south sea tales-第27节
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〃That's Crescent Island；〃 he answered。 〃It is uninhabited； and it is only two
or three feet above water。 Lagoon； but no entrance。 No； Mangareva is the
nearest place for your purpose。〃
〃Mangareva it is； then；〃 said Captain Davenport； interrupting the mate's
growling objection。 〃Call the crew aft； Mr。 Konig。〃
The sailors obeyed； shuffling wearily along the deck and painfully endeavoring
to make haste。 Exhaustion was evident in every movement。 The cook came out of
his galley to hear； and the cabin boy hung about near him。
When Captain Davenport had explained the situation and announced his intention
of running for Mangareva； an uproar broke out。 Against a background of
throaty rumbling arose inarticulate cries of rage； with here and there a
distinct curse； or word； or phrase。 A shrill Cockney voice soared and
dominated for a moment； crying： 〃Gawd！ After bein' in ell for fifteen
daysan' now e wants us to sail this floatin' ell to sea again？〃
The captain could not control them； but McCoy's gentle presence seemed to
rebuke and calm them； and the muttering and cursing died away； until the full
crew； save here and there an anxious face directed at the captain； yearned
dumbly toward the green clad peaks and beetling coast of Pitcairn。
Soft as a spring zephyr was the voice of McCoy：
〃Captain； I thought I heard some of them say they were starving。〃
〃Ay；〃 was the answer； 〃and so we are。 I've had a sea biscuit and a spoonful of
salmon in the last two days。 We're on whack。 You see； when we discovered the
fire； we battened down immediately to suffocate the fire。 And then we found
how little food there was in the pantry。 But it was too late。 We didn't dare
break out the lazarette。 Hungry？ I'm just as hungry as they are。〃
He spoke to the men again； and again the throat rumbling and cursing arose；
their faces convulsed and animal…like with rage。 The second and third mates
had joined the captain； standing behind him at the break of the poop。 Their
faces were set and expressionless； they seemed bored； more than anything else；
by this mutiny of the crew。 Captain Davenport glanced questioningly at his
first mate； and that person merely shrugged his shoulders in token of his
helplessness。
〃You see；〃 the captain said to McCoy； 〃you can't compel sailors to leave the
safe land and go to sea on a burning vessel。 She has been their floating
coffin for over two weeks now。 They are worked out； and starved out； and
they've got enough of her。 We'll beat up for Pitcairn。〃
But the wind was light； the Pyrenees' bottom was foul； and she could not beat
up against the strong westerly current。 At the end of two hours she had lost
three miles。 The sailors worked eagerly； as if by main strength they could
compel the PYRENEES against the adverse elements。 But steadily； port tack and
starboard tack； she sagged off to the westward。 The captain paced restlessly
up and down； pausing occasionally to survey the vagrant smoke wisps and to
trace them back to the portions of the deck from which they sprang。 The
carpenter was engaged constantly in attempting to locate such places； and；
when he succeeded； in calking them tighter and tighter。
〃Well； what do you think？〃 the captain finally asked McCoy； who was watching
the carpenter with all a child's interest and curiosity in his eyes。
McCoy looked shoreward； where the land was disappearing in the thickening
haze。
〃I think it would be better to square away for Mangareva。 With that breeze
that is coming； you'll be there tomorrow evening。〃
〃But what if the fire breaks out？ It is liable to do it any moment。〃
〃Have your boats ready in the falls。 The same breeze will carry your boats to
Mangareva if the ship burns out from under。〃
Captain Davenport debated for a moment； and then McCoy heard the question he
had not wanted to hear； but which he knew was surely coming。
〃I have no chart of Mangareva。 On the general chart it is only a fly speck。 I
would not know where to look for the entrance into the lagoon。 Will you come
along and pilot her in for me？〃
McCoy's serenity was unbroken。
〃Yes； Captain；〃 he said； with the same quiet unconcern with which he would
have accepted an invitation to dinner； 〃I'll go with you to Mangareva。〃
Again the crew was called aft； and the captain spoke to them from the break of
the poop。
〃We've tried to work her up； but you see how we've lost ground。 She's setting
off in a two…knot current。 This gentleman is the Honorable McCoy； Chief
Magistrate and Governor of Pitcairn Island。 He will come along with us to
Mangareva。 So you see the situation is not so dangerous。 He would not make
such an offer if he thought he was going to lose his life。 Besides； whatever
risk there is； if he of his own free will come on board and take it； we can do
no less。 What do you say for Mangareva？〃
This time there was no uproar。 'mcCoy's presence； the surety and calm that
seemed to radiate from him； had had its effect。 They conferred with one
another in low voices。 There was little urging。 They were virtually unanimous；
and they shoved the Cockney out as their spokesman。 That worthy was
overwhelmed with consciousness of the heroism of himself and his mates； and
with flashing eyes he cried：
〃By Gawd！ If 'e will； we will！〃
The crew mumbled its assent and started forward。
〃One moment； Captain；〃 McCoy said； as the other was turning to give orders to
the mate。 〃I must go ashore first。〃
Mr。 Konig was thunderstruck； staring at McCoy as if he were a madman。
〃Go ashore！〃 the captain cried。 〃What for？ It will take you three hours to get
there in your canoe。〃
McCoy measured the distance of the land away； and nodded。
〃Yes； it is six now。 I won't get ashore till nine。 The people cannot be
assembled earlier than ten。 As the breeze freshens up tonight； you can begin
to work up against it； and pick me up at daylight tomorrow morning。〃
〃In the name of reason and common sense；〃 the captain burst forth； 〃what do
you want to assemble the people for？ Don't you realize that my ship is burning
beneath me？〃
McCoy was as placid as a summer sea； and the other's anger produced not the
slightest ripple upon it。
〃Yes； Captain；〃 he cooed in his dove…like voice。 〃I do realize that your ship
is burning。 That is why I am going with you to Mangareva。 But I must get
permission to go with you。 It is our custom。 It is an important matter when
the governor leaves the island。 The people's interests are at stake； and so
they have the right to vote their permission or refusal。 But they will give
it； I know that。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Then if you know they will give it； why bother with getting it？ Think of the
delaya whole night。〃
〃It is our custom；〃 was the imperturbable reply。 〃Also； I am the governor； and
I must make arrangements for the conduct of the island during my absence。〃
〃But it is only a twenty…four hour run to Mangareva；〃 the captain objected。
〃Suppose it took you six times that long to return to windward； that would
bring you back by the end of a week。〃
McCoy smiled his large； benevolent smile。
〃Very few vessels come to Pitcairn； and when they do； they are usually from
San Francisco or from around the Horn。 I shall be fortunate if I get back in
six months。 I may be away a year； and I may have to go to San Francisco in
order to find a vessel that will bring me back。 'my father once left Pitcairn
to be gone three months； and two years passed before he could get back。 Then；
too； you are short of food。 If you have to take to the boats； and the weather
comes up bad； you may be days in reaching land。 I can bring off two canoe
loads of food in the morning。 Dried bananas will be best。 As the breeze
freshens； you beat up against it。 The nearer you are； the bigger loads I can
bring off。 Goodby。〃
He held out his hand。 The captain shook it； and was reluctant to let go。 He
seemed to cling to it as a drowning sailor clings to a life buoy。
〃How do I know you will come back in the morning？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； that's it！〃 cried the mate。 〃How do we know but what he's skinning out
to save his own hide？〃
McCoy did not speak。 He looked at them sweetly and benignantly； and it seemed
to them that they received a message from his tremendous certitude of soul。
The captain released his hand； and； with a last sweeping glance that embraced
the crew in its benediction； McCoy went over the rail and descended into his
canoe。
The wind freshened； and the Pyrenees； despite the foulness of her bottom； won
half a dozen miles away from the westerly current。 At daylight； with Pitcairn
three miles to windward； Captain Davenport made out two canoes coming off to
him。 Again McCoy clambered up the side and dropped over the rail to the hot
deck。 He was followed by many packages of dried bananas； each package wrapped
in dry leaves
