south sea tales(南海传说)-第29章
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complained at seven in the morning； when the fleeting promise of the sun
had been erased by hazy cloud masses in the eastern sky。 And the next
moment he was plaintively demanding； 〃And what are the currents
doing？〃
Lookouts at the mastheads could report no land； and the day passed in
drizzling calms and violent squalls。 By nightfall a heavy sea began to
make from the west。 The barometer had fallen to 29。50。 There was no
wind； and still the ominous sea continued to increase。 Soon the Pyrenees
was rolling madly in the huge waves that marched in an unending
procession from out of the darkness of the west。 Sail was shortened as fast
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as both watches could work； and； when the tired crew had finished； its
grumbling and complaining voices； peculiarly animal…like and menacing；
could be heard in the darkness。 Once the starboard watch was called aft to
lash down and make secure； and the men openly advertised their
sullenness and unwillingness。 Every slow movement was a protest and a
threat。 The atmosphere was moist and sticky like mucilage； and in the
absence of wind all hands seemed to pant and gasp for air。 The sweat
stood out on faces and bare arms； and Captain Davenport for one； his face
more gaunt and care…worn than ever； and his eyes troubled and staring；
was oppressed by a feeling of impending calamity。
〃It's off to the westward；〃 McCoy said encouragingly。 〃At worst； we'll
be only on the edge of it。〃
But Captain Davenport refused to be comforted； and by the light of a
lantern read up the chapter in his Epitome that related to the strategy of
shipmasters in cyclonic storms。 From somewhere amidships the silence
was broken by a low whimpering from the cabin boy。
〃Oh； shut up！〃 Captain Davenport yelled suddenly and with such force
as to startle every man on board and to frighten the offender into a wild
wail of terror。
〃Mr。 Konig；〃 the captain said in a voice that trembled with rage and
nerves； 〃will you kindly step for'ard and stop that brat's mouth with a deck
mop？〃
But it was McCoy who went forward； and in a few minutes had the
boy comforted and asleep。
Shortly before daybreak the first breath of air began to move from out
the southeast； increasing swiftly to a stiff and stiffer breeze。 All hands
were on deck waiting for what might be behind it。 〃We're all right now；
Captain；〃 said McCoy； standing close to his shoulder。 〃The hurricane is to
the west'ard； and we are south of it。 This breeze is the in…suck。 It won't
blow any harder。 You can begin to put sail on her。〃
〃But what's the good？ Where shall I sail？ This is the second day
without observations； and we should have sighted Hao Island yesterday
morning。 Which way does it bear； north； south； east； or what？ Tell me that；
and I'll make sail in a jiffy。〃
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〃I am no navigator； Captain；〃 McCoy said in his mild way。
〃I used to think I was one；〃 was the retort； 〃before I got into these
Paumotus。〃
At midday the cry of 〃Breakers ahead！〃 was heard from the lookout。
The Pyrenees was kept off； and sail after sail was loosed and sheeted home。
The Pyrenees was sliding through the water and fighting a current that
threatened to set her down upon the breakers。 Officers and men were
working like mad； cook and cabin boy； Captain Davenport himself； and
McCoy all lending a hand。 It was a close shave。 It was a low shoal； a bleak
and perilous place over which the seas broke unceasingly； where no man
could live； and on which not even sea birds could rest。 The PYRENEES
was swept within a hundred yards of it before the wind carried her clear；
and at this moment the panting crew； its work done； burst out in a torrent
of curses upon the head of McCoy of McCoy who had come on board；
and proposed the run to Mangareva； and lured them all away from the
safety of Pitcairn Island to certain destruction in this baffling and terrible
stretch of sea。 But McCoy's tranquil soul was undisturbed。 He smiled at
them with simple and gracious benevolence； and； somehow； the exalted
goodness of him seemed to penetrate to their dark and somber souls；
shaming them； and from very shame stilling the curses vibrating in their
throats。
〃Bad waters！ Bad waters！〃 Captain Davenport was murmuring as his
ship forged clear； but he broke off abruptly to gaze at the shoal which
should have been dead astern； but which was already on the PYRENEES'
weather…quarter and working up rapidly to windward。
He sat down and buried his face in his hands。 And the first mate saw；
and McCoy saw； and the crew saw； what he had seen。 South of the shoal
an easterly current had set them down upon it； north of the shoal an
equally swift westerly current had clutched the ship and was sweeping her
away。
〃I've heard of these Paumotus before；〃 the captain groaned； lifting his
blanched face from his hands。 〃Captain Moyendale told me about them
after losing his ship on them。 And I laughed at him behind his back。 God
forgive me； I laughed at him。 What shoal is that？〃 he broke off； to ask
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McCoy。
〃I don't know； Captain。〃
〃Why don't you know？〃
〃Because I never saw it before； and because I have never heard of it。 I
do know that it is not charted。 These waters have never been thoroughly
surveyed。〃
〃Then you don't know where we are？〃
〃No more than you do；〃 McCoy said gently。
At four in the afternoon cocoanut trees were sighted； apparently
growing out of the water。 A little later the low land of an atoll was raised
above the sea。
〃I know where we are now； Captain。〃 McCoy lowered the glasses from
his eyes。 〃That's Resolution Island。 We are forty miles beyond Hao Island；
and the wind is in our teeth。〃
〃Get ready to beach her then。 Where's the entrance？〃
〃There's only a canoe passage。 But now that we know where we are；
we can run for Barclay de Tolley。 It is only one hundred and twenty miles
from here； due nor'…nor'west。 With this breeze we can be there by nine
o'clock tomorrow morning。〃
Captain Davenport consulted the chart and debated with himself。
〃If we wreck her here；〃 McCoy added； 〃we'd have to make the run to
Barclay de Tolley in the boats just the same。〃
The captain gave his orders； and once more the Pyrenees swung off for
another run across the inhospitable sea。
And the middle of the next afternoon saw despair and mutiny on her
smoking deck。 The current had accelerated； the wind had slackened； and
the Pyrenees had sagged off to the west。 The lookout sighted Barclay de
Tolley to the eastward； barely visible from the masthead； and vainly and
for hours the PYRENEES tried to beat up to it。 Ever； like a mirage； the
cocoanut trees hovered on the horizon； visible only from the masthead。
From the deck they were hidden by the bulge of the world。
Again Captain Davenport consulted McCoy and the chart。 'makemo
lay seventy…five miles to the southwest。 Its lagoon was thirty miles long；
and its entrance was excellent。 When Captain Davenport gave his orders；
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the crew refused duty。 They announced that they had had enough of hell
fire under their feet。 There was the land。 What if the ship could not make it？
They could make it in the boats。 Let her burn； then。 Their lives amounted
to something to them。 They had served faithfully the ship； now they were
going to serve themselves。
They sprang to the boats； brushing the second and third mates out of
the way； and proceeded to swing the boats out and to prepare to lower
away。 Captain Davenport and the first mate； revolvers in hand； were
advancing to the break of the poop； when McCoy； who had climbed on top
of the cabin； began to speak。
He spoke to the sailors； and at the first sound of his dovelike； cooing
voice they paused to hear。 He extended to them his own ineffable serenity
and peace。 His soft voice and simple thoughts flowed out to them in a
magic stream； soothing them against their wills。 Long forgotten things
came back to them； and some remembered lullaby songs of childhood and
the content and rest of the mother's arm at the end of the day。 There was
no more trouble； no more danger； no more irk； in all the world。
Everything was as it should be； and it was only a matter of course that they
should turn their backs upon the land and put to sea once more with hell
fire hot beneath their feet。
McCoy spoke simply； but it was not what he spoke。 It was his
personality that spoke more eloquently than any word he could utter。 It
was an alchemy of soul occultly subtile and profoundly deepa
mysterious emanation of the spirit； seductive； sweetly humble； and terribly
imperious。 It was illumination in the dark crypts of their souls； a
compulsion of purity and gentleness vastly greater than that which resided
in the shining； death…spitting revolvers of the officers。
The men wavered reluctantly where they stood； and those who had
loosed the turns made them fast again。 Then one； and then another； and
then all of them； began to sidle awkwardly away。
McCoy's face was beaming with childlike pleasure as he descended
from the top of the cabin。 Thee was no trouble。 For that matter there had
been no trouble averted。 There never had been any trouble； for there was
no place for such in the blissful world in which he lived。
