hard cash-第33章

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CHAPTER　XI

THE　two　supple　dusky　forms　went　whirling　so　fast；　there　was　no　grasping　them　to　part　them。　But　presently　the　negro　seized　the　Hindoo　by　the　throat；　the　Hindoo　just　pricked　him　in　the　arm　with　his　knife；　and　the　next　moment　his　own　head　was　driven　against　the　side　of　the　cabin　with　a　stunning　crack；　and　there　he　was；　pinned；　and　wriggling；　and　bluish　with　fright；　whereas　the　other　swart　face　close　against　his　was　dark…grey　with　rage；　and　its　two　fireballs　of　eyes　rolled　fearfully；　as　none　but　African　eyes　can　roll。

Fullalove　pacified　him　by　voice　and　touch；　he　withdrew　his　iron　grasp　with　sullen　and　lingering　reluctance；　and　glared　like　a　disappointed　mastiff：　The　cabin　was　now　full；　and　Sharpe　was　for　putting　both　the　blacks　in　irons。　No　splitter　of　hairs　was　he。　But　Fullalove　suggested　there　might　be　a　moral　distinction　between　things　that　looked　equally　dark　to　the　eye。

〃Well；　then；　speak　quick；　both　of　you；〃　said　Sharpe；　〃or　I'll　lay　ye　both　by　the　heels。　Ye　black　scoundrels；　what　business　have　you　in　the　captain's　cabin；　kicking　up　the　devil's　delight？〃

Thus　threatened；　Vespasian　panted　out　his　tale；　he　had　discovered　this　nigger；　as　he　persisted　in　calling　the　Hindoo；　eternally　prowling　about　the　good　captain's　door；　and　asking　stupid　questions：　he　had　watched　him；　and；　on　the　surgeon　coming　out　with　the　good　news　that　the　captain　was　better；　in　had　crawled　〃this　yar　abominable　egotisk。〃　And　he　raised　a　ponderous　fist　to　point　the　polysyllables：　with　this　aid　the　sarcasm　would　doubtless　have　been　crushing；　but　Fullalove　hung　on　the　sable　orator's　arm；　and　told　him　drily　to　try　and　speak　without　gesticulating。　〃The　darned　old　cuss；〃　said　Vespasian；　with　a　pathetic　sigh　at　not　being　let　hit　him。　He　resumed　and　told　how　he　had　followed　the　Hindoo　stealthily；　and　found　him　with　a　knife　uplifted　over　the　captaina　tremor　ran　through　all　presentrobbing　him。　At　this　a　loud　murmur　filled　the　room；　a　very　ugly　one；　the　sort　of　snarl　with　which　dogs　fly　at　dogs'　throats　with　their　teeth；　and　men　fly　at　men's　throats　with　a　cord。

〃Be　quiet；〃　said　Sharpe　imperiously。　〃I'll　have　no　lynching　in　a　vessel　I　command。　Now　then；　you；　sir；　how　do　you　know　he　was　robbing　the　captain？〃

〃How　do　I　know！　Yah！　yah！　Cap'n；　if　you　please　you　tell　dis　unskeptical　gemman　whether　you　don't　miss　a　lilly　book　out　of　your　bosom！〃

During　this　extraordinary　scene；　Dodd　had　been　looking　from　one　speaker　to　another　in　great　surprise　and　some　confusion；　but　at　the　negro's　direct　appeal；　his　hand　went　to　his　breast　and　clutched　it　with　a　feeble　but　heartrending　cry。

〃Oh；　him　not　gone　far。　Yah！　yah！〃　and　Vespasian　stooped；　and　took　up　an　oilskin　packet　off　the　floor；　and　laid　it　on　the　bed。　〃Dis　child　seen　him　in　dat　ar　niggar's　hand；　and　heard　him　go　whack　on　de　floor。〃

Dodd　hurried　the　packet　into　his　bosom；　then　turned　all　gratitude　to　his　sable　friend：　〃Now　God　bless　you！　God　bless　you！　Give　me　your　honest　hand！　You　don't　know　what　you　have　done　for　me　and　mine。〃

And；　sick　as　he　was；　he　wrung　Vespasian's　hand　with　convulsive　strength；　and　would　not　part　with　it。　Vespasian　patted　him　soothingly　all　over；　and　whimpered　out：　〃Nebber　you　mind；　cap'n！　You　bery　good　man：　this　child　bery　fond　of　you　a　long　time　ago。　You　bery　good　man；　outrageous　good　man！　dam　good　man！　I　propose　your　health：　invalesee　directly！〃

While　Dodd　was　speaking；　the　others　were　silent　out　of　respect；　but　now　Sharpe　broke　in；　and；　with　the　national　desire　to　hear　both　sides；　called　on　Ramgolam　for　his　version。　The　Hindoo　was　now　standing　with　his　arms　crossed　on　his　breast；　looking　all　the　martyr；　meek　and　dignified。　He　inquired　of　Sharpe；　in　very　broken　English；　whether　he　spoke　Hindostanee。

〃Not　I：　nor　don't　act　it　neither；〃　said　Sharpe。

At　this　confession　Ramgolam　looked　down　on　him　with　pity　and　mild　contempt。

Mr。　Tickell　was　put　forward　as　interpreter。

_Ramgolam　（in　Hindostanee）。_　He　whom　Destiny；　too　strong　for　mortals；　now　oppresses　with　iron　hand　and　feeds　with　the　bread　of　affliction

_Mr。　Tickell　（translating）。_　He　who　by　bad　luck　has　got　into　trouble

_Ramgolam。_　Has　long　observed　the　virtues　that　embellish　the　commander　of　this　ship　resembling　a　mountain；　and　desired　to　imitate　them

_Tickell。_　Saw　what　a　good　man　the　captain　is；　and　wanted　to　be　like　him

_Vespasian。_　The　darned　old　cuss。

_Ramgolam。_　Seeing　him　often　convey　his　hand　to　his　bosom；　I　ascribed　his　unparalleled　excellence　to　the　possession　of　some　sovereign　talisman。　（Tickell　managed　to　translate　this　sentence　all　but　the　word　talisman；　which　he　renderedwith　all　a　translator's　caution〃article。〃）　Finding　him　about　to　depart　to　the　regions　of　the　blessed；　where　such　auxiliaries　are　not　needed；　and　being　eager　to　emulate　his　perfections　here　below；　I　came　softly　to　the　place　where　he　lay

_Tickell。_　When　I　saw　him　going　to　slip　his　cable；　I　wanted　to　be　as　good　a　fellow　as　he　is；　so　I　crept　alongside

_Ramgolam。_　And　gently；　and　without　force；　made　myself　proprietor　of　the　amulet　and　inheritor　of　a　good　man's　qualities

_Tickell。_　And　quietly　boned　the　article；　and　the　captain's　virtues。　I　don't　know　what　the　beggar　means。

_Ramgolam。_　Then　a　traitor　with　a　dark　skin；　but　darker　soul

_Tickell。_　Then　another　black…hearted　nigger

_Ramgolam。_　Came　furiously　and　misappropriated　the　charm　thus　piously　obtained

_Tickell。_　Ran　in　and　stole　it　from　me。

_Ramgolam。_　And　bereft　me　of　the　excellences　I　was　inheriting：　and

Here　Sharpe　interrupted　the　dialogue　by　putting　the　misappropriator　of　other　men's　virtues　in　irons；　and　the　surgeon　insisted　on　the　cabin　being　cleared。　But　Dodd　would　not　part　with　the　three　friends　yet；　he　begged　them　to　watch　him；　and　see　nobody　else　came　to　take　his　children's　fortune。

〃I'll　sink　or　swim　with　it；　but　oh！　I　doubt　we　shall　have　no　luck　while　it　is　aboard　me。　I　never　had　a　pirate　alongside　before；　in　all　these　years。　What　is　this？here's　something　in　it　nowsomething　hardsomething　heavy：　andwhy；　it's　a　bullet！〃

On　this　announcement；　an　eager　inspection　took　place：　and；　sure　enough；　a　bullet　had　passed　through　Dodd's　coat　and　waistcoat；　&c。；　and　through　the　oilskin　and　the　leather　pocketbook；　and　just　dented　the　〃Hard　Cash；〃　no　more。

There　was　a　shower　of　comments　and　congratulations。

The　effect　of　this　discovery　on　the　sick　man's　spirits　was　remarkable。　〃I　was　a　villain　to　belie　it；〃　said　he。　〃It　is　my　wife's　and　my　children's；　and　it　has　saved　my　life　for　them。〃

He　kissed　it　and　placed　it　in　his　bosom；　and　soon　after　sunk　into　a　peaceful　slumber。　The　excitement　had　not　the　ill　effect　the　surgeon　feared：　it　somewhat　exhausted　him；　and　he　slept　long；　but　on　awakening；　was　pronounced　out　of　danger。　To　tell　the　truth；　the　tide　had　turned　in　his　favour　overnight；　and　it　was　to　convey　the　good　news　on　deck　the　surgeon　had　left　him。


While　Dodd　was　recovering；　the　_Agra_　was　beating　westward　with　light　but　contrary　winds；　and　a　good　month　elapsed　without　any　incident　affecting　the　Hard　Cash；　whose　singular　adventures　I　have　to　record。　In　this　dearth；　please　put　up　with　a　little　characteristic　trifle；　which　did　happen　one　moonlight　night。　Mr。　Fullalove　lay　coiled　below　decks　in　deep　abstraction　meditating　a　patent；　and　being　in　shadow　and　silent；　he　saw　Vespasian　in　the　moonlight　creeping　on　all　fours　like　a　guilty　thing　into　the　bedroom　of　Colonel　Kenealy；　then　fast　asleep。　A　horrible　suspicion　thrilled　through　Fullalove：　a　suspicion　he　waited　grimly　to　verify。

The　transatlantic　Mixture；　Fullalove；　was　not　merely　an　inventor；　a　philanthrope；　a　warrior；　a　preacher；　a　hunter；　a　swimmer；　a　fiddler；　a　sharp　fellow；　a　good　fellow；　a　Puritan；　and　a　Bohemian；　he　was　also　a　Theorist：　and　his　Theory；　which　dub　we

　　　　　THE　AFRICAN　THEORY；

had　two　branches。　1。　That　the　races　of　men　started　equal；　but　accident　upon　accident　had　walked　some　tribes　up　a　ladder　of　civilisation；　and　kicked　others　down　it；　and　left　others；　standing　at　the　foot。

2。　That　the　good　work　of　centuries　could　be　done；　at　a　pinch；　in　a　few　generations；　by　artificial　condensation　of　the　favourable　circumstances。　For　instance；　secure　this　worker　in　Ebony　150　years'　life；　and　he　would　sign　a　penal　bond　to　produce　Negroes　of　the　fourth　descent　equal　in　mind　to　the　best　contemporary　white。　〃You　can　breed　Brains；〃　said　he；　〃under　any　skin；　as　inevitably　as　Fat。　It　takes　time　and　the　right　crosses；　but　so　does　Fator　rather　it　did；　for　Fat　is　an　institution　now。〃　And　here　our　Republican　must　have　a　slap　at　thrones。　〃Compare；〃　said　he；　〃the　opportunities　of　these　distinguished　Gentlemen　and　Ladies　with　their　acts。　Their　seats　have　been　high；　but　their　minds　low；　I　swan。　They　have　been　breeders　for　ages；　and　known　the　two　rudiments　of　the　science；　have　crossed　and　crossed　for　grenadiers；　racehorses；　poultry；　and　prize…bullocks；　and　bred　in　and　in　for　fools；　but　which　of　them　has　ever　aspired　to　breed　a　Newton；　a　Pascal；　a　Shakespeare；　a　Solon；　a　Raphael？　Yet　all　these　were　results　to　be　obtained　by　the　right　crosses；　as　surely　as　a　swift　horse　or　a　circular　sow。　Now　fancy　breeding　shorthorns　when　you　might　breed　long　heads。〃　So　Vespasian　was　to　engender　Young　Africa；　he　was　to　be　first　elevated　morally　and　intellectually　as　high　as　he　would　go；　and　then　set　to　breed；　his　partner；　of　course；　to　be　elected　by　Fullalove；　and　educated　as　high　as　she　would　consent　to　without　an　illicit　connection　with　the　Experimentalist。　He　would　be　down　on　their　Pickaninnies　before　the　parents　could　transfer　the　remnant　of　their　own　weaknesses　to　them；　polysyllables　included；　and　would　polish　these　ebony　chips；　and　at　the　next　cross　reckoned　to　rear　a　genius；　by　which　time；　as　near　as　he　could　calculate；　he　the　Theorist　would　be　in　his　dotage：　and　all　the　better；　make　a　curious　contrast　in　favour　of　Young　Africa。

Vespasian　could　not　hit　a　barn　door　sittingwith　a　rifle！　it　was　purely　with　a　view　to　his　moral　improvement　mind　you；　that　Fullalove　invited　him　into　the　mizentop　to　fight　the　pirate。　The　Patient　came　gingerly　and　shivered　there　with　fear。　But　five　minutes　elapsing；　and　he　not　killed；　that　weakness　gave　way　to　a　jocund　recklessness；　and　he　kept　them　all　gay　with　his　quaint　remarks；　of　which　I　must　record　but　one。　When　they　crossed　the　stern　of　the　pirate；　the　distance　was　so　small　that　the　faces　of　that　motley　crew　were　plainly　visible。　Now；　Vespasian　was　a　merciless　critic　of　coloured　skins。　〃Wal；〃　said　he；　turning　up　his　nose　sky…high；　〃dis　child　never　seen　such　a　mixallaneous　biling　'o　darkies　as　this　yar；　why　darned　ef　there　ain't　every　colour　in　the　rainbow；　from　the　ace　of　spades；　down　to　the　fine　dissolving　views。〃　This　amazing　description；　coupled　with　his　look　of　affront　and　disgust；　made　the　white　men　roar；　for　men　fighting　for　their　lives　have　a　greater　tendency　to　laugh　than　one　would　think　possible。　Fullalove　was　proud　of　the　critic；　and　for　a　while　lost　sight　of　the　pirate　in　his　theory；　which　also　may　seem　strange。　But　your　true　theorist　is　a　man　apart：　he　can　withdraw　into　himself　under　difficulties。　What　said　one　of　the　breed　two　thousand　years　ago？

　　　　〃Media　inter　praelia　semper　　　　　　Sideribus　coelique　plagis　Superisque　vacavi。〃

Oh；　the　great　African　heart！〃　said　Fullalove　after　the　battle。　〃By　my　side　he　fears　no　danger。　Of　all　men；　n