michael, brother of jerry-第24节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　　Dag　Daughtry　was　a　first…class　ship's　steward。　　Placing　the　Ancient　Mariner　in　a　nook　of　safety；　and　setting　Big　John　to　unlashing　the　remaining　boat　and　hooking　on　the　falls；　he　sent　Kwaque　into　the　hold　to　fill　kegs　of　water　from　the　scant　remnant　of　supply；　and　Ah　Moy　to　clear　out　the　food　in　the　galley。

The　starboard　boat；　cluttered　with　men；　provisions；　and　property　and　being　rapidly　rowed　away　from　the　danger　centre；　which　was　the　Mary　Turner；　was　scarcely　a　hundred　yards　away；　when　the　whale；　missing　the　schooner　clean；　turned　at　full　speed　and　close　range；　churning　the　water；　and　all　but　collided　with　the　boat。　　So　near　did　she　come　that　the　rowers　on　the　side　next　to　her　pulled　in　their　oars。　　The　surge　she　raised；　heeled　the　loaded　boat　gunwale　under；　so　that　a　degree　of　water　was　shipped　ere　it　righted。　Nishikanta；　automatic　still　in　hand；　standing　up　in　the　sternsheets　by　the　comfortable　seat　he　had　selected　for　himself；　was　staggered　by　the　lurch　of　the　boat。　　In　his　instinctive；　spasmodic　effort　to　maintain　balance；　he　relaxed　his　clutch　on　the　pistol；　which　fell　into　the　sea。

〃HA…AH！〃　Daughtry　girded。　　〃What　price　Nishikanta？　　I　got　his　number；　and　he's　lost　you　fellows'　goats。　　He's　your　meat　now。　Easy　meat？　　I　should　say！　　And　when　it　comes　to　the　eating；　eat　him　first。　　Sure；　he's　a　skunk；　and　will　taste　like　one；　but　many's　the　honest　man　that's　eaten　skunk　and　pulled　through　a　tight　place。　　But　you'd　better　soak　'im　all　night　in　salt　water；　first。〃

Grimshaw；　whose　seat　in　the　sternsheets　was　none　of　the　best；　grasped　the　situation　simultaneously　with　Daughtry；　and；　with　a　quick　upstanding；　and　hooking　out…reach　of　hand；　caught　the　fat　pawn…broker　around　the　back　of　the　neck；　and　with　anything　but　gentle　suasion　jerked　him　half　into　the　air　and　flung　him　face　downward　on　the　bottom　boards。

〃Ha…ah！〃　said　Daughtry　across　the　hundred　yards　of　ocean。

Next；　and　without　hurry；　Grimshaw　took　the　more　comfortable　seat　for　himself。

〃Want　to　come　along？〃　he　called　to　Daughtry。

〃No；　thank　you；　sir；〃　was　the　latter's　reply。　　〃There's　too　many　of　us；　an'　we'll　make　out　better　in　the　other　boat。〃

With　some　bailing；　and　with　others　bending　to　the　oars；　the　boat　rowed　frantically　away；　while　Daughtry　took　Ah　Moy　with　him　down　into　the　lazarette　beneath　the　cabin　floor　and　broke　out　and　passed　up　more　provisions。

It　was　when　he　was　thus　below　that　the　cow　grazed　the　schooner　just　for'ard　of　amidships　on　the　port　side；　lashed　out　with　her　mighty　tail　as　she　sounded；　and　ripped　clean　away　the　chain　plates　and　rail　of　the　mizzen…shrouds。　　In　the　next　roll　of　the　huge；　glassy　sea；　the　mizzen…mast　fell　overside。

〃My　word；　some　whale；〃　Daughtry　said　to　Ah　Moy；　as　they　emerged　from　the　cabin　companionway　and　gazed　at　this　latest　wreckage。

Ah　Moy　found　need　to　get　more　food　from　the　galley；　when　Daughtry；　Kwaque；　and　Big　John　swung　their　weight　on　the　falls；　one　at　a　time；　and　hoisted　the　port　boat；　one　end　at　a　time；　over　the　rail　and　swung　her　out。

〃We'll　wait　till　the　next　smash；　then　lower　away；　throw　everything　in；　an'　get　outa　this；〃　the　steward　told　the　Ancient　Mariner。　〃Lots　of　time。　　The　schooner'll　sink　no　faster　when　she's　awash　than　she's　sinkin'　now。〃

Even　as　he　spoke；　the　scuppers　were　nearly　level　with　the　ocean；　and　her　rolling　in　the　big　sea　was　sluggish。

〃Hey！〃　he　called　with　sudden　forethought　across　the　widening　stretch　of　sea　to　Captain　Doane。　　〃What's　the　course　to　the　Marquesas？　　Right　now？　　And　how　far　away；　sir？〃

〃Nor'…nor'…east…quarter…east！〃　came　the　faint　reply。　　〃Will　fetch　Nuka…Hiva！　　About　two　hundred　miles！　　Haul　on　the　south…east　trade　with　a　good　full　and　you'll　make　it！〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　was　the　steward's　acknowledgment；　ere　he　ran　aft；　disrupted　the　binnacle；　and　carried　the　steering　compass　back　to　the　boat。

Almost；　from　the　whale's　delay　in　renewing　her　charging；　did　they　think　she　had　given　over。　　And　while　they　waited　and　watched　her　rolling　on　the　sea　an　eighth　of　a　mile　away；　the　Mary　Turner　steadily　sank。

〃We　might　almost　chance　it；〃　Daughtry　was　debating　aloud　to　Big　John；　when　a　new　voice　entered　the　discussion。

〃Cocky！　Cocky！〃　came　plaintive　tones　from　below　out　of　the　steerage　companion。

〃Devil　be　damned！〃　was　the　next；　uttered　in　irritation　and　anger。　〃Devil　be　damned！　　Devil　be　damned！〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　was　Daughtry's　judgment；　as　he　dashed　across　the　deck；　crawled　through　the　confusion　of　the　main…topmast　and　its　many　stays　that　blocked　the　way；　and　found　the　tiny；　white　morsel　of　life　perched　on　a　bunk…edge；　ruffling　its　feathers；　erecting　and　flattening　its　rosy　crest；　and　cursing　in　honest　human　speech　the　waywardness　of　the　world　and　of　ships　and　humans　upon　the　sea。

The　cockatoo　stepped　upon　Daughtry's　inviting　index　finger；　swiftly　ascended　his　shirt　sleeve；　and；　on　his　shoulder；　claws　sunk　into　the　flimsy　shirt　fabric　till　they　hurt　the　flesh　beneath；　leaned　head　to　ear　and　uttered　in　gratitude　and　relief；　and　in　self…identification：　　〃Cocky。　　Cocky。〃

〃You　son　of　a　gun；〃　Daughtry　crooned。

〃Glory　be！〃　Cooky　replied；　in　tones　so　like　Daughtry's　as　to　startle　him。

〃You　son　of　a　gun；〃　Daughtry　repeated；　cuddling　his　cheek　and　ear　against　the　cockatoo's　feathered　and　crested　head。　　〃And　some　folks　thinks　it's　only　folks　that　count　in　this　world。〃

Still　the　whale　delayed；　and；　with　the　ocean　washing　their　toes　on　the　level　deck；　Daughtry　ordered　the　boat　lowered　away。　　Ah　Moy　was　eager　in　his　haste　to　leap　into　the　bow。　　Nor　was　Daughtry's　judgment　correct　that　the　little　Chinaman's　haste　was　due　to　fear　of　the　sinking　ship。　　What　Ah　Moy　sought　was　the　place　in　the　boat　remotest　from　Kwaque　and　the　steward。

Shoving　clear；　they　roughly　stored　the　supplies　and　dunnage　out　of　the　way　of　the　thwarts　and　took　their　places；　Ah　Moy　pulling　bow…　oar；　next　in　order　Big　John　and　Kwaque；　with　Daughtry　（Cocky　still　perched　on　his　shoulder）　at　stroke。　　On　top　of　the　dunnage；　in　the　stern…sheets；　Michael　gazed　wistfully　at　the　Mary　Turner　and　continued　to　snarl　crustily　at　Scraps　who　idiotically　wanted　to　start　a　romp。　　The　Ancient　Mariner　stood　up　at　the　steering　sweep　and　gave　the　order；　when　all　was　ready；　for　the　first　dip　of　the　oars。

A　growl　and　a　bristle　from　Michael　warned　them　that　the　whale　was　not　only　coming　but　was　close　upon　them。　　But　it　was　not　charging。　Instead；　it　circled　slowly　about　the　schooner　as　if　examining　its　antagonist。

〃I'll　bet　it's　head's　sore　from　all　that　banging；　an'　it's　beginnin'　to　feel　it；〃　Daughtry　grinned；　chiefly　for　the　purpose　of　keeping　his　comrades　unafraid。

Barely　had　they　rowed　a　dozen　strokes；　when　an　exclamation　from　Big　John　led　them　to　follow　his　gaze　to　the　schooners　forecastle…　head；　where　the　forecastle　cat　flashed　across　in　pursuit　of　a　big　rat。　　Other　rats　they　saw；　evidently　driven　out　of　their　lairs　by　the　rising　water。

〃We　just　can't　leave　that　cat　behind；〃　Daughtry　soliloquized　in　suggestive　tones。

〃Certainly　not；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　responded　swinging　his　weight　on　the　steering…sweep　and　heading　the　boat　back。

Twice　the　whale　gently　rolled　them　in　the　course　of　its　leisurely　circling；　ere　they　bent　to　their　oars　again　and　pulled　away。　　Of　them　the　whale　seemed　to　take　no　notice。　　It　was　from　the　huge　thing；　the　schooner；　that　death　had　been　wreaked　upon　her　calf；　and　it　was　upon　the　schooner　that　she　vented　the　wrath　of　her　grief。

Even　as　they　pulled　away；　the　whale　turned　and　headed　across　the　ocean。　　At　a　half…mile　distance　she　curved　about　and　charged　back。

〃With　all　that　water　in　her；　the　schooner'll　have　a　real　kick…back　in　her　when　she's　hit；〃　Daughtry　said。　　〃Lordy　me；　rest　on　your　oars　an'　watch。〃

Delivered　squarely　amidships；　it　was　the　hardest　blow　the　Mary　Turner　had　received。　　Stays　and　splinters　of　rail　flew　in　the　air　as　she　rolled　so　far　over　as　to　expose　half　her　copper　wet…　glistening　in　the　sun。　　As　she　righted　sluggishly；　the　mainmast　swayed　drunkenly　in　the　air　but　did　not　fall。

〃A　knock…out！〃　Daughtry　cried；　at　sight　of　the　whale　flurrying　the　water　with　aimless；　gigantic　splashings。　　〃It　must　a…smashed　both　of　'em。〃

〃Schooner　he　finish　close　up　altogether；〃　Kwaque　observed；　as　the　Mary　Turner's　rail　disappeared。

Swiftly　she　sank；　and　no　more　than　a　matter　of　moments　was　it　when　the　stump　of　her　mainmast　was　gone。　　Remained　only　the　whale；　floating　and　floundering；　on　the　surface　of　the　sea。

〃It's　nothing　to　brag　about；〃　Daughtry　delivered　himself　of　the　Mary　Turner's　epitaph。　　〃Nobody'd　believe　us。　　A　stout　little　craft　like　that　sunk；　deliberately　sunk；　by　an　old　cow…whale！　　No；　sir。　　I　never　believed　that　old　moss…back　in　Honolulu；　when　he　claimed　he　was　a　survivor　of　the　sinkin'　of　the　Essex；　an'　no　more　will　anybody　believe　me。〃

〃The　pretty　schooner；　the　pretty　clever　craft；〃　mourned　the　Ancient　Mariner。　　〃Never　were　there　more　dainty　and　lovable　topmasts　on　a　three…masted　schooner；　and　never　was　there　a　three…　masted　schooner　that　worked　like　the　witch　she　was　to　windward。〃

Dag　Daughtry；　who　had　kept　always　foot…loose　and　never　married；　surveyed　the　boat…load　of　his　responsibilities　to　which　he　was　anchoredKwaque；　the　Black　Papuan　monstrosity　whom　he　had　saved　from　the　bellies　of　his　fellows；　A