hard cash-第37章

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CHAPTER　XIII


THE　subsiding　sea　was　now　a　liquid　Paradise：　its　great　pellucid　braes　and　hillocks　shone　with　the　sparkle　and　the　hues　of　all　the　jewels　in　an　emperor's　crown。　Imagineafter　three　days　of　inky　sea；　and　pitchy　sky；　and　Death's　deep　jaws　snapping　and　barely　missingten　thousand　great　slopes　of　emerald；　aquamarine；　amethyst　and　topaz；　liquid；　alive；　and　dancing　jocundly　beneath　a　gorgeous　sun：　and　you　will　have　a　faint　idea　of　what　met　the　eyes　and　hearts　of　the　rescued　looking　out　of　that　battered；　jagged　ship；　upon　ocean　smiling　back　to　smiling　Heaven。

Yet　one　man　felt　no　buoyancy；　nor　gush　of　joy。　He　leaned　against　a　fragment　of　the　broken　bulwark；　confused　between　the　sweetness　of　life　preserved　and　the　bitterness　of　treasure　losthis　wife's　and　children's　treasured　treasure；　benumbed　at　heart；　and　almost　weary　of　the　existence　he　had　battled　for　so　stoutly。　He　looked　so　moody；　and　answered　so　grimly　and　unlike　himself；　that　they　all　held　aloof　from　him；　heavy　heart　among　so　many　joyful　ones；　he　was　in　true　solitude；　the　body　in　a　crowd；　the　soul　alone。　And　he　was　sore　as　well　as　heavy；　for　of　all　the　lubberly　acts　he　had　ever　known；　the　way　he　had　lost　his　dear　ones'　fortune　seemed　to　him　the　worst。

A　voice　sounded　in　his　ear：　〃Poor　thing！　she　has　s　foundered。〃

It　was　Fullalove　scanning　the　horizon　with　his　famous　glass。

〃Foundered？　Who？〃　said　Dodd；　though　he　did　not　care　much　who　sank；　who　swam。　Then　he　remembered　the　vessel；　whose　flashing　guns　had　shed　a　human　ray　on　the　unearthly　horror　of　the　black　hurricane。　He　looked　all　round。

Blank。

Ay；　she　had　perished　with　all　hands。　The　sea　had　swallowed　her；　and　spared　himungrateful。

This　turned　his　mind　sharply。　Suppose　the　_Agra_　had　gone　down；　the　money　would　be　lost　as　now；　and　his　life　into　the　bargaina　life　dearer　to　all　at　home　than　millions　of　gold：　he　prayed　inwardly　to　Heaven　for　gratitude　and　goodness　to　feel　its　mercy。　This　softened　him　a　little；　and　his　heart　swelled　so；　he　wished　he　was　a　woman　to　cry　over　his　children's　loss　for　an　hour；　and　then　shake　all　off　and　go　through　his　duty　somehow；　for　now　he　was　paralysed；　and　all　seemed　ended。　Next；　nautical　superstition　fastened　on　him。　That　pocket…book　of　his　was　Jonah：　it　had　to　go　or　else　the　ship；　the　moment　it　did　go；　the　storm　had　broken　as　by　magic。

Now　Superstition　is　generally　stronger　than　rational　Religion；　whether　they　lie　apart　or　together　in　one　mind；　and　this　superstitious　notion　did　something　toward　steeling　the　poor　man。　〃Come；〃　said　he　to　himself　〃my　loss　has　saved　all　these　poor　souls　on　board　this　ship。　So　be　it！　Heaven's　will　be　done！　I　must　bustle；　or　else　go　mad。〃

He　turned　to　and　worked　like　a　horse：　and　with　his　own　hands　helped　the　men　to　rig　parallel　ropesa　substitute　for　bulwarkstill　the　perspiration　ran　down　him。

Bayliss　now　reported　the　well　nearly　dry；　and　Dodd　was　about　to　bear　up　and　make　sail　again；　when　one　of　the　ship…boys；　a　little　fellow　with　a　bright　eye　and　a　chin　like　a　monkey's；　came　up　to　him　and　said

〃Please；　captain！〃　Then　glared　with　awe　at　what　he　had　done；　and　broke　down。

〃Well；　my　little　man？〃　said　Dodd　gently。

Thus　encouraged；　the　boy　gave　a　great　gulp；　and　burst　in　in　a　brogue；　〃Och　your　arnr；　sure　there's　no　rudder　on　her　at　all　barrin　the　tiller。〃

〃What　d'ye　mean？〃

〃Don't　murder　me；　your　arnr；　and　I'll　tell　ye。　It's　meself　looked　over　the　starrn　just　now；　and　I　seen　there　was　no　rudder　at　all　at　all。　Mille　diaoul；　sis　I；　ye　old　bitch；　I'll　tell　his　arur　what　y'are　after；　slipping　your　rudder　like　my　granny's　list　shoe；　I　will。〃

Dodd　ran　to　the　helm　and　looked　down；　the　brat　was　right：　the　blows　which　had　so　endangered　the　ship；　had　broken　the　rudder；　and　the　sea　had　washed　away　more　than　half　of　it。　The　sight　and　the　reflection　made　him　faintish　for　a　moment。　Death　passing　so　very　close　to　a　man　sickens　him　_afterwards；_　unless　he　has　the　luck　to　be　brainless。



〃What　is　your　name；　urchin？〃

〃Ned　Murphy；　sir。〃

〃Very　well；　Murphy；　then　you　are　a　fine　little　fellow；　and　have　wiped　all　our　eyes　in　the　ship：　run　and　send　the　carpenter　aft。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir。〃

The　carpenter　came。　Like　most　artisans；　he　was　clever　in　a　groove：　take　him　out　of　that；　and　lo！　a　mule；　a　pig；　an　owl。　He　was　not　only　unable　to　invent；　but　so　stiffly　disinclined：　a　makeshift　rudder　was　clean　out　of　his　way；　and；　as　his　whole　struggle　was　to　get　away　from　every　suggestion　Dodd　made　back　to　groove　aforesaid；　the　thing　looked　hopeless。　Then　Fullalove；　who　had　stood　by　grinning；　offered　to　make　a　bunkum　rudder；　provided　the　carpenter　and　mates　were　put　under　his　orders。　〃But〃　said　he；　〃I　must　bargain　they　shall　be　disrated　if　they　attempt　to　reason。〃　〃That　is　no　more　than　fair；〃　said　Dodd。　The　Yankee　inventor　demanded　a　spare　maincap；　and　cut　away　one　end　of　the　square　piece；　so　as　to　make　it　fit　the　stem…post：　through　the　circle　of　the　cap　he　introduced　a　spare　mizen　topmast：　to　this　he　seized　a　length　of　junk；　another　to　that；　another　to　that；　and　so　on：　to　the　outside　junk　he　seized　a　spare　maintop…gallant　mast；　and　this　conglomerate　being　now　nearly　as　broad　as　a　rudder；　he　planked　over　all。　The　sea　by　this　time　was　calm；　he　got　the　machine　over　the　stern；　and　had　the　square　end　of　the　cap　bolted　to　the　stern…post。　He　had　already　fixed　four　spans　of　nine…inch　hawser　to　the　sides　of　the　makeshift；　two　fastened　to　tackles；　which　led　into　the　gunroom　ports；　and　were　housed　tautthese　kept　the　lower　part　of　the　makeshift　close　to　the　stern　postand　two；　to　which　guys　were　now　fixed　and　led　through　the　aftermost　ports　on　to　the　quarter…deck；　where　luff…tackles　were　attached　to　them；　by　means　of　which　the　makeshift　was　to　be　worked　as　a　rudder。

Some　sail　was　now　got　on　the　ship；　and　she　was　found　to　steer　very　well。　Dodd　tried　her　on　every　tack；　and　at　last　ordered　Sharpe　to　make　all　sail　and　head　for　the　Cape。

This　electrified　the　first　mate。　The　breeze　was　very　faint　but　southerly；　and　the　Mauritius　under　their　lee。　They　could　make　it　in　a　night　and　there　refit；　and　ship　a　new　rudder。　He　suggested　the　danger　of　sailing　sixteen　hundred　miles　steered　by　a　gimcrack；　and　implored　Dodd　to　put　into　port。

Dodd　answered　with　a　roughness　and　a　certain　wildness　never　seen　in　him　before：　〃Danger；　sir！　There　will　be　no　more　foul　weather　this　voyage；　Jonah　is　overboard。〃　Sharpe　stared　an　inquiry。　〃I　tell　you　we　shan't　lower　our　topgallants　once　from　this　to　the　Cape：　Jonah　is　overboard：〃　and　he　slapped　his　forehead　in　despair；　then；　stamping　impatiently　with　his　foot；　told　Sharpe　his　duty　was　to　obey　orders；　not　discuss　them。　〃Certainly；　sir；〃　said　Sharpe　sullenly；　and　went　out　of　the　cabin　with　serious　thoughts　of　communicating　to　the　other　mates　an　alarming　suspicion　about　Dodd；　that　now；　for　the　first　time；　crossed　his　mind。　But　long　habit　of　discipline　prevailed；　and　he　made　all　sail　on　the　ship；　and　bore　away　for　the　Cape　with　a　heavy　heart。　The　sea　was　like　a　mill…pond；　but　in　that　he　saw　only　its　well…known　treachery；　to　lead　them　on　to　this　unparalleled　act　of　madness：　each　sail　he　hoisted　seemed　one　more　agent　of　Destruction　rising　at　his　own　suicidal　command。

Towards　evening　it　became　nearly　dead　calm。　The　sea　heaved　a　little；　but　was　waveless；　glassy；　and　the　colour　of　a　rose；　incredibly　brave　and　delicate。

The　look…out　reported　pieces　of　wreck　to　windward。　As　the　ship　was　making　so　little　way；　Dodd　beat　up　towards　them：　he　feared　it　was　a　British　ship　that　had　foundered　in　the　storm；　and　thought　it　his　duty　to　ascertain　and　carry　the　sad　news　home。　In　two　tacks　they　got　near　enough　to　see　with　their　glasses　that　the　fragments　belonged；　not　to　a　stranger；　but　to　the　_Agra_　herself。　There　was　one　of　her　waterbutts；　and　a　broken　mast　with　some　rigging：　and　as　more　wreck　was　descried　coming　in　at　a　little　distance；　Dodd　kept　the　ship　close　to　the　wind　to　inspect　it：　on　drifting　near；　it　proved　to　be　several　pieces　of　the　bulwark；　and　a　mahogany　table　out　of　the　cuddy　This　sort　of　flotsam　was　not　worth　delaying　the　ship　to　pick　it　up；　so　Dodd　made　sail　again；　steering　now　south…east。

He　had　sailed　about　half　a　mile　when　the　look…out　hailed　the　deck　again。

〃A　man　in　the　water！〃

〃Whereabouts？〃

〃A　short　league　on　the　weather　quarter。〃

〃Oh；　we　can't　beat　to　windward　for　_him；_〃　said　Sharpe；　〃he　is　dead　long　ago。〃

〃Holds　his　head　very　high　for　a　corpse；〃　said　the　look…out。

〃I'll　soon　know；〃　cried　Dodd。　〃Lower　the　gig；　I'll　go　myself。〃

The　gig　was　lowered；　and　six　swift　rowers　pulled　him　to　windward；　while　the　ship　kept　on　her　course。

It　is　most　unusual　for　a　captain　to　leave　the　ship　at　sea　on　such　petty　errands：　but　Dodd　half　hoped　the　man　might　be　alive；　and　he　was　so　unhappy；　and；　like　his　daughter；　who　probably　derived　the　trait　from　him；　grasped　instinctively　at　a　chance　of　doing　kindness　to　some　poor　fellow　alive　or　dead。　That　would　soothe　his　own　sore；　good　heart。

When　they　had　pulled　about　two　miles；　the　sun　was　sinking　into　the　horizon。　〃Give　way；　men；〃　said　Dodd；　〃or　we　shall　not　be　able　to　see　him。〃　The　men　bent　to　their　oars　and　made　the　boat　fly

Presently　the　coxswain　caught　sight　of　an　object　bobbing　on　the　water　abeam。

〃Why；　that　must　be　it；〃　said　he：　〃the　lubber！　to　take　it　for　a　man's　head。　Why；　it　is　nothing　but　a　thundering　old　bladder；　speckled　white。〃

〃What？〃　cried　Dodd；　and　fell　a…trembling。　〃Steer　for　it！　Give　way！〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir！〃

They　soon　came　alongside　the　bladder；　and　the　coxswain　grabbed　it。　〃Hallo！　here's　something　lashed　to　it：　a　bottle！〃

〃Give　it　me！〃　gasped　Dodd　in　a　voice　choked　with　agitation。　〃Give　it　me！　Back　to　the　ship！　Fly！　fly！　Cut　her　off；　or　she'll　give　us　the　slip　_now。_〃

He　never　spoke　a　word　more；　but　sat　in　a　stupor　of　joyful　wonder。

They　soon　caught　the　ship；　he　got　into　his　cabin；　he　scarce　knew　how：　broke　the　bottle　to　atoms；　and　found　the　indomitable　Cash　uninjured。　With　trembling　hands　he　restored　it　to　its　old　place　in　his　bosom；　and　sewed　it　tighter　than　ever。

Until　he　felt　it　there　once　more；　he　could　hardly　realise　a　stroke　of　good　fortune　that　seemed　miraculousthough；　in　reality；　it　was　less　strange　than　the　way　he　had　lost　it；*　but　now；　laid　bodily　on　his　heart；　it　set　his　bosom　on　fire。　Oh；　the　bright　eye；　the　bounding　pulse；　the　buoyant　foot；　the　reckless　joy！　He　slapped　Sharpe　on　the　back　a　little　vulgarly　for　him：

〃Jonah　is　on　board　again；　old　fellow：　look　out　for　squalls。〃

*The　_Agra_；　being　much　larger　than　the　bottle；　had　drifted　faster　to　leeward　in　the　storm。

He　uttered　this　foreboding　in　a　tone　of　triumph；　and　with　a　gay　elastic　recklessness；　which　harmonised　so　well　with　his　makeshift　rudder；　that　Sharpe　groaned　aloud；　and　wished　himself　under　any　captain　in　the　world　but　this；　and　in　any　other　ship。　He　looked　round　to　make　sure　he　was　not　watched；　and　then　tapped　his　forehead　significantly。　This　somewhat　relieved　him；　and　he　did　his　duty　smartly　for　a　man　going　to　the　bottom　with　his　eyes　open。

But　ill　luck　is　not　to　be　bespoken　any　more　than　good：　the　_Agra's_　seemed　to　have　blown　itself　out；　the　wind　veered　to　the　south…west；　and　breathed　steadily　in　that　quarter　for　ten　days。　The　topgallant　sails　were　never　lowered　nor　shifted　day　nor　night　all　that　time；　and　not　a　single　danger　occurred　between　th