rambling idle excursion-第2章

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main　question　is；　do　you　wan　to　risk　two　and　a　half　that　I　won't　do　it？'
'Make　it　a　V；'　says　he。　　'Done；'　says　I。　　I　started；　him　a　giggling　and
slapping　his　hand　on　his　thigh；　he　felt　so　good。　　I　went　over　there　and
leaned　my　knuckle：　on　the　table　a　minute　and　looked　the　governor　in　the
face；　and　says　I；　'Mr。　Gardner；　don't　you　know　me？　　He　stared；　and　I
stared；　and　he　stared。　　Then　all　of　a　sudden　he　sings　out；　'Tom　Bowling；
by　the　holy　poker！　　Ladies；　it's　old　Tom　Bowling；　that　you've　heard　me
talk　aboutshipmate　of　mine　in　the　Mary　Ann。'　　He　rose　up　and　shook
hands　with　me　ever　so　heartyI　sort　of　glanced　around　and　took　a
realizing　sense　of　my　mate's　saucer　eyesand　then　says　the　governor；
'Plant　yourself；　Tom；　plant　yourself；　you　can't　cat　your　anchor　again
till　you've　had　a　feed　with　me　and　the　ladies！'　　I　planted　myself
alongside　the　governor；　and　canted　my　eye　around　toward　my　mate。　　Well；
sir；　his　dead…lights　were　bugged　out　like　tompions；　and　his　mouth　stood
that　wide　open　that　you　could　have　laid　a　ham　in　it　without　him　noticing
it。〃

There　was　great　applause　at　the　conclusion　of　the　old　captain's　story；
then；　after　a　moment's　silence；　a　grave；　pale　young　man　said：

〃Had　you　ever　met　the　governor　before？〃

The　old　captain　looked　steadily　at　this　inquirer　awhile；　and　then　got　up
and　walked　aft　without　making　any　reply。　　One　passenger　after　another
stole　a　furtive　glance　at　the　inquirer；　but　failed　to　make　him　out；　and
so　gave　him　up。　　It　took　some　little　work　to　get　the　talk…machinery　to
running　smoothly　again　after　this　derangement；　but　at　length　a
conversation　sprang　up　about　that　important　and　jealously　guarded
instrument；　a　ship's　timekeeper；　its　exceeding　delicate　accuracy；　and　the
wreck　and　destruction　that　have　sometimes　resulted　from　its　varying　a　few
seemingly　trifling　moments　from　the　true　time；　then；　in　due　course；　my
comrade；　the　Reverend；　got　off　on　a　yarn；　with　a　fair　wind　and　everything
drawing。　　It　was　a　true　story；　tooabout　Captain　Rounceville's　shipwreck
true　in　every　detail。　　It　was　to　this　effect：

Captain　Rounceville's　vessel　was　lost　in　mid…Atlantic；　and　likewise　his
wife　and　his　two　little　children。　　Captain　Rounceville　and　seven　seamen
escaped　with　life；　but　with　little　else。　　A　small；　rudely　constructed
raft　was　to　be　their　home　for　eight　days。　　They　had　neither　provisions
nor　water。　　They　had　scarcely　any　clothing；　no　one　had　a　coat　but　the
captain。　　This　coat　was　changing　hands　all　the　time；　for　the　weather　was
very　cold。　　Whenever　a　man　became　exhausted　with　the　cold；　they　put　the
coat　on　him　and　laid　him　down　between　two　shipmates　until　the　garment　and
their　bodies　had　warmed　life　into　him　again。　　Among　the　sailors　was　a
Portuguese　who　knew　no　English。　　He　seemed　to　have　no　thought　of　his　own
calamity；　but　was　concerned　only　about　the　captain's　bitter　loss　of　wife
and　children。　　By　day　he　would　look　his　dumb　compassion　in　the　captain's
face；　and　by　night；　in　the　darkness　and　the　driving　spray　and　rain；　he
would　seek　out　the　captain　and　try　to　comfort　him　with　caressing　pats　on
the　shoulder。　　One　day；　when　hunger　and　thirst　were　making　their　sure
inroad；　upon　the　men's　strength　and　spirits；　a　floating　barrel　was　seen
at　a　distance。　　It　seemed　a　great　find；　for　doubtless　it　contained　food
of　some　sort。　　A　brave　fellow　swam　to　it；　and　after　long　and　exhausting
effort　got　it　to　the　raft。　　It　was　eagerly　opened。　　It　was　a　barrel　of
magnesia！　　On　the　fifth　day　an　onion　was　spied。　　A　sailor　swam　off　and
got　it。　　Although　perishing　with　hunger；　he　brought　it　in　its　integrity
and　put　it　into　the　captain's　hand。　　The　history　of　the　sea　teaches　that
among　starving；　shipwrecked　men　selfishness　is　rare；　and　a　wonder…
compelling　magnanimity　the　rule。　　The　onion　was　equally　divided　into
eight　parts；　and　eaten　with　deep　thanksgivings。　　On　the　eighth　day　a
distant　ship　was　sighted。　　Attempts　were　made　to　hoist　an　oar；　with
Captain　Rounceville's　coat　on　it　for　a　signal。　　There　were　many　failures；
for　the　men　were　but　skeletons　now；　and　strengthless。　　At　last　success
was　achieved；　but　the　signal　brought　no　help。　　The　ship　faded　out　of
sight　and　left　despair　behind　her。　　By　and　by　another　ship　appeared；
and　passed　so　near　that　the　castaways；　every　eye　eloquent　with　gratitude；
made　ready　to　welcome　the　boat　that　would　be　sent　to　save　them。　　But　this
ship　also　drove　on；　and　left　these　men　staring　their　unutterable　surprise
and　dismay　into　each　other's　ashen　faces。　　Late　in　the　day；　still　another
ship　came　up　out　of　the　distance；　but　the　men　noted　with　a　pang　that　her
course　was　one　which　would　not　bring　her　nearer。　　Their　remnant　of　life
was　nearly　spent；　their　lips　and　tongues　were　swollen；　parched；　cracked
with　eight　days'　thirst；　their　bodies　starved；　and　here　was　their　last
chance　gliding　relentlessly　from　them；　they　would　not　be　alive　when　the
next　sun　rose。　　For　a　day　or　two　past　the　men　had　lost　their　voices；　but
now　Captain　Rounceville　whispered；　〃Let　us　pray。〃　　The　Portuguese　patted
him　on　the　shoulder　in　sign　of　deep　approval。　　All　knelt　at　the　base　of
the　oar　that　was　waving　the　signal…coat　aloft；　and　bowed　their　heads。
The　sea　was　tossing；　the　sun　rested；　a　red；　rayless　disk；　on　the　sea…line
in　the　west。　　When　the　men　presently　raised　their　heads　they　would　have
roared　a　hallelujah　if　they　had　had　a　voicethe　ship's　sails　lay
wrinkled　and　flapping　against　her　mastsshe　was　going　about！　　Here　was
rescue　at　last；　and　in　the　very　last　instant　of　time　that　was　left　for
it。　　No；　not　rescue　yetonly　the　imminent　prospect　of　it。　　The　red　disk
sank　under　the　sea；　and　darkness　blotted　out　the　ship。　　By　and　by　came　a
pleasant　sound…oars　moving　in　a　boat's　rowlocks。　　Nearer　it　came；　and
nearer…within　thirty　steps；　but　nothing　visible。　　Then　a　deep　voice：
〃Hol…lo！〃　　The　castaways　could　not　answer；　their　swollen　tongues　refused
voice。　　The　boat　skirted　round　and　round　the　raft；　started　awaythe
agony　of　it！returned；　rested　the　oars；　close　at　hand；　listening；　no
doubt。　　The　deep　voice　again：　〃Hol…lo！　　Where　are　ye；　shipmates？〃
Captain　Rounceville　whispered　to　his　men；　saying：　〃Whisper　your　best；
boys！　now…all　at　once！〃　　So　they　sent　out　an　eightfold　whisper　in　hoarse
concert：　〃Here！〃；　There　was　life　in　it　if　it　succeeded；　death　if　it
failed。　　After　that　supreme　moment　Captain　Rounceville　was　conscious　of
nothing　until　he　came　to　himself　on　board　the　saving　ship。　　Said　the
Reverend；　concluding：

〃There　was　one　little　moment　of　time　in　which　that　raft　could　be　visible
from　that　ship；　and　only　one。　　If　that　one　little　fleeting　moment　had
passed　unfruitful；　those　men's　doom　was　sealed。　　As　close　as　that　does
God　shave　events　foreordained　from　the　beginning　of　the　world。　　When　the
sun　reached　the　water's　edge　that　day；　the　captain　of　that　ship　was
sitting　on　deck　reading　his　prayer…book。　　The　book　fell；　he　stooped　to
pick　it　up；　and　happened　to　glance　at　the　sun。　　In　that　instant　that　far…
off　raft　appeared　for　a　second　against　the　red　disk；　its　needlelike　oar
and　diminutive　signal　cut　sharp　and　black　against　the　bright　surface；　and
in　the　next　instant　was　thrust　away　into　the　dusk　again。　　But　that　ship；
that　captain；　and　that　pregnant　instant　had　had　their　work　appointed　for
them　in　the　dawn　of　time　and　could　not　fail　of　the　performance。　　The
chronometer　of　God　never　errs！〃

There　was　deep；　thoughtful　silence　for　some　moments。　　Then　the　grave；
pale　young　man　said：

〃What　is　the　chronometer　of　God？〃



II

At　dinner；　six　o'clock；　the　same　people　assembled　whom　we　had　talked　with
on　deck　and　seen　at　luncheon　and　breakfast　this　second　day　out；　and　at
dinner　the　evening　before。　　That　is　to　say；　three　journeying　ship…
masters；　a　Boston　merchant；　and　a　returning　Bermudian　who　had　been　absent
from　his　Bermuda　thirteen　years；　these　sat　on　the　starboard　side。　　On　the
port　side　sat　the　Reverend　in　the　seat　of　honor；　the　pale　young　man　next
to　him；　I　next；　next　to　me　an　aged　Bermudian；　returning　to　his　sunny
islands　after　an　absence　of　twenty…seven　years。　　Of　course；　our　captain
was　at　the　head　of　the　table；　the　purser　at　the　foot　of　it。　　A　small
company；　but　small　companies　are　pleasantest。

No　racks　upon　the　table；　the　sky　cloudless；　the　sun　brilliant；　the　blue
sea　scarcely　ruffled；　then　what　had　become　of　the　four　married　couples；
the　three　bachelors；　and　the　active　and　obliging　doctor　from　the　rural
districts　of　Pennsylvania？for　all　these　were　on　deck　when　we　sailed
down　New　York　harbor。　　This　is　the　explanation。　　I　quote　from　my　note…
book：

　　　　　Thursday；　3。30　P。M。　　Under　way；　passing　the　Battery。　　The　large
　　　　　party；　of　four　married　couples；　three　bachelors；　and　a　cheery；
　　　　　exhilarating　doctor　from　the　wilds　of　Pennsylvania；　are　evidently
　　　　　traveling　together。　　All　but　the　doctor　grouped　in　camp…chairs　on
　　　　　deck。

　　　　　Passing　principal　fort。　　The　doctor　is　one　of　those　people　who　has
　　　　　an　infallible　preventive　of　seasickness；　is　flitting　from　friend　to
　　　　　friend　administering　it　and　saying；　〃Don't　you　be　afraid；　I　know
　　　　　this　medicine；　absolutely　infallible；　prepared　under　my　own
　　　　　supervision。〃　　Takes　a　dose　himself；　intrepidly。

　　　　　4。15　P。M。　　Two　of　those　ladies　have　struck　their　colors；
　　　　　notwithstanding　the　〃infallible。〃　　They　have　gone　below。　　The　other
　　　　　two　begin　to　show　distress。

　　　　　5　P。M。　　Exit　one　husband　and　one　bachelor。　　These　still　had　their
　　　　　infallible　in　cargo　when　they　started；　but　arrived　at　the
　　　　　companionway　without　it。

　　　　　5。10。　　Lady　No。　3；　two　bachelors；　and　one　married　man　have　gone
　　　　　below　with　their　own　opinion　of　the　infallible。

　　　　　5。20。　　Passing　Quarantine　Hulk。　　The　infallible　has　done　the
　　　　　business　for　all　the　party　except　the　Scotchman's　wife　and　the
　　　　　author　of　that　formidable　remedy。

　　　　　Nearing　the　Light…Ship。　　Exit　the　Scotchman's　wife；　head　drooped　on
　　　　　stewardess's　shoulder。

　　　　　Entering　the　open　sea。　　Exit　doctor！


The　rout　seems　permanent；　hence　the　smallness　of　the　company　at　table
since　the　voyage　began。　　Our　captain　is　a　grave；　handsome　Hercules　of
thirty…five；　with　a　brown　hand　of　such　majestic　size　that　one　cannot　eat
for　admiring　it　and　wondering　if　a　single　kid　or　calf　could　furnish
material　for　gloving　it。

Conversation　not　general；　drones　along　between　couples。　　One　catches　a
sentence　here　and　there。　Like　this；　from　Bermudian　of　thirteen　years'
absence：　〃It　is　the　nature　of　women　to　ask　trivial；　irrelevant；　and
pursuing　questionsquestions　that　pursue　you　from　a　beginning　in　nothing
to　a　run…to…cover　in　nowhere。〃　　Reply　of　Bermudian　of　twenty…seven　years'
absence：　　〃Yes；　and　to　think　they　have　logical；　analytical　minds　and
argumentative　ability。　　You　see　'em　begin　to　whet　up　whenever　they　smell
argument　in　the　air。〃　　Plainly　these　be　philosophers。

Twice　since　we　left　port　our　engines　have　stopped　for　a　couple　of　minutes
at　a　time。　　Now　they　stop　again。　　Says　the　pale　young　man；　meditatively；
〃There！that　engineer　is　sitting　down　to　rest　again。〃

Grave　stare　from　the　captain；　whose　mighty　jaws　cease　to　work；　and　whose
harpooned　potato　stops　in　midair　on　its　way　to　his　open；　paralyzed　mouth。
Presently　he　says　in　measured　tones；　〃Is　it　your　idea　that