the cruise of the dolphin(海豚的游弋)-第1章
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
The Cruise of the
Dolphin
by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
（1 An episode from The Story of a Bad Boy； the narrator being Tom
Bailey； the hero of the tale。）
Every Rivermouth boy looks upon the sea as being in some way
mixed up with his destiny。 While he is yet a baby lying in his cradle； he
hears the dull； far…off boom of the breakers； when he is older； he wanders
by the sandy shore； watching the waves that come plunging up the beach
like white…maned sea…horses； as Thoreau calls them； his eye follows the
lessening sail as it fades into the blue horizon； and he burns for the time
when he shall stand on the quarter…deck of his own ship； and go sailing
proudly across that mysterious waste of waters。
Then the town itself is full of hints and flavors of the sea。 The gables
and roofs of the houses facing eastward are covered with red rust； like the
flukes of old anchors； a salty smell pervades the air； and dense gray fogs；
the very breath of Ocean； periodically creep up into the quiet streets and
envelop everything。 The terrific storms that lash the coast； the kelp and
spars； and sometimes the bodies of drowned men； tossed on shore by the
scornful waves； the shipyards； the wharves； and the tawny fleet of fishing…
smacks yearly fitted out at Rivermouththese things； and a hundred other；
feed the imagination and fill the brain of every healthy boy with dreams of
adventure。 He learns to swim almost as soon as he can walk； he draws in
with his mother's milk the art of handling an oar： he is born a sailor；
whatever he may turn out to be afterwards。
To own the whole or a portion of a rowboat is his earliest ambition。 No
wonder that I； born to this life； and coming back to it with freshest
sympathies； should have caught the prevailing infection。 No wonder I
longed to buy a part of the trim little sailboat Dolphin； which chanced just
then to be in the market。 This was in the latter part of May。
Three shares； at five or six dollars each； I forget which； had already
been taken by Phil Adams； Fred Langdon； and Binny Wallace。 The fourth
and remaining share hung fire。 Unless a purchaser could be found for this；
the bargain was to fall through。
I am afraid I required but slight urging to join in the investment。 I had
four dollars and fifty cents on hand； and the treasurer of the Centipedes （1
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
A secret society； composed of twelve boys of the Temple Grammar School；
Rivermouth。） advanced me the balance； receiving my silver pencil…case as
ample security。 It was a proud moment when I stood on the wharf with my
partners； inspecting the Dolphin； moored at the foot of a very slippery
flight of steps。 She was painted white with a green stripe outside； and on
the stern a yellow dolphin； with its scarlet mouth wide open； stared with a
surprised expression at its own reflection in the water。 The boat was a
great bargain。
I whirled my cap in the air； and ran to the stairs leading down from the
wharf； when a hand was laid gently on my shoulder。 I turned； and faced
Captain Nutter （2 Tom Bailey's grandfather。） I never saw such an old
sharp…eye as he was in those days。
I knew he would not be angry with me for buying a rowboat； but I also
knew that the little bowsprit suggesting a jib and the tapering mast ready
for its few square feet of canvas were trifles not likely to meet his approval。
As far as rowing on the river； among the wharves； was concerned； the
Captain had long since withdrawn his decided objections； having
convinced himself； by going out with me several times； that I could
manage a pair of sculls as well as anybody。
I was right in my surmises。 He commanded me； in the most emphatic
terms； never to go out in the Dolphin without leaving the mast in the boat…
house。 This curtailed my anticipated sport； but the pleasure of having a
pull whenever I wanted it remained。 I never disobeyed the Captain's orders
touching the sail； though I sometimes extended my row beyond the points
he has indicated。
The river was dangerous for sailboats。 Squalls； without the slightest
warning； were of frequent occurrence； scarcely a year passed that three or
four persons were not drowned under the very windows of the town； and
these； oddly enough； were generally seacaptains； who either did not
understand the river； or lacked the skill to handle a small craft。
A knowledge of such disasters； one of which I witnessed； consoled me
somewhat when I saw Phil Adams skimming over the water in a spanking
breeze with every stitch of canvas set。 There were few better yachtsmen
than Phil Adams。 He usually went sailing alone； for both Langdon and
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
Binny Wallace were under the same restrictions I was。
Not long after the purchase of the boat； we planned an excursion to
Sandpeep Island； the last of the islands in the harbor。 We purposed to start
early in the morning； and return with the tide in the moonlight。 Our only
difficulty was to obtain a whole day's exemption from school； the
customary half…holiday not being long enough for our picnic。 Somehow；
we could not work it； but fortune arranged it for us。 I may say here； that；
whatever else I did； I never played truant （〃hookey〃 we called it） in my
life。
One afternoon the four owners of the Dolphin exchanged significant
glances when Mr。 Grimshaw announced from the desk that there would be
no school the following day； he having just received intelligence of the
death of his uncle in Boston。 I was sincerely attached to Mr。 Grimshaw；
but I am afraid that the death of his uncle did not affect me as it ought to
have done。
We were up before sunrise the next morning； in order to take
advantage of the flood…tide； which waits for no man。 Our preparations for
the cruise were made the previous evening。 In the way of eatables and
drinkables； we had stored in the stern of the Dolphin a generous bag of
hard…tack （for the chowder）； a piece of pork to fry the cunners in； three
gigantic apple pies （bought at Pettingil's）； half a dozen lemons； and a keg
of spring waterthe last…named articles were slung over the side； to keep it
cool； as soon as we got under way。 The crockery and the bricks for our
camp… stove we placed in the bows with the groceries； which included
sugar； pepper； salt； and a bottle of pickles。 Phil Adams contributed to the
outfit a small tent of unbleached cotton cloth； under which we intended to
take our nooning。
We unshipped the mast； threw in an extra oar； and were ready to
embark。 I do not believe that Christopher Columbus； when he started on
his rather successful voyage of discovery； felt half the responsibility and
importance that weighed upon me as I sat on the middle seat of the
Dolphin； with my oar resting in the rowlock。 I wonder if Christopher
Columbus quietly slipped out of the house without letting his estimable
family know what he was up to？ Charley Marden； whose father had
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
promised to cane him if he ever stepped foot on sail or row boat； came
down to the wharf in a sour… grape humor； to see us off。 Nothing would
tempt him to go out on the river in such a crazy clam…shell of a boat。 He
pretended that he did not expect to behold us alive again； and tried to
throw a wet blanket over the expedition。
〃Guess you'll have a squally time of it；〃 said Charley； casting off the
painter。 〃I'll drop in at old Newbury's〃 （Newbury was the parish
undertaker） 〃and leave word； as I go along！〃
〃Bosh！〃 muttered Phil Adams； sticking the boathook into the string…
piece of the wharf； and sending the Dolphin half a dozen yards toward the
current。
How calm and lovely the river was！ Not a ripple stirred on the glassy
surface； broken only by the sharp cutwater of our tiny craft。 The sun； as
round and red as an August moon； was by this time peering above the
water…line。
The town had drifted behind us； and we were entering among the
group of islands。 Sometimes we could almost touch with our boat… hook
the shelving banks on either side。 As we neared the mouth of the harbor； a
little breeze now and then wrinkled the blue water； shook the spangles
from the foliage； and gently lifted the spiral mist…wreaths that still clung
alongshore。 The measured dip of our oars and the drowsy twitterings of
the birds seemed to mingle with； rather than break； the enchanted silence
that reigned about us。
The scent of the new clover comes back to me now； as I recall that
delicious morning when we floated away in a fairy boat down a river like
a dream！
The sun was well up when the nose of the Dolphin nestled against the
snow…white bosom of Sandpeep Island。 This island； as I have said before；
was the last of the cluster； one side of it being washed by the sea。 We
landed on the river…side； the sloping sands and quiet water affording us a
good place to moor the boat。
It took us an hour or more to transport our stores to the spot selected
for the encampment。 Having pitched our tent； using the five oars to
support the canvas； we got out our lines； and went down the rocks seaward
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
to fish。 It was early for
