captains courageous-第8部分

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said　he。

〃Slip　'em　in　the　smother；〃　shouted　Long　Jack；　making　fast　the
jib…sheet；　while　the　others　raised　the　clacking；　rattling　rings　of　the
foresail；　and　the　for~boom　creaked　as　the　We're　Here　looked　up
into　the　wind　and　dived　off　into　blank；　whirling　white。

〃There's　wind　behind　this　fog；〃　said　Troop。

It　was　wonderful　beyond　words　to　Harvey；　and　the　most　wonderful
part　was　that　he　heard　no　orders　except　an　occasional　grunt　from
Troop；　ending　with；　〃That's　good；　my　son！〃

'Never　seen　anchor　weighed　before？〃　said　Tom　Platt；　to　Harvey
gaping　at　the　damp　canvas　of　the　foresail。

〃No。　Where　are　we　going？〃

〃Fish　and　make　berth；　as　you'll　find　out　'fore　you've　been　a　week
aboard。　It's　all　new　to　you；　but　we　never　know　what　may　come　to
us。　Now；　take　m~Tom　Platt　…I'd　never　ha'　thought~〃

〃It's　better　than　fourteen　dollars　a　month　an'　a　bullet　in　your　belly；〃
said　Troop；　from　the　wheel。　〃Ease　your　jumbo　a　grind。〃

〃Dollars　an'　cents　better；〃　returned　the　man~　…war　S　man；　doing
something　to　a　big　jib　with　a　wooden　spar　tied　to　it。　〃But　we　didn't
think　o'　that　when　we　manned　the　windlass…brakes　on　the　Miss
Jim　Buck；　1　outside　Beau…fort　Harbor；　with　Fort　Macon　heavin'
hot　shot　at　our　stern；　an'　a　livin'　gale　atop　of　all。　Where　was　you
then；　Disko？〃

〃Jest　here；　or　hereabouts；〃　Disko　replied；　〃earnin'　my　bread　on　the
deep　waters；　an'　dodgin'　Reb　privateers。　Sorry　I　can't　accommodate
you　with　red…hot　shot；　Tom　Platt；　but　I　guess　we'll　come　aout　all
right　on　wind　'fore　we　see　Eastern　Point。〃

There　was　an　incessant　slapping　and　chatter　at　the　bows　now；
varied　by　a　solid　thud　and　a　little　spout　of　spray　that　clattered
down　on　the　foc'sle。　The　rigging　dripped　clammy　drops；　and　the
men　lounged　along　the　lee　of　the　house…all　save　Uncle　Salters；　who
sat　stiffly　on　the　main…hatch　nursing　his　stung　hands。

'Guess　she'd　carry　stays'l；〃　said　Disko；　rolling　one　eye　at　his
brother。

'Guess　she　wouldn't　to　any　sorter　profit。　What's　the　sense　o'　wastin'
canvas？〃　the　farmer…sailor　replied。

1　The　Gemsbok；　U。S。N。？

The　wheel　twitched　almost　imperceptibly　in　Disko's　hands。　A　few
seconds　later　a　hissing　wave…top　slashed　diagonally　across　the
boat；　smote　Uncle　Salters　between　the　shoulders；　and　drenched
him　from　head　to　foot。　He　rose　sputtering；　and　went　forward　only
to　catch　another。

〃See　Dad　chase　him　all　around　the　deck；〃　said　Dan。　〃Uncle　Salters
he　thinks　his　quarter　share's　our　canvas。　Dad's　put　this　duckin'　act
up　on　him　two　trips　runnin'。　Hi！　That　found　him　where　he　feeds。〃
Uncle　Salters　had　taken　refuge　by　the　foremast；　but　a　wave
slapped　him　over　the　knees。　Disko's　face　was　as　blank　as　the　circle
of　the　wheel。

〃Guess　she'd　lie　easier　under　stays'l；　Salters；〃　said　Disko；　as　though
he　had　seen　nothing。

〃Set　your　old　kite；　then；〃　roared　the　victim　through　a　cloud　of
spray；　〃only　don't　lay　it　to　me　lf　anything　happens。　Penn；　you　go
below　right　off　an'　git　your　coffee。　You　ought　to　hev　more　sense
than　to　bum　araound　on　deck　this　weather。〃

〃Now　they'll　swill　coffee　an'　play　checkers　till　the　cows　come
home；〃　said　Dan；　as　Uncle　Salters　hustled　Penn　into　the　fore…cabin。
〃　'Looks　to　me　like's　if　we'd　all　be　doin'　so　fer　a　spell。　There's
nothin'　in　creation　deader…limpsey…idler'n　a　Banker　when　she　ain't
on　fish。〃

〃I'm　glad　ye　spoke；　Danny；〃　cried　Long　Jack；　who　had　been　casting
round　in　search　of　amusement。　〃I'd　dean　forgot　we'd　a　passenger
under　that　T…wharf　hat。　There's　no　idleness　for　thim　that　don't
know　their　ropes。　Pass　him　along；　Tom　Platt；　an'　we'll　larn　him。〃

〃'Tain't　my　trick　this　time；〃　grinned　Dan。　〃You've　got　to　go　it　alone。
Dad　learned　me　with　a　rope's　end。〃

For　an　hour　Long　Jack　walked　his　prey　up　and　down；　teaching；　as
he　said；　〃things　at　the　sea　that　ivry　man　must　know；　blind；　dhrunk；
or　asleep。〃　There　is　not　much　gear　to　a　seventy…ton　schooner　with　a
stump…foremast；　but　Long　Jack　had　a　gift　of　expression。　When　he
wished　to　draw　Harvey's　attention　to　the　peak…halyards；　he　dug　his
knuckles　into　the　back　of　the　boy's　neck　and　kept　him　at　gaze　for
half　a　minute。　He　emphasized　the　difference　between　fore　and　aft
generally　by　rubbing　Harvey's　nose　along　a　few　feet　of　the　boom；
and　the　lead　of　each　rope　was　fixed　in　Harvey's　mind　by　the　end　of
the　rope　itself。

The　lesson　would　have　been　easier　had　the　deck　been　at　all　free；
but　there　appeared　to　be　a　place　on　it　for　everything　and　anything
except　a　man。　Forward　lay　the　windlass　and　its　tackle；　with　the
chain　and　hemp　cables；　all　very　unpleasant　to　trip　over；　the　foc'sle
stovepipe；　and　the　gurry…butts　by　the　foc'sle　hatch　to　hold　the
fish…livers。　Aft　of　these　the　foreboom　and　booby　of　the　main…hatch
took　all　the　space　that　was　not　needed　for　the　pumps　and
dressing…pens。　Then　came　the　nests　of　dories　lashed　to　ring…bolts
by　the　quarter…deck；　the　house；　with　tubs　and　oddments　lashed　all
around　it；　and；　last；　the　sixty…foot　main…boom　in　its　crutch；　splitting
things　length…wise；　to　duck　and　dodge　under　every　time。

Tom　Platt；　of　course；　could　not　keep　his　oar　out　of　the　business；
but　ranged　alongside　with　enormous　and　unnecessary　descriptions
of　sails　and　spars　on　the　old　Ohio。

〃Niver　mind　fwhat　he　says；　attind　to　me；　Innocince。　Tom　Platt；　this
bally…hoo's　not　the　Ohio；　an'　you're　mixing　the　bhoy　bad。〃

〃He'll　be　ruined　for　life；　beginnin'　on　a　fore…an'…after　this　way；〃
Tom　Platt　pleaded。　〃Give　him　a　chance　to　know　a　few　leadin'
principles。　Sailin's　an　art；　Harvey；　as　I'd　show　you　if　I　had　ye　in　the
fore…top　o'　the…〃

〃I　know　ut。　Ye'd　talk　him　dead　an'　cowld。　Silince；　Tom　Platt！　Now；
after　all　I've　said；　how'd　you　reef　the　foresail；　Harve？　Take　your
time　answerin'。〃

〃Haul　that　in；〃　said　Harvey；　pointing　to　leeward。

〃Fwhat？　The　North　Atlantuc？〃

〃No；　the　boom。　Then　run　that　rope　you　showed　me　back　there…〃

〃That's　no　way；〃　Tom　Platt　burst　in。

〃Quiet！　He's　larnin'；　an'　has　not　the　names　good　yet。　Go　on；　Harve。〃

〃Oh；　it's　the　reef…pennant。　I'd　hook　the　tackle　on　to　the
reef…pennant；　and　then　let　down…〃

〃Lower　the　sail；　child！　Lower！〃　said　Tom　Platt；　in　a　professional
agony。

〃Lower　the　throat　and　peak　halyards；〃　Harvey　went　on。　Those
names　stuck　in　his　head。

〃Lay　your　hand　on　thim；〃　said　Long　Jack。

Harvey　obeyed。　〃Lower　till　that　rope…loop…on　the　after…leach…kris…no；
it's　cringle…till　the　cringle　was　down　on　the　boom。　Then　I'd　tie　her
up　the　way　you　said；　and　then　I'd　hoist　up　the　peak　and　throat
halyards　again。〃

〃You've　forgot　to　pass　the　tack…earing；　but　wid　time　and　help　ye'll
larn。　There's　good　and　just　reason　for　ivry　rope　aboard；　or　else
'twould　be　overboard。　D'ye　follow　me？　'Tis　dollars　an'　cents　rm
puttin'　into　your　pocket；　ye　skinny　little　supercargo；　so　that　fwhin
ye've　filled　out　ye　can　ship　from　Boston　to　Cuba　an'　tell　thim　Long
Jack　larned　you。　Now　I'll　chase　ye　around　a　piece；　callin'　the　ropes；
an'　you'll　lay　your　hand　on　thim　as　I　call。〃

He　began；　and　Harvey；　who　was　feeling　rather　tired；　walked　slowly
to　the　rope　named。　A　rope's　end　licked　round　his　ribs；　and　nearly
knocked　the　breath　out　of　him。

〃When　you　own　a　boat；〃　said　Tom　Platt；　with　severe。　eyes；　〃you
can　walk。　Till　then；　take　all　orders　at　the　run。　Once　more…to　make
sure！〃

Harvey　was　in　a　glow　with　the　exercise；　and　this　last　cut　warmed
him　thoroughly。　Now　he　was　a　singularly　smart　boy；　the　son　of　a
very　clever　man　and　a　very　sensitive　woman；　with　a　fine　resolute
temper　that　systematic　spoiling　had　nearly　turned　to　mulish
obstinacy。　He　looked　at　the　other　men；　and　saw　that　even　Dan　did
not　smile。　It　was　evidently　all　in　the　day's　work；　though　it　hurt
abominably；　so　he　swallowed　the　hint　with　a　gulp　and　a　gasp　and　a
grin。　The　same　smartness　that　led　him　to　take　such　advantage　of
his　mother　made　him　very　sure　that　no　one　on　the　boat；　except；
maybe；　Penn；　would　stand　the　least　nonsense。　One　learns　a　great
deal　from　a　mere　tone。　Long　Jack　called　over　half　a　dozen　ropes；
and　Harvey　danced　over　the　deck　like　an　eel　at　ebb…tide；　one　eye　on
Tom　Platt。

〃Ver'　good。　Ver'　good　don；〃　said　Manuel。　〃After　supper　I　show　you
a　little　schooner　I　make；　with　all　her　ropes。　So　we　shall　learn。〃

〃Fust…class　fer…a　passenger；〃　said　Dan。　〃Dad　he's　jest　allowed　you'll
be　wuth　your　salt　maybe　'fore　you're　draownded。　Thet's　a　heap　fer
Dad。　I'll　learn　you　more　our　next　watch　together。〃

〃Taller！〃　grunted　Disko；　peering　through　the　fog　as　it　smoked　over
the　bows。　There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　ten　feet　beyond　the　surging
jib…boom；　while　alongside　rolled　the　endless　procession　of　solemn；
pale　waves　whispering　and　lipping　one　to　the　other。

〃Now　I'll　learn　you　something　Long　Jack　can't；〃　shouted　Tom
Platt；　as　from　a　locker　by　the　stern　he　produced　a　battered　deep…sea
lead　hollowed　at　one　end；　smeared　the　hollow　from　a　saucer　full　of
mutton　tallow；　and　went　forward。　〃I'll　learn　you　how　to　fly　the
Blue　Pigeon。　Shooo！〃

Disko　did　something　to　the　wheel　that　checked　the　schooner's　way；
while　Manuel；　with　Harvey　to　help　（and　a　proud　boy　was　Harvey）；
let　down　the　jib　in　a　lump　on　the　boom。　The　lead　sung　a　deep
droning　song　as　Tom　Platt　whirled　it　round　and　round。

〃Go　ahead；　man；〃　said　Long　Jack；　impatiently。　〃We're　not　drawin'
twenty…five　fut　off　Fire　Island　in　a　fog。　There's　no　trick　to　ut。〃

〃Don't　be　jealous；　Galway。〃　The　released　lead　plopped　into　the　sea
far　ahead　as　the　schooner　surged　slowly　forward。

〃Soundin'　is　a　trick；　though；〃　said　Dan；　〃when　your　dipsey　lead's　all
the　eye　you're　like　to　hev　for　a　week。　What　d'you　make　it；　Dad？〃

Disko's　face　relaxed。　His　skill　and　honour　were　involved　in　the
march　he　had　stolen　on　the　rest　of　the　Fleet；　and　he　had　his
reputation　as　a　master　artist　who　knew　the　Banks　blindfold。　〃Sixty；
mebbe…ef　I'm　any　judge；〃　he　replied；　with　a　glance　at　the　tiny
compass　in　the　window　of　the　house。

〃Sixty；〃　sung　out　Tom　Platt；　hauling　in　great　wet　coils。

The　schooner　gathered　way　once　more。　〃Heave！〃　said　Disko；　after
a　quarter　of　an　hour。

〃What　d'you　make　it？〃　Dan　whispered；　and　he　looked　at　Harvey
proudly。　But　Harvey　was　too　proud　of　his　own　performances　to　be
impressed　just　then。

〃Fifty；〃　said　the　father。　〃I　mistrust　we're　right　over　the　nick　o'
Green　Bank　on　old　Sixty…Fifty。〃

〃Fifty！〃　roared　Tom　P