benito cereno-第16节
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Don Benito； but with mask tom away； flourishing hatchets and knives； in ferocious piratical revolt。 Like delirious black dervishes； the six Ashantees danced on the poop。 Prevented by their foes from springing into the water； the Spanish boys were hurrying up to the topmost spars； while such of the few Spanish sailors； not already in the sea； less alert； were descried； helplessly mixed in； on deck； with the blacks。 Meantime Captain Delano hailed his own vessel； ordering the ports up； and the guns run out。 But by this time the cable of the San Dominick had been cut； and the fag…end； in lashing out； whipped away the canvas shroud about the beak； suddenly revealing； as the bleached hull swung round toward the open ocean； death for the figurehead； in a human skeleton； chalky comment on the chalked words below； 〃Follow your leader。〃 At the sight； Don Benito； covering his face； wailed out： 〃'Tis he； Aranda！ my murdered； unburied friend！〃 Upon reaching the sealer； calling for ropes； Captain Delano bound the Negro； who made no resistance； and had him hoisted to the deck。 He would then have assisted the now almost helpless Don Benito up the side； but Don Benito； wan as he was； refused to move； or be moved； until the Negro should have been first put below out of view。 When； presently assured that it was done； he no more shrank from the ascent。 The boat was immediately despatched back to pick up the three swimming sailors。 Meantime； the guns were in readiness； though； owing to the San Dominick having glided somewhat astern of the sealer； only the aftermost one could be brought to bear。 With this； they fired six times； thinking to cripple the fugitive ship by bringing down her spars。 But only a few inconsiderable ropes were shot away。 Soon the ship was beyond the guns' range； steering broad out of the bay； the blacks thickly clustering round the bowsprit； one moment with taunting cries toward the whites； the next with up…thrown gestures hailing the now dusky expanse of ocean… cawing crows escaped from the hand of the fowler。 The first impulse was to slip the cables and give chase。 But； upon second thought； to pursue with whale…boat and yawl seemed more promising。 Upon inquiring of Don Benito what firearms they had on board the San Dominick； Captain Delano was answered that they had none that could be used； because； in the earlier stages of the mutiny； a cabin…passenger； since dead； had secretly put out of order the locks of what few muskets there were。 But with all his remaining strength； Don Benito entreated the American not to give chase； either with ship or boat； for the Negroes had already proved themselves such desperadoes； that； in case of a present assault； nothing but a total massacre of the whites could be looked for。 But； regarding this warning as coming from one whose spirit had been crushed by misery； the American did not give up his design。 The boats were got ready and armed。 Captain Delano ordered twenty…five men into them。 He was going himself when Don Benito grasped his arm。 〃What！ have you saved my life； Senor； and are you now going to throw away your own？〃 The officers also； for reasons connected with their interests and those of the voyage； and a duty owing to the owners； strongly objected against their commander's going。 Weighing their remonstrances a moment； Captain Delano felt bound to remain； appointing his chief mate… an athletic and resolute man； who had been a privateer's man； and； as his enemies whispered； a pirate… to head the party。 The more to encourage the sailors； they were told； that the Spanish captain considered his ship as good as lost； that she and her cargo； including some gold and silver； were worth upwards of ten thousand doubloons。 Take her； and no small part should be theirs。 The sailors replied with a shout。 The fugitives had now almost gained an offing。 It was nearly night； but the moon was rising。 After hard； prolonged pulling； the boats came up on the ship's quarters； at a suitable distance laying upon their oars to discharge their muskets。 Having no bullets to return； the Negroes sent their yells。 But； upon the second volley； Indian…like； they hurtled their hatchets。 One took off a sailor's fingers。 Another struck the whale…boat's bow； cutting off the rope there； and remaining stuck in the gunwale； like a woodman's axe。 Snatching it； quivering from its lodgment； the mate hurled it back。 The returned gauntlet now stuck in the ship's broken quarter…gallery； and so remained。 The Negroes giving too hot a reception； the whites kept a more respectful distance。 Hovering now just out of reach of the hurtling hatchets； they； with a view to the close encounter which must soon come； sought to decoy the blacks into entirely disarming themselves of their most murderous weapons in a hand…to…hand fight； by foolishly flinging them； as missiles； short of the mark； into the sea。 But ere long perceiving the stratagem； the Negroes desisted； though not before many of them had to replace their lost hatchets with handspikes； an exchange which； as counted upon； proved in the end favourable to the assailants。 Meantime； with a strong wind； the ship still clove the water； the boats alternately falling behind； and pulling up； to discharge fresh volleys。 The fire was mostly directed toward the stern； since there； chiefly； the Negroes； at present； were clustering。 But to kill or maim the Negroes was not the object。 To take them； with the ship； was the object。 To do it； the ship must be boarded； which could not be done by boats while she was sailing so fast。 A thought now struck the mate。 Observing the Spanish boys still aloft； high as they could get； he called to them to descend to the yards； and cut adrift the sails。 It was done。 About this time； owing to causes hereafter to be shown； two Spaniards； in the dress of sailors and conspicuously showing themselves； were killed； not by volleys； but by deliberate marksman's shots； while； as it afterwards appeared； during one of the general discharges； Atufal； the black； and the Spaniard at the helm likewise were killed。 What now； with the loss of the sails； and loss of leaders； the ship became unmanageable to the Negroes。 With creaking masts she came heavily round to the wind； the prow slowly swinging into view of the boats； its skeleton gleaming in the horizontal moonlight； and casting a gigantic ribbed shadow upon the water。 One extended arm of the ghost seemed beckoning the whites to avenge it。 〃Follow your leader！〃 cried the mate； and； one on each bow； the boats boarded。 Sealing…spears and cutlasses crossed hatchets and handspikes。 Huddled upon the long…boat amidships； the Negresses raised a wailing chant； whose chorus was the clash of the steel。 For a time； the attack wavered； the Negroes wedging themselves to beat it back； the half…repelled sailors； as yet unable to gain a footing； fighting as troopers in the saddle； one leg sideways flung over the bulwarks； and one without； plying their cutlasses like carters' whips。 But in vain。 They were almost overborne； when； rallying themselves into a squad as one man； with a huzza； they sprang inboard； where； entangled； they involuntarily separated again。 For a few breaths' space there was a vague； muffled； inner sound as of submerged sword…fish rushing hither and thither through shoals of black…fish。 Soon； in a reunited band； and joined by the Spanish seamen； the whites came to the surface； irresistibly driving the Negroes toward the stern。 But a barricade of casks and sacks； from side to side； had been thrown up by the mainmast。 Here the Negroes faced about； and though scorning peace or truce； yet fain would have had a respite。 But； without pause； overleaping the barrier； the unflagging sailors again closed。 Exhausted； the blacks now fought in despair。 Their red tongues lolled； wolf…like； from their black mouths。 But the pale sailors' teeth were set； not a word was spoken； and； in five minutes more； the ship was won。 Nearly a score of the Negroes were killed。 Exclusive of those by the balls； many were mangled； their wounds… mostly inflicted by the long…edged sealing…spears… resembling those shaven ones of the English at Preston Pans； made by the poled scythes of the Highlanders。 On the other side； none were killed； though several were wounded； some severely； including the mate。 The surviving Negroes were temporarily secured； and the ship； towed back into the harbour at midnight； once more lay anchored。 Omitting the incidents and arrangements ensuing； suffice it that； after two days spent in refitting； the two ships sailed in company for Concepcion in Chili； and thence for Lima in Peru； where； before the vice…regal courts； the whole affair； from the beginning； underwent investigation。 Though； midway on the passage； the ill…fated Spaniard； relaxed from constraint； showed some signs of regaining health with free…will； yet； agreeably to his own foreboding； shortly before arriving at Lima； he relapsed； finally becoming so reduced as to be carried ashore in arms。 Hearing of his story and plight； one of the many religious institutions of the City of Kings opened an hospitable refuge to him； where both physician and priest were his nurses； and a member of the order volunteere
