hard cash-第26章

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〃Be　so　good　as　not　to　swear；　Mr。　Monk；〃　said　Dodd。　〃At　your　age　sir；　I　look　to　you　to　set　an　example　to　the　petty　officers。〃

〃Well；　I　won't　swear　no　more；　sir；　dd　if　I　do！〃　He　added　very　loudly；　and　with　a　seeming　access　of　ire；　〃And　I　ax　your　pardon；　captain；　and　the　deck's。〃

When　a　man　has　a　deep　anxiety；　some　human　midge　or　mosquito　buzzes　at　him。　It　is　a　rule。　To　Dodd；　heavy　with　responsibility；　and　a　dark　misgiving　he　must　not　communicate；　came　delicately；　and　by　degrees；　and　with　a　semigenuflexion　every　three　steps；　one　like　a　magpie；　and；　putting　his　hands　together；　as　our　children　do　to　approach　the　Almighty；　delivered　himself　thus；　in　modulated　tones；　and　good　Hindostanee。　〃The　Daughter　of　light；　in　whose　beams　I；　Ramgolam；　bask；　glows　with　an　amicable　desire　to　see　the　lord　commander　of　the　ship　resembling　a　mountain；　and　to　make　a　communication。〃

Taught　by　sad　experience　how　weighty　are　the　communications　the　daughters　of　light　pour　into　nautical　commanders　at　sea；　Dodd　hailed　Mr。　Tickell；　a　midshipman；　and　sent　him　down　to　the　lady's　cabin。　Mr。　Tickell　soon　came　back　reddish；　but　grinning；　to　say　that　nothing　less　than　the　captain　would　do。

Dodd　sighed；　and　dismissed　Monk　with　a　promise　to　inspect　the　gun…deck　himself；　then　went　down　to　Mrs。　Beresford　and　found　her　indignant。　Why　had　he　stopped　the　ship　miles　and　miles　from　Macao；　and　given　her　the　trouble　and　annoyance　of　a　voyage　in　that　nasty　little　boat？　Dodd　opened　his　great　brown　eyes；　〃Why；　madam；　it　is　shoal　water　off　Macao；　we　dare　not　come　in。〃

〃No　evasion；　sir。　What　have　I　to　do　with　your　shoal　water？　It　was　laziness；　and　want　of　consideration　for　a　lady　who　has　rented　half　your　ship。〃

〃Nothing　of　the　kind；　madam；　I　assure　you。〃

〃Are　you　the　person　they　call　Gentleman　Dodd？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　don't　contradict　a　lady；　or　I　shall　take　the　liberty　to　dispute　your　title。〃

Dodd　took　no　notice　of　this；　and　with　a　patience　few　nautical　commanders　would　have　shown；　endeavoured　to　make　her　see　that　he　was　obliged　to　give　Macao　shoals　a　wide　berth；　or　cast　away　the　ship。　She　would　not　see　it。　When　Dodd　saw　she　wanted；　not　an　explanation；　but　a　grievance；　he　ceased　to　thwart　her。　〃I　am　neglecting　my　duties　to　no　purpose；〃　said　he；　and　left　her　without　ceremony。　This　was　a　fresh　offence；　and；　as　he　went　out；　she　declared　open　war。　And　she　made　it　too　from　that　hour：　a　war　of　pins　and　needles。

Dodd　went　on　the　gun…deck　and　found　that　the　defence　of　the　ship　had；　as　usual　in　these　peaceful　days；　been　sacrificed　to　the　cargo。　Out　of　twenty　eighteen…pounders　she　carried　on　that　deck；　he　cleared　three；　and　that　with　difficulty。　To　clear　any　more　he　must　have　sacrificed　either　merchandise　or　water：　and　he　was　not　the　man　to　do　either　on　the　mere　chance　of　a　danger　so　unusual　as　an　encounter　with　a　pirate。　He　was　a　merchant　captain；　not　a　warrior。

Meantime　the　_Agra_　had　already　shown　him　great　sailing　qualities：　the　log　was　hove　at　sundown　and　gave　eleven　knots；　so　that　with　a　good　breeze　abaft；　few　fore…and…aft　rigged　pirates　could　overhaul　her。　And　this　wind　carried　her　swiftly　past　one　nest　of　them；　at　all　events：　the　Ladrone　isles。　At　nine　P。M。；　all　the　lights　were　ordered　out。　Mrs。　Beresford　had　brought　a　novel　on　board；　and　refused　to　comply；　the　master…at…arms　insisted；　she　threatened　him　with　the　vengeance　of　the　Company；　the　premier；　and　the　nobility　and　gentry　of　the　British　realm。　The　master…at…arms；　finding　he　had　no　chance　in　argument；　doused　the　glimpitiable　resource　of　a　weak　disputantthen　basely　fled　the　rhetorical　consequences。


The　northerly　breeze　died　out；　and　light　variable　winds　baffled　the　ship。　It　was　the　6th　April　ere　she　passed　the　Macclesfield　Bank　in　latitude　16。　And　now　they　sailed　for　many　days　out　of　sight　of　land。　Dodd's　chest　expanded：　his　main　anxiety　at　this　part　of　the　voyage　lay　in　the　state　cabin；　of　all　the　perils　of　the　sea；　none　shakes　a　sailor　like　fire。　He　set　a　watch　day　and　night　on　that　spoiled　child。


On　the　1st　May　they　passed　the　great　Nantuna；　and　got　among　the　Bornese　and　Malay　islands：　at　which　the　captain's　glass　began　to　sweep　the　horizon　again；　and　night　and　day　at　the　dizzy　foretop　gallant　mast…head　he　perched　an　Eye。

They　crossed　the　line　in　longitude　107；　with　a　slight　breeze；　but　soon　fell　into　the　Doldrums。　A　dead　calm；　and　nothing　to　do　but　kill　time。　Dodd　had　put　down　Neptune：　that　old　blackguard　could　no　longer　row　out　on　the　ship's　port　side　and　board　her　on　the　starboard；　pretending　to　come　from　ocean's　depths；　and　shave　the　novices　with　a　rusty　hoop　and　dab　a　soapy　brush　in　their　mouths。　But　champagne　popped；　the　sexes　flirted；　and　the　sailors　span　fathomless　yarns；　and　danced　rattling　hornpipes；　fiddled　to　by　the　grave　Fullalove。　〃　If　there　is　a　thing　I　_can_　dew；　it's　fiddle；〃　said　he。　He　and　his　friend；　as　he　systematically　called　Vespasian；　taught　the　crew　Yankee　steps；　and　were　beloved。　One　honest　saltatory　British　tar　offered　that　Western　pair　his　grog　for　a　week。　Even　Mrs。　Beresford　emerged；　and　walked　the　deck；　quenching　her　austere　regards　with　a　familiar　smile　on　Colonel　Kenealy；　her　escort。　This　gallant　good…natured　soldier　flattered　her　to　the　nine；　and；　finding　her　sweeten　with　his　treacle；　tried　to　reconcile　her　to　his　old　friend　Dodd。　Straight　she　soured；　and　forbade　the　topic　imperiously。

By　this　time　the　mates　and　midshipmen　of　the　_Agra_　had　fathomed　their　captain。　Mr。　Tickell　delivered　the　mind　of　the　united　midshipmen　when　he　proposed　Dodd's　health　in　their　mess…room；　〃as　a　navigator；　a　mathematician；　a　seaman；　a　gentleman；　and　a　brick；　with　three　times　three。〃

Dodd　never　spoke　to　his　officers　like　a　ruffian；　nor　yet　palavered　them；　but　he　had　a　very　pleasant　way　of　conveying　appreciation　of　an　officer's　zeal；　by　a　knowing　nod　with　a　kindly　smile　on　the　heels　of　it。　As　for　the　men；　they　seldom　came　in　contact　with　the　captain　of　a　well…officered　ship：　this　crew　only　knew　him　at　first　as　a　good…tempered　soul；　who　didn't　bother　about　nothing。　But　one　day；　as　they　lay　becalmed　south　of　the　line；　a　jolly　foretopman　came　on　the　quarter…deck　with　a　fid　of　soup；　and　saluting　and　scraping；　first　to　the　deck；　then　to　the　captain；　asked　him　if　he　would　taste　that。

〃Yes；　my　man。　Smoked！〃

〃Like　　and　blazes；　your　honour；　axing　your　pardon；　and　the　deck's。〃

〃Young　gentleman；〃　said　Dodd　to　Mr。　Meredith；　a　midshipman；　〃be　so　good　as　to　send　the　cook　aft。〃

The　cook　came；　and　received；　not　an　oath　nor　a　threat　but　a　remonstrance；　and　a　grim　warning。

In　the　teeth　of　this　he　burnt　the　soup　horribly　the　very　next　day。　The　crew　sent　the　lucky　foretopman　aft　again。　He　made　his　scrape　and　presented　his　fid。　The　captain　tasted　the　soup；　and　sent　Mr。　Grey　to　bid　the　boatswain's　mate　pipe　the　hands　on　deck　and　bring　the　cook　aft。

〃Quartermaster；　unsling　a　fire…bucket　and　fill　it　from　the　men's　kids：　Mr。　Tickell；　see　the　cook　swallow　his　own　mess。　Bosen's　mate；　take　a　bight　of　the　flying　jib　sheet　stand　over　him；　and　start　him　if　he　dailies　with　it。〃　With　this　the　captain　went　below；　and　the　cook；　supping　at　the　bucket　delivered　himself　as　follows：　〃Well；　ye　lubbers；　it　is　first　rate。　_There's_　no　burn　in　it。　It　goes　down　like　oil。　Curse　your　ladylike　stomachs；　you　ain't　fit　for　a　ship；　why　don't　ye　go　ashore　and　man　a　gingerbread　coach　and　feed　off　French　frogs　and　Italian　baccy…pipe　stems？　（Whack。）　What　the　　is　that　for？〃

_Boatswain's　mate。_　〃Sup　more；　and　jaw　less。〃

〃Well；　I　am　supping　as　fast　as　I　can。　（Whack；　whack。）　Bloody　end　to　ye；　what　are　ye　about？　（Whack；　whack；　whack。）　Oh；　Joe；　Lord　bless　you；　I　_can't_　eat　any　more　of　it。　（Whack。）　I'll　give　you　my　grog　for　a　week　only　to　let　me　fling　the　　stuff　over　the　side。　（Whack；　whack；　whack。）　Oh；　good；　kind；　dear　Mr。　Tickell；　do　go　down　to　the　captain　for　me。〃　（Whack；　whack。）

〃Avast！〃　cried　the　captain；　reappearing；　and　the　uplifted　rope　fell　harmless。

〃Silence；　fore　and　aft！〃

（Pipe。）

〃The　cook　has　received　a　light　punishment　this　time；　for　spoiling　the　men's　mess。　My　crew　shall　eat　nothing　I　can't　eat　myself。　My　care　is　heavier　than　theirs　is；　but　not　my　work；　nor　my　danger　in　time　of　danger。　Mind　that；　or　you'll　find　I　can　be　as　severe　as　any　master　afloat。　Purser。〃

〃Sir。〃

〃Double　the　men's　grog：　they　have　been　cheated　of　their　meal。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir。〃

〃And　stop　the　cook's　and　his　mate's　for　a　week。〃

〃　Ay；　ay；　sir。〃

〃Bosen；　pipe　down。〃

〃Shipmates；　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　foretopman。　〃This　old　_Agra_　is　a　dd　comfortable　ship。〃

The　oracular　sentence　was　hailed　with　a　ringing　cheer。　Still；　it　is　unlucky　the　British　seaman　is　so　enamoured　of　theological　terms；　for　he　constantly　misapplies　them。

After　lying　a　week　like　a　dead　log　on　the　calm　but　heaving　waters；　came　a　few　light　puffs　in　the　upper　air　and　inflated　the　topsails　only：　the　ship　crawled　southward；　the　crew　whistling　for　wind。

At　last；　one　afternoon；　it　began　to　rain；　and　after　the　rain　came　a　gale　from　the　eastward。　The　watchful　skipper　saw　it　purple　the　water　to　windward；　and　ordered　the　topsails　to　be　reefed　and　the　lee　ports　closed。　This　last　order　seemed　an　excess　of　precaution；　but　Dodd　was　not　yet　thoroughly　acquainted　with　his　ship's　qualities：　and　the　hard　cash　round　his　neck　made　him　cautious。　The　lee　ports　were　closed；　all　but　one；　and　that　was　lowered。　Mr。　Grey　was　working　a　problem　in　his　cabin；　and　wanted　a　little　light　and　a　little　air；　so　he　just　drooped　his　port；　but；　not　to　deviate　from　the　spirit　of　his　captain's　instructions；　he　fastened　a　tackle　to　it；　that　he　might　have　mechanical　force　to　close　it　with　should　the　ship　lie　over。

Down　came　the　gale　with　a　whoo；　and　made　all　crack。　The　ship　lay　over　pretty　much；　and　the　sea　poured　in　at　Mr。　Grey's　port。　He　applied　his　purchase　to　close　it。　But　though　his　tackle　gave　him　the　force　of　a　dozen　hands；　he　might　as　well　have　tried　to　move　a　mountain；　on　the　contrary；　the　tremendous　sea　rushed　in　and　burst　the　port　wide　open。　Grey；　after　a　vain　struggle　with　its　might；　shrieked　for　help；　down　tumbled　the　nearest　hands；　and　hauled　on　the　tackle　in　vain。　Destruction　was　rushing　on　the　ship；　and　on　them　first。　But　meantime　the　captain；　with　a　shrewd　guess　at　the　general　nature　of　the　danger　he　could　not　see；　had　roared　out；　〃　Slack　the　main　sheet。〃　The　ship　righted；　and　the　port　came　flying　to；　and　terror…stricken　men　breathed　hard；　up　to　their　waists　in　water　and　floating　boxes。　Grey　barred　the　unlucky　port　and　went　aft；　drenched　in　body；　and　wretched　in　mind；　to　report　his　own　fault。　He　found　the　captain　looking　grim　as　death。　He　told　him；　almost　crying；　what　he　had　done；　and　how　he　had　miscalculated　the　power　of　the　water。

Dodd　looked　and　saw　his　distress。　〃Let　it　be　a　lesson；　sir；〃　said　he；　sternly。　〃How　many　ships　have　been　lost　by　this　in　fair　weather；　and　not　a　man　saved　to　tell　how　the　craft　was　fooled　away？〃

〃Captain；　bid　me　fling　myself　over　the　side；　and　I'll　do　it。〃

〃Hummph！　I'm　afraid　I　can't　afford　to　lose　a　good　officer　for　a　fault　hewillneverrepeat〃

It　blew　hard　all　night　and　till　twelve　the　next　day。　The　_Agra_　showed　her　weak　point：　she　rolled　abominably。　A　dirty　night　came　on。　At　eight　bells　Mr。　Grey；　touched　by　Dodd's　clemency　and　brimful　of　zeal；　reported　a　light　in　Mrs。　Beresford's　cabin。　It　had　been　put　out　as　usual