masterman ready-第1章

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Masterman　Ready

by　Captain　Marryat（　Frederick　Marryat　）




Chapter　I

It　was　in　the　month　of　October；　18；　that　the　Pacific；　a　large　ship；　was　running　before　a　heavy　gale　of　wind　in　the　middle　of　the　vast　Atlantic　Ocean。　She　had　but　little　sail；　for　the　wind　was　so　strong；　that　the　canvas　would　have　been　split　into　pieces　by　the　furious　blasts　before　which　she　was　driven　through　the　waves；　which　were　very　high；　and　following　her　almost　as　fast　as　she　darted　through　their　boiling　waters；　sometimes　heaving　up　her　stern　and　sinking　her　bows　down　so　deep　into　the　hollow　of　the　sea；　that　it　appeared　as　if　she　would　have　dived　down　underneath　the　waves；　but　she　was　a　fine　vessel；　and　the　captain　was　a　good　seaman；　who　did　what　he　considered　best　for　the　safety　of　his　vessel；　and　then　put　his　trust　in　that　Providence　who　is　ever　watchful　over　us。

The　captain　stood　before　the　wheel；　watching　the　men　who　were　steering　the　ship；　for　when　you　are　running　before　a　heavy　gale；　it　requires　great　attention　to　the　helm：　and　as　he　looked　around　him　and　up　at　the　heavens；　he　sang　in　a　low　voice　the　words　of　a　sea　song：

〃One　wide　water　all　around　us；　All　above　us　one　black　sky。〃

And　so　it　was　with　them；they　were　in　the　middle　of　the　Atlantic；　not　another　vessel　to　be　seen；　and　the　heavens　were　covered　with　black　clouds；　which　were　borne　along　furiously　by　the　gale；　the　sea　ran　mountains　high；　and　broke　into　large　white　foaming　crests；　while　the　fierce　wind　howled　through　the　rigging　of　the　vessel。

Besides　the　captain　of　the　ship　and　the　two　men　at　the　wheel；　there　were　two　other　personages　on　deck：　one　was　a　young　lad　about　twelve　years　old；　and　the　other　a　weather…beaten　old　seaman；　whose　grisly　locks　were　streaming　in　the　wind；　as　he　paced　aft　and　looked　over　the　taffrail　of　the　vessel。

The　young　lad；　observing　a　heavy　sea　coming　up　to　the　stern　of　the　vessel；　caught　hold　of　the　old　man's　arm；　crying　out　…　〃Won't　that　great　wave　come　into　us；　Ready？〃

〃No；　Master　William；　it　will　not：　don't　you　see　how　the　ship　lifts　her　quarters　to　it？and　now　it　has　passed　underneath　us。　But　it　might　happen；　and　then　what　would　become　of　you；　if　I　did　not　hold　on；　and　hold　you　on　also？　You　would　be　washed　overboard。〃

〃I　don't　like　the　sea　much；　Ready；　I　wish　we　were　safe　on　shore　again；〃　replied　the　lad。　〃Don't　the　waves　look　as　if　they　wished　to　beat　the　ship　all　to　pieces？〃

〃Yes；　they　do；　and　they　roar　as　if　angry　because　they　cannot　bury　the　vessel　beneath　them：　but　I　am　used　to　them；　and　with　a　good　ship　like　this；　and　a　good　captain　and　crew；　I　don't　care　for　them。〃

〃But　sometimes　ships　do　sink；　and　then　everybody　is　drowned。〃

〃Yes；　and　very　often　the　very　ships　sink　which　those　on　board　think　are　most　safe。　We　can　only　do　our　best；　and　after　that　we　must　submit　to　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

〃What　little　birds　are　those　flying　about　so　close　to　the　water？〃

〃Those　are　Mother　Carey's　chickens。　You　seldom　see　them　except　in　a　storm；　or　when　a　storm　is　coming　on。〃

The　birds　which　William　referred　to　were　the　stormy　petrels。

〃Were　you　ever　shipwrecked　on　a　desolate　island　like　Robinson　Crusoe？〃

〃Yes；　Master　William；　I　have　been　shipwrecked；　but　I　never　heard　of　Robinson　Crusoe。　So　many　have　been　wrecked　and　undergone　great　hardships；　and　so　many　more　have　never　lived　to　tell　what　they　have　suffered；　that　it's　not　very　likely　that　I　should　have　known　that　one　man　you　speak　of；　out　of　so　many。〃

〃Oh！　but　it's　all　in　a　book　which　I　have　read。　I　could　tell　you　all　about　itand　so　I　will　when　the　ship　is　quiet　again；　but　now　I　wish　you　would　help　me　down　below；　for　I　promised　mamma　not　to　stay　up　long。〃

〃Then　always　keep　your　promise　like　a　good　lad；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃now　give　me　your　hand；　and　I'll　answer　for　it　that　we　will　fetch　the　hatchway　without　a　tumble；　and　when　the　weather　is　fine　again；　I'll　tell　you　how　I　was　wrecked；　and　you　shall　tell　me　all　about　Robinson　Crusoe。〃

Having　seen　William　safe　to　the　cabin　door；　the　old　seaman　returned　to　the　deck；　for　it　was　his　watch。

Masterman　Ready；　for　such　was　his　name；　had　been　more　than　fifty　years　at　sea；　having　been　bound　apprentice　to　a　collier　which　sailed　from　South　Shields；　when　he　was　only　ten　years　old。　His　face　was　browned　from　long　exposure；　and　there　were　deep　furrows　on　his　cheeks；　but　he　was　still　a　hale　and　active　man。　He　had　served　many　years　on　board　of　a　man…of…war；　and　had　been　in　every　climate：　he　had　many　strange　stories　to　tell；　and　he　might　be　believed　even　when　his　stories　were　strange；　for　he　would　not　tell　an　untruth。　He　could　navigate　a　vessel；　and；　of　course；　he　could　read　and　write。　The　name　of　Ready　was　very　well　suited　to　him；　for　he　was　seldom　at　a　loss；　and　in　cases　of　difficulty　and　danger；　the　captain　would　not　hesitate　to　ask　his　opinion；　and　frequently　take　his　advice。　He　was　second　mate　of　the　vessel。

The　Pacific　was；　as　we　have　observed；　a　very　fine　ship；　and　well　able　to　contend　with　the　most　violent　storm。　She　was　of　more　than　four　hundred　tons　burthen；　and　was　then　making　a　passage　out　to　New　South　Wales；　with　a　valuable　cargo　of　English　hardware；　cutlery；　and　other　manufactures。　The　captain　was　a　good　navigator　and　seaman；　and　moreover　a　good　man；　of　a　cheerful；　happy　disposition；　always　making　the　best　of　everything；　and　when　accidents　did　happen；　always　more　inclined　to　laugh　than　to　look　grave。　His　name　was　Osborn。　The　first　mate；　whose　name　was　Mackintosh；　was　a　Scotsman；　rough　and　ill…tempered；　but　paying　strict　attention　to　his　duty　…　a　man　that　Captain　Osborn　could　trust；　but　whom　he　did　not　like。

Ready　we　have　already　spoken　of；　and　it　will　not　be　necessary　to　say　anything　about　the　seamen　on　board；　except　that　there　were　thirteen　of　them；　hardly　a　sufficient　number　to　man　so　large　a　vessel；　but　just　as　they　were　about　to　sail；　five　of　the　seamen；　who　did　not　like　the　treatment　they　had　received　from　Mackintosh；　the　first　mate；　had　left　the　ship；　and　Captain　Osborn　did　not　choose　to　wait　until　he　could　obtain　others　in　their　stead。　This　proved　unfortunate；　as　the　events　which　we　shall　hereafter　relate　will　show。



Chapter　II

Master　William；　whom　we　have　introduced　to　the　reader；　was　the　eldest　boy　of　a　family　who　were　passengers　on　board；　consisting　of　the　father；　mother；　and　four　children：　his　father　was　a　Mr。　Seagrave；　a　very　well…informed；　clever　man；　who　having　for　many　years　held　an　office　under　government　at　Sydney；　the　capital　of　New　South　Wales；　was　now　returning　from　a　leave　of　absence　of　three　years。　He　had　purchased　from　the　government　several　thousand　acres　of　land；　it　had　since　risen　very　much　in　value；　and　the　sheep　and　cattle　which　he　had　put　on　it　were　proving　a　source　of　great　profit。　His　property　had　been　well　managed　by　the　person　who　had　charge　of　it　during　his　absence　in　England；　and　he　was　now　taking　out　with　him　a　variety　of　articles　of　every　description　for　its　improvement；　and　for　his　own　use；　such　as　furniture　for　his　house；　implements　of　agriculture；　seeds；　plants；　cattle；　and　many　other　things　too　numerous　to　mention。

Mrs。　Seagrave　was　an　amiable　woman；　but　not　in　very　strong　health。　The　family　consisted　of　William；　who　was　the　eldest；　a　clever；　steady　boy；　but；　at　the　same　time；　full　of　mirth　and　humour；　Thomas；　who　was　six　years　old；　a　very　thoughtless　but　good…tempered　boy；　full　of　mischief；　and　always　in　a　scrape；　Caroline；　a　little　girl　of　seven　years；　and　Albert；　a　fine　strong　little　fellow；　who　was　not　one　year　old：　he　was　under　the　charge　of　a　black　girl；　who　had　come　from　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope　to　Sydney；　and　had　followed　Mrs。　Seagrave　to　England。　We　have　now　mentioned　all　the　people　on　board　of　the　Pacific：　perhaps　we　ought　not　to　forget　two　shepherd's　dogs；　belonging　to　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　a　little　terrier；　which　was　a　great　favourite　of　Captain　Osborn；　to　whom　she　belonged。

It　was　not　until　the　fourth　day　from　its　commencement　that　the　gale　abated；　and　then　it　gradually　subsided　until　it　was　nearly　a　calm。　The　men　who　had　been　watching　night　after　night　during　the　gale　now　brought　all　their　clothes　which　had　been　drenched　by　the　rain　and　spray；　and　hung　them　up　in　the　rigging　to　dry：　the　sails；　also；　which　had　been　furled；　and　had　been　saturated　by　the　wet；　were　now　loosened　and　spread　out　that　they　might　not　be　mildewed。　The　wind　blew　mild　and　soft；　the　sea　had　gone　down；　and　the　ship　was　running　through　the　water　at　the　speed　of　about　four　miles　an　hour。　Mrs。　Seagrave；　wrapped　up　in　a　cloak；　was　seated　upon　one　of　the　arm…chests　near　the　stern　of　the　ship；　her　husband　and　children　were　all　with　her　enjoying　the　fine　weather；　when　Captain　Osborn；　who　had　been　taking　an　observation　of　the　sun　with　his　sextant；　came　up　to　them。

〃Well；　Master　Tommy；　you　are　very　glad　that　the　gale　is　over？〃

〃I　didn't　care；〃　replied　Tommy；　〃only　I　spilt　all　my　soup。　But　Juno　tumbled　off　her　chair；　and　rolled　away　with　the　baby；　till　papa　picked　them　both　up。〃

〃It　was　a　mercy　that　poor　Albert　was　not　killed；〃　observed　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃And　so　he　might　have　been；　if　Juno　had　not　thought　only　of　him　and　nothing　at　all　about　herself；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃That's　very　true；　sir；〃　replied　Captain　Osborn。　〃She　saved　the　child；　and；　I　fear；　hurt　herself。〃

〃I　thump　my　head　very　hard；〃　said　Juno；　smiling。

〃Yes；　and　it's　lucky　that　you　have　a　good　thick　woolly　coat　over　it；〃　replied　Captain　Osborn；　laughing。

〃It　is　12　o'clock　by　the　sun；　sir；〃　said　Mackintosh；　the　first　mate；　to　the　captain。

〃Then　bring　me　up　the　latitude；　Mr。　Mackintosh；　while　I　work　out　the　longitude　from　the　sights　which　I　took　this　morning。　In　five　minutes；　Mr。　Seagrave；　I　shall　be　ready　to　prick　off　over　our　place　on　the　chart。〃

〃Here　are　the　dogs　come　up　on　deck；〃　said　William；　〃I　dare　say　they　are　as　glad　of　the　fine　weather　as　we　are。　Come　here；　Romulus！　Here；　Remus！　…　Remus！〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　who　was　standing　by　them　with　his　quadrant　in　his　hand；　〃I　should　like　to　ask　you　a　question。　Those　dogs　of　yours　have　two　very　odd　names　which　I　never　heard　before。　Who　were　Romulus　and　Remus？〃

〃Romulus　and　Remus；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃were　the　names　of　two　shepherds；　brothers；　who　in　ancient　days　founded　the　city　of　Rome；　which　eventually　became　the　largest　and　most　celebrated　empire　in　the　world。　They　were　the　first　kings　of　Rome；　and　reigned　together。　History　says　that　Remus　affronted　Romulus　by　leaping　over　a　wall　he　had　raised；　and　Romulus；　in　his　anger；　took　away　his　life；　but　the　history　of　early　days　is　not　to　be　depended　upon。〃

〃No；　nor　the　brothers　either；　it　appears；〃　replied　Ready；　〃however；　it　is　the　old　story　…　two　of　a　trade　can　never　agree。　One　sometimes　hears　of　Rome　now　…　is　that　the　same　place？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　William；　〃it　is　the　remains　of　the　old　city。〃

〃Well；　one　lives　and　learns；〃　said　Ready。　〃I　have　learnt　something　to…day；　which　everyone　will　to　the　last　day　of　his　life；　if　he　will　only　ask　questions。　I'm　an　old　man；　and　perhaps　don't　know　much；　except　in　the　seafaring　way；　but　I　should　have　known　much　less　if　I　did　not　ask　for　information；　and　was　not　ashamed　to　acknowledge　my　ignorance；　that's　the　way　to　learn；　Master　William。〃

〃Very　good　advice；　Ready；　…　and；　William；　I　hope　you　will　profit　by　it；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃never　be　ashamed　to　ask　the