuck　again。

They　left　him　regarding　the　weed…hung　flukes　of　the　little　anchor
with　big；　pathetic　blue　eyes；　and　thanking　them　profusely。

　〃Oh；　say；　while　I　think　of　it；　Harve；〃　said　Dan　when　they　were　out
of　ear…shot；　〃Penn　ain't　quite　all　caulked。

He　ain't　nowise　dangerous；　but　his　mind's　give　out。

See？〃

　〃Is　that　so；　or　is　it　one　of　your　father's　judgments？〃

Harvey　asked　as　he　bent　to　his　oars。　He　felt　he　was　learning　to
handle　them　more　easily。

　〃Dad　ain't　mistook　this　time。　Penn's　a　sure　'nuff　loony。

No；　he　ain't　thet　exactly；　so　much　ez　a　harmless　ijut。　It　was　this
way　（you're　rowin'　quite　so；　Harve）；　an'　I　　tell　you　'cause　it's　right
you　orter　know。　He　was　a　Moravian　preacher　once。　Jacob　Boiler
wuz　his　name；　Dad　told　me；　an'　he　lived　with　his　wife　an'　four
children　somewheres　out　Pennsylvania　way。　Well；　Penn　he　took
his　folks　along　to　a　Moravian　meetin'camp…meetin'　most　like…an'
they　stayed　over　jest　one　night　in　Johns…　town。　You've　heered　talk
o'　Johnstown？〃

　Harvey　considered。　〃Yes；　I　have。　But　I　don't　know　why。　It　sticks　in
my　head　same　as　Ashtabula。〃

　〃Both　was　big　accidents…thet's　why；　Harve。　Well；　that　one　single
night　Penn　and　his　folks　was　to　the　hotel　Johnstown　was　wiped
out。　'Dam　bust　an'　flooded　her；　an'　the　houses　struck　adrift　an'
bumped　into　each　other　an'　sunk。　I've　seen　the　pictures；　an'　they're
dretful。Penn　he　saw　his　folk　drowned　all'n　a　heap　'fore　he　rightly　
knew　what　was　comin'。　His　mind　give　out　from　that　on。　He　
mistrusted　somethin'　hed　happened　up　to　Johnstown；　but　for　the　
poor　life　of　him　he　couldn't　remember　what；　an'　he　jest　drifted　araound
smilin'　an'　wonderin'。　He　didn't　know　what　he　was；　nor　yit　what
he　hed　bin；　an'　thet　way　he　run　agin　Uncle　Salters；　who　was　visitin'
'n　Allegheny　City。　Ha'af　my　mother's　folks　they　live　scattered
inside　o'　Pennsylvania；　an'　Uncle　Salters　he　visits　araound　winters。
Uncle　Salters　he　kinder　adopted　Penn；　well　knowin'　what　his
trouble　wuz；　an'　he　brought　him　East；　an'　he　give　him　work　on　his
farm。'；　　〃Why；　I　heard　him　calling　Penn　a　farmer　last　night　when
the　boats　bumped。　Is　your　Uncle　Salters　a　farmer？〃

　〃Farmer！〃　shouted　Dan。　〃There　ain't　water　enough　'tween　here　an'
Hatt'rus　to　wash　the　furrer…mold　off'n　his　boots。　He's　jest　everlastin'
farmer。　Why；　Harve；　I've　seen　thet　man　hitch　up　a　bucket；　long
towards　sundown；　an'　set　twiddlin'　the　spigot　to　the　scuttle…butt
same's　ef　'twas　a　cow's　bag。　He's　thet　much　farmer。　Well；　Penn　an'
he　they　ran　the　farm…up　Exeter　way　'twur。　Uncle　Salters　he　sold　it
this　spring　to　a　jay　from　Boston　as　wanted　to　build　a
summer…haouse；　an'　he　got　a　heap　for　it。　Well；　them　two　loonies
scratched　along　till；　one　day；　Penn's　church　he'd　belonged　t~the
Moravians　…found　out　where　he　wuz　drifted　an'　layin'；　an'　wrote　to
Uncle　Salters。　'Never　heerd　what　they　said　exactly；　but　Uncle
Salters　was　mad。　He's　a　'piscopolian　mostly…but　he　jest　let　'em　hev
it　both　sides　o'　the　bow；　's　if　he　was　a　Baptist；　an'　sez　he　warn't
goin'　to　give　up　Penn　to　any　blame　Moravian　connection　in
Pennsylvania　or　anywheres　else。　Then　he　come　to　Dad；　towin'
Penn；…thet　was　two　trips　back；…an'　sez　he　an'　Penn　must　fish　a　trip
fer　their　health。　'Guess　he　thought　the　Moravians　wouldn't　hunt　the
Banks　fer　Jacob　Boiler。　Dad　was　agreeable；　fer　Uncle　Salters　he'd
been　fishin'　off　an'　on　fer　thirty　years；　when　he　warn't　inventin'
patent　manures；　an'　he　took　quarter…share　in　the　We're　Here；　an'　the
trip　done　Penn　so　much　good；　Dad　made　a　habit　o'　takin'　him。
Some　day；　Dad　sez；　he'll　remember　his　wife　an'　kids　an'
Johnstown；　an'　then；　like　as　not；　he'll　die；　Dad　sez。　Don't　ye　talk
abaout　Johnstown　ner　such　things　to　Penn；　'r　Uncle　Salters　he'll
heave　ye　overboard。〃

〃Poor　Penn！〃　murmured　Harvey。　〃I　shouldn't　ever　have　thought
Uncle　Salters　cared　for　him　by　the　look　of　'em　together。〃

〃I　like　Penn；　though；　we　all　do；〃　said　Dan。　〃We　ought　to　ha'　give
him　a　tow；　but　I　wanted　to　tell　ye　first。〃

They　were　close　to　the　schooner　now；　the　other　boats　a　little
behind　them。

〃You　needn't　heave　in　the　dories　till　after　dinner；〃　said　Troop　from
the　deck。　〃We'll　dress　daown　right　off。　Fix　table；　boys！〃

〃Deeper'n　the　Whale…deep；〃　said　Dan；　with　a　wink；　as　he　set　the
gear　for　dressing　down。　〃Look　at　them　boats　that　hev　edged　up
sence　mornin'。　They're　all　waitin'　on　Dad。　See　'em；　Harve？〃

〃They　are　all　alike　to　me。〃　And　indeed　to　a　landsman；　the　nodding
schooners　around　seemed　run　from　the　same　mold。

〃They　ain't；　though。　That　yaller；　dirty　packet　with　her　bowsprit
steeved　that　way；　she's　the　Hope　of　Prague。　Nick　Brady's　her
skipper；　the　meanest　man　on　the　Banks。　We'll　tell　him　so　when　we
strike　the　Main　Ledge。　'Way　off　yonder's　the　Day's　Eye。　The　two
Jeraulds　own　her。　She's　from　Harwich；　fastish；　too；　an'　hez　good
luck；　but　Dad　he'd　find　fish　in　a　graveyard。　Them　other　three；　side
along；　they're　the　Margie　Smith；　Rose；　and　Edith　S。　Walen；　all
from　home。　'Guess　we'll　see　the　Abbie　M。　Deering　to…morrer；　Dad；
won't　we？　They're　all　slippin'　over　from　the　shaol　o'　'Oueereau。〃

〃You　won't　see　many　boats　to…morrow；　Danny。〃　When　Troop
called　his　son　Danny；　it　was　a　sign　that　the　old　man　was　pleased。
〃Boys；　we're　too　crowded；〃　he　went　on；　addressing　the　crew　as　they
clambered　inboard。　〃We'll　leave　'em　to　bait　big　an'　catch　small。〃
He　looked　at　the　catch　in　the　pen；　and　it　was　curious　to　see　how
little　and　level　the　fish　ran。　Save　for　Harvey's　halibut；　there　was
nothing　over　fifteen　pounds　on　dec~

〃I'm　waitin'　on　the　weather；〃　he　added。

〃Ye'll　have　to　make　it　yourself；　Disko；　for　there's　no　sign　I　can
see；〃　said　Long　Jack；　sweeping　the　clear　horizon。

And　yet；　half　an　hour　later；　as　they　were　dressing　down；　the　Bank
fog　dropped　on　them；　〃between　fish　and　fish；〃　as　they　say。　It　drove
steadily　and　in　wreaths；　curling　and　smoking　along　the　colourless
water。　The　men　stopped　dressing…down　without　a　word。　Long　Jack
and　Uncle　Salters　slipped　the　windlass　brakes　into　their　sockets；
and　began　to　heave　up　the　anchor；　the　windlass　jarring　as　the　wet
hempen　cable　strained　on　the　barrel。　Manuel　and　Tom　Platt　gave　a
hand　at　the　last。　The　anchor　came　up　with　a　sob；　and　the　riding…sail
bellied　as　Troop　steadied　her　at　the　wheel。　〃Up　jib　and　foresail；〃
said　he。

〃Slip　'em　in　the　smother；〃　shouted　Long　Jack；　making　fast　the
jib…sheet；　while　the　oth