benito cereno-第7章
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iner； like his younger shipmate； was employed upon some rigging… splicing a cable… the sleepy…looking blacks performing the inferior function of holding the outer parts of the ropes for him。 Upon Captain Delano's approach； the man at once hung his head below its previous level； the one necessary for business。 It appeared as if he desired to be thought absorbed； with more than common fidelity； in his task。 Being addressed； he glanced up； but with what seemed a furtive； diffident air； which sat strangely enough on his weather…beaten visage； much as if a grizzly bear； instead of growling and biting； should simper and cast sheep's eyes。 He was asked several questions concerning the voyage… questions purposely referring to several particulars in Don Benito's narrative… not previously corroborated by those impulsive cries greeting the visitor on first coming on board。 The questions were briefly answered； confirming all that remained to be confirmed of the story。 The Negroes about the windlass joined in with the old sailor； but； as they became talkative； he by degrees became mute； and at length quite glum； seemed morosely unwilling to answer more questions； and yet； all the while； this ursine air was somehow mixed with his sheepish one。 Despairing of getting into unembarrassed talk with such a centaur； Captain Delano； after glancing round for a more promising countenance； but seeing none； spoke pleasantly to the blacks to make way for him； and so； amid various grins and grimaces； returned to the poop； feeling a little strange at first； he could hardly tell why； but upon the whole with regained confidence in Benito Cereno。 How plainly； thought he； did that old whiskerando yonder betray a consciousness of ill…desert。 No doubt； when he saw me coming； he dreaded lest I； apprised by his captain of the crew's general misbehaviour； came with sharp words for him； and so down with his head。 And yet… and yet； now that I think of it； that very old fellow； if I err not； was one of those who seemed so earnestly eyeing me here awhile since。 Ah； these currents spin one's head round almost as much as they do the ship。 Ha； there now's a pleasant sort of sunny sight； quite sociable； too。 His attention had been drawn to a slumbering Negress； partly disclosed through the lace…work of some rigging； lying； with youthful limbs carelessly disposed； under the lee of the bulwarks； like a doe in the shade of a woodland rock。 Sprawling at her lapped breasts was her wide…awake fawn； stark naked； its black little body half lifted from the deck； crosswise with its dam's； its hands； like two paws； clambering upon her； its mouth and nose ineffectually rooting to get at the mark； and meantime giving a vexatious half…grunt； blending with the composed snore of the Negress。 The uncommon vigour of the child at length roused the mother。 She started up； at distance facing Captain Delano。 But； as if not at all concerned at the attitude in which she had been caught； delightedly she caught the child up； with maternal transports； covering it with kisses。 There's naked nature； now； pure tenderness and love； thought Captain Delano； well pleased。 This incident prompted him to remark the other Negresses more particularly than before。 He was gratified with their manners； like most uncivilized women； they seemed at once tender of heart and tough of constitution； equally ready to die for their infants or fight for them。 Unsophisticated as leopardesses； loving as doves。 Ah！ thought Captain Delano； these perhaps are some of the very women whom Mungo Park saw in Africa； and gave such a noble account of。 These natural sights somehow insensibly deepened his confidence and ease。 At last he looked to see how his boat was getting on； but it was still pretty remote。 He turned to see if Don Benito had returned； but he had not。 To change the scene； as well as to please himself with a leisurely observation of the coming boat； stepping over into the mizzen…chains he clambered his way into the starboard quarter…galley； one of those abandoned Venetian…looking water…balconies previously mentioned； retreats cut off from the deck。 As his foot pressed the half…damp； half…dry sea…mosses matting the place； and a chance phantom cat's…paw… an islet of breeze； unheralded； unfollowed… as this ghostly cat's…paw came fanning his cheek； his glance fell upon the row of small； round dead…lights； all closed like coppered eyes of the coffined； and the state…cabin door； once connecting with the gallery； even as the dead…lights had once looked out upon it； but now caulked fast like a sarcophagus lid； to a purple…black； tarred…over panel； threshold； and post； and he bethought him of the time； when that state…cabin and this state…balcony had heard the voices of the Spanish king's officers； and the forms of the Lima viceroy's daughters had perhaps leaned where he stood… as these and other images flitted through his mind； as the cat's…paw through the calm； gradually he felt rising a dreamy inquietude； like that of one who alone on the prairie feels unrest from the repose of the noon。 He leaned against the carved balustrade； again looking off toward his boat； but found his eye falling upon the ribboned grass； trailing along the ship's water…line； straight as a border of green box； and parterres of sea…weed； broad ovals and crescents； floating nigh and far； with what seemed long formal alleys between； crossing the terraces of swells； and sweeping round as if leading to the grottoes below。 And overhanging all was the balustrade by his arm； which； partly stained with pitch and partly embossed with moss； seemed the charred ruin of some summer…house in a grand garden long running to waste。 Trying to break one charm； he was but becharmed anew。 Though upon the wide sea； he seemed in some far inland country； prisoner in some deserted chateau； left to stare at empty grounds； and peer out at vague roads； where never wagon or wayfarer passed。 But these enchantments were a little disenchanted as his eye fell on the corroded main…chains。 Of an ancient style； massy and rusty in link； shackle and bolt； they seemed even more fit for the ship's present business than the one for which probably she had been built。 Presently he thought something moved nigh the chains。 He rubbed his eyes； and looked hard。 Groves of rigging were about the chains； and there； peering from behind a great stay； like an Indian from behind a hemlock； a Spanish sailor； a marlingspike in his hand； was seen； who made what seemed an imperfect gesture toward the balcony… but immediately； as if alarmed by some advancing step along the deck within； vanished into the recesses of the hempen forest； like a poacher。 What meant this？ Something the man had sought to communicate； unbeknown to any one； even to his captain？ Did the secret involve aught unfavourable to his captain？ Were those previous misgivings of Captain Delano's about to be verified？ Or； in his haunted mood at the moment； had some random； unintentional motion of the man； while busy with the stay； as if repairing it； been mistaken for a significant beckoning？ Not unbewildered； again he gazed off for his boat。 But it was temporarily hidden by a rocky spur of the isle。 As with some eagerness he bent forward； watching for the first shooting view of its beak； the balustrade gave way before him like charcoal。 Had he not clutched an outreaching rope he would have fallen into the sea。 The crash； though feeble； and the fall； though hollow； of the rotten fragments； must have been overheard。 He glanced up。 With sober curiosity peering down upon him was one of the old oakum…pickers； slipped from his perch to an outside boom； while below the old Negro… and； invisible to him； reconnoitring from a port…hole like a fox from the mouth of its den… crouched the Spanish sailor again。 From something suddenly suggested by the man's air； the mad idea now darted into Captain Delano's mind： that Don Benito's plea of indisposition； in withdrawing below； was but a pretence： that he was engaged there maturing some plot； of which the sailor； by some means gaining an inkling； had a mind to warn the stranger against； incited； it may be； by gratitude for a kind word on first boarding the ship。 Was it from foreseeing some possible interference like this； that Don Benito had； beforehand； given such a bad character of his sailors； while praising the Negroes； though； indeed； the former seemed as docile as the latter the contrary？ The whites； too； by nature； were the shrewder race。 A man with some evil design； would not he be likely to speak well of that stupidity which was blind to his depravity； and malign that intelligence from which it might not be hidden？ Not unlikely； perhaps。 But if the whites had dark secrets concerning Don Benito； could then Don Benito be any way in complicity with the blacks？ But they were too stupid。 Besides； who ever heard of a white so far a renegade as to apostatize from his very species almost； by leaguing in against it with Negroes？ These difficulties recalled former ones。 Lost in their mazes； Captain Delano； who had now regained the deck； was uneasily advancing along it； when he observed a new face： an aged sailor seated cross…legged near the main hatchway。 His skin was shrunk up with wrinkles like a pelican's empty pouch； his hair frosted； his countenance grave and composed。 His hands were full of ropes； which he was working into a large knot。 Some blacks were about him obligingly dipping the strands for him； here and there； as the exigencies of the operation demanded。 Captain Delano crossed over to him； and stood in silence surveying the knot； his mind； by a not uncongenial transition； passing from its own entanglements to those of the hemp。 For intricacy such a knot he had never seen in an American ship； or indeed any other。 The old man looked like an Egyptian priest； making Gordian knots for the temple of Ammon。 The knot seemed a combination of double…bowline…knot； treble…crown…knot； back…handed…well…knot； knot…in…and…out…knot； and jamming…knot。 At last； puzzled to comprehend the meaning of such a knot； Captain Delano； addressed the knotter：… 〃What are you knotting there； my man？〃 〃The knot；〃 was the brief reply； without looking up。 〃So it seems； but what is it for？〃 〃For some one else to undo；〃 muttered back the old man； plying his fingers harder than ever； the knot being now nearly completed。 While Captain Delano stood watching him； suddenly the old man threw the knot toward him； and said in broken English；… the first heard in the ship；… something to this effect… 〃Undo it； cut it； quick。〃 It was said lowly； but with such condensation of rapidity； that the long； slow words in Spanish； which had preceded and followed； almost operated as covers to the brief English between。 For a moment； knot in hand； and knot in head； Captain Delano stood mute； while； without further heeding him； the old man was now intent upon other ropes。 Presently there was a slight stir behind Captain Delano。 Turning； he saw the chained Negro； Atufal； standing quietly there。 The next moment the old sailor rose； muttering； and； followed by his subordinate Negroes； removed to the forward part of the ship； where in the crowd he disappeared。 An elderly Negro； in a clout
