a simpleton-第33章

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inspection；　proved　to　be　of　excellent　breed；　either　from　Australia
or　Americavery　rough　shod；　for　the　stony　roads。　　Started　for　the
Grand　Canalpeeped　down　that　mighty　chasm；　which　has　the
appearance　of　an　immense　mass　having　been　blown　out　of　the　centre
of　the　mountain。

They　lunched　under　the　great　dragon　tree　near　its　brink；　then　rode
back　admiring　the　bold　mountain　scenery。　　Next　morning　at　dawn；
rode　on　horses　up　the　hill　to　the　convent。　　Admired　the　beautiful
gardens　on　the　way。　　Remained　a　short　time；　then　came　down　in　hand…
sleighslittle　baskets　slung　on　sledges；　guided　by　two　natives；
these　sledges　run　down　the　hill　with　surprising　rapidity；　and　the
men　guide　them　round　corners　by　sticking　out　a　foot　to　port　or
starboard。

Embarked　at　11。30　A。M。

At　1。30；　the　men　having　dined；　the　ship　was　got　under　way　for　the
Cape　of　Good　Hope；　and　all　sail　made　for　a　southerly　course；　to　get
into　the　north…east　trades。

The　weather　was　now　balmy　and　delightful；　and　so　genial　that
everybody　lived　on　deck；　and　could　hardly　be　got　to　turn　in　to
their　cabins；　even　for　sleep。

Dr。　Staines　became　a　favorite　with　the　officers。　　There　is　a　great
deal　of　science　on　board　a　modern　ship　of　war；　and；　of　course；　on
some　points　Staines；　a　Cambridge　wrangler；　and　a　man　of　many
sciences　and　books；　was　an　oracle。　　On　others　he　was　quite　behind；
but　a　ready　and　quick　pupil。　　He　made　up　to　the　navigating　officer；
and　learned；　with　his　help；　to　take　observations。　　In　return　he　was
always　at　any　youngster's　service　in　a　trigonometrical　problem；　and
he　amused　the　midshipmen　and　young　lieutenants　with　analytical
tests；　some　of　these　were　applicable　to　certain　liquids　dispensed
by　the　paymaster。　　Under　one　of　them　the　port　wine　assumed　some
very　droll　colors　and　appearances　not　proper　to　grape…juice。

One　lovely　night　that　the　ship　clove　the　dark　sea　into　a　blaze　of
phosphorescence；　and　her　wake　streamed　like　a　comet's　tail；　a
waggish　middy　got　a　bucketful　hoisted　on　deck；　and　asked　the　doctor
to　analyze　that。　　He　did　not　much　like　it；　but　yielded　to　the
general　request；　and　by　dividing　it　into　smaller　vessels；　and
dropping　in　various　chemicals；　made　rainbows　and　silvery　flames　and
what　not。　　But　he　declined　to　repeat　the　experiment：　〃No；　no；　once
is　philosophy；　twice　is　cruelty。　　I've　slain　more　than　Samson
already。〃

As　for　Tadcaster；　science　had　no　charms　for　him；　but　fiction　had；
and　he　got　it　galore；　for　he　cruised　about　the　forecastle；　and
there　the　quartermasters　and　old　seamen　spun　him　yarns　that　held
him　breathless。

But　one　day　my　lord　had　a　fit　on　the　quarter…deck；　and　a　bad　one；
and　Staines　found　him　smelling　strong　of　rum。　　He　represented　this
to　Captain　Hamilton。　　The　captain　caused　strict　inquiries　to　be
made；　and　it　came　out　that　my　lord　had　gone　among　the　men；　with
money　in　both　pockets；　and　bought　a　little　of　one　man's　grog；　and　a
little　of　another；　and　had　been　sipping　the　furtive　but　transient
joys　of　solitary　intoxication。

Captain　Hamilton　talked　to　him　seriously；　told　him　it　was　suicide。

〃Never　mind；　old　boy；〃　said　the　young　monkey；　〃a　short　life　and　a
merry　one。〃

Then　Hamilton　represented　that　it　was　very　ungentleman…like　to　go
and　tempt　poor　Jack　with　his　money；　to　offend　discipline；　and　get
flogged。　　〃How　will　you　feel；　Tadcaster；　when　you　see　their　backs
bleeding　under　the　cat？〃

〃Oh；　dn　it　all；　George；　don't　do　that；〃　says　the　young　gentleman；
all　in　a　hurry。

Then　the　commander　saw　he　had　touched　the　right　chord。　　So　he
played　on　it；　till　he　got　Lord　Tadcaster　to　pledge　his　honor　not　to
do　it　again。

The　little　fellow　gave　the　pledge；　but　relieved　his　mind　as
follows：　〃But　it　is　a　cursed　tyrannical　hole；　this　tiresome　old
ship。　　You　can't　do　what　you　like　in　it。〃

〃Well；　but　no　more　you　can　in　the　grave：　and　that　is　the　agreeable
residence　you　were　hurrying　to　but　for　this　tiresome　old　ship。〃

〃Lord！　no　more　you　can；〃　said　Tadcaster；　with　sudden　candor。　　〃I
FORGOT　THAT。〃

The　airs　were　very　light；　the　ship　hardly　moved。　　It　was　beginning
to　get　dull；　when　one　day　a　sail　was　sighted　on　the　weather…bow；
standing　to　the　eastward：　on　nearing　her；　she　was　seen；　by　the　cut
of　her　sails；　to　be　a　man…of…war；　evidently　homeward　bound：　so
Captain　Hamilton　ordered　the　main…royal　to　be　lowered　（to　render
signal　more　visible）　and　the　〃demand〃　hoisted。　　No　notice　being
taken　of　this；　a　gun　was　fired　to　draw　her　attention　to　the　signal。
This　had　the　desired　effect；　down　went　her　main…royal；　up　went　her
〃number。〃　　On　referring　to　the　signal　book；　she　proved　to　be　the
Vindictive　from　the　Pacific　Station。

This　being　ascertained；　Captain　Hamilton；　being　that　captain's
senior；　signalled　〃Close　and　prepare　to　receive　letters。〃　　In
obedience　to　this　she　bore　up；　ran　down；　and　rounded　to；　the　sail
in　the　Amphitrite　was　also　shortened；　the　maintopsail　laid　to　the
mast；　and　a　boat　lowered。　　The　captain　having　finished　his
despatches；　they；　with　the　letter…bags；　were　handed　into　the　boat；
which　shoved　off；　pulled　to　the　lee　side　of　the　Vindictive；　and
left　the　despatches；　with　Captain　Hamilton's　compliments。　　On　its
return；　both　ships　made　sail　on　their　respective　course；　exchanging
〃bon　voyage〃　by　signal；　and　soon　the　upper　sails　of　the　homeward…
bounder　were　seen　dipping　below　the　horizon：　longing　eyes　followed
her　on　board　the　Amphitrite。

How　many　hurried　missives　had　been　written　and　despatched　in　that
half…hour。　　But　as　for　Staines；　he　was　a　man　of　forethought；　and
had　a　volume　ready　for　his　dear　wife。

Lord　Tadcaster　wrote　to　Lady　Cicely　Treherne。　　His　epistle；　though
brief；　contained　a　plum　or　two。

He　wrote：　〃What　with　sailing；　and　fishing；　and　eating　nothing　but
roast　meat；　I'm　quite　another　man。〃

This　amused　her　ladyship　a　little；　but　not　so　much　as　the
postscript；　which　was　indeed　the　neatest　thing　in　its　way　she　had
met　with；　and　she　had　some　experience；　too。

〃P。S。I　say；　Cicely；　I　think　I　should　like　to　marry　you。　　Would
you　mind？〃

Let　us　defy　time　and　space　to　give　you　Lady　Cicely's　reply：　〃I
should　enjoy　it　of　all　things；　Taddy。　　But；　alas！　I　am　too　young。〃

N。B。She　was　twenty…seven；　and　Tad　sixteen。　　To　be　sure；　Tad　was
four　feet　eleven；　and　she　was　only　five　feet　six　and　a　half。

To　return　to　my　narrative　（with　apologies）；　this　meeting　of　the
vessels　caused　a　very　agreeable　excitement　that　day；　but　a　greater
was　in　store。　　In　the　afternoon；　Tadcaster；　Staines；　and　the
principal　officers　of　the　ship；　being　at　dinner　in　the　captain's
cabin；　in　came　the　officer　of　the　watch；　and　reported　a　large　spar
on　the　weather…bow。

〃Well；　close　it；　if　you　can；　and　let　me　know　if　it　looks　worth
picking　up。〃

He　then　explained　to　Lord　Tadcaster　that；　on　a　cruise；　he　never
liked　to　pass　a　spar；　or　anything　that　might　possibly　reveal　the
fate　of　some　vessel　or　other。

In　the　middle　of　his　discourse　the　officer　came　in　again；　but　not
in　the　same　cool　business　way：　he　ran　in　excitedly；　and　said；
〃Captain；　the　signalman　reports　it　ALIVE！〃

〃Alive？a　spar！　　What　do　you　mean？　　Something　alive　ON　it；　eh？〃

〃No；　sir；　alive　itself。〃

〃How　can　that　be？　　Hail　him　again。　　Ask　him　what　it　is。〃

The　officer　went　out；　and　hailed　the　signalman　at　the　mast…head。
〃What　is　it？〃

〃Sea…sarpint；　I　think。〃

This　hail　reached　the　captain's　ears　faintly。　　However；　he　waited
quietly　till　the　officer　came　in　and　reported　it；　then　he　burst
out；　〃Absurd！　there　is　no　such　creature　in　the　universe。　　What　do
you　say；　Dr。　Staines？It　is　in　your　department。〃

〃The　universe　in　my　department；　captain？〃

〃Haw！　haw！　haw！〃　went　Fitzroy　and　two　more。

〃No；　you　rogue；　the　serpent。〃

Dr。　Staines；　thus　appealed　to；　asked　the　captain　if　he　had　ever
seen　small　snakes　out　at　sea。

〃Why；　of　course。　　Sailed　through　a　mile　of　them　once；　in　the
archipelago。〃

〃Sure　they　were　snakes？〃

〃Quite　sure；　and　the　biggest　was　not　eight　feet　long。〃

〃Very　well；　captain；　then　sea…serpents　exist；　and　it　becomes　a　mere
question　of　size。　　Now　which　produces　the　larger　animals　in　every
kind；land　or　sea？　　The　grown　elephant　weighs；　I　believe；　about
five　tons。　　The　very　smallest　of　the　whale　tribe　weighs　ten；　and
they　go　as　high　as　forty　tons。　　There　are　smaller　fish　than　the
whale；　that　are　four　times　as　heavy　as　the　elephant。　　Why　doubt；
then；　that　the　sea　can　breed　a　snake　to　eclipse　the　boa…
constrictor？　　Even　if　the　creature　had　never　been　seen；　I　should；
by　mere　reasoning　from　analogy；　expect　the　sea　to　produce　a　serpent
excelling　the　boa…constrictor；　as　the　lobster　excels　a　crayfish　of
our　rivers：　see　how　large　things　grow　at　sea！　the　salmon　born　in
our　rivers　weighs　in　six　months　a　quarter　of　a　pound；　or　less；　it
goes　out　to　sea；　and　comes　back　in　one　year　weighing　seven　pounds。
So　far　from　doubting　the　large　sea…serpents；　I　believe　they　exist
by　the　million。　　The　only　thing　that　puzzles　me　is；　why　they　should
ever　show　a　nose　above　water；　they　must　be　very　numerous；　I　think。〃

Captain　Hamilton　laughed；　and　said；　〃Well；　this　IS　new。　　Doctor；　in
compliment　to　your　opinion；　we　will　go　on　deck；　and　inspect　the
reptile　you　think　so　common。〃　　He　stopped　at　the　door；　and　said；
〃Doctor；　the　saltcellar　is　by　you。　　Would　you　mind　bringing　it　on
deck？　　We　shall　want　a　little　to　secure　the　animal。〃

So　they　all　went　on　deck　right　merrily。

The　captain　went　up　a　few　ratlines　in　the　mizzen　rigging；　and
looked　to　windward；　laughing　all　the　time：　but；　all　of　a　sudden；
there　was　a　great　change　in　his　manner。　　〃Good　heavens；　it　is
aliveLUFF！〃

The　helmsman　obeyed；　the　news　spread　like　wildfire。　　Mess　kids；
grog　kids；　pipes；　were　all　let　fall；　and　some　three　hundred　sailors
clustered　on　the　rigging　like　bees；　to　view　the　long…talked…of
monster。

It　was　soon　discovered　to　be　moving　lazily　along；　the　propelling
part　being　under　water；　and　about　twenty…five　feet　visible。　　It　had
a　small　head　for　so　large　a　body；　and；　as　they　got　nearer；　rough
scales　were　seen；　ending　in　smaller　ones　further　down　the　body。　　It
had　a　mane；　but　not　like　a　lion's；　as　some　have　pretended。　　If　you
have　ever　seen　a　pony　with　a　hog…mane；　that　was　more　the　character
of　this　creature's　mane；　if　mane　it　was。

They　got　within　a　hundred　yards　of　it；　and　all　saw　it　plainly；
scarce　believing　their　senses。

When　they　could　get　no　nearer　for　the　wind；　the　captain　yielded　to
that　instinct　which　urges　man　always　to　kill　a　curiosity；　〃to
encourage　the　rest；〃　as　saith　the　witty　Voltaire。　　〃Get　ready　a
gunbest　shot　in　the　ship　lay　and　fire　it。〃

This　was　soon　done。　　Bang　went　the　gun。　　The　shot　struck　the　water
close　to　the　brute；　and　may　have　struck　him　under　water；　for　aught
I　know。　　Any　way；　it　sorely　disturbed　him；　for　he　reared　into　the
air　a　column　of　serpent's　flesh　that　looked　as　thick　as　the
maintopmast　of　a　seventy…four；　opened　a　mouth　that　looked　capacious
enough　to　swallow　the　largest　buoy　anchor　in　the　ship；　and；　with　a
strange　grating　noise　between　a　bark　and　a　hiss；　dived；　and　was
seen　no　more。

When　he　was　gone；　they　all　looked　at　one　another　like　men　awaking
from　a　dream。

Staines　alone　took　it　quite　coolly。　　It　did　not　surprise　him　in　the
least。　　He　had　always　thought　it　incredible　that　the　boa…
constrictor　should　be　larger