michael, brother of jerry-第23节

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〃A　foot　and　a　half；　and　making；〃　the　mate　shouted　aft　to　him。

〃We'd　better　do　some　packing　ourselves；〃　Grimshaw；　following　on　the　captain；　said　to　Nishikanta。

〃Steward；〃　Nishikanta　said；　〃go　below　and　pack　my　bedding。　　I'll　take　care　of　the　rest。〃

〃Mr。　Nishikanta；　you　can　go　to　hell；　sir；　and　all　the　rest　as　well；〃　was　Daughtry's　quiet　response；　although　in　the　same　breath　he　was　saying；　respectfully　and　assuringly；　to　the　Ancient　Mariner：　　〃You　hold　Killeny；　sir。　　I'll　take　care　of　your　dunnage。　Is　there　anything　special　you　want　to　save；　sir？〃

Jackson　joined　the　four　men　below；　and　as　the　five　of　them；　in　haste　and　trepidation；　packed　articles　of　worth　and　comfort；　the　Mary　Turner　was　struck　again。　　Caught　below　without　warning；　all　were　flung　fiercely　to　port　and　from　Simon　Nishikanta's　room　came　wailing　curses　of　announcement　of　the　hurt　to　his　ribs　against　his　bunk…rail。　　But　this　was　drowned　by　a　prodigious　smashing　and　crashing　on　deck。

〃Kindling　woodthere　won't　be　anything　else　left　of　her；〃　Captain　Doane　commented　in　the　ensuing　calm；　as　he　crept　gingerly　up　the　companionway　with　his　chronometer　cuddled　on　an　even　keel　to　his　breast。

Placing　it　in　the　custody　of　a　sailor；　he　returned　below　and　was　helped　up　with　his　sea…chest　by　the　steward。　　In　turn；　he　helped　the　steward　up　with　the　Ancient　Mariner's　sea…chest。　　Next；　aided　by　anxious　sailors；　he　and　Daughtry　dropped　into　the　lazarette　through　the　cabin　floor；　and　began　breaking　out　and　passing　up　a　stream　of　suppliescases　of　salmon　and　beef；　of　marmalade　and　biscuit；　of　butter　and　preserved　milk；　and　of　all　sorts　of　the　tinned；　desiccated；　evaporated；　and　condensed　stuff　that　of　modern　times　goes　down　to　the　sea　in　ships　for　the　nourishment　of　men。

Daughtry　and　the　captain　emerged　last　from　the　cabin；　and　both　stared　upward　for　a　moment　at　the　gaps　in　the　slender；　sky…　scraping　top…hamper；　where；　only　minutes　before；　the　main…　and　mizzen…topmasts　had　been。　　A　second　moment　they　devoted　to　the　wreckage　of　the　same　on　deckthe　mizzen…topmast；　thrust　through　the　spanker　and　supported　vertically　by　the　stout　canvas；　thrashing　back　and　forth　with　each　thrash　of　the　sail；　the　main…　topmast　squarely　across　the　ruined　companionway　to　the　steerage。

While　the　mother…whale　expressing　her　bereavement　in　terms　of　violence　and　destruction；　was　withdrawing　the　necessary　distance　for　another　charge；　all　hands　of　the　Mary　Turner　gathered　about　the　starboard　boat　swung　outboard　ready　for　lowering。　　A　respectable　hill　of　case　goods；　water…kegs；　and　personal　dunnage　was　piled　on　the　deck　alongside。　　A　glance　at　this；　and　at　the　many　men　of　fore　and　aft；　demonstrated　that　it　was　to　be　a　perilously　overloaded　boat。

〃We　want　the　sailors　with　us；　at　any　ratethey　can　row；〃　said　Simon　Nishikanta。

〃But　do　we　want　you？〃　Grimshaw　queried　gloomily。　　〃You　take　up　too　much　room；　for　your　size；　and　you're　a　beast　anyway。〃

〃I　guess　I'll　be　wanted；〃　the　pawnbroker　observed；　as　he　jerked　open　his　shirt；　tearing　out　the　four　buttons　in　his　impetuousness　and　showing　a　Colt's　。44　automatic；　strapped　in　its　holster　against　the　bare　skin　of　his　side　under　his　left　arm；　the　butt　of　the　weapon　most　readily　accessible　to　any　hasty　dip　of　his　right　hand。　　〃I　guess　I'll　be　wanted。　　But　just　the　same　we　can　dispense　with　the　undesirables。〃

〃If　you　will　have　your　will；〃　the　wheat…farmer　conceded　sardonically；　although　his　big　hand　clenched　involuntarily　as　if　throttling　a　throat。　　〃Besides；　if　we　should　run　short　of　food　you　will　prove　desirablefor　the　quantity　of　you；　I　mean；　and　not　otherwise。　　Now　just　who　would　you　consider　undesirable？the　black　nigger？　　He　ain't　got　a　gun。〃

But　his　pleasantries　were　cut　short　by　the　whale's　next　attack　another　smash　at　the　stern　that　carried　away　the　rudder　and　destroyed　the　steering　gear。

〃How　much　water？〃　Captain　Doane　queried　of　the　mate。

〃Three　feet；　sirI　just　sounded；〃　came　the　answer。　　〃I　think；　sir；　it　would　be　advisable　to　part…load　the　boat；　then；　right　after　the　next　time　the　whale　hits　us；　lower　away　on　the　run；　chuck　the　rest　of　the　dunnage　in；　and　ourselves；　and　get　clear。〃

Captain　Doane　nodded。

〃It　will　be　lively　work；〃　he　said。　　〃Stand　ready；　all　of　you。　Steward；　you　jump　aboard　first　and　I'll　pass　the　chronometer　to　you。〃

Nishikanta　bellicosely　shouldered　his　vast　bulk　up　to　the　captain；　opened　his　shirt；　and　exposed　his　revolver。

〃There's　too　many　for　the　boat；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　steward's　one　of　'em　that　don't　go　along。　　Get　that。　　Hold　it　in　your　head。　　The　steward's　one　of　'em　that　don't　go　along。〃

Captain　Doane　coolly　surveyed　the　big　automatic；　while　at　the　fore　of　his　consciousness　burned　a　vision　of　his　flat　buildings　in　San　Francisco。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃The　boat　would　be　overloaded；　with　all　this　truck；　anyway。　　Go　ahead；　if　you　want　to　make　it　your　party；　but　just　bear　in　mind　that　I'm　the　navigator；　and　that；　if　you　ever　want　to　lay　eyes　on　your　string　of　pawnshops；　you'd　better　see　that　gentle　care　is　taken　of　me。Steward！〃

Daughtry　stepped　close。

〃There　won't　be　room　for　you　。　。　。　and　for　one　or　two　others；　I'm　sorry　to　say。〃

〃Glory　be！〃　said　Daughtry。　　〃I　was　just　fearin'　you'd　be　wantin'　me　along；　sir。Kwaque；　you　take　'm　my　fella　dunnage　belong　me；　put　'm　in　other　fella　boat　along　other　side。〃

While　Kwaque　obeyed；　the　mate　sounded　the　well　for　the　last　time；　reporting　three　feet　and　a　half；　and　the　lighter　freightage　of　the　starboard　boat　was　tossed　in　by　the　sailors。

A　rangy；　gangly；　Scandinavian　youth　of　a　sailor；　droop…shouldered；　six　feet　six　and　slender　as　a　lath；　with　pallid　eyes　of　palest　blue　and　skin　and　hair　attuned　to　the　same　colour　scheme；　joined　Kwaque　in　his　work。

〃Here；　you　Big　John；〃　the　mate　interfered。　　〃This　is　your　boat。　You　work　here。〃

The　lanky　one　smiled　in　embarrassment　as　he　haltingly　explained：　〃I　tank　I　lak　go　along　cooky。〃

〃Sure；　let　him　go；　the　more　the　easier；〃　Nishikanta　took　charge　of　the　situation。　　〃Anybody　else？〃

〃Sure；〃　Dag　Daughtry　sneered　to　his　face。　　〃I　reckon　what's　left　of　the　beer　goes　with　my　boat　。　。　。　unless　you　want　to　argue　the　matter。〃

〃For　two　cents〃　Nishikanta　spluttered　in　affected　rage。

〃Not　for　two　billion　cents　would　you　risk　a　scrap　with　me；　you　money…sweater；　you；〃　was　Daughtry's　retort。　　〃You've　got　their　goats；　but　I've　got　your　number。　　Not　for　two　billion　billion　cents　would　you　excite　me　into　callin'　it　right　now。Big　John！　Just　carry　that　case　of　beer　across；　an'　that　half　case；　and　store　in　my　boat。Nishikanta；　just　start　something；　if　you've　got　the　nerve。〃

Simon　Nishikanta　did　not　dare；　nor　did　he　know　what　to　do；　but　he　was　saved　from　his　perplexity　by　the　shout：

〃Here　she　comes！〃

All　rushed　to　holding…ground；　and　held；　while　the　whale　broke　more　timbers　and　the　Mary　Turner　rolled　sluggishly　down　and　back　again。

〃Lower　away！　　On　the　run！　　Lively！〃

Captain　Doane's　orders　were　swiftly　obeyed。　　The　starboard　boat；　fended　off　by　sailors；　rose　and　fell　in　the　water　alongside　while　the　remainder　of　the　dunnage　and　provisions　showered　into　her。

〃Might　as　well　lend　a　hand；　sir；　seein'　you're　bent　on　leaving　in　such　a　hurry；〃　said　Daughtry；　taking　the　chronometer　from　Captain　Doane's　hand　and　standing　ready　to　pass　it　down　to　him　as　soon　as　he　was　in　the　boat。

〃Come　on；　Greenleaf；〃　Grimshaw　called　up　to　the　Ancient　Mariner。

〃No；　thanking　you　very　kindly；　sir；〃　came　the　reply。　　〃I　think　there'll　be　more　room　in　the　other　boat。〃

〃We　want　the　cook！〃　Nishikanta　cried　out　from　the　stern　sheets。　〃Come　on；　you　yellow　monkey！　　Jump　in！〃

Little　old　shrivelled　Ah　Moy　debated。　　He　visibly　thought；　although　none　knew　the　intrinsicness　of　his　thinking　as　he　stared　at　the　gun　of　the　fat　pawnbroker　and　at　the　leprosy　of　Kwaque　and　Daughtry；　and　weighed　the　one　against　the　other　and　tossed　the　light　and　heavy　loads　of　the　two　boats　into　the　balance。

〃Me　go　other　boat；〃　said　Ah　Moy；　starting　to　drag　his　bag　away　across　the　deck。

〃Cast　off；〃　Captain　Doane　commanded。

Scraps；　the　big　Newfoundland　puppy；　who　had　played　and　pranced　about　through　all　the　excitement；　seeing　so　many　of　the　Mary　Turner's　humans　in　the　boat　alongside；　sprang　over　the　rail；　low　and　close　to　the　water；　and　landed　sprawling　on　the　mass　of　sea…　bags　and　goods　cases。

The　boot　rocked；　and　Nishikanta；　his　automatic　in　his　hand；　cried　out：

〃Back　with　him！　　Throw　him　on　board！〃

The　sailors　obeyed；　and　the　astounded　Scraps；　after　a　brief　flight　through　the　air；　found　himself　arriving　on　his　back　on　the　Mary　Turner's　deck。　　At　any　rate；　he　took　it　for　no　more　than　a　rough　joke；　and　rolled　about　ecstatically；　squirming　vermicularly；　in　anticipation　of　what　new　delights　of　play　were　to　be　visited　upon　him。　　He　reached　out；　with　an　enticing　growl　of　good　fellowship；　for　Michael；　who　was　now　free　on　deck；　and　received　in　return　a　forbidding　and　crusty　snarl。

〃Guess　we'll　have　to　add　him　to　our　collection；　eh；　sir？〃　Daughtry　observed；　sparing　a　moment　to　pat　reassurance　on　the　big　puppy's　head　and　being　rewarded　with　a　caressing　lick　on　his　hand　from　the　puppy's　blissful　tongue。

No　first…class　ship's　steward　can　exist　without　possessing　a　more　than　average　measure　of　executive　ability。　　Dag　Daughtry　w