rambling idle excursion-第4章

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deal；　told　him　yarns；　gave　him　toothsome　scraps　of　personal　history；　and
wove　a　glittering　streak　of　profanity　through　his　garrulous　fabric　that
was　refreshing　to　a　spirit　weary　of　the　dull　neutralities　of　undecorated
speech。　　One　day　the　captain　said；　〃Peters；　do　you　ever　read　the　Bible？〃

〃Wellyes。〃

〃I　judge　it　ain't　often；　by　the　way　you　say　it。　　Now；　you　tackle　it　in
dead　earnest　once；　and　you'll　find　it　'll　pay。　　Don't　you　get
discouraged；　but　hang　right　on。　　First；　you　won't　understand　it；　but　by
and　by　things　will　begin　to　clear　up；　and　then　you　wouldn't　lay　it　down
to　eat。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　heard　that　said。〃

〃And　it's　so；　too。　　There　ain't　a　book　that　begins　with　it。　　It　lays　over
'm　all；　Peters。　　There's　some　pretty　tough　things　in　itthere　ain't　any
getting　around　thatbut　you　stick　to　them　and　think　them　out；　and　when
once　you　get　on　the　inside　everything's　plain　as　day。〃

〃The　miracles；　too；　captain？〃

〃Yes；　sir！　　the　miracles；　too。　　Every　one　of　them。　　Now；　there's　that
business　with　the　prophets　of　Baal；　like　enough　that　stumped　you？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　but〃

〃Own　up　now；　it　stumped　you。　　Well；　I　don't　wonder。　　You　hadn't　had　any
experience　in　raveling　such　things　out；　and　naturally　it　was　too　many　for
you。　　Would　you　like　to　have　me　explain　that　thing　to　you；　and　show　you
how　to　get　at　the　meat　of　these　matters？〃

〃Indeed；　I　would；　captain；　if　you　don't　mind。〃

Then　the　captain　proceeded　as　follows：　〃I'll　do　it　with　pleasure。　　First；
you　see；　I　read　and　read；　and　thought　and　thought；　till　I　got　to
understand　what　sort　of　people　they　were　in　the　old　Bible　times；　and　then
after　that　it　was　all　clear　and　easy。　　Now　this　was　the　way　I　put　it　up；
concerning　Isaac＇This　is　the　captain's　own　mistake＇and　the　prophets
of　Baal。　　There　was　some　mighty　sharp　men　among　the　public　characters　of
that　old　ancient　day；　and　Isaac　was　one　of　them。　　Isaac　had　his　failings
plenty　of　them；　too；　it　ain't　for　me　to　apologize　for　Isaac；　he　played
it　on　the　prophets　of　Baal；　and　like　enough　he　was　justifiable；
considering　the　odds　that　was　against　him。　　No；　all　I　say　is；　'twa'n't
any　miracle；　and　that　I'll　show　you　so's't　you　can　see　it　yourself。

〃Well；　times　had　been　getting　rougher　and　rougher　for　prophetsthat　is；
prophets　of　Isaac's　denomination。　　There　was　four　hundred　and　fifty
prophets　of　Baal　in　the　community；　and　only　one　Presbyterian；　that　is；
if　Isaac　was　a　Presbyterian；　which　I　reckon　he　was；　but　it　don't　say。
Naturally；　the　prophets　of　Baal　took　all　the　trade。　　Isaac　was　pretty
low…spirited；　I　reckon；　but　he　was　a　good　deal　of　a　man；　and　no　doubt　he
went　a…prophesying　around；　letting　on　to　be　doing　a　land…office　business；
but　'twa'n't　any　use；　he　couldn't　run　any　opposition　to　amount　to
anything。　　By　and　by　things　got　desperate　with　him；　he　sets　his　head　to
work　and　thinks　it　all　out；　and　then　what　does　he　do？　　Why；　he　begins　to
throw　out　hints　that　the　other　parties　are　this　and　that　and　t'other…
nothing　very　definite；　maybe；　but　just　kind　of　undermining　their
reputation　in　a　quiet　way。　　This　made　talk；　of　course；　and　finally　got　to
the　king。　　The　king　asked　Isaac　what　he　meant　by　his　talk。　　Says　Isaac；
'Oh；　nothing　particular；　only；　can　they　pray…down　fire　from　heaven　on　an
altar？　　It　ain't　much；　maybe；　your　majesty；　only　can　they　do　it？　　That's
the　idea。'　　So　the　king　was　a　good　deal　disturbed；　and　he　went　to　the
prophets　of　Baal；　and　they　said；　pretty　airy；　that　if　he　had　an　altar
ready；　they　were　ready；　and　they　intimated　he　better　get　it　insured；　too。

〃So　next　morning　all　the　children　of　Israel　and　their　parents　and　the
other　people　gathered　themselves　together。　　Well；　here　was　that　great
crowd　of　prophets　of　Baal　packed　together　on　one　side；　and　Isaac　walking
up　and　down　all　alone　on　the　other；　putting　up　his　job。　　When　time　was
called；　Isaac　let　on　to　be　comfortable　and　indifferent；　told　the　other
team　to　take　the　first　innings。　　So　they　went　at　it；　the　whole　four
hundred　and　fifty；　praying　around　the　altar；　very　hopeful；　and　doing
their　level　best。　　They　prayed　an　hourtwo　hoursthree　hoursand　so
on；　plumb　till　noon。　　It　wa'n't　any　use；　they　hadn't　took　a　trick。　　Of
course　they　felt　kind　of　ashamed　before　all　those　people；　and　well　they
might。　　Now；　what　would　a　magnanimous　man　do？　　Keep　still；　wouldn't　he？
Of　course。　　What　did　Isaac　do？　　He　graveled　the　prophets　of　Baal　every
way　he　could　think　of。　　Says　he；　'You　don't　speak　up　loud　enough；　your
god's　asleep；　like　enough；　or　maybe　he's　taking　a　walk；　you　want　to
holler；　you　know'or　words　to　that　effect；　I　don't　recollect　the　exact
language。　　Mind；　I　don't　apologize　for　Isaac；　he　had　his　faults。

〃Well；　the　prophets　of　Baal　prayed　along　the　best　they　knew　how　all　the
afternoon；　and　never　raised；　a　spark。　　At　last；　about　sundown；　they　were
all　tuckered　out；　and　they　owned　up　and　quit。

〃What　does　Isaac　do　now？　　He　steps　up　and　says　to　some　friends　of　his
there；　'Pour　four　barrels　of　water　on　the　altar！'　　Everybody　was
astonished；　for　the　other　side　had　prayed　at　it　dry；　you　know；　and　got
whitewashed。　　They　poured　it　on。　　Says　he；　'Heave　on　four　more　barrels。'
Then　he　says；　'Heave　on　four　more。'　　Twelve　barrels；　you　see；　altogether。
The　water　ran　all　over　the　altar；　and　all　down　the　sides；　and　filled　up　a
trench　around　it　that　would　hold　a　couple　of　hogsheads…'measures；'　it
says；　I　reckon　it　means　about　a　hogshead。　　Some　of　the　people　were　going
to　put　on　their　things　and　go；　for　they　allowed　he　was　crazy。　　They
didn't　know　Isaac。　　Isaac　knelt　down　and　began　to　pray；　he　strung　along；
and　strung　along；　about　the　heathen　in　distant　lands；　and　about　the
sister　churches；　and　about　the　state　and　the　country　at　large；　and　about
those　that's　in　authority　in　the　government；　and　all　the　usual　program；
you　know；　till　everybody　had　got　tired　and　gone　to　thinking　about
something　else；　and　then；　all　of　a　sudden；　when　nobody　was　noticing；　he
outs　with　a　match　and　rakes　it　on　the　under　side　of　his　leg；　and　pff！　up
the　whole　thing　blazes　like　a　house　afire！　　Twelve　barrels　of　water？
Petroleum；　sir；　PETROLEUM！　that's　what　it　was！〃

〃Petroleum；　captain？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　the　country　was　full　of　it。　　Isaac　knew　all　about　that。
You　read　the　Bible。　　Don't　you　worry　about　the　tough　places。　　They　ain't
tough　when　you　come　to　think　them　out　and　throw　light　on　them。　　There
ain't　a　thing　in　the　Bible　but　what　is　true；　all　you　want　is　to　go
prayerfully　to　work　and　cipher　out　how　'twas　done。〃

At　eight　o'clock　on　the　third　morning　out　from　New　York；　land　was
sighted。　　Away　across　the　sunny　waves　one　saw　a　faint　dark　stripe
stretched　along　under　the　horizon…or　pretended　to　see　it；　for　the　credit
of　his　eyesight。　　Even　the　Reverend　said　he　saw　it；　a　thing　which　was
manifestly　not　so。　　But　I　never　have　seen　any　one　who　was　morally　strong
enough　to　confess　that　he　could　not　see　land　when　others　claimed　that
they　could。

By　and　by　the　Bermuda　Islands　were　easily　visible。　　The　principal　one　lay
upon　the　water　in　the　distance；　a　long；　dull…colored　body；　scalloped　with
slight　hills　and　valleys。　　We　could　not　go　straight　at　it；　but　had　to
travel　all　the　way　around　it；　sixteen　miles　from　shore；　because　it　is
fenced　with　an　invisible　coral　reef。　　At　last　we　sighted　buoys；　bobbing
here　and　there；　and　then　we　glided　into　a　narrow　channel　among　them；
〃raised　the　reef；〃　and　came　upon　shoaling　blue　water　that　soon　further
shoaled　into　pale　green；　with　a　surface　scarcely　rippled。　　Now　came　the
resurrection　hour；　the　berths　gave　up　their　dead。　　Who　are　these　pale
specters　in　plug…hats　and　silken　flounces　that　file　up　the　companionway
in　melancholy　procession　and　step　upon　the　deck？　　These　are　they　which
took　the　infallible　preventive　of　seasickness　in　New　York　harbor　and　then
disappeared　and　were　forgotten。　　Also　there　came　two　or　three　faces　not
seen　before　until　this　moment。　　One's　impulse　is　to　ask；　〃Where　did　you
come　aboard？〃

We　followed　the　narrow　channel　a　long　time；　with　land　on　both　sides…low
hills　that　might　have　been　green　and　grassy；　but　had　a　faded　look
instead。　　However；　the　land…locked　water　was　lovely；　at　any　rate；　with
its　glittering　belts　of　blue　and　green　where　moderate　soundings　were；　and
its　broad　splotches　of　rich　brown　where　the　rocks　lay　near　the　surface。
Everybody　was　feeling　so　well　that　even　the　grave；　pale　young　man　（who；
by　a　sort　of　kindly　common　consent；　had　come　latterly　to　be　referred　to
as　〃The　Ass〃）　received　frequent　and　friendly　noticewhich　was　right
enough；　for　there　was　no　harm　in　him。

At　last　we　steamed　between　two　island　points　whose　rocky　jaws　allowed
only　just　enough　room　for　the　vessel's　body；　and　now　before　us　loomed
Hamilton　on　her　clustered　hillsides　and　summits；　the　whitest　mass　of
terraced　architecture　that　exists　in　the　world；　perhaps。

It　was　Sunday　afternoon；　and　on　the　pier　were　gathered　one　or　two　hundred
Bermudians；　half　of　them　black；　half　of　them　white；　and　all　of　them
nobbily　dressed；　as　the　poet　says。

Several　boats　came　off　to　the　ship；　bringing　citizens。　　One　of　these
citizens　was　a　faded；　diminutive　old　gentleman；　who　approached　our　most
ancient　passenger　with　a　childlike　joy　in　his　twinkling　eyes；　halted
before　him；　folded　his　arms；　and　said；　smiling　with　all　his　might　and
with　all　the　simple　delight　that　was　in　him；　〃You　don't　know　me；　John！
Come；　out　with　it　now；　you　know　you　don't！〃

The　ancient　passenger　scanned　him　perplexedly；　scanned　the　napless；
threadbare　costume　of　venerable　fashion　that　had　done　Sunday　service　no
man　knows　how　many　years；　contemplated　the　marvelous　stovepipe　hat　of
still　more　ancient　and　venerable　pattern；　with　its　poor；　pathetic　old
stiff　brim　canted　up　〃gallusly〃　in　the　wrong　places；　and　said；　with　a
hesitation　that　indicated　strong　internal　effort　to　〃place〃　the　gentle
old　apparition；　〃Why　。　　。　　。　　let　me　see　。　　。　　。　　plague　on　it　。　　。　　。
there's　something　about　you　that　。　　。　　。　　er　。　　。　　。　　er　。　　。　　。　　but
I've　been　gone　from　Bermuda　for　twenty…seven　years；　and　。　　。　　。　　hum；　hum
。　　。　　。　　I　don't　seem　to　get　at　it；　somehow；　but　there's　something　about
you　that　is　just　as　familiar　to　me　as〃

〃Likely　it　might　be　his　hat；〃　murmured　the　Ass；　with　innocent；
sympathetic　interest。

So　the　Reverend　and　I　had　at　last　arrived　at　Hamilton；　the　principal　town
in　the　Bermuda　Islands。　　A　wonderfully　white　town；　white　as　snow　itself。
White　as　marble；　white　as　flour。　　Yet　looking　like　none　of　these；
exactly。　　Never　mind；　we　said；　we　shall　hit　upon　a　figure　by　and　by　that
will　describe　this　peculiar　white。

It　was　a　town　that　was　compacted　together　upon　the　sides　and　tops　of　a
cluster　of　small　hills。　　Its　outlying　borders　fringed　off　and　thinned
away　among　the　cedar　forests；　and　there　was　no　woody　distance　of　curving
coast　or　leafy　islet　sleeping　upon　the　dimpled；　painted　sea；　but　was
flecked　with　shining　white　pointshalf…concealed　houses　peeping　out　of
the　foliage。　　The　architecture　of　the　town　was　mainly　Spanish；　inherited
from　the　colonists　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　years　ago。　　Some　ragged…
topped　cocoa…palms；　glimpsed　here　and　there；　gave　the　land　a　tropical
aspect。

There　was　an　ample　pier　of　heavy　masonry；　upon　this；　under　shelter；　were
some　thousands　of　barrels　cont