hard cash-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



It　is　droll；　and　sad；　but　true；　that　Christendom　is　full　of　men　in　a　hurry　to　hate。　And　a　fruitful　cause　is　jealousy。　The　schoolmen；　or　rather　certain　of　the　schoolmenfor　nothing　is　much　shallower　than　to　speak　of　all　those　disputants　as　one　schooldefined　woman；　〃a　featherless　biped　vehemently　addicted　to　jealousy。〃　Whether　she　is　more　featherless　than　the　male　can　be　decided　at　a　trifling　expense　of　time；　money；　and　reason：　you　have　but　to　go　to　court。　But　as　for　envy　and　jealousy；　I　think　it　is　pure；　unobservant；　antique　Cant　which　has　fixed　them　on　the　female　character　distinctively。　As　a　molehill　to　a　mountain　is　women's　jealousy　to　men's。　Agatha　may　have　a　host　of　virtues　and　graces；　and　yet　her　female　acquaintance　will　not　hate　her；　provided　she　has　the　moderation　to　abstain　from　being　downright　pretty。　She　may　sing　like　an　angel；　paint　like　an　angel；　talk；　write；　nurse　the　sick；　all　like　an　angel；　and　not　rouse　the　devil　in　her　fair　sisters；　so　long　as　she　does　not　dress　like　an　angel。　But　the　minds　of　men　being　much　larger　than　women's；　yet　very　little　greater；　they　hang　jealousy　on　a　thousand　pegs。　Where　there　was　no　peg；　I　have　seen　them　do　with　a　pin。

Captain　Robarts　took　a　pin；　ran　it　into　his　own　heart；　and　hung　that　sordid　passion　on　it。

He　would　get　rid　of　all　the　Doddites　before　he　sailed。　He　insulted　Mr。　Tickell；　so　that　he　left　the　service　and　entered　a　mercantile　house　ashore：　he　made　several　of　the　best　men　desert；　and　the　ship　went　to　sea　short　of　hands。　This　threw　heavier　work　on　the　crew；　and　led　to　many　punishments　and　a　steady　current　of　abuse。　Sharpe　became　a　mere　machine；　always　obeying；　never　speaking：　Grey　was　put　under　arrest　for　remonstrating　against　ungentlemanly　language；　and　Bayliss；　being　at　bottom　of　the　same　breed　as　Robarts；　fell　into　his　humour；　and　helped　hector　the　petty　officers　and　men。　The　crew；　depressed　and　irritated；　went　through　their　duties　pully…hauly…wise。　There　was　no　song　under　the　forecastle　in　the　first　watch；　and　often　no　grog　on　the　mess　table　at　one　bell。　Dodd　never　came　on　the　quarter…deck　without　being　reminded　he　was　only　a　passenger；　and　the　ship　was　now　under　naval　discipline。　_〃I_　was　reared　in　the　royal　navy；　sir；〃　would　Robarts　say；　〃second　lieutenant　aboard　the　_Atalanta：_　that　is　the　school；　sir；　that　is　the　only　school　that　breeds　seamen。〃　Dodd　bore　scores　of　similar　taunts　as　a　Newfoundland　puts　up　with　a　terrier　in　office：　he　seldom　replied；　and；　when　he　did；　in　a　few　quiet　dignified　words　that　gave　no　handle。

Robarts；　who　bore　the　name　of　a　lucky　captain；　had　fair　weather　all　the　way　to　St。　Helena。

The　guard…ship　at　this　island　was　the　_Salamanca。_　She　had　left　the　Cape　a　week　before　the　_Agra。_　Captain　Robarts；　with　his　characteristic　good…breeding；　went　to　anchor　in…shore　of　Her　Majesty's　ship：　the　wind　failed　at　a　critical　moment；　and　a　foul　became　inevitable。　Collier　was　on　his　quarter…deck；　and　saw　what　would　happen　long　before　Robarts　did；　he　gave　the　needful　orders；　and　it　was　beautiful　to　see　how　in　half　a　minute　the　frigate's　guns　were　run　in；　her　ports　lowered；　her　yards　toppled　on　end；　and　a　spring　carried　out　and　hauled　on。

The　_Agra_　struck　abreast　her　own　forechains　on　the　_Salamanca's_　quarter。

（Pipe。）　〃Boarders　away。　Tomahawks！　cut　everything　that　holds！〃　was　heard　from　the　frigate's　quarter…deck。　Rush　came　a　boarding　party　on　to　the　merchant　ship　and　hacked　away　without　mercy　all　her　lower　rigging　that　held　on　to　the　frigate；　signal　halyards　and　all；　others　boomed　her　off　with　capstan　bars；　&c。；　and　in　two　minutes　the　ships　were　clear。　A　lieutenant　and　boat's　crew　came　for　Robarts；　and　ordered　him　on　board　the　_Salamanca；_　and；　to　make　sure　of　his　coming；　took　him　back　with　them。　He　found　Commodore　Collier　standing　stiff　as　a　ramrod　on　his　quarter…deck。　〃Are　you　the　master　of　the　_Agra？_〃　（His　quick　eye　had　recognised　her　in　a　moment。）

〃I　am；　sir。〃

〃Then　she　was　commanded　by　a　seaman；　and　is　now　commanded　by　a　lubber。　Don't　apply　for　your　papers　this　week；　for　you　won't　get　them。　Good　morning。　Take　him　away。〃

They　returned　Robarts　to　his　ship；　and　a　suppressed　grin　on　a　score　of　faces　showed　him　the　clear　commanding　tones　of　the　commodore　had　reached　his　own　deck。　He　soothed　himself　by　stopping　the　men's　grog　and　mast…heading　three　midshipmen　that　same　afternoon。

The　night　before　he　weighed　anchor　this　disciplinarian　was　drinking　very　late　in　a　low　public…house。　There　was　not　much　moon；　and　the　officer　in　charge　of　the　ship　did　not　see　the　gig　coming　till　it　was　nearly　alongside：　then　all　was　done　in　a　flurry。

〃Hy！　man　the　side！　Lanterns　there！　Jump；　you　boys；　or　you'll　catch　pepper。〃

The　boys　did　jump；　and　little　Murphy；　not　knowing　the　surgeon　had　ordered　the　ports　to　be　drooped；　bounded　over　the　bulwarks　like　an　antelope；　lighted　on　the　midship　port；　which　stood　at　this　angle　/；　and　glanced　off　into　the　ocean；　lantern　foremost：　he　made　his　little　hole　in　the　water　within　a　yard　of'　Captain　Robarts。　That　Dignity；　though　splashed；　took　no　notice　of　so　small　an　incident　as　a　gone　ship…boy：　and　if　Murphy　had　been　wise　and　stayed　with　Nep。　all　had　been　well。　But　the　poor　urchin　inadvertently　came　up　again；　and　without　the　lantern。　One　of　the　gig's　crew　grabbed　him　by　the　hair；　and　prolonged　his　existence　by　an　inconsiderate　impulse。

〃Where　is　the　other　lantern？〃　was　Robarts'　first　word　on　reaching　the　deck：　as　if　he　didn't　know。

〃Gone　overboard；　sir；　with　the　boy　Murphy。〃

〃Stand　forward；　you；　sir；〃　growled　Robarts。

Murphy　stood　forward；　dripping　and　shivering　with　cold　and　fear。

〃What　d'ye　mean　by　going　overboard　with　the　ship's　lantern？〃

〃Och；　your　arnr；　sure　some　unasy　divil　drooped　the　port；　and　the　lantern　and　me　we　had　no　foothold　at　all　at　all；　and　the　lantern　went　into　the　say；　bad　luck　to　ut；　and　I　went　afther　to　try　and　save　utfor　your　arnr。〃

〃Belay　all　that！〃　said　Robarts；　〃do　you　think　you　can　blarney　me；　you　young　monkey？　Here；　Bosen's　mate；　take　a　rope's…end　and　start　him！Again！Warm　him　well！That's　right。〃

As　soon　as　the　poor　child's　shrieks　subsided　into　sobs；　the　disciplinarian　gave　him　Explanation　for　Ointment：　〃I　can't　have　the　Company's　stores　expended　this　way。〃

The　force　of　discipline　could　no　farther　go　than　to　flog　zeal　for　falling　overboard：　so；　to　avoid　anticlimax　in　that　port；　Robarts　weighed　anchor　at　daybreak；　and　there　was　a　southwesterly　breeze　waiting　for　this　favourite　of　fortune；　and　carried　him　past　the　Azores。　Off　Ushant　it　was　westerly；　and　veered　to　the　nor'…west　just　before　they　sighted　the　Land's　End：　never　was　such　a　charming　passage　from　the　Cape。　The　sailor　who　had　the　luck　to　sight　Old　England　first　nailed　his　starboard　shoe　to　the　mainmast　for　contributions；　and　all　hearts　beat　joyfullynone　more　than　David　Dodd's。　His　eye　devoured　the　beloved　shore：　he　hugged　the　treasure　his　own　ill　luck　had　jeopardisedbut　Robarts　had　sailed　it　safe　into　British　watersand　forgave　the　man　his　ill　manners　for　his　good　luck。

Robarts　steered　in　for　the　Lizard；　but；　when　abreast　the　Point；　kept　well　out　again；　and　opened　the　Channel　and　looked　out　for　a　pilot

One　was　soon　seen　working　out　towards　him；　and　the　_Agra_　brought　to。　The　pilot　descended　from　his　lugger　into　his　little　boat；　rowed　alongside；　and　came　on　deck；　a　rough；　tanned　sailor；　clad　in　flushing；　and　in　build　and　manner　might　have　passed　for　Robarts'　twin　brother。

〃Now　then；　you；　sir；　what　will　you　take　this　ship　up　to　the　Downs　for？〃

〃Thirty　pounds。〃

Roberts　told　him　roughly　he　would　not　get　thirty　pounds　out　of'　_him。_

〃Thyse　and　no　higher；　my　Bo；〃　answered　the　pilot　sturdily：　he　had　been　splicing　the　main　brace；　and　would　have　answered　an　admiral。

Robarts　swore　at　him　lustily：　Pilot　discharged　a　volley　in　return　with　admirable　promptitude。　Robarts　retorted；　the　other　rough　customer　rejoined；　and　soon　all　Billingsgate　thundered　on　the　_Agra's_　quarter…deck。　Finding；　to　his　infinite　disgust；　his　visitor　as　great　a　blackguard　as　himself；　and　not　to　be　outsworn；　Robarts　ordered　him　to　quit　the　ship　on　pain　of　being　man…handled　over　the　side。

〃Oh；　that's　it；　is　it？〃　growled　the　other：　〃here's　fill　and　be　off　then。〃　He　prudently　bottled　the　rest　of　his　rage　till　he　got　safe　into　his　boat；　then　shook　his　fist　at　the　_Agra_；　and　cursed　her　captain　sky…high。　〃You　see　the　fair　wind；　but　you　don't　see　the　Channel　fret　a…coming；　ye　greedy　gander。　Downs！　You'll　never　see　them：　you　have　saved　your　　money；　and　lost　your　　ship；　ye　　lubber。〃

Robarts　hurled　back　a　sugar…plum　or　two　of　the　same　and　then　ordered　Bayliss　to　clap　on　all　sail；　and　keep　a　mid…channel　course　through　the　night。

At　four　bells　in　the　middle　watch；　Sharpe；　in　charge　of　the　ship；　tapped　at　Robarts'　door。　〃Blowing　hard；　sir；　and　the　weather　getting　thickish。〃

〃Wind　fair　still？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Then　call　me　if　it　blows　any　harder；〃　grunted　Robarts。

In　two　hours　more；　tap；　tap；　came　Bayliss；　in　charge。　〃If　we　don't　take　sail　in；　they'll　take　themselves　out。〃

〃Furl　to…gallen'sels；　and　call　me　if　it　gets　any　worse。〃

In　another　hour　Bayliss　was　at　him　again。　〃Blowing　a　gale；　sir；　and　a　Channel　fog　on。〃

〃Reef　taupsles；　and　call　me　if　it　gets　any　worse。〃

At　daybreak　Dodd　was　on　deck；　and　found　the　ship　flying　through　a　fog　so　thick　that　her　forecastle　was　quite　invisible　from　the　poop；　and　even　her　foremast　loomed　indistinct　and　looked　distant。　〃You'll　be　foul　of　something　or　other；　Sharpe；〃　said　he。

〃What　is　that　to　you？〃　inquired　a　loud　rough　voice　behind　him。　〃I　don't　allow　passengers　to　handle　my　ship。〃

〃Then　do　pray　handle　her　yourself；　captain！　Is　this　weather　to　go　tearing　happy…go…lucky　up　the　Channel？〃

〃I　mean　to　sail　her　without　your　advice；　sir；　and；　being　a　seaman；　I　shall　get　all　I　can　out　of　a　fair　wind。〃

〃That　is　right　Captain　Robarts；　if　you　had　but　the　British　Channel　all　to　yourself。〃

〃Perhaps　you　will　leave　me　my　deck　all　to　myself。〃

〃I　should　be　delighted：　but　my　anxiety　will　not　let　me。〃　With　this　Dodd　retired　a　few　steps；　and　kept　a　keen　look…out。


At　noon　a　lusty　voice　cried　〃Land　on　the　weather　beam！〃

All　eyes　were　turned　that　way　and　saw　nothing。

Land　in　sight　was　reported　to　Captain　Robarts。

Now　that　worthy　was　in　reality　getting　secretly　anxious：　so　he　ran　on　deck　crying；　〃Who　saw　it？〃

〃Captain　Dodd；　sir。〃

〃Ugh！　Nobody　else？〃

Dodd　came　forward；　and；　with　a　respectful　air；　told　him　that；　being　on　the　look…out；　he　had　seen　the　coast　of　the　Isle　of　Wight　in　a　momentary　lift　of　the　haze。

〃Isle　of　Fiddlestick！〃　was　the　polite　reply；　〃Isle　of　Wight　is　eighty　miles　astern　by　now。〃

Dodd　answered　firmly　that　he　was　well　acquainted　with　every　outline　in　the　Channel；　and　that　the　land　he　had　seen　was　St。　Katherine's　Point

Robarts　deigned　no　reply；　but　had　the　log　heaved：　it　showed　the　vessel　to　be　running　twelve　knots　an　hour。　He　then　went　to　his　cabin　and　consulted　his　chart；　and；　having　worked　his　problem；　came　hastily　on　deck；　and　went　from　rashness　to　wonderful　caution。　〃Turn　the　hands　out；　and　heave　the　ship　to！〃

The　manoeuvre　was　executed　gradually　and　ably；　and　scarce　a　bucketful　of　water　shipped。　〃Furl　taupsles　and　set　the　main　trysail！　There；　Mr。　Dodd；　so　much　for　you　and　your　Isle　of　Wight。　The　land　you　saw　was　Dungeness；　and　_you_　woul