stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第8章
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He moved nearer to the edge of the cliff； and we sat down； almost over
the restless sea beneath us。
〃She lives in my memory；〃 he continued； speaking more to himself
than to me； and looking far out to the horizon； beneath which the setting
sun had begun to sink； 〃in spite of all I can do or think of to make her
appear base in my eyes。 For she left me to go with another mana
scoundrel。 This was how it was；〃 he added； quickly： 〃I married her； and
thought her as pure as a flower； but I could not take her to sea with me
because I was only the mate of a vessel； so I left her among her own
friends； in the village where she was born。 In a little cottage by herself I
settled her； comfortable and happy as I thought。 God！ how she hung round
my neck and sobbed when I went away the first time！ and yetyetwithin
a year she left me。〃 And he stopped for several minutes； resting his head
upon his hands。 〃At first I could get no trace of her；〃 he resumed。 〃Her
friends knew nothing more of her than that she had left the village
suddenly。 Gradually I found out the name of the scoundrel who had
seduced her away。 He had bribed her friends so that they were silent； but I
overbribed them with the last money I had； and I followed him and my
wife on foot。 I never found them； nor did I ever know why she had
deserted me for him。 If I had only known the reason； if I could have been
told of my fault； if she had only written to say that she was tired of me；
that I was too old； too rough for her soft ways；I think I could have borne
the heavy stroke the villain had dealt me better。 The end of my search was
that I dropped down in the streets of Liverpool； whither I thought I had
tracked them； and was carried to the hospital with brain…fever upon me。
Two months afterward I came out cured； and the sense of my loss was
deadened within me； so that I could go to sea again； which I did； before
the mast； under the name of Jackson； in a bark that traded to this coast
here。〃 And the old sailor rose to his feet and turned abruptly away； leaving
me sitting alone。
I saw that he did not wish to be followed； so I stayed where I was and
watched the gray twilight creep over the face of the sea； and the night
quickly succeed to it。 Not a cloud had been in the sky all day long； and as
the darkness increased the stars came out； until the whole heavens were
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studded with glittering gems。
Suddenly； low down； close to the sea； a point of light flickered and
disappeared； shone again for a moment； wavered and went out； only to
reappear and shine steadily。 〃A steamer's masthead light；〃 I thought； and
ran to the house to give the news； but Jackson had already seen the light；
and pronounced that she had anchored until the morning。 At daybreak
there she was； dipping her sides to the swell of the sea as it rolled beneath
her。 It was my duty to go off to her in one of the surf…boats belonging to
the factory； and so I scrambled down the cliff to the little strip of smooth
beach that served us for a landing… place。
When I arrived there I found that the white…crested breakers were
heavier than I had thought they would be。 However； there was the boat
lying on the beach with its prow toward the waves； and round it were the
boat…boys with their loincloths girded； ready to start； so I clambered into
the stern； or ratherfor the boat was shaped alike at stem and sternthe
end from which the steersman； or /patrao/； used his long oar。 With a shout
the boys laid hold of the sides of the boat； and the next moment it was
dancing on the spent waves next to the beach。 The patrao kept its head
steady； and the boys jumped in and seized the oars； and began pulling with
a will； standing up to their stroke。 Slowly the heavy craft gathered way；
and approached a dark and unbroken roller that hastened toward the beach。
Then the patrao shouted to the crew； and they lay on their oars； and the
wave with a roar burst right in front of the boat； sending the spray of its
crest high above our heads。
〃/Rema！ rema forca！/〃 （〃Row strongly！〃） now shouted the patrao；
speaking Portuguese； as mostly all African coast natives do； and the crew
gave way。 The next roller we had to meet in its strength； and save for the
steady force of the patrao's oar； I believe it would have tossed us aside and
we would have been swept under its curving wall of water。 As it was； the
good boat gave a mighty bound as it felt its force； and its stem pitched
high into the air as it slid down its broad back into the deep。
Another and yet another wave were passed； and we could now see
them breaking behind us； shutting out the beach from view。 Then the last
roller was overcome； and there was nothing but the long heave of the deep
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sea to contend against。 Presently we arrived at the steamer； whose side
towered above usan iron wall。
A shout came to me； pitching and lurching with the boat far below；
〃Come on board at once。〃 But to come on board was only to be done by
watching a chance as the boat rose on the top of a roller。 Taking such a one；
I seized the side…ropes； swung a moment in mid…air； and the next was on
the streamer's clean white deck。 Before me stood a tall man with black
hair and whiskers and dark piercing eyes； who asked me if I was the agent
for Flint Brothers。 I answered that the agent was on shore； and that I was
his assistant。 Whereupon he informed me that he had been appointed by
the firm to liquidate all their stations and businesses on the coast； and 〃he
would be obliged by my getting his luggage into the boat。〃 This was said
in a peremptory sort of way； as if he had spoken to a servant； and very
much against the grain I obeyed his orders。
That the man was new to the coast was evident； and my consolation
was that he would be very soon sick of it and pretty well frightened before
he even got on shore； for the weather was freshening rapidly； a fact of
which he appeared to take no heed。 Not so the boat…boys； who were
anxious to be off。 At last we started； and I soon had my revenge。 As we
drew near the shore the rollers became higher and higher； and I perceived
that my gentleman clutched the gunwale of the boat very tightly； and when
the first wave that showed signs of breaking overtook us； he grew very
white in the face until it had passed。
The next one or two breakers were small； much to his relief I could see；
though he said nothing。 Before he had well recovered his equanimity；
however； a tremendous wave approached us somewhat suddenly。 Appalled
by its threatening aspect； he sprang from his seat and seized the arm of the
patrao； who roughly shook him off。
〃My God！〃 he cried； 〃we are swamped！〃 and for the moment it really
looked like it； but the patrao； with a dexterous sweep of his long oar；
turned the boat's head toward the roller。 It broke just as it reached us； and
gave us the benefit of its crest； which came in over the topsides of the boat
as it passed by； and deluged every one of us。
I laughed； although it was no laughing matter； at the plight the
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liquidator was now in。 He was changed in a moment from the spruce and
natty personage into a miserable and draggled being。 From every part of
him the salt water was streaming； and the curl was completely taken out of
his whiskers。 He could not speak from terror； which the boat… boys soon
saw； for none are quicker than negroes to detect signs of fear in those
whom they are accustomed to consider superior to themselves。 Familiar
with the surf； and full of mischievous fun； they began to shout and
gesticulate with the settled purpose of making matters appear worse than
they were； and of enjoying the white man's discomfiture；all but the
patrao； who was an old hand； and on whom depended the safety of us all。
He kept a steady lookout seaward； and stood upright and firm； grasping his
oar with both hands。 With him it was a point of honour to bring the white
men intrusted to his care safely through the surf。
We waited for more than half an hour； bow on； meeting each roller as
it came to us； and by the end of that time the unfortunate liquidator had
evidently given up all hope of ever reaching the shore。 Luckily； the worst
was soon to pass。 After one last tremendous wave there was a lull for a
few moments； and the patrao； who had watched for such a chance； swiftly
turned the boat round； and giving the word to the crew； they pulled lustily
toward the shore。 In a few minutes we were again in safety。 The boat
grounded on the beach； the oars were tossed into the sea； the crew sprang
overboard； some of them seized the new arrival； I clambered on the back
of the patrao； a crowd of negroes； who had been waiting on the beach； laid
hold of the tow…rope of the boat； and it and we were landed simultaneously
on the dry sand。
Once on shore Mr。 Bransome； for that was the new man's name；
rapidly recovered his presence of mind and manner； and； by way of
covering his past confusion； remarked that he supposed the surf was
seldom so bad as it then was。 I replied in an offhand way； meaning to
make fun of him； that what he had passed through was nothing； and
appealed to the patrao to confirm what I had said。 That negro； seeing the
joke； grinned all over his black face； an
