benito cereno-第13章
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rang the tocsin of the hatchet…polishers； and seizing Don Benito by the throat he added； 〃this plotting pirate means murder！〃 Here； in apparent verification of the words； the servant； a dagger in his hand； was seen on the rail overhead； poised； in the act of leaping； as if with desperate fidelity to befriend his master to the last； while； seemingly to aid the black； the three Spanish sailors were trying to clamber into the hampered bow。 Meantime； the whole host of Negroes； as if inflamed at the sight of their jeopardized captain； impended in one sooty avalanche over the bulwarks。 All this； with what preceded； and what followed； occurred with such involutions of rapidity； that past； present； and future seemed one。 Seeing the Negro coming； Captain Delano had flung the Spaniard aside； almost in the very act of clutching him； and； by the unconscious recoil； shifting his place； with arms thrown up； so promptly grappled the servant in his descent； that with dagger presented at Captain Delano's heart； the black seemed of purpose to have leaped there as to his mark。 But the weapon was wrenched away； and the assailant dashed down into the bottom of the boat； which now； with disentangled oars； began to speed through the sea。 At this juncture； the left hand of Captain Delano； on one side； again clutched the half…reclined Don Benito； heedless that he was in a speechless faint； while his right foot； on the other side； ground the prostrate Negro； and his right arm pressed for added speed on the after oar； his eye bent forward； encouraging his men to their utmost。 But here； the officer of the boat； who had at last succeeded in beating off the towing Spanish sailors； and was now； with face turned aft； assisting the bowsman at his oar； suddenly called to Captain Delano； to see what the black was about； while a Portuguese oarsman shouted to him to give heed to what the Spaniard was saying。 Glancing down at his feet； Captain Delano saw the freed hand of the servant aiming with a second dagger… a small one； before concealed in his wool… with this he was snakishly writhing up from the boat's bottom； at the heart of his master； his countenance lividly vindictive； expressing the centred purpose of his soul； while the Spaniard； half…choked； was vainly shrinking away； with husky words； incoherent to all but the Portuguese。 That moment； across the long benighted mind of Captain Delano； a flash of revelation swept； illuminating in unanticipated clearness Benito Cereno's whole mysterious demeanour； with every enigmatic event of the day； as well as the entire past voyage of the San Dominick。 He smote Babo's hand down； but his own heart smote him harder。 With infinite pity he withdrew his hold from Don Benito。 Not Captain Delano； but Don Benito； the black； in leaping into the boat； had intended to stab。 Both the black's hands were held； as； glancing up toward the San Dominick； Captain Delano； now with the scales dropped from his eyes； saw the Negroes； not in misrule； not in tumult； not as if frantically concerned for Don Benito； but with mask tom away； flourishing hatchets and knives； in ferocious piratical revolt。 Like delirious black dervishes； the six Ashantees danced on the poop。 Prevented by their foes from springing into the water； the Spanish boys were hurrying up to the topmost spars； while such of the few Spanish sailors； not already in the sea； less alert； were descried； helplessly mixed in； on deck； with the blacks。 Meantime Captain Delano hailed his own vessel； ordering the ports up； and the guns run out。 But by this time the cable of the San Dominick had been cut； and the fag…end； in lashing out； whipped away the canvas shroud about the beak； suddenly revealing； as the bleached hull swung round toward the open ocean； death for the figurehead； in a human skeleton； chalky comment on the chalked words below； 〃Follow your leader。〃 At the sight； Don Benito； covering his face； wailed out： 〃'Tis he； Aranda！ my murdered； unburied friend！〃 Upon reaching the sealer； calling for ropes； Captain Delano bound the Negro； who made no resistance； and had him hoisted to the deck。 He would then have assisted the now almost helpless Don Benito up the side； but Don Benito； wan as he was； refused to move； or be moved； until the Negro should have been first put below out of view。 When； presently assured that it was done； he no more shrank from the ascent。 The boat was immediately despatched back to pick up the three swimming sailors。 Meantime； the guns were in readiness； though； owing to the San Dominick having glided somewhat astern of the sealer； only the aftermost one could be brought to bear。 With this； they fired six times； thinking to cripple the fugitive ship by bringing down her spars。 But only a few inconsiderable ropes were shot away。 Soon the ship was beyond the guns' range； steering broad out of the bay； the blacks thickly clustering round the bowsprit； one moment with taunting cries toward the whites； the next with up…thrown gestures hailing the now dusky expanse of ocean… cawing crows escaped from the hand of the fowler。 The first impulse was to slip the cables and give chase。 But； upon second thought； to pursue with whale…boat and yawl seemed more promising。 Upon inquiring of Don Benito what firearms they had on board the San Dominick； Captain Delano was answered that they had none that could be used； because； in the earlier stages of the mutiny； a cabin…passenger； since dead； had secretly put out of order the locks of what few muskets there were。 But with all his remaining strength； Don Benito entreated the American not to give chase； either with ship or boat； for the Negroes had already proved themselves such desperadoes； that； in case of a present assault； nothing but a total massacre of the whites could be looked for。 But； regarding this warning as coming from one whose spirit had been crushed by misery； the American did not give up his design。 The boats were got ready and armed。 Captain Delano ordered twenty…five men into them。 He was going himself when Don Benito grasped his arm。 〃What！ have you saved my life； Senor； and are you now going to throw away your own？〃 The officers also； for reasons connected with their interests and those of the voyage； and a duty owing to the owners； strongly objected against their commander's going。 Weighing their remonstrances a moment； Captain Delano felt bound to remain； appointing his chief mate… an athletic and resolute man； who had been a privateer's man； and； as his enemies whispered； a pirate… to head the party。 The more to encourage the sailors； they were told； that the Spanish captain considered his ship as good as lost； that she and her cargo； including some gold and silver； were worth upwards of ten thousand doubloons。 Take her； and no small part should be theirs。 The sailors replied with a shout。 The fugitives had now almost gained an offing。 It was nearly night； but the moon was rising。 After hard； prolonged pulling； the boats came up on the ship's quarters； at a suitable distance laying upon their oars to discharge their muskets。 Having no bullets to return； the Negroes sent their yells。 But； upon the second volley； Indian…like； they hurtled their hatchets。 One took off a sailor's fingers。 Another struck the whale…boat's bow； cutting off the rope there； and remaining stuck in the gunwale； like a woodman's axe。 Snatching it； quivering from its lodgment； the mate hurled it back。 The returned gauntlet now stuck in the ship's broken quarter…gallery； and so remained。 The Negroes giving too hot a reception； the whites kept a more respectful distance。 Hovering now just out of reach of the hurtling hatchets； they； with a view to the close encounter which must soon come； sought to decoy the blacks into entirely disarming themselves of their most murderous weapons in a hand…to…hand fight； by foolishly flinging them； as missiles； short of the mark； into the sea。 But ere long perceiving the stratagem； the Negroes desisted； though not before many of them had to replace their lost hatchets with handspikes； an exchange which； as counted upon； proved in the end favourable to the assailants。 Meantime； with a strong wind； the ship still clove the water； the boats alternately falling behind； and pulling up； to discharge fresh volleys。 The fire was mostly directed toward the stern； since there； chiefly； the Negroes； at present； were clustering。 But to kill or maim the Negroes was not the object。 To take them； with the ship； was the object。 To do it； the ship must be boarded； which could not be done by boats while she was sailing so fast。 A thought now struck the mate。 Observing the Spanish boys still aloft； high as they could get； he called to them to descend to the yards； and cut adrift the sails。 It was done。 About this time； owing to causes hereafter to be shown； two Spaniards； in the dress of sailors and conspicuously showing themselves； were killed； not by volleys； but by deliberate marksman's shots； while； as it afterwards appeared； during one of the general discharges； Atufal； the black； and the Spaniard at the helm likewise were killed。 What now； with the loss of the sails； and loss of leaders； the ship became unmanageable to the Negroes。 With creaking masts she came heavily round to the wind； the prow slowly swinging into view of the boats； its skeleton gleaming in the horizontal moonlight； and casting a gigantic ribbed shadow upon the water。 One extended arm of the ghost seemed beckoning the whites to avenge it。 〃Follow your leader！〃 cried the mate； and； one on each bow； the boats boarded。 Sealing…spears and cutlasses crossed hatchets and handspikes。 Huddled upon the long…boat amidships； the Negresses raised a wailing chant； whose chorus was the clash of the steel。 For a time； the attack wavered； the Negroes wedging themselves to beat it back； the half…repelled sailors； as yet unable to gain a footing； fighting as troopers in the saddle； one leg sideways flung over the bulwarks； and one without； plying their cutlasses like carters' whips。 But in vain。 They were almost overborne； when； rallying themselves into a squad as one man； with a huzza； they sprang inboard； where； entangled； they involuntarily separated again。 For a few breaths' space there was a vague； muffled； inner sound as of submerged sword…fish rushing hither and thither through shoals of black…fish。 Soon； in a reunited band； and joined by the Spanish seamen； the whites came to the surface； irresistibly driving the Negroes toward the stern。 But a barricade of casks and sacks； from side to side； had been thrown up by the mainmast。 Here the Negroes faced about； and though scorning peace or truce； yet fain would have had a respite。 But； without pause； overleaping the barrier； the unflagging sailors again closed。 Exhausted； the blacks now fought in despair。 Their red tongues lolled； wolf…like； from their black mouths。 But the pale sailors' teeth were set； not a word was spoken； and； in five minutes more； the ship was won。 Nearly a score of the Negroes were killed。 Exclusive of those by the balls； many were mangled； their wounds… mostly inflicted by the long…edged sealing…spears… resembling those shaven ones of the English at Preston Pans； made by the poled scythes of the Highl
