a simpleton-第34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！


least。　　He　had　always　thought　it　incredible　that　the　boa…
constrictor　should　be　larger　than　any　sea…snake。　　That　idea　struck
him　as　monstrous　and　absurd。　　He　noted　the　sea…serpent　in　his
journal；　but　with　this　doubt；　〃Semblemore　like　a　very　large　eel。〃

Next　day　they　crossed　the　line。　　Just　before　noon　a　young　gentleman
burst　into　Staines's　cabin；　apologizing　for　want　of　ceremony；　but
if　Dr。　Staines　would　like　to　see　the　line；　it　was　now　in　sight　from
the　mizzentop。

〃Glad　of　it；　sir；〃　said　Staines；　〃collect　it　for　me　in　the　ship's
buckets；　if　you　please。　　I　want　to　send　A　LINE　to　friends　at　home。〃

Young　gentleman　buried　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　walked　out　in
solemn　silence；　and　resumed　his　position　on　the　lee…side　of　the
quarter…deck。

Nevertheless；　this　opening；　coupled　with　what　he　had　heard　and
read；　made　Staines　a　little　uneasy；　and　he　went　to　his　friend
Fitzroy；　and　said；　〃Now；　look　here：　I　am　at　the　service　of　you
experienced　and　humorous　mariners。　　I　plead　guilty　at　once　to　the
crime　of　never　having　passed　the　line；　so；　make　ready　your　swabs；
and　lather　me；　your　ship's　scraper；　and　shave　me；　and　let　us　get　it
over。　　But　Lord　Tadcaster　is　nervous；　sensitive；　prouder　than　he
seems；　and　I'm　not　going　to　have　him　driven　into　a　fit　for　all　the
Neptunes　and　Amphitrites　in　creation。〃

Fitzroy　heard　him　out；　then　burst　out　laughing。　　〃Why；　there　is
none　of　that　game　in　the　Royal　Navy；〃　said　he。　　〃Hasn't　been　this
twenty　years。〃

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　said　Dr。　Staines。　　〃If　there's　a　form　of　wit　I
revere；　it　is　practical　joking。〃

〃Doctor；　you　are　a　satirical　beggar。〃

Staines　told　Tadcaster；　and　he　went　forward　and　chaffed　his　friend
the　quartermaster；　who　was　one　of　the　forecastle　wits。

〃I　say；　quartermaster；　why　doesn't　Neptune　come　on　board？〃

Dead　silence。

〃I　wonder　what　has　become　of　poor　old　Nep？〃

〃Gone　ashore！〃　growled　the　seaman。　　〃Last　seen　in　Rateliff　Highway。
Got　a　shop　therelends　a　shilling　in　the　pound　on　seamen's　advance
tickets。〃

〃Oh！　and　Amphitrite？〃

〃Married　the　sexton　at　Wapping。〃

〃And　the　Nereids？〃

〃Neruds！〃　（scratching　his　head。）　〃I　harn't　kept　my　eye　on　them
small　craft。　　But　I　BELIEVE　they　are　selling　oysters　in　the　port　of
Leith。〃

A　light　breeze　carried　them　across　the　equator；　but　soon　after　they
got　becalmed；　and　it　was　dreary　work；　and　the　ship　rolled　gently；
but　continuously；　and　upset　Lord　Tadcaster's　stomach　again；　and
quenched　his　manly　spirit。

At　last　they　were　fortunate　enough　to　catch　the　southeast　trade；
but　it　was　so　languid　at　first　that　the　ship　barely　moved　through
the　water；　though　they　set　every　stitch；　and　studding　sails　alow
and　aloft；　till　really　she　was　acres　of　canvas。

While　she　was　so　creeping　along；　a　man　in　the　mizzentop　noticed　an
enormous　shark　gliding　steadily　in　her　wake。　　This　may　seem　a　small
incident；　yet　it　ran　through　the　ship　like　wildfire；　and　caused
more　or　less　uneasiness　in　three　hundred　stout　hearts；　so　near　is
every　seaman　to　death；　and　so　strong　the　persuasion　in　their
superstitious　minds；　that　a　shark　does　not　follow　a　ship
pertinaciously　without　a　prophetic　instinct　of　calamity。

Unfortunately；　the　quartermaster　conveyed　this　idea　to　Lord
Tadcaster；　and　confirmed　it　by　numerous　examples　to　prove　that
there　was　always　death　at　hand　when　a　shark　followed　the　ship。

Thereupon　Tadcaster　took　it　into　his　head　that　he　was　under　a
relapse；　and　the　shark　was　waiting　for　his　dead　body：　he　got　quite
low…spirited。

Staines　told　Fitzroy。　　Fitzroy　said；　〃Shark　be　hanged！　　I'll　have
him　on　deck　in　half　an　hour。〃　　He　got　leave　from　the　captain：　a
hook　was　baited　with　a　large　piece　of　pork；　and　towed　astern　by　a
stout　line；　experienced　old　hands　attending　to　it　by　turns。

The　shark　came　up　leisurely；　surveyed　the　bait；　and；　I　apprehend；
ascertained　the　position　of　the　hook。　　At　all　events；　he　turned
quietly　on　his　back；　sucked　the　bait　off；　and　retired　to　enjoy　it。

Every　officer　in　the　ship　tried　him　in　turn；　but　without　success；
for；　if　they　got　ready　for　him；　and；　the　moment　he　took　the　bait；
jerked　the　rope　hard；　in　that　case　he　opened　his　enormous　mouth　so
wide　that　the　bait　and　hook　came　out　clear。　　But；　sooner　or　later；
he　always　got　the　bait；　and　left　his　captors　the　hook。

This　went　on　for　days；　and　his　huge　dorsal　fin　always　in　the　ship's
wake。

Then　Tadcaster；　who　had　watched　these　experiments　with　hope；　lost
his　spirit　and　appetite。

Staines　reasoned　with　him；　but　in　vain。　　Somebody　was　to　die；　and；
although　there　were　three　hundred　and　more　in　the　ship；　he　must　be
the　one。　　At　last　he　actually　made　his　will；　and　threw　himself　into
Staines's　arms；　and　gave　him　messages　to　his　mother　and　Lady
Cicely；　and　ended　by　frightening　himself　into　a　fit。

This　roused　Staines's　pity；　and　also　put　him　on　his　mettle。　　What；
science　be　beaten　by　a　shark！

He　pondered　the　matter　with　all　his　might；　and　at　last　an　idea　came
to　him。

He　asked　the　captain's　permission　to　try　his　hand。　　This　was
accorded　immediately；　and　the　ship's　stores　placed　at　his　disposal
very　politely；　but　with　a　sly；　comical　grin。

Dr。　Staines　got　from　the　carpenter　some　sheets　of　zinc　and　spare
copper；　and　some　flannel：　these　he　cut　into　three…inch　squares；　and
soaked　the　flannel　in　acidulated　water。　　He　then　procured　a
quantity　of　bell…wire；　the　greater　part　of　which　he　insulated　by
wrapping　it　round　with　hot　gutta　percha。　　So　eager　was　he；　that　he
did　not　turn　in　all　night。

In　the　morning　he　prepared　what　he　called　an　electric　fusehe
filled　a　soda…water　bottle　with　gunpowder；　attaching　some　cork　to
make　it　buoyant；　put　in　the　fuse　and　bung；　made　it　water…tight；
connected　and　insulated　his　main　wiresenveloped　the　bottle　in
porktied　a　line　to　it；　and　let　the　bottle　overboard。

The　captain　and　officers　shook　their　heads　mysteriously。　　The　tars
peeped　and　grinned　from　every　rope　to　see　a　doctor　try　and　catch　a
shark　with　a　soda…water　bottle　and　no　hook；　but　somehow　the　doctor
seemed　to　know　what　he　was　about；　so　they　hovered　round；　and
awaited　the　result；　mystified；　but　curious；　and　showing　their　teeth
from　ear　to　ear。

〃The　only　thing　I　fear；〃　said　Staines；　〃is　that；　the　moment　he
takes　the　bait；　he　will　cut　the　wire　before　I　can　complete　the
circuit；　and　fire　the　fuse。〃

Nevertheless；　there　was　another　objection　to　the　success　of　the
experiment。　　The　shark　had　disappeared。

〃Well；〃　said　the　captain；　〃at　all　events；　you　have　frightened　him
away。〃

〃No；〃　said　little　Tadcaster；　white　as　a　ghost；　〃he　is　only　under
water；　I　know；　waitingwaiting。〃

〃There　he　is；〃　cried　one　in　the　ratlines。

There　was　a　rush　to　the　taffrailgreat　excitement。

〃Keep　clear　of　me；〃　said　Staines　quietly　but　firmly。　　〃It　can　only
be　done　at　the　moment　before　he　cuts　the　wire。〃

The　old　shark　swam　slowly　round　the　bait。

He　saw　it　was　something　new。

He　swam　round　and　round　it。

〃He　won't　take　it；〃　said　one。

〃He　suspects　something。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　he　will　take　the　meat　somehow；　and　leave　the　pepper。　　Sly
old　fox！〃

〃He　has　eaten　many　a　poor　Jack；　that　one。〃

The　shark　turned　slowly　on　his　back；　and；　instead　of　grabbing　at
the　bait；　seemed　to　draw　it　by　gentle　suction　into　that　capacious
throat；　ready　to　blow　it　out　in　a　moment　if　it　was　not　all　right。

The　moment　the　bait　was　drawn　out　of　sight；　Staines　completed　the
circuit；　the　bottle　exploded　with　a　fury　that　surprised　him　and
everybody　who　saw　it；　a　ton　of　water　flew　into　the　air；　and　came
down　in　spray；　and　a　gory　carcass　floated；　belly　uppermost；　visibly
staining　the　blue　water。

There　was　a　roar　of　amazement　and　applause。

The　carcass　was　towed　alongside；　at　Tadcaster's　urgent　request；　and
then　the　power　of　the　explosion　was　seen。　　Confined；　first　by　the
bottle；　then　by　the　meat；　then　by　the　fish；　and　lastly　by　the
water；　it　had　exploded　with　tenfold　power；　had　blown　the　brute's
head　into　a　million　atoms；　and　had　even　torn　a　great　furrow　in　its
carcass；　exposing　three　feet　of　the　backbone。

Taddy　gloated　on　his　enemy；　and　began　to　pick　up　again　from　that
hour。

The　wind　improved；　and；　as　usual　in　that　latitude；　scarcely　varied
a　point。　　They　had　a　pleasant　time；private　theatricals　and　other
amusements　till　they　got　to　latitude　26　deg。　S。　and　longitude　27
deg。　W。　　Then　the　trade　wind　deserted　them。　　Light　and　variable
winds　succeeded。

The　master　complained　of　the　chronometers；　and　the　captain　thought
it　his　duty　to　verify　or　correct　them；　and　so　shaped　his　course　for
the　island　of　Tristan　d'Acunha；　then　lying　a　little　way　out　of　his
course。　　I　ought；　perhaps；　to　explain　to　the　general　reader　that
the　exact　position　of　this　island　being　long　ago　established　and
recorded；　it　was　an　infallible　guide　to　go　by　in　verifying　a　ship's
chronometers。

Next　day　the　glass　fell　all　day；　and　the　captain　said　he　should
double…reef　topsails　at　nightfall；　for　something　was　brewing。

The　weather；　however；　was　fine；　and　the　ship　was　sailing　very　fast；
when；　about　half　an　hour　before　sunset；　the　mast…head　man　hailed
that　there　was　a　bulk　of　timber　in　sight；　broad　on　the　weather…bow。

The　signalman　was　sent　up；　and　said　it　looked　like　a　raft。

The　captain；　who　was　on　deck；　levelled　his　glass　at　it；　and　made　it
out　a　raft；　with　a　sort　of　rail　to　it；　and　the　stump　of　a　mast。

He　ordered　the　officer　of　the　watch　to　keep　the　ship　as　close　to
the　wind　as　possible。　　He　should　like　to　examine　it　if　he　could。

The　master　represented；　respectfully；　that　it　would　be　unadvisable
to　beat　to　windward　for　that。　　〃I　have　no　faith　in　our
chronometers；　sir；　and　it　is　important　to　make　the　island　before
dark；　fogs　rise　here　so　suddenly。〃

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Bolt；　then　I　suppose　we　must　let　the　raft　go。〃

〃MAN　ON　THE　RAFT　TO　WINDWARD！〃　hailed　the　signalman。

This　electrified　the　ship。　　The　captain　ran　up　the　mizzen　rigging；
and　scanned　the　raft；　now　nearly　abeam。

〃It　IS　a　man！〃　he　cried；　and　was　about　to　alter　the　ship's　course
when；　at　that　moment；　the　signalman　hailed　again；

〃IT　IS　A　CORPSE。〃

〃How　d'ye　know？〃

〃By　the　gulls。〃

Then　succeeded　an　exciting　dialogue　between　the　captain　and　the
master；　who；　being　in　his　department；　was　very　firm；　and　went　so
far　as　to　say　he　would　not　answer　for　the　safety　of　the　ship；　if
they　did　not　sight　the　land　before　dark。

The　captain　said；　〃Very　well；〃　and　took　a　turn　or　two。　　But　at　last
he　said；　〃No。　　Her　Majesty's　ship　must　not　pass　a　raft　with　a　man
on　it；　dead　or　alive。〃

He　then　began　to　give　the　necessary　orders；　but　before　they　were
all　out　of　his　mouth；　a　fatal　interruption　occurred。

Tadcaster　ran　into　Dr。　Staines's　cabin；　crying；　〃A　raft　with　a
corpse　close　by！〃

Staines　sprang　to　the　quarter　port　to　see；　and　craning　eagerly　out；
the　lower　port　chain；　which　had　not　been　well　secured；　slipped；　the
port　gave　way；　and　as　his　whole　weight　rested　on　it；　canted　him
headlong　into　the　sea。

A　smart　seaman　in　the　forechains　saw　the　accident；　and　instantly
roared　out；　〃MAN　OVERBOARD！〃　a　cry　that　sends　a　thrill　through　a
ship's　very　ribs。

Another　smart　fellow　cut　the　life…buoy　adrift　so　quickly　that　it
struck　the　water　within　ten　yards　of　Staines。

The　officer　of　the　watch；　without　the　interval　of　half　a　moment；
gave　the　right