hard cash-第34章

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Oh；　the　great　African　heart！〃　said　Fullalove　after　the　battle。　〃By　my　side　he　fears　no　danger。　Of　all　men；　negroes　are　the　most　capable　of　friendship；　their　affection　is　a　mine：　and　we　have　only　worked　it　with　the　lash；　and　that　is　a　ridiculous　mining　tool；　I　rather　think。〃

When　Vespasian　came　out　so　strong　_versus_　Ramgolam；　Fullalove　was　even　more　triumphant：　for　after　all　it　is　not　so　much　the　heart　as　the　intelligence　of　the　negro　we　albiculi　affect　to　doubt。

〃Oh；　the　great　African　intellect！〃　said　Fullalove　publicly；　taking　the　bull　by　the　horns。

〃I　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Beresford　maliciously；　〃it　is　down　in　the　maps　as　the　great　African　Desert。〃

To　balance　his　many　excellences　Vespasian　had　an　infirmity。　This　was　an　ungovernable　itch　for　brushing　whites。　If　he　was　talking　with　one　of　that　always　admired；　and　now　beloved；　race；　and　saw　a　speck　of　dirt　on　him；　he　would　brush　him　unobtrusively；　but　effectually；　in　full　dialogue：　he　would　steal　behind　a　knot　of　whites　and　brush　whoever　needed　it；　however　little。　Fullalove　remonstrated；　but　in　vain；　on　this　one　point　Instinct　would　not　yield　to　Reason。　He　could　not　keep　his　hands　off　a　dusty　white。　He　would　have　died　of　the　Miller　of　Dee。　But　the　worst　was　he　did　not　stop　at　clothes；　he　loathed　ill…blacked　shoes。　Woe　to　all　foot…leather　that　did　not　shine；　his　own　skin　furnished　a　perilous　standard　of　comparison。　He　was　eternally　blacking　boots　_en　amateur。_　Fullalove　got　in　a　rage　at　this；　and　insisted　on　his　letting　his　fellow…creatures'　leather　alone。　Vespasian　pleaded　hard；　especially　for　leave　to　black　Colonel　Kenealy。　〃The　cunnell；〃　said　he　pathetically；　〃is　such　a　tarnation　fine　gentleman　spoilt　for　want　of　a　lilly　bit　of　blacking。〃　Fullalove　replied　that　the　colonel　had　got　a　servant　whose　mission　it　was　to　black　his　shoes。　This　simply　amused　Vespasian。　〃A　servant？〃　said　he。　〃Yah！　yah！　What　is　the　use　of　white　servants？　They　are　not　biddable。　Massa　Fullalove；　sar；　Goramighty　he　reared　all　white　men　to　kick　up　a　dust；　white　servants　inspecially；　and　the　darkies　to　brush　'em；　and　likewise　additionally　to　make　their　boots　she　a　lilly　bit。〃　He　concluded　with　a　dark　hint　that　the　colonel's　white　servant's　own　shoes；　though　better　blacked　than　his　master's；　were　anything　but　mirrors；　and　that　this　child　had　his　eye　on　them。


The　black　desperado　emerged　on　tiptoe　from　Kenealy's　cabin；　just　as　Macbeth　does　from　the　murdered　Duncan's　chamber：　only　with　a　pair　of　boots　in　his　hand　instead　of　a　pair　of　daggers；　got　into　the　moonlight；　and　finding　himself　uninterrupted；　assumed　the　whistle　of　innocence；　and　polished　them　to　the　nine；　chuckling　audibly。

Fullalove　watched　him　with　an　eye　like　a　rattlesnake；　but　kept　quiet。　He　saw　interference　would　only　demoralise　him　worse：　for　it　is　more　ignoble　to　black　boots　clandestinely；　than　bravely；　men　ditto。

He　relieved　his　heart　with　idioms。　〃Darn　the　critter；　he's　fixed　my　flint　eternally。　Now　I　cave。　I　swan　to　man。　I　may　just　hang　up　my　fiddle；　for　this　darkie's　too　hard　a　row　to　hoe。〃

It　was　but　a　momentary　dejection。　The　Mixture　was　_（inter　alia）_　a　Theorist　and　an　Anglo…Saxon；　two　indomitables。　He　concluded　to　temporise　with　the　Brush；　and　breed　it　out。

〃I'm　bound　to　cross　the　obsequious　cuss　with　the　catawamptiousest　gal　in　Guinea；　and　one　that　never　saw　a　blacking　bottle；　not　even　in　a　dream。〃　_Majora　canamus。_

Being　now　about　a　hundred　miles　south　of　the　Mauritius；　in　fine　weather　with　a　light　breeze；　Dodd's　marine　barometer　began　to　fall　steadily；　and　by　the　afternoon　the　declension　had　become　so　remarkable；　that　he　felt　uneasy；　and；　somewhat　to　the　surprise　of　the　crew；for　there　was　now　scarce　a　breath　of　air；furled　his　slight　sails；　treble　reefed　his　topsails；　had　his　top…gallant　and　royal　yards　and　gaff　topsail　bent　on　deck；　got　his　flying　jib…boom　in；　&c。；　and　made　the　ship　snug。

Kenealy　asked　him　what　was　the　matter？

〃Barometer　going　down；　moon　at　the　full；　and　Jonah　aboard；〃　was　the　reply；　uttered　doggedly。

Kenealy　assured　him　it　was　a　beautiful　evening；　precursor　of　a　fine　day。　〃See　how　red　the　sunset　is。

　　　　'Evening　red　and　morning　grey　　　　　　Are　the　sure　signs　of　a　fine　day。'〃

Dodd　looked；　and　shook　his　head。　The　sun　was　red；　but　the　wrong　red：　an　angry　red：　and；　as　he　dipped　into　the　wave；　discharged　a　lurid　coppery　hue　that　rushed　in　a　moment　like　an　embodied　menace　over　the　entire　heavens。　The　wind　ceased　altogether：　and　in　the　middle　of　an　unnatural　and　suspicious　calm　the　glass　went　down；　down；　down。

The　moon　rose；　and　instantly　all　eyes　were　bent　on　her　with　suspicion；　for　in　this　latitude　the　hurricanes　generally　come　at　the　full　moon。　She　was　tolerably　clear；　however；　but　a　light　scud　sailing　across　her　disc　showed　there　was　wind　in　the　upper　regions。

Dodd　trusted　to　science；　barred　the　lee…ports；　and　had　the　dead　lights　put　into　the　stem　cabin　and　secured：　then　turned　in　for　an　hour's　sleep。

Science　proved　a　prophet。　Just　at　seven　bells；　in　one　moment　like　a　thunderbolt　from　the　sky；　a　heavy　squall　struck　the　ship。　Under　a　less　careful　captain　her　lee…ports　would　have　been　open；　and　she　might　have　gone　to　the　bottom　like　a　bullet

〃Let　go　the　main　sheet！〃　roared　Sharpe　hastily　to　a　hand　he　had　placed　there　on　purpose。　He　let　go；　and　there　was　the　sail　flapping　like　thunder；　and　the　sheet　lashing　everything　in　the　most　dangerous　way。　Dodd　was　on　deck　in　a　moment　〃Helm　hard　up！　Hands　shorten　sail！〃

（Pipe。）　〃All　hands　furl　sail；　ahoy！〃

Up　tumbled　the　crew；　went　cheerily　to　work；　and　by　three　bells　in　the　middle　watch　had　hauled　up　what　was　left　of　the　shivered　mainsail；　and　hove　the　ship　to　under　close…reefed　main　topsail　and　storm　stay…sails；　and　so　the　voyage　was　suspended。

A　heavy　sea　got　up　under　a　scourging　wind；　that　rose　and　rose；　till　the　_Agra_；　under　the　pressure　of　that　single　sail　treble　reefed；　heeled　over　so　as　to　dip　her　lee　channels。　This　went　on　till　the　waves　rolled　so　high；　and　the　squalls　were　so　bitter；　that　sheets　of　water　were　actually　torn　off　their　crests　and　launched　incessantly　on　deck；　not　only　drenching　Dodd　and　his　officers；　which　they　did　not　mind；　but　threatening　to　flood　the　ship。

Dodd　battened　down　the　hatches　and　stopped　that　game。

Then　came　a　danger　no　skill　could　avert：　the　ship　lurched　so　violently　now；　as　not　merely　to　clip；　but　bury；　her　lower　deck　port…pendents：　and　so　a　good　deal　of　water　found　ingress　through　the　windage。　Then　Dodd　set　a　gang　to　the　pumps：　for；　he　said；　〃We　can　hardly　hope　to　weather　this　out　without　shipping　a　sea：　and　I　won't　have　water　coming　in　upon　water。〃

And　now　the　wind；　raging　and　roaring　like　discharges　of　artillery；　and　not　like　wind　as　known　in　our　seas；　seemed　to　have　put　out　all　the　lights　of　heaven。　The　sky　was　inky　black；　and　quite　close　to　their　heads：　and　the　wind　still　increasing；　the　vessel　came　down　to　her　extreme　bearings；　and　it　was　plain　she　would　soon　be　on　her　beam　ends。　Sharpe　and　Dodd　met；　and　holding　on　by　the　life…lines；　applied　their　speaking　trumpets　tight　to　each　other's　ears；　and　even　then　they　had　to　bawl。

〃She　can't　carry　a　rag　much　longer。〃

〃No；　sir；　not　half　an　hour。〃

〃Can　we　furl　that　main　taupsle？〃

Sharpe　shook　his　head。　〃The　first　moment　we　start　a　sheet；　the　sail　will　whip　the　mast　out　of　her。〃

〃You　are　right　Well；　then；　I'll　cut　it　away。〃

〃Volunteers；　sir？〃

〃Ay；　twelve：　no　more。　Send　them　to　my　cabin。〃

Sharpe's　difficulty　was　to　keep　the　men　back；　so　eager　were　the　fine　fellows　to　risk　their　lives。　However；　he　brought　twelve　to　the　cabin；　headed　by　Mr。　Grey；　who　had　a　right；　as　captain　of　the　watch；　to　go　with　them；　on　which　right　he　insisted；　in　spite　of　Dodd's　earnest　request　that　he　would　forego　it。　When　Dodd　saw　his　resolution；　he　dropped　the　friend　and　resumed　the　captain；　and　spoke　to　them　through　a　trumpet；　the　first　time　he　had　ever　used　one　in　a　cabin；　or　seen　one　used。

〃Mr。　Grey　and　men；　going　aloft　to　save　the　mainmast　by　cutting　the　sail　away。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir！〃

〃Service　of　danger；　great　danger！〃

〃Hurrah！〃

〃But　great　dangers　can　be　made　smaller　by　working　the　right　way。　Attend！　Lay　out　all　on　the　yard；　and　take　your　time　from　one　man　at　the　lee　yard…arm：　don't　know　who　that　will　be；　but　one　of　the　smartest　men　in　the　ship。　Order　to　_him_　is：　hold　his　knife　hand　well　up；　rest　to　see！　and　then　in　knives　altogether：　mind　and　cut　from　you；　and　below　the　reef　band；　and　then　I　hope　to　see　all　come　down　alive。〃

Mr。　Grey　and　his　twelve　men　left　the　cabin：　and　hey！　for　the　main　top。　The　men　let　the　officer　lead　them　as　far　as　Jacob's　ladder；　and　then　hurrah　for　the　lee　yard…arm！　That　was　where　all　wanted　to　be；　and　but　one　could　be。　Grey　was　as　anxious　as　the　rest；　but　officers　of　his　rank　seldom　go　aloft；　and　soon　fall　out　of　their　catlike　habits。　He　had　done　about　six　ratlines；　when；　instead　of　going　hand　over　head；　he　spread　his　arms　to　seize　a　shroud　on　each　side　of　him：　by　this　he　weakened　his　leverage；　and　the　wind　just　then　came　fiercer；　caught　him；　and　flattened　him　against　the　rigging　as　tight　as　if　Nature　had　caught　up　a　mountain　for　a　hammer　and　nailed　him　with　a　cedar；　he　was　spread…eagled。　The　men　accepted　him　at　once　as　a　new　patent　ratline　with　a　fine　resisting　power：　they　went　up　him；　and　bounded　three　ordinary　ratlines　at　a　go　off　all　his　promontories；　especially　his　shoulders　and　his　head；　receiving　his　compliments　in　the　shape　of　hearty　curses。　They　gained　the　top　and　lay　out　on　the　yard　with　their　hair　flying　like　streamers：　and　who　got　the　place　of　honour　but　Thompson；　the　jolly　fore…topman　who　couldn't　stand　smoked　pea…soup。　So　strong　and　so　weak　are　men。

Thompson　raised　his　knife　high；　there　was　a　pause：　then　in　went　all　their　knives；　and　away　went　the　sail　into　the　night　of　the　storm；　and　soon　seemed　a　sheet　of　writing…paper；　and　more　likely　to　hit　the　sky　than　the　sea。　The　men　came　down；　picked　their　officer　off　the　rigging；　had　a　dram　in　the　captain's　cabin；　and　saw　him　enter　their　names　in　the　log…book　for　good　service；　and　in　the　purser's　for　extra　grog　on　Sundays　from　there　to　Gravesend。

The　ship　was　relieved；　and　all　looked　well　till　the　chronometer；　their　only　guide　now；　announced　sunset：　when　the　wind；　incredible　as　it　may　appear；　increased；　and　one　frightful　squall　dipped　the　muzzles　of　the　lee　carronades　in　the　water。

Then　was　heard　the　first　cry　of　distress：　an　appalling　sound；　the　wail　of　brave　men。　And　they　had　borne　it　all　so　bravely；　so　cheerfully；　till　now。　But　now　they　knew　something　must　go；　or　else　the　ship；　the　suspense　was　awful；　but　very　short。　Crack！　crash！　the　fore　and　main　topmast　both　gone　short　off　by　the　caps；　and　the　ship　recovered　slowly；　hesitatingly；　tremblingly。

Relieving　her　from　one　danger；　this　subjected　her　to　another　and　a　terrible　one。　The　heavy　spars　that　had　fallen；　unable　to　break　loose　from　the　rigging；　pounded　the　ship　so　savagely　as　to　threaten　to　stave　in　her　side。　Add　to　this　that；　with　labouring　so　long　and　severely；　some　of　the　ship's　seams　began　now　to　open　and　shut　and　discharge　the　oakum；　which　is　terrible　to　the　bravest　seamen。　Yet　neither　this　stout　captain　nor　his　crew　shirked　any　danger　men　had　ever　grappled　with　since　men　were。　Dodd　ordered　them　to　cut　away　the　wreck　to　leeward；　it　was　done：　then　to　windward；　this；　the　more　tickl