captains courageous-第9部分

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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　Platt。　They　could　scarcely　see　him　through　the
fog。　〃She's　bust　within　a　yard…like　the　shells　at　Fort　Macon。〃

〃Bait　up；　Harve；〃　said　Dan；　diving　for　a　line　on　the　reel。

The　schooner　seemed　to　be　straying　promiscuously　through　the
smother；　her　headsail　banging　wildly。　The　men　waited　and　looked
at　the　boys　who　began　fishing。

〃Heugh！〃　Dan's　lines　twitched　on　the　scored　and　scarred　rail。　〃Now
haow　in　thunder　did　Dad　know？　Help　us　here；　Harve。　It's　a　big　un。
Poke…hooked；　too。〃　They　hauled　together；　and　landed　a
goggle…eyed　twenty…pound　cod。　He　had　taken　the　bait　right　into　his
stomach。

〃Why；　he's　all　covered　with　little　crabs；〃　cried　Harvey；　turning　him
over。

〃By　the　great　hook…block；　they're　lousy　already；〃　said　Long　Jack。
〃Disko；　ye　kape　your　spare　eyes　under　the　keel。〃

Splash　went　the　anchor；　and　they　all　heaved　over　the　lines；　each
man　taking　his　own　place　at　the　bulwarks。

〃Are　they　good　to　eat？〃　Harvey　panted；　as　he　lugged　in　another
crab…covered　cod。

〃Sure。　When　they're　lousy　it's　a　sign　they've　all　been　herdin'
together　by　the　thousand；　and　when　they　take　the　bait　that　way
they're　hungry。　Never　mind　how　the　bait　sets。　They'll　bite　on　the
bare　hook。〃

〃Say；　this　is　great！〃　Harvey　cried；　as　the　fish　came　in　gasping　and
splashing…nearly　all　poke…hooked；　as　Dan　had　said。　〃Why　can't　we
always　fish　from　the　boat　instead　of　from　the　dories？〃

〃Allus　can；　till　we　begin　to　dress　daown。　Efter　thet；　the　heads　and
offals　'u'd　scare　the　fish　to　Fundy。　Boatfishin'　ain't　reckoned
progressive；　though；　unless　ye　know　as　much　as　dad　knows。　Guess
we'll　run　aout　aour　trawl　to…night。　Harder　on　the　back；　this；　than
frum　the　dory；　ain't　it？〃

It　was　rather　back…breaking　work；　for　in　a　dory　the　weight　of　a　cod
is　water…borne　till　the　last　minute；　and　you　are；　so　to　speak；　abreast
of　him；　but　the　few　feet　of　a　schooner's　freeboard　make　so　much
extra　dead…hauling；　and　stooping　over　the　bulwarks　cramps　the
stomach。　But　it　was　wild　and　furious　sport　so　long　as　it　lasted；　and
a　big　pile　lay　aboard　when　the　fish　ceased　biting。

〃Where's　Penn　and　Uncle　Salters？〃　Harvey　asked；　slapping　the
slime　off　his　oilskins；　and　reeling　up　the　line　in　careful　imitation
of　the　others。

〃Git　's　coffee　and　see。〃

Under　the　yellow　glare　of　the　lamp　on　the　pawl…post；　the　foc'sle
table　down　and　opened；　utterly　unconscious　of　fish　or　weather；　sat
the　two　men；　a　checker…board　between　them；　Uncle　Salters
snarling　at　Penn's　every　move。

〃What's　the　matter　naow？〃　said　the　former；　as　Harvey；　one　hand　in
the　leather　loop　at　the　head　of　the　ladder；　hung　shouting　to　the
cook。

〃Big　fish　and　lousy…heaps　and　heaps；〃　Harvey　replied；　quoting
Long　Jack。　〃How's　the　game？〃

Little　Penn's　jaw　dropped。　〃　'Tweren't　none　o'　his　fault；〃　snapped
Uncle　Salters。　〃Penn's　deef。〃

〃Checkers；　weren't　it？〃　said　Dan；　as　Harvey　staggered　aft　with　the
steaming　coffee　in　a　tin　pail。　〃That　lets　us　out　o'　cleanin'　up
to…night。　Dad's　a　jest　man。　They'll　have　to　do　it。〃

〃An'　two　young　fellers　I　know'll　bait　up　a　tub　or　so　o'　trawl；　while
they're　cleanin'；〃　said　Disko；　lashing　the　wheel　to　his　taste。

〃Um！　Guess　I'd　ruther　clean　up；　Dad。〃

〃Don't　doubt　it。　Ye　wun't；　though。　Dress　daown！　Dress　daown！
Penn'll　pitch　while　you　two　bait　up。〃

〃Why　in　thunder　didn't　them　blame　boys　tell　us　you'd　struck　on？〃
said　Uncle　Salters；　shuffling　to　his　place　at　the　table。　〃This　knife　'5
gum…blunt；　Dan。〃

〃Ef　stickin'　out　cable　don't　wake　ye；　guess　you'd　better　hire　a　boy
o'　your　own；〃　said　Dan；　muddling　about　in　the　dusk　over　the　tubs
full　of　trawl…line　lashed　to　windward　of　the　house。　〃Oh；　Harve；
don't　ye　want　to　slip　down　an'　git　's　bait？〃

〃Bait　ez　we　are；〃　said　Disko。　〃I　mistrust　shag…fishin'　will　pay
better；　ez　things　go。〃

That　meant　the　boys　would　bait　with　selected　offal　of　the　cod　as
the　fish　were　cleaned…an　improvement　on　paddling　bare…handed　in
the　little　bait…barrels　below。　The　tubs　were　full　of　neatly　coiled　line
carrying　a　big　hook　each　few　feet；　and　the　testing　and　baiting　of
every　single　hook；　with　the　stowage　of　the　baited　line　so　that　it
should　run　clear　when　shot　from　the　dory；　was　a　scientific
business。　Dan　managed　it　in　the　dark；　without　looking；　while
Harvey　caught　his　fingers　on　the　barbs　and　bewailed　his　fate。　But
the　hooks　flew　through　Dan's　fingers　like　tatting　on　an　old　maid's
lap。　〃I　helped　bait　up　trawl　ashore　'fore　I　could　well　walk；〃　he　said。
〃But　it's　a　putterin'　job　all　the　same。　Oh；　Dad！〃　This　shouted
towards　the　hatch；　where　Disko　and　Tom　P1att　were　salting。　〃How
many　skates　you　reckon　we'll　need？〃

〃'Baout　three。　Hurry！〃

〃There's　three　hundred　fathom　to　each　tub；〃　Dan　explained；
〃more'n　enough　to　lay　out　to…night。　Ouch！　'Slipped　up　there；　I　did。〃
He　stuck　his　finger　in　his　mouth。　〃I　tell　you；　Harve；　there　ain't
money　in　Gloucester　'u'd　hire　me　to　ship　on　a　reg'lar　trawler。　It　may
be　progressive；　but；　barrin'　that；　it's　the　putterin'est；　slimjammest
business　top　of　earth。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　this　is；　if　'tisn't　regular　trawling；〃　said　Harvey
sulkily。　〃My　fingers　are　all　cut　to　frazzles。〃

〃Pshaw！　This　is　just　one　o'　Dad's　blame　experirnents。　He　don't
trawl　'less　there's　mighty　good　reason　fer　it。　Dad　knows。　Thet's　why
he's　baitin'　ez　he　is。　We'll　hev　her　saggin'　full　when　we　take　her　up
er　we　won't　see　a　fin。〃

Penn　and　Uncle　Salters　cleaned　up　as　Disko　had　ordained；　but　the
boys　profited　little。　No　sooner　were　the　tubs　furnished　than　Tom
Platt　and　Long　Jack；　who　had　been　exploring　the　inside　of　a　dory
with　a　lantern；　snatched　them　away；　loaded　up　the　tubs　and　some
small；　painted　trawl…buoys；　and　hove　the　boat　overboard　into　what
Harvey　regarded　as　an　exceedingly　rough　sea。　〃They'll　be　drowned。
Why；　the　dory's　loaded　like　a　freight…car；〃　he　cried。

〃We'll　be　back；〃　said　Long　Jack；　〃an'　in　case　you'll　not　be　lookin'
for　us；　we'll　lay　into　you　both　if　the　trawl's　snarled。〃

The　dory　surged　up　on　the　crest　of　a　wave；　and　just　when　it　seemed
impossible　that　she　could　avoid　smashing　against　the　schooner's
side；　slid　over　the　ridge；　and　was　swallowed　up　in　the　damp　dusk。

〃Take　ahold　here；　an'　keep　ringin'　steady；〃　said　Dan；　passing
Harvey　the　lanyard　of　a　bell　that　hung　just　behind　the　windlass。

Harvey　rang　lustily；　for　he　felt　two　lives　depended　on　him。　But
Disko　in　the　cabin；　scrawling　in　the　log…book；　did　not　look　like　a
murderer；　and　when　he　went　to　supper　he　even　smiled　dryly　at　the
anxious　Harvey。

〃This　ain't　no　weather；〃　said　Dan。　〃Why；　you　an'　me　could　set　thet
trawl！　They've　only　gone　out　jest　far　'nough　so's　not　to　foul　our
cable。　They　don't　need　no　bell　reelly。〃

〃Clang！　clang！　clang！〃　Harvey　kept　it　up；　varied　with　occasional
rub…a…dubs；　for　another　half…hour。　There　was　a　bellow　and　a　bump
alongside。　Manuel　and　Dan　raced　to　the　hooks　of　the　dory…tackle；
Long　Jack　and　Tom　Platt　arrived　on　deck　together；　it　seemed；　one
half　the　North　Atlantic　at　their　backs；　and　the　dory　followed　them
in　the　air；　landing　with　a　clatter。

〃Nary　snarl；〃　said　Tom　Platt　as　he　dripped。　〃Danny；　you'll　do　yet。〃

〃The　pleasure　av　your　comp'ny　to　the　banquit；〃　said　Long　Jack；
squelching　the　water　from　his　boots　as　he　capered　like　an　elephant
and　stuck　an　oil…skinned　arm　into　Harvey's　face。　〃We　do　be
condescending　to　honour　the　second　half　wid　our　presence。〃　And
off　they　all　four　rolled　to　supper；　where　Harvey　stuffed　himself　to
the　brim　on　fish…chowder　and　fried　pies；　and　fell　fast　asleep　just　as
Manuel　produced　from　a　locker　a　lovely　two…foot　model　of　the
Lucy　Holmes；　his　first　boat；　and　was　going　to　show　Harvey　the
ropes。　Harvey　never　even　twiddled　his　fingers　as　Penn　pushed　him
into　his　bunk。

〃It　must　be　a　sad　thing…a　very　sad　thing；〃　said　Penn；　watching　the
boy's　face；　〃for　his　mother　and　his　father；　who　think　he　is　dead。　To
lose　a　child…to　lose　a　man…child！〃

〃Git　out　o'　this；　Penn；〃　said　Dan。　〃Go　aft　and　finish　your　game
with　Uncle　Salters。　Tell　Dad　I'll　stand　Harve's　watch　ef　he　don't
keer。　He's　played　aout〃

〃Ver'　good　boy；〃　said　Manuel；　slipping　out　of　his　boots　and
disappearing　into　the　black　shadows　of　the　lower　bunk。　〃Expec'　he
make　good　man；　Danny。　I　no　see　he　is　any　so　mad　as　your　parpa　he
says。　Eh；　wha…at？〃

Dan　chuckled；　but　the　chuckle　ended　in　a　snore。

It　was　thick　weather　outside；　with　a　rising　wind；　and　the　elder　men
stretched　their　watches。　The　hour　struck　clear　in　the　cabin；　the
nosing　bows　slapped　and　scuffed　with　the　seas；　the　foc'sle
stove…pipe　hissed　and　sputtered　as　the　spray　caught　it；　and　the　boys
slept　on；　while　Disko；　Long　Jack；　Tom　Platt；　and　Uncle　Salters；
each　in　turn；　stumped　alt　to　look　at　the　wheel；　forward　to　see　that
the　anchor　held；　or　to　veer　out　a　little　more　cable　against　chafing；
with　a　glance　at　the　dim　anchor…light　between　each　round。

CHAPTER　IV

Harvey　waked　to　find　the　〃first　half〃　at　breakfast；　the　foc'sle　door
drawn　to　a　crack；　and　every　square　inch　of　the　schooner　singing　its
own　tune。　The　black　bulk　of　the　cook　balanced　behind　the　tiny
galley　over　the　glare　of　the　stove；　and　the　pots　and　pans　in　the
pierced　wooden　board　before　it　jarred　and　racketed　to　each　plunge。
Up　and　up　the　foc'sle　climbed；　yearning　and　surging　and　quivering；
and　then；　with　a　clear；　sickle…like　swoop；　came　down　into　the　seas。
He　could　hear　the　flaring　bows　cut　and　squelch；　and　there　was　a
pause　ere　the　divided　waters　came　down　on　the　deck　above；　like　a
volley　of　buckshot。　Followed　the　woolly　sound　of　the　cable　in　the
hawse…hole；　and　a　grunt　and　squeal　of　the　windlass；　a　yaw；　a　punt；
and　a　kick；　and　the　We're　Here　gathered　herself　together　to　repeat
the　motions。

〃Now；　ashore；〃　he　heard　Long　Jack　saying；　〃ye've　chores；　an'　ye
must　do　thim　in　any　weather。　Here　we're　well　clear　of　the　fleet；　an'
we've　no　chores…an'　that's　a　blessin'。　Good　night；　all。〃　He　passed
like　a　big　snake　from　the　table　to　his　bunk；　and　began　to　smoke。
Tom　Platt　followed　his　example；　Uncle　Salters；　with　Penn；　fought
his　way　up　the　ladder　to　stand　his　watch；　and　the　cook　set　for　the
〃second　half。〃

It　came　out　of　its　bunks　as　the　others　had　entered　theirs；　with