stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第10节
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boat…boys with their loincloths girded； ready to start； so I clambered into
the stern； or ratherfor the boat was shaped alike at stem and sternthe
end from which the steersman； or /patrao/； used his long oar。 With a shout
the boys laid hold of the sides of the boat； and the next moment it was
dancing on the spent waves next to the beach。 The patrao kept its head
steady； and the boys jumped in and seized the oars； and began pulling with
a will； standing up to their stroke。 Slowly the heavy craft gathered way；
and approached a dark and unbroken roller that hastened toward the beach。
Then the patrao shouted to the crew； and they lay on their oars； and the
wave with a roar burst right in front of the boat； sending the spray of its
crest high above our heads。
〃/Rema！ rema forca！/〃 （〃Row strongly！〃） now shouted the patrao；
speaking Portuguese； as mostly all African coast natives do； and the crew
gave way。 The next roller we had to meet in its strength； and save for the
steady force of the patrao's oar； I believe it would have tossed us aside and
we would have been swept under its curving wall of water。 As it was； the
good boat gave a mighty bound as it felt its force； and its stem pitched
high into the air as it slid down its broad back into the deep。
Another and yet another wave were passed； and we could now see
them breaking behind us； shutting out the beach from view。 Then the last
roller was overcome； and there was nothing but the long heave of the deep
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sea to contend against。 Presently we arrived at the steamer； whose side
towered above usan iron wall。
A shout came to me； pitching and lurching with the boat far below；
〃Come on board at once。〃 But to come on board was only to be done by
watching a chance as the boat rose on the top of a roller。 Taking such a one；
I seized the side…ropes； swung a moment in mid…air； and the next was on
the streamer's clean white deck。 Before me stood a tall man with black
hair and whiskers and dark piercing eyes； who asked me if I was the agent
for Flint Brothers。 I answered that the agent was on shore； and that I was
his assistant。 Whereupon he informed me that he had been appointed by
the firm to liquidate all their stations and businesses on the coast； and 〃he
would be obliged by my getting his luggage into the boat。〃 This was said
in a peremptory sort of way； as if he had spoken to a servant； and very
much against the grain I obeyed his orders。
That the man was new to the coast was evident； and my consolation
was that he would be very soon sick of it and pretty well frightened before
he even got on shore； for the weather was freshening rapidly； a fact of
which he appeared to take no heed。 Not so the boat…boys； who were
anxious to be off。 At last we started； and I soon had my revenge。 As we
drew near the shore the rollers became higher and higher； and I perceived
that my gentleman clutched the gunwale of the boat very tightly； and when
the first wave that showed signs of breaking overtook us； he grew very
white in the face until it had passed。
The next one or two breakers were small； much to his relief I could see；
though he said nothing。 Before he had well recovered his equanimity；
however； a tremendous wave approached us somewhat suddenly。 Appalled
by its threatening aspect； he sprang from his seat and seized the arm of the
patrao； who roughly shook him off。
〃My God！〃 he cried； 〃we are swamped！〃 and for the moment it really
looked like it； but the patrao； with a dexterous sweep of his long oar；
turned the boat's head toward the roller。 It broke just as it reached us； and
gave us the benefit of its crest； which came in over the topsides of the boat
as it passed by； and deluged every one of us。
I laughed； although it was no laughing matter； at the plight the
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liquidator was now in。 He was changed in a moment from the spruce and
natty personage into a miserable and draggled being。 From every part of
him the salt water was streaming； and the curl was completely taken out of
his whiskers。 He could not speak from terror； which the boat… boys soon
saw； for none are quicker than negroes to detect signs of fear in those
whom they are accustomed to consider superior to themselves。 Familiar
with the surf； and full of mischievous fun； they began to shout and
gesticulate with the settled purpose of making matters appear worse than
they were； and of enjoying the white man's discomfiture；all but the
patrao； who was an old hand； and on whom depended the safety of us all。
He kept a steady lookout seaward； and stood upright and firm； grasping his
oar with both hands。 With him it was a point of honour to bring the white
men intrusted to his care safely through the surf。
We waited for more than half an hour； bow on； meeting each roller as
it came to us； and by the end of that time the unfortunate liquidator had
evidently given up all hope of ever reaching the shore。 Luckily； the worst
was soon to pass。 After one last tremendous wave there was a lull for a
few moments； and the patrao； who had watched for such a chance； swiftly
turned the boat round； and giving the word to the crew； they pulled lustily
toward the shore。 In a few minutes we were again in safety。 The boat
grounded on the beach； the oars were tossed into the sea； the crew sprang
overboard； some of them seized the new arrival； I clambered on the back
of the patrao； a crowd of negroes； who had been waiting on the beach； laid
hold of the tow…rope of the boat； and it and we were landed simultaneously
on the dry sand。
Once on shore Mr。 Bransome； for that was the new man's name；
rapidly recovered his presence of mind and manner； and； by way of
covering his past confusion； remarked that he supposed the surf was
seldom so bad as it then was。 I replied in an offhand way； meaning to
make fun of him； that what he had passed through was nothing； and
appealed to the patrao to confirm what I had said。 That negro； seeing the
joke； grinned all over his black face； and Mr。 Bransome； perceiving that he
was being laughed at； snatched a good…sized stick from a native standing
near； and struck the patrao repeatedly over the back。
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In vain Sooka； for that was the patrao's name； protested； and demanded
to know what wrong thing he had done。 The agent was furious； and
showered his blows upon the black。 Equally in vain I shouted that Sooka
had done well by us； and that he； Mr。 Bransome； was making an enemy of
a man who would have him now and then in his power。 At length Sooka
took to his heels； and sure enough； when he had got a little way off； he
began to threaten vengeance for what he had received。 I sympathised with
him； for I knew what a loss to his dignity it was to be beaten without cause
before his fellows； and I feared that Mr。 Bransome would indeed be sorry；
sooner or later； for what he had done。
I now suggested to him； by way of diverting his thoughts from poor
Sooka； that standing on the beach in wet clothes was the very way to catch
the coast…fever straight off； and he instantly suffered himself to be carried
up the factory。 There Jackson received him in a sort of 〃who on earth are
you？〃 manner； and Mr。 Bransome； clearing his throat； announced himself
and his authority； adding that he intended to make the factory a point of
departure to all the others on the coast； then； very abruptly； he requested
Jackson to prepare quarters for him without delay。
The change that came over Jackson's face as he learned the quality of
the stranger and his requests was great。 The old salt； who had been king of
his house and of the Point for so long a time； had evidently never even
thought of the probability of such an intrusion as was now presented to
him； and he was amazed at what he considered to be the unwarrant
