the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第3节
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snakes。 Here and there we passed a yellow sand…bar； and here and there a
snag lifted its nose out of the water like a shark。
〃This is your last chance to see the city； To see the city； Tom；〃 said my
father； as we swept round a bend of the river。
I turned and looked。 New Orleans was just a colorless mass of
something in the distance； and the dome of the St。 Charles Hotel； upon
which the sun shimmered for a moment； was no bigger than the top of old
Aunt Chloe's thimble。
What do I remember next？ The gray sky and the fretful blue waters of
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the Gulf。 The steam…tug had long since let slip her hawsers and gone
panting away with a derisive scream； as much as to say； 〃I've done my
duty； now look out for yourself； old Typhoon！〃
The ship seemed quite proud of being left to take care of itself； and；
with its huge white sails bulged out； strutted off like a vain turkey。 I had
been standing by my father near the wheel…house all this while； observing
things with that nicety of perception which belongs only to children； but
now the dew began falling； and we went below to have supper。
The fresh fruit and milk； and the slices of cold chicken； looked very
nice； yet somehow I had no appetite There was a general smell of tar about
everything。 Then the ship gave sudden lurches that made it a matter of
uncertainty whether one was going to put his fork to his mouth or into his
eye。 The tumblers and wineglasses； stuck in a rack over the table； kept
clinking and clinking； and the cabin lamp； suspended by four gilt chains
from the ceiling； swayed to and fro crazily。 Now the floor seemed to rise；
and now it seemed to sink under one's feet like a feather…bed。
There were not more than a dozen passengers on board； including
ourselves； and all of these； excepting a bald…headed old gentleman…a
retired sea…captain…disappeared into their staterooms at an early hour of the
evening。
After supper was cleared away； my father and the elderly gentleman；
whose name was Captain Truck； played at checkers； and I amused myself
for a while by watching the trouble they had in keeping the men in the
proper places。 just at the most exciting point of the game； the ship would
careen； and down would go the white checkers pell…mell among the black。
Then my father laughed； but Captain Truck would grow very angry； and
vow that he would have won the game in a move or two more； if the
confounded old chicken…coop…that's what he called the ship…hadn't lurched。
〃I…I think I will go to bed now； please；〃 I said； laying my band on my
father's knee； and feeling exceedingly queer。
It was high time； for the Typhoon was plunging about in the most
alarming fashion。 I was speedily tucked away in the upper berth； where I
felt a trifle more easy at first。 My clothes were placed on a narrow shelf at
my feet； and it was a great comfort to me to know that my pistol was so
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handy； for I made no doubt we should fall in with Pirates before many
hours。 This is the last thing I remember with any distinctness。 At midnight；
as I was afterwards told； we were struck by a gale which never left us until
we came in sight of the Massachusetts coast。
For days and days I had no sensible idea of what was going on around
me。 That we were being hurled somewhere upside…down； and that I didn't
like it； was about all I knew。 I have； indeed； a vague impression that my
father used to climb up to the berth and call me his 〃Ancient Mariner；〃
bidding me cheer up。 But the Ancient Mariner was far from cheering up； if
I recollect rightly； and I don't believe that venerable navigator would have
cared much if it had been announced to him； through a speaking…trumpet；
that 〃a low； black； suspicious craft； with raking masts； was rapidly bearing
down upon us！〃
In fact； one morning； I thought that such was the case； for bang！ went
the big cannon I had noticed in the bow of the ship when we came on
board； and which had suggested to me the idea of Pirates。 Bang！ went the
gun again in a few seconds。 I made a feeble effort to get at my trousers…
pocket！ But the Typhoon was only saluting Cape Cod…the first land sighted
by vessels approaching the coast from a southerly direction。
The vessel had ceased to roll； and my sea…sickness passed away as
rapidly as it came。 I was all right now； 〃only a little shaky in my timbers
and a little blue about the gills；〃 as Captain Truck remarked to my mother；
who； like myself； had been confined to the state…room during the passage。
At Cape Cod the wind parted company with us without saying as
much as 〃Excuse me〃； so we were nearly two days in making the run
which in favorable weather is usually accomplished in seven hours。 That's
what the pilot said。
I was able to go about the ship now； and I lost no time in cultivating
the acquaintance of the sailor with the green…haired lady on his arm。 I
found him in the forecastle…a sort of cellar in the front part of the vessel。
He was an agreeable sailor； as I had expected； and we became the best of
friends in five minutes。
He had been all over the world two or three times； and knew no end of
stories。 According to his own account； he must have been shipwrecked at
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least twice a year ever since his birth。 He had served under Decatur when
that gallant officer peppered the Algerines and made them promise not to
sell their prisoners of war into slavery； he had worked a gun at the
bombardment of Vera Cruz in the Mexican War； and he had been on
Alexander Selkirk's Island more than once。 There were very few things he
hadn't done in a seafaring way。
〃I suppose； sir；〃 I remarked； 〃that your name isn't Typhoon？〃
〃Why； Lord love ye； lad； my name's Benjamin Watson； of Nantucket。
But I'm a true blue Typhooner；〃 he added； which increased my respect for
him； I don't know why； and I didn't know then whether Typhoon was the
name of a vegetable or a profession。
Not wishing to be outdone in frankness； I disclosed to him that my
name was Tom Bailey； upon which he said be was very glad to hear it。
When we got more intimate； I discovered that Sailor Ben； as he wished
me to call him； was a perfect walking picturebook。 He had two anchors； a
star； and a frigate in full sail on his right arm； a pair of lovely blue hands
clasped on his breast； and I've no doubt that other parts of his body were
illustrated in the same agreeable manner。 I imagine he was fond of
drawings； and took this means of gratifying his artistic taste。 It was
certainly very ingenious and convenient。 A portfolio might be misplaced；
or dropped overboard； but Sailor Ben bad his pictures wherever he went；
just as that eminent person in the poem；
〃With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes〃 …
was accompanied by music on all occasions。
The two bands on his breast； he informed me； were a tribute to the
memory of a dead messmate from whom he had parted years ago…and
surely a more touching tribute was never engraved on a tombstone。 This
caused me to think of my parting with old Aunt Chloe； and I told him I
should take it as a great favor indeed if he would paint a pink hand and a
black hand on my chest。 He said the colors were pricked into the skin with
needles； and that the operation was somewhat painful。 I assured him； in an
off…hand manner； that I didn't mind pain； and begged him to set to work at
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once。
The simple…hearted fellow； who was probably not a little vain of his
skill； took me into the forecastle； and was on the point of complying with
my request； when my father happened to own the gangway…a circumstance
that rather interfered with the decorative art。
I didn't have another opportunity of confer
