south sea tales(南海传说)-第26章
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not burst into flames。 He had a feeling as if of being in a huge bake oven
where the heat might at any moment increase tremendously and shrivel
him up like a blade of grass。
As he lifted one foot and rubbed the hot sole against the leg of his
trousers； the mate laughed in a savage； snarling fashion。
〃The anteroom of hell；〃 he said。 〃Hell herself is right down there under
your feet。〃
〃It's hot！〃 McCoy cried involuntarily； mopping his face with a bandana
handkerchief。
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〃Here's Mangareva；〃 the captain said； bending over the table and
pointing to a black speck in the midst of the white blankness of the chart。
〃And here； in between； is another island。 Why not run for that？〃
McCoy did not look at the chart。
〃That's Crescent Island；〃 he answered。 〃It is uninhabited； and it is only
two or three feet above water。 Lagoon； but no entrance。 No； Mangareva is
the nearest place for your purpose。〃
〃Mangareva it is； then；〃 said Captain Davenport； interrupting the
mate's growling objection。 〃Call the crew aft； Mr。 Konig。〃
The sailors obeyed； shuffling wearily along the deck and painfully
endeavoring to make haste。 Exhaustion was evident in every movement。
The cook came out of his galley to hear； and the cabin boy hung about
near him。
When Captain Davenport had explained the situation and announced
his intention of running for Mangareva； an uproar broke out。 Against a
background of throaty rumbling arose inarticulate cries of rage； with here
and there a distinct curse； or word； or phrase。 A shrill Cockney voice
soared and dominated for a moment； crying： 〃Gawd！ After bein' in ell for
fifteen daysan' now e wants us to sail this floatin' ell to sea again？〃
The captain could not control them； but McCoy's gentle presence
seemed to rebuke and calm them； and the muttering and cursing died away；
until the full crew； save here and there an anxious face directed at the
captain； yearned dumbly toward the green clad peaks and beetling coast of
Pitcairn。
Soft as a spring zephyr was the voice of McCoy：
〃Captain； I thought I heard some of them say they were starving。〃
〃Ay；〃 was the answer； 〃and so we are。 I've had a sea biscuit and a
spoonful of salmon in the last two days。 We're on whack。 You see； when
we discovered the fire； we battened down immediately to suffocate the fire。
And then we found how little food there was in the pantry。 But it was too
late。 We didn't dare break out the lazarette。 Hungry？ I'm just as hungry as
they are。〃
He spoke to the men again； and again the throat rumbling and cursing
arose； their faces convulsed and animal…like with rage。 The second and
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third mates had joined the captain； standing behind him at the break of the
poop。 Their faces were set and expressionless； they seemed bored； more
than anything else； by this mutiny of the crew。 Captain Davenport glanced
questioningly at his first mate； and that person merely shrugged his
shoulders in token of his helplessness。
〃You see；〃 the captain said to McCoy； 〃you can't compel sailors to
leave the safe land and go to sea on a burning vessel。 She has been their
floating coffin for over two weeks now。 They are worked out； and starved
out； and they've got enough of her。 We'll beat up for Pitcairn。〃
But the wind was light； the Pyrenees' bottom was foul； and she could
not beat up against the strong westerly current。 At the end of two hours she
had lost three miles。 The sailors worked eagerly； as if by main strength
they could compel the PYRENEES against the adverse elements。 But
steadily； port tack and starboard tack； she sagged off to the westward。 The
captain paced restlessly up and down； pausing occasionally to survey the
vagrant smoke wisps and to trace them back to the portions of the deck
from which they sprang。 The carpenter was engaged constantly in
attempting to locate such places； and； when he succeeded； in calking them
tighter and tighter。
〃Well； what do you think？〃 the captain finally asked McCoy； who was
watching the carpenter with all a child's interest and curiosity in his eyes。
McCoy looked shoreward； where the land was disappearing in the
thickening haze。
〃I think it would be better to square away for Mangareva。 With that
breeze that is coming； you'll be there tomorrow evening。〃
〃But what if the fire breaks out？ It is liable to do it any moment。〃
〃Have your boats ready in the falls。 The same breeze will carry your
boats to Mangareva if the ship burns out from under。〃
Captain Davenport debated for a moment； and then McCoy heard the
question he had not wanted to hear； but which he knew was surely coming。
〃I have no chart of Mangareva。 On the general chart it is only a fly
speck。 I would not know where to look for the entrance into the lagoon。
Will you come along and pilot her in for me？〃
McCoy's serenity was unbroken。
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〃Yes； Captain；〃 he said； with the same quiet unconcern with which he
would have accepted an invitation to dinner； 〃I'll go with you to
Mangareva。〃
Again the crew was called aft； and the captain spoke to them from the
break of the poop。
〃We've tried to work her up； but you see how we've lost ground。
She's setting off in a two…knot current。 This gentleman is the Honorable
McCoy； Chief Magistrate and Governor of Pitcairn Island。 He will come
along with us to Mangareva。 So you see the situation is not so dangerous。
He would not make such an offer if he thought he was going to lose his
life。 Besides； whatever risk there is； if he of his own free will come on
board and take it； we can do no less。 What do you say for Mangareva？〃
This time there was no uproar。 'mcCoy's presence； the surety and calm
that seemed to radiate from him； had had its effect。 They conferred with
one another in low voices。 There was little urging。 They were virtually
unanimous； and they shoved the Cockney out as their spokesman。 That
worthy was overwhelmed with consciousness of the heroism of himself
and his mates； and with flashing eyes he cried：
〃By Gawd！ If 'e will； we will！〃
The crew mumbled its assent and started forward。
〃One moment； Captain；〃 McCoy said； as the other was turning to give
orders to the mate。 〃I must go ashore first。〃
Mr。 Konig was thunderstruck； staring at McCoy as if he were a
madman。
〃Go ashore！〃 the captain cried。 〃What for？ It will take you three hours
to get there in your canoe。〃
McCoy measured the distance of the land away； and nodded。
〃Yes； it is six now。 I won't get ashore till nine。 The people cannot be
assembled earlier than ten。 As the breeze freshens up tonight； you can
begin to work up against it； and pick me up at daylight tomorrow
morning。〃
〃In the name of reason and common sense；〃 the captain burst forth；
〃what do you want to assemble the people for？ Don't you realize that my
ship is burning beneath me？〃
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McCoy was as placid as a summer sea； and the other's anger produced
not the slightest ripple upon it。
〃Yes； Captain；〃 he cooed in his dove…like voice。 〃I do realize that your
ship is burning。 That is why I am going with you to Mangareva。 But I
must get permission to go with you。 It is our custom。 It is an important
matter when the governor leaves the island。 The people's interests are at
stake； and so they have the right to vote their permission or refusal。 But
they will give it； I know that。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Then if you know they will give it； why bother with getting it？
Think of the delaya whole night。〃
〃It is our custom；〃 was the imperturbable reply。 〃Also； I am the
governor； and I must make arrangements for the conduct of the island
during my absence。〃
〃But it is only a twenty…four hour run to Mangareva；〃 the captain
objected。 〃Suppose it took you six times that long to return to windward；
that would bring you back by the end of a week。〃
McCoy smiled his large； benevolent smile。
〃Very few vessels come to Pitcairn； and when they do； they are usually
from San Francisco or from around the Horn。 I shall be fortunate if I get
back in six months。 I may be away a year； and I may have to go to San
Francisco in order to find a vessel that will bring me back。 'my father once
left Pitcairn to be gone three months； and two years passed before he could
get back。 Then； too； you are short of food。 If you have to take to the
boats； and the weather comes up bad； you may be days in reaching land。 I
can bring off two canoe loads of food in the morning。 Dried bananas will
be best。 As the breeze freshens； you beat up against it。 The nearer you are；
the bigger loads I can bring off。 Goodby。〃
He held out his hand。 The captain shook it； and was reluctant to let go。
He seemed to cling to it as a drowning sailor clings to a life buoy。
〃How do I know you will come back in the morning？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； that's it！〃 cried the mate。 〃How do we know but what he's
skinning out to save his own hide？〃
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McCoy did not speak。 He looked at them sweetly and benignantly； and
it seemed to them that they received a message from his tremendous
certitude of soul。
The captain released
