south sea tales-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



single　miss；　and　I　could　hear　distinctly　the　thud　of　every　bullet　as　it　buried

in　human　flesh。



〃The　niggers　spread　out　and　headed　for　the　shore；　swimming。　The　water　was

carpeted　with　bobbing　heads；　and　I　stood　up；　as　in　a　dream；　and　watched　it

allthe　bobbing　heads　and　the　heads　that　ceased　to　bob。　Some　of　the　long

shots　were　magnificent。　Only　one　man　reached　the　beach；　but　as　he　stood　up　to

wade　ashore；　Saxtorph　got　him。　It　was　beautiful。　And　when　a　couple　of　niggers

ran　down　to　drag　him　out　of　the　water；　Saxtorph　got　them；　too。



〃I　thought　everything　was　over　then；　when　I　heard　the　rifle　go　off　again。　A

nigger　had　come　out　of　the　cabin　companion　on　the　run　for　the　rail　and　gone

down　in　the　middle　of　it。　The　cabin　must　have　been　full　of　them。　I　counted

twenty。　They　came　up　one　at　a　time　and　jumped　for　the　rail。　But　they　never　got

there。　It　reminded　me　of　trapshooting。　A　black　body　would　pop　out　of　the

companion；　bang　would　go　Saxtorph's　rifle；　and　down　would　go　the　black　body。

Of　course；　those　below　did　not　know　what　was　happening　on　deck；　so　they

continued　to　pop　out　until　the　last　one　was　finished　off。



〃Saxtorph　waited　a　while　to　make　sure；　and　then　came　down　on　deck。　He　and　I

were　all　that　were　left　of　the　DUCHESS'S　complement；　and　I　was　pretty　well　to

the　bad；　while　he　was　helpless　now　that　the　shooting　was　over。　Under　my

direction　he　washed　out　my　scalp　wounds　and　sewed　them　up。　A　big　drink　of

whiskey　braced　me　to　make　an　effort　to　get　out。　There　was　nothing　else　to　do。

All　the　rest　were　dead。　We　tried　to　get　up　sail；　Saxtorph　hoisting　and　I

holding　the　turn。　He　was　once　more　the　stupid　lubber。　He　couldn't　hoist　worth

a　cent；　and　when　I　fell　in　a　faint；　it　looked　all　up　with　us。



〃When　I　came　to；　Saxtorph　was　sitting　helplessly　on　the　rail；　waiting　to　ask

me　what　he　should　do。　I　told　him　to　overhaul　the　wounded　and　see　if　there　were

any　able　to　crawl。　He　gathered　together　six。　One；　I　remember；　had　a　broken

leg；　but　Saxtorph　said　his　arms　were　all　right。　I　lay　in　the　shade；　brushing

the　flies　off　and　directing　operations；　while　Saxtorph　bossed　his　hospital

gang。　I'll　be　blessed　if　he　didn't　make　those　poor　niggers　heave　at　every　rope

on　the　pin…rails　before　he　found　the　halyards。　One　of　them　let　go　the　rope　in

the　midst　of　the　hoisting　and　slipped　down　to　the　deck　dead；　but　Saxtorph

hammered　the　others　and　made　them　stick　by　the　job。　When　the　fore　and　main

were　up；　I　told　him　to　knock　the　shackle　out　of　the　anchor　chain　and　let　her

go。　I　had　had　myself　helped　aft　to　the　wheel；　where　I　was　going　to　make　a

shift　at　steering。　I　can't　guess　how　he　did　it；　but　instead　of　knocking　the

shackle　out；　down　went　the　second　anchor；　and　there　we　were　doubly　moored。



〃In　the　end　he　managed　to　knock　both　shackles　out　and　raise　the　staysail　and

jib；　and　the　Duchess　filled　away　for　the　entrance。　　Our　decks　were　a

spectacle。　Dead　and　dying　niggers　were　everywhere。　They　were　wedged　away　some

of　them　in　the　most　inconceivable　places。　The　cabin　was　full　of　them　where

they　had　crawled　off　the　deck　and　cashed　in。　I　put　Saxtorph　and　his　graveyard

gang　to　work　heaving　them　overside；　and　over　they　went；　the　living　and　the

dead。　The　sharks　had　fat　pickings　that　day。　　Of　course　our　four　murdered

sailors　went　the　same　way。　Their　heads；　however；　we　put　in　a　sack　with

weights；　so　that　by　no　chance　should　they　drift　on　the　beach　and　fall　into　the

hands　of　the　niggers。



〃Our　five　prisoners　I　decided　to　use　as　crew；　but　they　decided　otherwise。　They

watched　their　opportunity　and　went　over　the　side。　Saxtorph　got　two　in　mid…air

with　his　revolver；　and　would　have　shot　the　other　three　in　the　water　if　I

hadn't　stopped　him。　　I　was　sick　of　the　slaughter；　you　see；　and　besides；　they'd

helped　work　the　schooner　out。　But　it　was　mercy　thrown　away；　for　the　sharks　got

the　three　of　them。



〃I　had　brain　fever　or　something　after　we　got　clear　of　the　land。　　Anyway；　the

DUCHESS　lay　hove　to　for　three　weeks；　when　I　pulled　myself　together　and　we

jogged　on　with　her　to　Sydney。　Anyway　those　niggers　of　Malu　learned　the

everlasting　lesson　that　it　is　not　good　to　monkey　with　a　white　man。　In　their

case；　Saxtorph　was　certainly　inevitable。〃



Charley　Roberts　emitted　a　long　whistle　and　said：



〃Well　I　should　say　so。　But　whatever　became　of　Saxtorph？〃



〃He　drifted　into　seal　hunting　and　became　a　crackerjack。　For　six　years　he　was

high　line　of　both　the　Victoria　and　San　Francisco　fleets。　The　seventh　year　his

schooner　was　seized　in　Bering　Sea　by　a　Russian　cruiser；　and　all　hands；　so　the

talk　went；　were　slammed　into　the　Siberian　salt　mines。　At　least　I've　never

heard　of　him　since。〃



〃Farming　the　world；〃　Roberts　muttered。　〃Farming　the　world。　Well　here's　to

them。　Somebody's　got　to　do　itfarm　the　world；　I　mean。〃



Captain　Woodward　rubbed　the　criss…crosses　on　his　bald　head。



〃I've　done　my　share　of　it；〃　he　said。　〃Forty　years　now。　This　will　be　my　last

trip。　Then　I'm　going　home　to　stay。〃



〃I'll　wager　the　wine　you　don't；〃　Roberts　challenged。　〃You'll　die　in　the

harness；　not　at　home。〃



Captain　Woodward　promptly　accepted　the　bet；　but　personally　I　think　Charley

Roberts　has　the　best　of　it。







THE　SEED　OF　McCOY



The　Pyrenees；　her　iron　sides　pressed　low　in　the　water　by　her　cargo　of　wheat；

rolled　sluggishly；　and　made　it　easy　for　the　man　who　was　climbing　aboard　from

out　a　tiny　outrigger　canoe。　As　his　eyes　came　level　with　the　rail；　so　that　he

could　see　inboard；　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　saw　a　dim；　almost　indiscernible

haze。　It　was　more　like　an　illusion；　like　a　blurring　film　that　had　spread

abruptly　over　his　eyes。　He　felt　an　inclination　to　brush　it　away；　and　the　same

instant　he　thought　that　he　was　growing　old　and　that　it　was　time　to　send　to　San

Francisco　for　a　pair　of　spectacles。



As　he　came　over　the　rail　he　cast　a　glance　aloft　at　the　tall　masts；　and；　next；

at　the　pumps。　They　were　not　working。　There　seemed　nothing　the　matter　with　the

big　ship；　and　he　wondered　why　she　had　hoisted　the　signal　of　distress。　He

thought　of　his　happy　islanders；　and　hoped　it　was　not　disease。　Perhaps　the　ship

was　short　of　water　or　provisions。　He　shook　hands　with　the　captain　whose　gaunt

face　and　care…worn　eyes　made　no　secret　of　the　trouble；　whatever　it　was。　At　the

same　moment　the　newcomer　was　aware　of　a　faint；　indefinable　smell。　It　seemed

like　that　of　burnt　bread；　but　different。



He　glanced　curiously　about　him。　Twenty　feet　away　a　weary…faced　sailor　was

calking　the　deck。　As　his　eyes　lingered　on　the　man；　he　saw　suddenly　arise　from

under　his　hands　a　faint　spiral　of　haze　that　curled　and　twisted　and　was　gone。

By　now　he　had　reached　the　deck。　His　bare　feet　were　pervaded　by　a　dull　warmth

that　quickly　penetrated　the　thick　calluses。　He　knew　now　the　nature　of　the

ship's　distress。　His　eyes　roved　swiftly　forward；　where　the　full　crew　of

weary…faced　sailors　regarded　him　eagerly。　The　glance　from　his　liquid　brown

eyes　swept　over　them　like　a　benediction；　soothing　them；　rapping　them　about　as

in　the　mantle　of　a　great　peace。　〃How　long　has　she　been　afire；　Captain？〃　he

asked　in　a　voice　so　gentle　and　unperturbed　that　it　was　as　the　cooing　of　a

dove。



At　first　the　captain　felt　the　peace　and　content　of　it　stealing　in　upon　him；

then　the　consciousness　of　all　that　he　had　gone　through　and　was　going　through

smote　him；　and　he　was　resentful。　By　what　right　did　this　ragged　beachcomber；　in

dungaree　trousers　and　a　cotton　shirt；　suggest　such　a　thing　as　peace　and

content　to　him　and　his　overwrought；　exhausted　soul？　The　captain　did　not　reason

this；　it　was　the　unconscious　process　of　emotion　that　caused　his　resentment。



〃Fifteen　days；〃　he　answered　shortly。　〃Who　are　you？〃



〃My　name　is　McCoy；〃　came　the　answer　in　tones　that　breathed　tenderness　and

compassion。



〃I　mean；　are　you　the　pilot？〃



McCoy　passed　the　benediction　of　his　gaze　over　the　tall；　heavy…shouldered　man

with　the　haggard；　unshaven　face　who　had　joined　the　captain。



〃I　am　as　much　a　pilot　as　anybody；〃　was　McCoy's　answer。　〃We　are　all　pilots

here；　Captain；　and　I　know　every　inch　of　these　waters。〃



But　the　captain　was　impatient。



〃What　I　want　is　some　of　the　authorities。　I　want　to　talk　with　them；　and　blame

quick。〃



〃Then　I'll　do　just　as　well。〃



Again　that　insidious　suggestion　of　peace；　and　his　ship　a　raging　furnace

beneath　his　feet！　The　captain's　eyebrows　lifted　impatiently　and　nervously；　and

his　fist　clenched　as　if　he　were　about　to　strike　a　blow　with　it。



〃Who　in　hell　are　you？〃　he　demanded。



〃I　am　the　chief　magistrate；〃　was　the　reply　in　a　voice　that　was　still　the

softest　and　gentlest　imaginable。



The　tall；　heavy…shouldered　man　broke　out　in　a　harsh　laugh　that　was　partly

amusement；　but　mostly　hysterical。　Both　he　and　the　captain　regarded　McCoy　with

incredulity　and　amazement。　That　this　barefooted　beachcomber　should　possess

such　high…sounding　dignity　was　inconceivable。　His　cotton　shirt；　unbuttoned；

exposed　a　grizzled　chest　and　the　fact　that　there　was　no　undershirt　beneath。



A　worn　straw　hat　failed　to　hide　the　ragged　gray　hair。　Halfway　down　his　chest

descended　an　untrimmed　patriarchal　beard。　In　any　slop　shop；　two　shillings

would　have　outfitted　him　complete　as　he　stood　before　them。



〃Any　relation　to　the　McCoy　of　the　Bounty？〃　the　captain　asked。



〃He　was　my　great…grandfather。〃



〃Oh；〃　the　captain　said；　then　bethought　himself。　'my　name　is　Davenport；　and

this　is　my　first　mate；　Mr。　Konig。〃



They　shook　hands。



〃And　now　to　business。〃　The　captain　spoke　quickly；　the　urgency　of　a　great　haste

pressing　his　speech。　〃We've　been　on　fire　for　over　two　weeks。　She's　ready　to

break　all　hell　loose　any　moment。　　That's　why　I　held　for　Pitcairn。　I　want　to

beach　her；　or　scuttle　her；　and　save　the　hull。〃



〃Then　you　made　a　mistake；　Captain；　said　McCoy。　〃You　should　have　slacked　away

for　Mangareva。　There's　a　beautiful　beach　there；　in　a　lagoon　where　the　water　is

like　a　mill　pond。〃



〃But　we're　here；　ain't　we？〃　the　first　mate　demanded。　〃That's　the　point。　We're

here；　and　we've　got　to　do　something。〃



McCoy　shook　his　head　kindly。



〃You　can　do　nothing　here。　There　is　no　beach。　There　isn't　even　anchorage。〃



〃Gammon！〃　said　the　mate。　〃Gammon！〃　he　repeated　loudly；　as　the　captain　signaled

him　to　be　more　soft　spoken。　〃You　can't　tell　me　that　sort　of　stuff。　Where　d'ye

keep　your　own　boats；　heyyour　schooner；　or　cutter；　or　whatever　you　have？　Hey？

Answer　me　that。〃



McCoy　smiled　as　gently　as　he　spoke。　His　smile　was　a　caress；　an　embrace　that

surrounded　the　tired　mate　and　sought　to　draw　him　into　the　quietude　and　rest　of

McCoy's　tranquil　soul。



〃We　have　no　schooner　or　cutter；〃　he　replied。　〃And　we　carry　our　canoes　to　the

top　of　the　cliff。〃



〃You've　got　to　show　me；〃　snorted　the　mate。　〃How　d'ye　get　around　to　the　other

islands；　heh？　Tell　me　that。〃



〃We　don't　get　around。　As　governor　of　Pitcairn；　I　sometimes　go。　　When　I　was

younger；　I　was　away　a　great　dealsometimes　on　the　trading　schooners；　but

mostly　on　t