the story of a bad boy-第23节

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But　aside　from　this　there　is　scant　welcome　given　to　a　ship's　crew　in　Rivermouth。　The　toil…worn　mariner　is　a　sad　fellow　ashore；　judging　him　by　a　severe　moral　standard。

Once；　I　remember；　a　United　States　frigate　came　into　port　for　repairs　after　a　storm。　She　lay　in　the　river　a　fortnight　or　more；　and　every　day　sent　us　a　gang　of　sixty　or　seventy　of　our　country's　gallant　defenders；　who　spread　themselves　over　the　town；　doing　all　sorts　of　mad　things。　They　were　good…natured　enough；　but　full　of　old　Sancho。　The　〃Wee　Drop〃　proved　a　drop　too　much　for　many　of　them。　They　went　singing　through　the　streets　at　midnight；　wringing　off　door…knockers；　shinning　up　water…spouts；　and　frightening　the　Oldest　Inhabitant　nearly　to　death　by　popping　their　heads　into　his　second…story　window；　and　shouting　〃Fire！〃　One　morning　a　blue…jacket　was　discovered　in　a　perilous　plight；　half…way　up　the　steeple　of　the　South　Church；　clinging　to　the　lightning…rod。　How　he　got　there　nobody　could　tell；　not　even　blue…jacket　himself。　All　he　knew　was；　that　the　leg　of　his　trousers　had　caught　on　a　nail；　and　there　he　stuck；　unable　to　move　either　way。　It　cost　the　town　twenty　dollars　to　get　him　down　again。　He　directed　the　workmen　how　to　splice　the　ladders　brought　to　his　assistance；　and　called　his　rescuers　〃butter…fingered　land…lubbers〃　with　delicious　coolness。

But　those　were　man…of…war's　men：　The　sedate…looking　craft　now　lying　off　Fishcrate　Island　wasn't　likely　to　carry　any　such　cargo。　Nevertheless；　we　watched　the　coming　in　of　the　long…boat　with　considerable　interest。

As　it　drew　near；　the　figure　of　the　man　pulling　the　bow…oar　seemed　oddly　familiar　to　me。　Where　could　I　have　seen　him　before？　When　and　where？　His　back　was　towards　me；　but　there　was　something　about　that　closely　cropped　head　that　I　recognized　instantly。

〃Way　enough！〃　cried　the　steersman；　and　all　the　oars　stood　upright　in　the　air。　The　man　in　the　bow　seized　the　boat…hook；　and；　turning　round　quickly；　showed　me　the　honest　face　of　Sailor　Ben　of　the　Typhoon。

〃It's　Sailor　Ben！〃　I　cried；　nearly　pushing　Pepper　Whitcomb　overboard　in　my　excitement。

Sailor　Ben；　with　the　wonderful　pink　lady　on　his　arm；　and　the　ships　and　stars　and　anchors　tattooed　all　over　him；　was　a　well…known　hero　among　my　playmates。　And　there　he　was；　like　something　in　a　dream　come　true！

I　didn't　wait　for　my　old　acquaintance　to　get　firmly　on　the　wharf；　before　I　grasped　his　hand　in　both　of　mine。

〃Sailor　Ben；　don't　you　remember　me？〃

He　evidently　did　not。　He　shifted　his　quid　from　one　cheek　to　the　other；　and　looked　at　me　meditatively。

〃Lord　love　ye；　lad；　I　don't　know　you。　I　was　never　here　afore　in　my　life。〃

〃What！〃　I　cried；　enjoying　his　perplexity。　〃Have　you　forgotten　the　voyage　from　New　Orleans　in　the　Typhoon；　two　years　ago；　you　lovely　old　picture…book？〃

Ah！　then　he　knew　me；　and　in　token　of　the　recollection　gave　my　hand　such　a　squeeze　that　I　am　sure　an　unpleasant　change　came　over　my　countenance。

〃Bless　my　eyes；　but　you　have　growed　so。　I　shouldn't　have　knowed　you　if　I　had　met　you　in　Singapore！〃

Without　stopping　to　inquire；　as　I　was　tempted　to　do；　why　he　was　more　likely　to　recognize　me　in　Singapore　than　anywhere　else；　I　invited　him　to　come　at　once　up　to　the　Nutter　House；　where　I　insured　him　a　warm　welcome　from　the　Captain。

〃Hold　steady；　Master　Tom；〃　said　Sailor　Ben；　slipping　the　painter　through　the　ringbolt　and　tying　the　loveliest　knot　you　ever　saw；　〃hold　steady　till　I　see　if　the　mate　can　let　me　off。　If　you　please；　sir；〃　he　continued；　addressing　the　steersman；　a　very　red…faced；　bow…legged　person；　〃this　here　is　a　little　shipmate　o'　mine　as　wants　to　talk　over　back　times　along　of　me；　if　so　it's　convenient。〃

〃All　right；　Ben；〃　returned　the　mate；　〃sha'n't　want　you　for　an　hour。〃

Leaving　one　man　in　charge　of　the　boat；　the　mate　and　the　rest　of　the　crew　went　off　together。　In　the　meanwhile　Pepper　Whitcomb　had　got　out　his　cunner…line；　and　was　quietly　fishing　at　the　end　of　the　wharf；　as　if　to　give　me　the　idea　that　he　wasn't　so　very　much　impressed　by　my　intimacy　with　so　renowned　a　character　as　Sailor　Ben。　Perhaps　Pepper　was　a　little　jealous。　At　any　rate；　he　refused　to　go　with　us　to　the　house。

Captain　Nutter　was　at　home　reading　the　Rivennouth　Barnacle。　He　was　a　reader　to　do　an　editor's　heart　good；　he　never　skipped　over　an　advertisement；　even　if　he　had　read　it　fifty　times　before。　Then　the　paper　went　the　rounds　of　the　neighborhood；　among　the　poor　people；　like　the　single　portable　eye　which　the　three　blind　crones　passed　to　each　other　in　the　legend　of　King　Acrisius。　The　Captain；　I　repeat；　was　wandering　in　the　labyrinths　of　the　Rivermouth　Barnacle　when　I　led　Sailor　Ben　into　the　sitting…room。

My　grandfather；　whose　inborn　courtesy　knew　no　distinctions；　received　my　nautical　friend　as　if　he　had　been　an　admiral　instead　of　a　common　forecastle…hand。　Sailor　Ben　pulled　an　imaginary　tuft　of　hair　on　his　forehead；　and　bowed　clumsily。　Sailors　have　a　way　of　using　their　forelock　as　a　sort　of　handle　to　bow　with。

The　old　tar　had　probably　never　been　in　so　handsome　an　apartment　in　all　his　days；　and　nothing　could　induce　him　to　take　the　inviting　mahogany　chair　which　the　Captain　wheeled　out　from　the　corner。

The　abashed　mariner　stood　up　against　the　wall；　twirling　his　tarpaulin　in　his　two　hands　and　looking　extremely　silly。　He　made　a　poor　show　in　a　gentleman's　drawing…room；　but　what　a　fellow　he　had　been　in　his　day；　when　the　gale　blew　great　guns　and　the　topsails　wanted　reefing！　I　thought　of　him　with　the　Mexican　squadron　off　Vera　Cruz；　where；

'The　rushing　battle…bolt　sung　from　the　three…decker　out　of　the

foam；〃

and　he　didn't　seem　awkward　or　ignoble　to　me；　for　all　his　shyness。

As　Sailor　Ben　declined　to　sit　down；　the　Captain　did　not　resume　his　seat；　so　we　three　stood　in　a　constrained　manner　until　my　grandfather　went　to　the　door　and　called　to　Kitty　to　bring　in　a　decanter　of　Madeira　and　two　glasses。

〃My　grandson；　here；　has　talked　so　much　about　you；〃　said　the　Captain；　pleasantly；　〃that　you　seem　quite　like　an　old　acquaintance　to　me。〃

〃Thankee；　sir；　thankee；〃　returned　Sailor　Ben；　looking　as　guilty　as　if　he　had　been　detected　in　picking　a　pocket。

〃And　I'm　very　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。…Mr。…〃

〃Sailor　Ben；〃　suggested　that　worthy。

〃Mr。　Sailor　Ben；〃　added　the　Captain；　smiling。　〃Tom；　open　the　door；　there's　Kitty　with　the　glasses。〃

I　opened　the　door；　and　Kitty　entered　the　room　bringing　the　things　on　a　waiter；　which　she　was　about　to　set　on　the　table；　when　suddenly　she　uttered　a　loud　shriek；　the　decanter　and　glasses　fell　with　a　crash　to　the　floor；　and　Kitty；　as　white　as　a　sheet；　was　seen　flying　through　the　hall。

〃It's　his　wraith！　It's　his　wraith！〃'　we　heard　Kitty　shrieking　in　the　kitchen。

My　grandfather　and　I　turned　with　amazement　to　Sailor　Ben。　His　eyes　were　standing　out　of　his　head　like　a　lobster's。

〃It's　my　own　little　Irish　lass！〃　shouted　the　sailor；　and　he　darted　into　the　hall　after　her。

Even　then　we　scarcely　caught　the　meaning　of　his　words；　but　when　we　saw　Sailor　Ben　and　Kitty　sobbing　on　each　other's　shoulder　in　the　kitchen；　we　understood　it　all。

〃I　begs　your　honor's　parden；　sir；〃　said　Sailor　Ben；　lifting　his　tear…stained　face　above　Kitty's　tumbled　hair；　〃I　begs　your　honor's　parden　for　kicking　up　a　rumpus　in　the　house；　but　it's　my　own　little　Irish　lass　as　I　lost　so　long　ago！〃

〃Heaven　preserve　us！〃　cried　the　Captain；　blowing　his　nose　violently…a　transparent　ruse　to　hide　his　emotion。

Miss　Abigail　was　in　an　upper　chamber；　sweeping；　but　on　hearing　the　unusual　racket　below；　she　scented　an　accident　and　came　ambling　downstairs　with　a　bottle　of　the　infallible　hot…drops　in　her　hand。　Nothing　but　the　firmness　of　my　grandfather　prevented　her　from　giving　Sailor　Ben　a　table…spoonful　on　the　spot。　But　when　she　learned　what　had　come　about…that　this　was　Kitty's　husband；　that　Kitty　Collins　wasn't　Kitty　Collins　now；　but　Mrs。　Benjamin　Watson　of　Nantucket…the　good　soul　sat　down　on　the　meal…chest　and　sobbed　as　if…to　quote　from　Captain　Nutter…as　if　a　husband　of　her　own　had　turned　up！

A　happier　set　of　people　than　we　were　never　met　together　in　a　dingy　kitchen　or　anywhere　else。　The　Captain　ordered　a　fresh　decanter　of　Madeira；　and　made　all　hands；　excepting　myself；　drink　a　cup　to　the　return　of　〃the　prodigal　sea…son；〃　as　he　persisted　in　calling　Sailor　Ben。

After　the　first　flush　of　joy　and　surprise　was　over　Kitty　grew　silent　and　constrained。　Now　and　then　she　fixed　her　eyes　thoughtfully　on　her　husband。　Why　had　he　deserted　her　all　these　years？　What　right　had　he　to　look　for　a　welcome　from　one　he　had　treated　so　cruelly？　She　had　been　true　to　him；　but　had　he　been　true　to　her？　Sailor　Ben　must　have　guessed　what　was　passing　in　her　mind；　for　presently　he　took　her　hand　and　said…　〃Well；　lass；　it's　a　long　yarn；　but　you　shall　have　it　all　in　good　time。　It　was　my　hard　luck　as　made　us　part　company；　an'　no　will　of　mine；　for　I　loved　you　dear。〃

Kitty　brightened　up　immediately；　needing　no　other　assurance　of　Sailor　Ben's　faithfulness。

When　his　hour　had　expired；　we　walked　with　him　down　to　the　wharf；　where　the　Captain　held　a　consultation　with　the　mate；　which　resulted　in　an　extension　of　Mr。　Watson's　leave　of　absence；　and　afterwards　in　his　discharge　from　his　ship。　We　then　went　to　the　〃Mariner's　Home〃　to　engage　a　room　for　him；　as　he　wouldn't　hear　of　accepting　the　hospitalities　of　the