westward ho-第141节

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o　sighs　than　laughter。

〃Will　ye；　then？　　There's　a　good　soul；　and　come　and　tell　with　old　Martin。　　He　likes　to　see　the　brave　young　gentlemen；　a…going　to　and　fro　in　their　ships；　like　Leviathan；　and　taking　of　their　pastime　therein。　　We　had　no　such　ships　to　our　days。　　Ah；　'tis　grand　times；　beautiful　times　surelyand　you'll　bring　me　a　bit　sugar？〃

〃You　were　up　the　Plate　with　Cabot？〃　said　Cary；　after　a　pause。　　〃Do　you　mind　the　fair　lady　Miranda；　Sebastian　de　Hurtado's　wife？〃

〃What！　her　that　was　burnt　by　the　Indians？　　Mind　her？　　Do　you　mind　the　sun　in　heaven？　　Oh；　the　beauty！　　Oh；　the　ways　of　her！　　Oh；　the　speech　of　her！　　Never　was；　nor　never　will　be！　　And　she　to　die　by　they　villains；　and　all　for　the　goodness　of　her！　　Mind　her？　　I　minded　naught　else　when　she　was　on　deck。〃

〃Who　was　she？〃　asked　Amyas　of　Cary。

〃A　Spanish　angel；　Amyas。〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Amyas。　　〃So　much　the　worse　for　her；　to　be　born　into　a　nation　of　devils。〃

〃They'em　not　all　so　bad　as　that；　yer　honor。　　Her　husband　was　a　proper　gallant　gentleman；　and　kind　as　a　maid；　too；　and　couldn't　abide　that　De　Solis's　murderous　doings。〃

〃His　wife　must　have　taught　it　him；　then；〃　said　Amyas；　rising。　〃Where　did　you　hear　of　these　black　swans；　Cary？〃

〃I　have　heard　of　them；　and　that's　enough；〃　answered　he；　unwilling　to　stir　sad　recollections。

〃And　little　enough；〃　said　Amyas。　　〃Will；　don't　talk　to　me。　　The　devil　is　not　grown　white　because　he　has　trod　in　a　lime…heap。〃

〃Or　an　angel　black　because　she　came　down　a　chimney；〃　said　Cary；　and　so　the　talk　ended；　or　rather　was　cut　short；　for　the　talk　of　all　the　groups　was　interrupted　by　an　explosion　from　old　John　Hawkins。

〃Fail？　　Fail？　　What　a　murrain　do　you　here；　to　talk　of　failing？　　Who　made　you　a　prophet；　you　scurvy；　hang…in…the…wind；　croaking；　white…　livered　son　of　a　corby…crow？〃

〃Heaven　help　us；　Admiral　Hawkins；　who　has　put　fire　to　your　culverins　in　this　fashion？〃　said　Lord　Howard。

〃Who？　my　lord！　　Croakers！　my　lord！　　Here's　a　fellow　calls　himself　the　captain　of　a　ship；　and　her　majesty's　servant；　and　talks　about　failing；　as　if　he　were　a　Barbican　loose…kirtle　trying　to　keep　her　apple…squire　ashore！　　Blurt　for　him；　sneak…up！　say　I。〃

〃Admiral　John　Hawkins；〃　quoth　the　offender；　〃you　shall　answer　this　language　with　your　sword。〃

〃I'll　answer　it　with　my　foot；　and　buy　me　a　pair　of　horn…tips　to　my　shoes；　like　a　wraxling　man。　　Fight　a　croaker？　　Fight　a　frog；　an　owl！　　I　fight　those　that　dare　fight；　sir！〃

〃Sir；　sir；　moderate　yourself。　　I　am　sure　this　gentleman　will　show　himself　as　brave　as　any；　when　it　comes　to　blows：　but　who　can　blame　mortal　man　for　trembling　before　so　fearful　a　chance　as　this？〃

〃Let　mortal　man　keep　his　tremblings　to　himself；　then；　my　lord；　and　not　be　like　Solomon's　madmen；　casting　abroad　fire　and　death；　and　saying；　it　is　only　in　sport。　　There　is　more　than　one　of　his　kidney；　your　lordship；　who　have　not　been　ashamed　to　play　Mother　Shipton　before　their　own　sailors；　and　damp　the　poor　fellows'　hearts　with　crying　before　they're　hurt；　and　this　is　one　of　them。　　I've　heard　him　at　it　afore；　and　I'll　present　him；　with　a　vengeance；　though　I'm　no　church…warden。〃

〃If　this　is　really　so；　Admiral　Hawkins〃

〃It　is　so；　my　lord！　　I　heard　only　last　night；　down　in　a　tavern　below；　such　unbelieving　talk　as　made　me　mad；　my　lord；　and　if　it　had　not　been　after　supper；　and　my　hand　was　not　oversteady；　I　would　have　let　out　a　pottle　of　Alicant　from　some　of　their　hoopings；　and　sent　them　to　Dick　Surgeon；　to　wrap　them　in　swaddling…clouts；　like　whining　babies　as　they　are。　　Marry　come　up；　what　says　Scripture？　'He　that　is　fearful　and　faint…hearted　among　you；　let　him　go　and'　what？　son　Dick　there？　　Thou'rt　pious；　and　read'st　thy　Bible。　What's　that　text？　　A　mortal　fine　one　it　is；　too。〃

〃'He　that　is　fearful　and　faint…hearted　among　you；　let　him　go　back；'〃　quoth　the　Complete　Seaman。　　〃Captain　Merryweather；　as　my　father's　command；　as　well　as　his　years；　forbid　his　answering　your　challenge；　I　shall　repute　it　an　honor　to　entertain　his　quarrel　myselfplace；　time；　and　weapons　being　at　your　choice。〃

〃Well　spoken；　son　Dick！and　like　a　true　courtier；　too！　　Ah！　thou　hast　the　palabras；　and　the　knee；　and　the　cap；　and　the　quip；　and　the　innuendo；　and　the　true　town　fashion　of　it　allno　old　tarry…breeks　of　a　sea…dog；　like　thy　dad！　　My　lord；　you'll　let　them　fight？〃

〃The　Spaniard；　sir；　but　no　one　else。　　But；　captains　and　gentlemen；　consider　well　my　friend　the　Port　Admiral's　advice；　and　if　any　man's　heart　misgives　him；　let　him；　for　the　sake　of　his　country　and　his　queen；　have　so　much　government　of　his　tongue　to　hide　his　fears　in　his　own　bosom；　and　leave　open　complaining　to　ribalds　and　women。　For　if　the　sailor　be　not　cheered　by　his　commander's　cheerfulness；　how　will　the　ignorant　man　find　comfort　in　himself？　　And　without　faith　and　hope；　how　can　he　fight　worthily？〃

〃There　is　no　croaking　aboard　of　us；　we　will　warrant；〃　said　twenty　voices；　〃and　shall　be　none；　as　long　as　we　command　on　board　our　own　ships。〃

Hawkins；　having　blown　off　his　steam；　went　back　to　Drake　and　the　bowls。

〃Fill　my　pipe；　Drawerthat　croaking　fellow's　made　me　let　it　out；　of　course！　　Spoil…sports！　　The　father　of　all　manner　of　troubles　on　earth；　be　they　noxious　trade　of　croakers！　　'Better　to　meet　a　bear　robbed　of　her　whelps；'　Francis　Drake；　as　Solomon　saith；　than　a　fule　who　can't　keep　his　mouth　shut。　　What　brought　Mr。　Andrew　Barker　to　his　death　but　croakers？　　What　stopped　Fenton's　China　voyage　in　the　'82；　and　lost　your　nephew　John；　and　my　brother　Will；　glory　and　hard　cash　too；　but　croakers？　　What　sent　back　my　Lord　Cumberland's　armada　in　the　'86；　and　that　after　they'd　proved　their　strength；　too；　sixty　o'　mun　against　six　hundred　Portugals　and　Indians；　and　yet　wern't　ashamed　to　turn　round　and　come　home　empty…handed；　after　all　my　lord's　expenses　that　he　had　been　at？　　What　but　these　same　beggarly　croakers；　that　be　only　fit　to　be　turned　into　yellow…hammers　up　to　Dartymoor；　and　sit　on　a　tor　all　day；　and　cry　'Very　little　bit　of　bread；　and　no　chee…e…ese！'　　Marry；　sneak…up！　say　I　again。〃

〃And　what；〃　said　Drake；　〃would　have　kept　me；　if　I'd　let　'em；　from　ever　sailing　round　the　world；　but　these　same　croakers？　　I　hanged　my　best　friend　for　croaking；　John　Hawkins；　may　God　forgive　me　if　I　was　wrong；　and　I　threatened　a　week　after　to　hang　thirty　more；　and　I'd　have　done　it；　too；　if　they　hadn't　clapped　tompions　into　their　muzzles　pretty　fast。〃

〃You'm　right；　Frank。　　My　old　father　always　told　meand　old　King　Hal　（bless　his　memory！）　would　take　his　counsel　among　a　thousand；　'And；　my　son；'　says　he　to　me；　'whatever　you　do；　never　you　stand　no　croaking；　but　hang　mun；　son　Jack；　hang　mun　up　for　an　ensign。　There's　Scripture　for　it；'　says　he　（he　was　a　mighty　man　to　his　Bible；　after　bloody　Mary's　days；　leastwise）；　'and　'tis　written；'　says　he；　'It's　expedient　that　one　man　die　for　the　crew；　and　that　the　whole　crew　perish　not；　so　show　you　no　mercy；　son　Jack；　or　you'll　find　none；　least…wise　in　they　manner　of　cattle；　for　if　you　fail；　they　stamps　on　you；　and　if　you　succeeds；　they　takes　the　credit　of　it　to　themselves；　and　goes　to　heaven　in　your　shoes。'　Those　were　his　words；　and　I've　found　mun　true。Who　com'th　here　now？〃

〃Captain　Fleming；　as　I'm　a　sinner。〃

〃Fleming？　　Is　he　tired　of　life；　that　he　com'th　here　to　look　for　a　halter？　　I've　a　warrant　out　against　mun；　for　robbing　of　two　Flushingers　on　the　high　seas；　now　this　very　last　year。　　Is　the　fellow　mazed　or　drunk；　then？　or　has　he　seen　a　ghost？　　Look　to　mun！〃

〃I　think　so；　truly；〃　said　Drake。　　〃His　eyes　are　near　out　of　his　head。〃

The　man　was　a　rough…bearded　old　sea…dog；　who　had　just　burst　in　from　the　tavern　through　the　low　hatch；　upsetting　a　drawer　with　all　his　glasses；　and　now　came　panting　and　blowing　straight　up　to　the　high　admiral；

〃My　lord；　my　lord！　　They'm　coming！　　I　saw　them　off　the　Lizard　last　night！〃

〃Who？　my　good　sir；　who　seem　to　have　left　your　manners　behind　you。〃

〃The　Armada；　your　worshipthe　Spaniard；　but　as　for　my　manners；　'tis　no　fault　of　mine；　for　I　never　had　none　to　leave　behind　me。〃

〃If　he　has　not　left　his　manners　behind；〃　quoth　Hawkins；　〃look　out　for　your　purses；　gentlemen　all！　　He's　manners　enough；　and　very　bad　ones　they　be；　when　he　com'th　across　a　quiet　Flushinger。〃

〃If　I　stole　Flushingers'　wines；　I　never　stole　negurs'　souls；　Jack　Hawkins；　so　there's　your　answer。　　My　lord；　hang　me　if　you　will；　life's　short　and　death's　easy　'specially　to　seamen；　but　if　I　didn't　see　the　Spanish　fleet　last　sun…down；　coming　along　half…moon　wise；　and　full　seven　mile　from　wing　to　wing；　within　a　four　mile　of　me；　I'm　a　sinner。〃

〃Sirrah；〃　said　Lord　Howard；　〃is　this　no　fetch；　to　cheat　us　out　of　your　pardon　for　these　piracies　of　yours？〃

〃You'll　find　out　for　yourself　before　nightfall；　my　lord　high　admiral。　　All　Jack　Fleming　says　is；　that　this　is　a　poor　sort　of　an　answer　to　a　man　who　has　put　his　own　neck　into　the　halter　for　the　sake　of　his　country。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is；〃　said　Lord　Howard。　　〃And　after　all；　gentlemen；　what　can　this　man　gain　by　a　lie；　which　must　be　discovered　ere　a　day　is　over；　except　a　more　certain　hanging？〃

〃Very　true；　your　lordship；〃　said　Hawkins；　mollified。　　〃Come　here；　Jack　Flemingwhat　wilt　drain；　man？　　Hippocras　or　Alicant；　Sack　or　John　Barleycorn；　and　a　pledge　to　thy　repentance　and　amendment　of　life。〃

〃Admiral　Hawkins；　Admiral　Hawki