wreck of the golden mary(金玛丽的遗骸)-第1节
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THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY
THE WRECK OF THE
GOLDEN MARY
Charles Dickens
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THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY
THE WRECK
I was apprenticed to the Sea when I was twelve years old； and I have
encountered a great deal of rough weather； both literal and metaphorical。 It
has always been my opinion since I first possessed such a thing as an
opinion； that the man who knows only one subject is next tiresome to the
man who knows no subject。 Therefore； in the course of my life I have
taught myself whatever I could； and although I am not an educated man； I
am able； I am thankful to say； to have an intelligent interest in most things。
A person might suppose； from reading the above； that I am in the habit
of holding forth about number one。 That is not the case。 Just as if I was to
come into a room among strangers； and must either be introduced or
introduce myself； so I have taken the liberty of passing these few remarks；
simply and plainly that it may be known who and what I am。 I will add no
more of the sort than that my name is William George Ravender； that I
was born at Penrith half a year after my own father was drowned； and that
I am on the second day of this present blessed Christmas week of one
thousand eight hundred and fifty…six； fifty…six years of age。
When the rumour first went flying up and down that there was gold in
Californiawhich； as most people know； was before it was discovered in
the British colony of AustraliaI was in the West Indies； trading among
the Islands。 Being in command and likewise part…owner of a smart
schooner； I had my work cut out for me； and I was doing it。 Consequently；
gold in California was no business of mine。
But； by the time when I came home to England again； the thing was as
clear as your hand held up before you at noon…day。 There was Californian
gold in the museums and in the goldsmiths' shops； and the very first time I
went upon 'Change； I met a friend of mine （a seafaring man like myself）；
with a Californian nugget hanging to his watch…chain。 I handled it。 It was
as like a peeled walnut with bits unevenly broken off here and there； and
then electrotyped all over； as ever I saw anything in my life。
I am a single man （she was too good for this world and for me； and she
died six weeks before our marriage…day）； so when I am ashore； I live in
my house at Poplar。 My house at Poplar is taken care of and kept ship…
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shape by an old lady who was my mother's maid before I was born。 She is
as handsome and as upright as any old lady in the world。 She is as fond of
me as if she had ever had an only son； and I was he。 Well do I know
wherever I sail that she never lays down her head at night without having
said； 〃Merciful Lord！ bless and preserve William George Ravender； and
send him safe home； through Christ our Saviour！〃 I have thought of it in
many a dangerous moment； when it has done me no harm； I am sure。
In my house at Poplar； along with this old lady； I lived quiet for best
part of a year： having had a long spell of it among the Islands； and having
（which was very uncommon in me） taken the fever rather badly。 At last；
being strong and hearty； and having read every book I could lay hold of；
right out； I was walking down Leadenhall Street in the City of London；
thinking of turning…to again； when I met what I call Smithick and
Watersby of Liverpool。 I chanced to lift up my eyes from looking in at a
ship's chronometer in a window； and I saw him bearing down upon me；
head on。
It is； personally； neither Smithick； nor Watersby； that I here mention；
nor was I ever acquainted with any man of either of those names； nor do I
think that there has been any one of either of those names in that Liverpool
House for years back。 But； it is in reality the House itself that I refer to；
and a wiser merchant or a truer gentleman never stepped。
〃My dear Captain Ravender；〃 says he。 〃Of all the men on earth； I
wanted to see you most。 I was on my way to you。〃
〃Well！〃 says I。 〃That looks as if you WERE to see me； don't it？〃 With
that I put my arm in his； and we walked on towards the Royal Exchange；
and when we got there； walked up and down at the back of it where the
Clock…Tower is。 We walked an hour and more； for he had much to say to
me。 He had a scheme for chartering a new ship of their own to take out
cargo to the diggers and emigrants in California； and to buy and bring
back gold。 Into the particulars of that scheme I will not enter； and I have
no right to enter。 All I say of it is； that it was a very original one； a very
fine one； a very sound one； and a very lucrative one beyond doubt。
He imparted it to me as freely as if I had been a part of himself。 After
doing so； he made me the handsomest sharing offer that ever was made to
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me； boy or manor I believe to any other captain in the Merchant Navy
and he took this round turn to finish with：
〃Ravender； you are well aware that the lawlessness of that coast and
country at present； is as special as the circumstances in which it is placed。
Crews of vessels outward…bound； desert as soon as they make the land；
crews of vessels homeward…bound； ship at enormous wages； with the
express intention of murdering the captain and seizing the gold freight； no
man can trust another； and the devil seems let loose。 Now；〃 says he； 〃you
know my opinion of you； and you know I am only expressing it； and with
no singularity； when I tell you that you are almost the only man on whose
integrity； discretion； and energy〃 &c。； &c。 For； I don't want to repeat
what he said； though I was and am sensible of it。
Notwithstanding my being； as I have mentioned； quite ready for a
voyage； still I had some doubts of this voyage。 Of course I knew； without
being told； that there were peculiar difficulties and dangers in it； a long
way over and above those which attend all voyages。 It must not be
supposed that I was afraid to face them； but； in my opinion a man has no
manly motive or sustainment in his own breast for facing dangers； unless
he has well considered what they are； and is able quietly to say to himself；
〃None of these perils can now take me by surprise； I shall know what to
do for the best in any of them； all the rest lies in the higher and greater
hands to which I humbly commit myself。〃 On this principle I have so
attentively considered （regarding it as my duty） all the hazards I have ever
been able to think of； in the ordinary way of storm； shipwreck； and fire at
sea； that I hope I should be prepared to do； in any of those cases； whatever
could be done； to save the lives intrusted to my charge。
As I was thoughtful； my good friend proposed that he should leave me
to walk there as long as I liked； and that I should dine with him by…and…by
at his club in Pall Mall。 I accepted the invitation and I walked up and
down there； quarter…deck fashion； a matter of a couple of hours； now and
then looking up at the weathercock as I might have looked up aloft； and
now and then taking a look into Cornhill； as I might have taken a look
over the side。
All dinner…time； and all after dinner…time； we talked it over again。 I
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gave him my views of his plan； and he very much approved of the same。 I
told him I had nearly decided； but not quite。 〃Well； well；〃 says he； 〃come
down to Liverpool to…morrow with me； and see the Golden Mary。〃 I liked
the name （her name was Mary； and she was golden； if golden stands for
good）； so I began to feel that it was almost done when I said I would go to
Liverpool。 On the next morning but one we were on board the Golden
Mary。 I might have known； from his asking me to come down and see her；
what she was。 I declare her to have been the completest
