hard cash-第27章

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cabin。　It　had　been　put　out　as　usual　by　the　master…at…arms；　but　the　refractory　one　had　relighted　it

〃Go　and　take　it　away；〃　said　Dodd。

Soon　screams　were　heard　from　the　cabin。　〃Oh；　mercy！　mercy！　I　will　not　be　drowned　in　the　dark。〃

Dodd；　who　had　kept　clear　of　her　so　long；　went　down　and　tried　to　reassure　her。

〃Oh；　the　tempest！　the　tempest！〃　she　cried。　〃AND　TO　BE　DROWNED　IN　THE　DARK！〃


〃Tempest？　It　is　blowing　half　a　gale　of　wind；　that　is　all。〃

〃Half　a　gale！　Ah！　that　is　the　way　you　always　talk　to　us　ladies。　Oh；　pray　give　me　my　light；　and　send　me　a　clergyman。〃

Dodd　took　pity；　and　let　her　have　her　light；　with　a　midshipman　to　watch　it。　He　even　made　her　a　hypocritical　promise　that　should　there　be　one　grain　of　danger；　he　would　lie　to；　but　said　he　must　not　make　a　foul　wind　of　a　fair　one　for　a　few　lee　lurches。　The　_Agra_　broke　plenty　of　glass　and　crockery　though；　with　her　fair　wind　and　her　lee　lurches。

Wind　down　at　noon　next　day；　and　a　dead　calm。

At　two　P。　M。　the　weather　cleared；　the　sun　came　out　high　in　heaven's　centre；　and　a　balmy　breeze　from　the　west。

At　six　twenty…five；　the　grand　orb　set　calm　and　red；　and　the　sea　was　gorgeous　with　miles　and　miles　of　great　ruby　dimples：　it　was　the　first　glowing　smile　of　southern　latitude。　The　night　stole　on　so　soft；　so　clear；　so　balmy；　all　were　loth　to　chose　their　eyes　on　it：　the　passengers　lingered　long　on　deck；　watching　the　Great　Bear　dip；　and　the　Southern　Cross　rise；　and　overhead　a　whole　heaven　of　glorious　stars　most　of　us　have　never　seen；　and　never　shall　see　in　this　world。　No　belching　smoke　obscured；　no　plunging　paddles　deafened；　all　was　musical；　the　soft　air　sighing　among　the　sails；　the　phosphorescent　water　bubbling　from　the　ship's　bows；　the　murmurs　from　little　knots　of　men　on　deck　subdued　by　the　great　calm：　home　seemed　near；　all　danger　far；　Peace　ruled　the　sea；　the　sky；　the　heart：　the　ship；　making　a　track　of　white　fire　on　the　deep；　glided　gently　yet　swiftly　homeward；　urged　by　snowy　sails　piled　up　like　alabaster　towers　against　a　violet　sky；　out　of　which　looked　a　thousand　eyes　of　holy　tranquil　fire。　So　melted　the　sweet　night　away。


Now　carmine　streaks　tinged　the　eastern　sky　at　the　water's　edge；　and　that　water　blushed；　now　the　streaks　turned　orange；　and　the　waves　below　them　sparkled。　Thence　splashes　of　living　gold　flew　and　settled　on　the　ship's　white　sails；　the　deck；　and　the　faces；　and　with　no　more　prologue；　being　so　near　the　line；　up　came　majestically　a　huge；　fiery；　golden　sun；　and　set　the　sea　flaming　liquid　topaz。

Instantly　the　look…out　at　the　foretop…gallant…mast…head　hailed　the　deck　below。

　　　　　〃STRANGE　SAIL！　RIGHT　AHEAD！〃

The　strange　sail　was　reported　to　Captain　Dodd；　then　dressing　in　his　cabin。　He　came　soon　after　on　deck　and　hailed　the　lookout：　〃Which　way　is　she　standing？〃

〃Can't　say；　sir。　Can't　see　her　move　any。〃

Dodd　ordered　the　boatswain　to　pipe　to　breakfast；　and　taking　his　deck　glass　went　lightly　up　to　the　fore…top…gallant…mast　crosstrees。　Thence；　through　the　light　haze　of　a　glorious　morning；　he　espied　a　long　low　schooner；　lateen…rigged；　lying　close　under　Point　Leat；　a　small　island　about　nine　miles　distant　on　the　weather　bow；　and　nearly　in　the　_Agra's_　course；　then　approaching　the　Straits　of　Gaspar；　4　latitude　S。

〃She　is　hove…to；〃　said　Dodd　very　gravely。


At　eight　o'clock；　the　stranger　lay　about　two　miles　to　windward；　and　still　hove…to。

By　this　time　all　eyes　were　turned　upon　her；　and　half　a　dozen　glasses。　Everybody；　except　the　captain；　delivered　an　opinion。

She　was　a　Greek　lying…to　for　water：　she　was　a　Malay　coming　north　with　canes；　and　short　of　hands：　she　was　a　pirate　watching　the　Straits。

The　captain　leaned　silent　and　sombre　with　his　arms　on　the　bulwarks；　and　watched　the　suspected　craft。

Mr。　Fullalove　joined　the　group；　and　levelled　a　powerful　glass；　of　his　own　construction。　His　inspection　was　long　and　minute；　and；　while　the　glass　was　at　his　eye；　Sharpe　asked　him　half　in　a　whisper；　could　he　make　out　anything？

〃Wal；〃　said　he；　〃the　varmint　looks　considerable　snaky。〃　Then；　without　removing　his　glass；　he　let　drop　a　word　at　a　time；　as　if　the　facts　were　trickling　into　his　telescope　at　the　lens；　and　out　at　the　sight　〃Onetwofourseven；　false　ports。〃

There　was　a　momentary　murmur　among　the　officers　all　round。　But　British　sailors　are　undemonstrative：　Colonel　Kenealy；　strolling　the　deck　with　his　cigar；　saw　they　were　watching　another　ship　with　maritime　curiosity；　and　making　comments　but　he　discerned　no　particular　emotion　nor　anxiety　in　what　they　said；　nor　in　the　grave　low　tones　they　said　it　in。　Perhaps　a　brother　seaman　would　though。

The　next　observation　that　trickled　out　of　Fullalove's　tube　was　this：　〃I　judge　there　are　too　few　hands　on　deck；　and　too　manywhiteeyeballsglittering　at　the　portholes。〃

〃Confound　it；〃　muttered　Bayliss；　uneasily；　〃how　can　you　see　that？〃

Fullalove　replied　only　by　quietly　handing　his　glass　to　Dodd。　The　captain　thus　appealed　to；　glued　his　eye　to　the　tube。

〃Well；　sir；　see　the　false　ports；　and　the　white　eyebrows？〃　asked　Sharpe　ironically。

〃I　see　this　is　the　best　glass　I　ever　looked　through；〃　said　Dodd　doggedly；　without　interrupting　his　inspection。

〃I　think　he　is　a　Malay　pirate；〃　said　Mr。　Grey。

Sharpe　took　him　up　very　quickly；　and　indeed　angrily：　〃Nonsense。　And　if　he　is；　he　won't　venture　on　a　craft　of　this　size。〃

〃Says　the　whale　to　the　swordfish；〃　suggested　Fullalove；　with　a　little　guttural　laugh。

The　captain；　with　the　American　glass　at　his　eye；　turned　half　round　to　the　man　at　the　wheel：　〃Starboard！〃

〃Starboard　it　is。〃

〃Steer　south…south…east〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir。〃　And　the　ship's　course　was　thus　altered　two　points。

This　order　lowered　Dodd　fifty　per　cent。　in　Mr。　Sharpe's　estimation。　He　held　his　tongue　as　long　as　he　could：　but　at　last　his　surprise　and　dissatisfaction　burst　out　of　him；　〃Won't　that　bring　him　out　on　us！〃

〃Very　likely；　sir；〃　replied　Dodd。

〃Begging　your　pardon；　captain；　would　it　not　be　wiser　to　keep　our　course；　and　show　the　blackguard　we　don't　fear　him？〃

〃When　we　_do！_　Sharpe；　he　has　made　up　his　mind　an　hour　ago　whether　to　lie　still　or　bite；　my　changing　my　course　two　points　won't　change　his　mind；　but　it　may　make　him　declare　it；　and　_I_　must　know　what　he　does　intend　before　I　run　the　ship　into　the　narrows　ahead。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；〃　said　Sharpe；　half　convinced。

The　alteration　in　the　_Agra's_　course　produced　no　movement　on　the　part　of　the　mysterious　schooner。　She　lay…to　under　the　land　still；　and　with　only　a　few　hands　on　deck；　while　the　_Agra_　edged　away　from　her　and　entered　the　Straits　between　Long　Island　and　Point　Leat；　leaving　the　schooner　about　two　miles　and　a　half　distant　to　the　N。W。


Ah！　The　stranger's　deck　swarms　black　with　men。

His　sham　ports　fell　as　if　by　magic；　his　gums　grinned　through　the　gaps　like　black　teeth；　his　huge　foresail　rose　and　filled；　and　out　he　came　in　chase。


The　breeze　was　a　kiss　from　Heaven；　the　sky　a　vaulted　sapphire；　the　sea　a　million　dimples　of　liquid；　lucid　gold。



CHAPTER　VIII

AMONGST　the　curiosities　of　human　reasoning　is　this：　one　forms　a　judgment　on　certain　statements；　they　turn　out　incorrect；　yet　the　judgment　sound。

This　occurs　oftenest　when；　to　divine　what　any　known　person　will　do　in　a　case　stated；　we　go　boldly　by　his　character；　his　habits；　or　his　interest：　for　these　are　great　forces；　towards　which　men　gravitate　through　various　and　even　contrary　circumstances。

Now　women；　sitting　at　home　out　of　detail's　way；　are　somewhat　forced；　as　well　as　naturally　inclined；　to　rely　on　their　insight　into　character；　and；　by　this　broad　clue；　often　pass　through　false　or　discoloured　data　to　a　sound　calculation。

Thus　it　was　Mrs。　Dodd　applied　her　native　sagacity　to　divine　why　Richard　Hardie　declined　Julia　for　his　son's　wife；　and　how　to　make　him　withdraw　that　dissent：　and　the　fair　diviner　was　much　mistaken　in　detail　but　right　in　her　conclusion；　for　Richard　Hardie　_was_　at　that　moment　the　unlikeliest　man　in　Barkington　to　decline　Julia　Doddwith　Hard　Cash　in　five　figuresfor　his　daughter…in…law。

I　am　now　about　to　make　a　revelation　to　the　reader；　that　will　incidentally　lead　him　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　conclusion；　but　by　a　different　path。

The　outline　she　gave　her　daughter　and　my　reader　of　Richard　Hardie's　cold　and　prudent　youth　was　substantially　correct；　but　something　had　occurred　since　then；　unknown　to　her；　unknown　to　all　Barkington。　The　centuries　had　blown　a　respectable　bubble。

About　two　hundred　and　fifty　years　ago；　some　genius；　as　unknown　as　the　inventor　of　the　lathe；　laid　the　first　wooden　tramroad；　to　enable　a　horse　to　draw　forty…two　cwt。　instead　of　seventeen。　The　coalowners　soon　used　it　largely。　In　1738；　iron　rails　were　invented；　but　prejudice；　stronger　than　that　metal；　kept　them　down；　and　the　wooden　ones　in　vogue；　for　some　thirty　years。　Then　iron　prevailed。

Meantime；　a　much　greater　invention　had　been　creeping　up　to　join　the　metal　way；　I　mean　the　locomotive　power　of　steam；　whose　history　is　not　needed　here。　Enough　that　in　1804　took　place　as　promising　a　wedding　as　civilisation　ever　saw；　for　then　an　engine　built　by　Trevethick；　a　great　genius　frittered　for　want　of　pluck；　drew　carriages；　laden　with　ten　tons；　five　miles　an　hour　on　a　Welsh　railway。　Next　stout　Stephenson　came　on　the　scene；　and　insisted　on　benefiting　mankind　in　spite　of　themselves；　and　of　shallow　legislators；　_a　priori_　reasoners；　and　a　heavy　_Review_　whose　political　motto　was；　〃Stemus　super　antiquas　vias；〃　which　may　be　rendered；　〃Better　stand　still　on　turnpikes　than　move　on　rails。〃

His　torments　and　triumph　are　history。

Two　of　his　repartees　seem　neat：　1。　To　Lord　Noodle；　or　Lord　Doodle；　which　was　it？　objecting　haughtily；　〃And　suppose　a　cow　should　get　in　the　way　of　your　engine；　sir？〃　he　replied；　〃Why；　then　it　would　be　badfor　the　coow。〃　The　objector　had　overrated　the　obstructive　power　of　his　honoured　parent。

2。　To　the　_a　priori_　reasoners；　who　sat　in　their　studies　and　demonstrated　with　complete　unanimity　that　uncogged　wheels　would　revolve　on　a　smooth　rail；　but　leave　the　carriage　_in　statu　quo；_　he　replied　by　building　an　engine　with　Lord　Ravensworth's　noble　aid；　hooking　on　eight　carriages；　and　rattling　off　up　an　incline。　_〃Solvitur　ambulando；_〃　quoth　Stephenson　the　stout…hearted　to　Messrs。　_A　Priori。_

Next　a　coach　ran　on　the　Stockton　and　Darlington　rail。　Next　the　Liverpool　and　Manchester　line　was　projected。　Oh；　then；　what　bitter　opposition　to　the　national　benefactors；　and　the　good　of　man！

Awake　from　the　tomb　echoes　of　dead　Cant。

〃The　revolving　wheels　might　move　the　engine　on　a　rail；　but　what　would　that　avail　if　they　could　not　move　them　in　the　closet；　and　on　a　mathematical　paper？　Railways　would　be　bad　for　canals；　bad　for　morals；　bad　for　highwaymen；　bad　for　roadside　inns：　the　smoke　would　kill　the　partridges　（'Aha！　thou　hast　touched　us　nearly；'　said　the　country　gentlemen）；　the　travellers　would　go　slowly　to　their　destination；　but　swift　to　destruction。〃　And　the　_Heavy　Review；_　whose　motto　was　_〃Stemus　super_　turnpikes；〃　offered　〃to　back　old　Father　Thames　against　the　Woolwich　railway　for　any　sum。　And　Black　Will；　who　drove　the　next　heaviest　ephemeral　in　the　island；　told　a　schoolboy；　who　now　writes　these　pages；　〃there's　nothing　can　ever　be　safe　at　twenty　miles　an　hour；　without　'tis　a　bird　in　the　air；〃　and　confirmed　it　with　an　oath。　Briefly；　buzz！　buzz！　buzz！

Gray　was　crushed；　Tre