dream days(做梦的日子)-第17节
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too hungry for adventure to linger over what would have been a special
delight at a period of more leisurethe dangling about the harbour； the
choosing your craft； selecting your shipmates； stowing your cargo； and
fitting up your private cabin with everything you might want to put your
hand on in any emergency whatever。 I could not wait for that。 Out
beyond soundings the big seas were racing westward and calling me；
albatrosses hovered motionless； expectant of a comrade； and a thousand
islands held each of them a fresh adventure； stored up； hidden away；
awaiting production； expressly saved for me。 We were humming； close…
hauled； down the Channel； spray in the eyes and the shrouds thrilling
musically； in much less time than the average man would have taken to
transfer his Gladstone bag and his rugs from the train to a sheltered place
on the promenade… deck of the tame daily steamer。
So long as we were in pilotage I stuck manfully to the wheel。 The
undertaking was mine； and with it all its responsibilities； and there was
some tricky steering to be done as we sped by headland and bay； ere we
breasted the great seas outside and the land fell away behind us。 But as
soon as the Atlantic had opened out I began to feel that it would be rather
nice to take tea by myself in my own cabin； and it therefore became
necessary to invent a comrade or two； to take their turn at the wheel。
This was easy enough。 A friend or two of my own age； from among
the boys I knew； a friend or two from characters in the books I knew； and
a friend or two from No…man's…land； where every fellow's a born sailor；
and the crew was complete。 I addressed them on the poop； divided them
into watches； gave instructions I should be summoned on the first sign of
pirates； whales； or Frenchmen； and retired below to a well…earned spell of
relaxation。
That was the right sort of cabin that I stepped into； shutting the door
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behind me with a click。 Of course； fire…arms were the first thing I looked
for； and there they were； sure enough； in their racks； dozens of 'em
double…barrelled guns； and repeating…rifles； and long pistols； and shiny
plated revolvers。 I rang up the steward and ordered tea； with scones； and
jam in its native potsnone of your finicking shallow glass dishes； and；
when properly streaked with jam； and blown out with tea； I went through
the armoury； clicked the rifles and revolvers； tested the edges of the
cutlasses with my thumb； and filled the cartridge…belts chock…full。
Everything was there； and of the best quality； just as if I had spent a whole
fortnight knocking about Plymouth and ordering things。 Clearly； if this
cruise came to grief； it would not be for want of equipment。
Just as I was beginning on the lockers and the drawers； the watch
reported icebergs on both bowsand； what was more to the point； coveys
of Polar bears on the icebergs。 I grasped a rifle or two； and hastened on
deck。 The spectacle was indeed magnificentit generally is； with
icebergs on both bows； and these were exceptionally enormous icebergs。
But I hadn't come there to paint Academy pictures； so the captain's gig was
in the water and manned almost ere the boatswain's whistle had ceased
sounding； and we were pulling hard for the Polar bearsmyself and the
rifles in the stern…sheets。
I have rarely enjoyed better shooting than I got during that afternoon's
tramp over the icebergs。 Perhaps I was in specially good form； perhaps
the bears 〃rose〃 well。 Anyhow； the bag was a portentous one。 In later
days； on reading of the growing scarcity of Polar bears； my conscience has
pricked me； but that afternoon I experienced no compunction。
Nevertheless； when the huge pile of skins had been hoisted on board； and
a stiff grog had been served out to the crew of the captain's gig； I ordered
the schooner's head to be set due south。 For icebergs were played out； for
the moment； and it was getting to be time for something more tropical。
Tropical was a mild expression of what was to come； as was shortly
proved。 It was about three bells in the next day's forenoon watch when
the look…out man first sighted the pirate brigantine。 I disliked the looks
of her from the first； and； after piping all hands to quarters； had the brass
carronade on the fore…deck crammed with grape to the muzzle。
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This proved a wise precaution。 For the flagitious pirate craft； having
crept up to us under the colours of the Swiss Republic； a state with which
we were just then on the best possible terms； suddenly shook out the skull…
and…cross…bones at her masthead； and let fly with round…shot at close
quarters； knocking into pieces several of my crew； who could ill be spared。
The sight of their disconnected limbs aroused my ire to its utmost height；
and I let them have the contents of the brass carronade； with ghastly effect。
Next moment the hulls of the two ships were grinding together； the cold
steel flashed from its scabbard； and the death…grapple had begun。
In spite of the deadly work of my grape…gorged carronade； our foe still
outnumbered us； I reckoned； by three to one。 Honour forbade my fixing
it at a lower figurethis was the minimum rate at which one dared to do
business with pirates。 They were stark veterans； too； every man seamed
with ancient sabre…cuts； whereas my crew had many of them hardly
attained the maturity which is the gift of ten long summersand the whole
thing was so sudden that I had no time to invent a reinforcement of riper
years。 It was not surprising； therefore； that my dauntless boarding… party；
axe in hand and cutlass between teeth； fought their way to the pirates' deck
only to be repulsed again and yet again； and that our planks were soon
slippery with our own ungrudged and inexhaustible blood。 At this
critical point in the conflict； the bo'sun； grasping me by the arm； drew my
attention to a magnificent British man…of…war； just hove to in the offing；
while the signalman； his glass at his eye； reported that she was inquiring
whether we wanted any assistance or preferred to go through with the little
job ourselves。
This veiled attempt to share our laurels with us； courteously as it was
worded； put me on my mettle。 Wiping the blood out of my eyes； I
ordered the signalman to reply instantly； with the half… dozen or so of flags
that he had at his disposal； that much as we appreciated the valour of the
regular service； and the delicacy of spirit that animated its commanders；
still this was an orthodox case of the young gentleman…adventurer versus
the unshaved pirate； and Her Majesty's Marine had nothing to do but to
form the usual admiring and applauding background。 Then； rallying
round me the remnant of my faithful crew； I selected a fresh cutlass （I had
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worn out three already） and plunged once more into the pleasing carnage。
The result was not long doubtful。 Indeed； I could not allow it to be；
as I was already getting somewhat bored with the pirate business； and was
wanting to get on to something more southern and sensuous。 All serious
resistance came to an end as soon as I had reached the quarter…deck and
cut down the pirate chiefa fine black…bearded fellow in his way； but
hardly up to date in his parry…and…thrust business。 Those whom our
cutlasses had spared were marched out along their own plank； in the
approved old fashion； and in time the scuppers relieved the decks of the
blood that made traffic temporarily impossible。 And all the time the
British…man…of…war admired and applauded in the offing
