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第18节

benito cereno-第18节

小说: benito cereno 字数: 每页4000字

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 the Negroes had their meeting; the Negro Babo came to the place where the deponent was; and told him that he had determined to kill his master; Don Alexandro Aranda; both because he and his companions could not otherwise be sure of their liberty; and that; to keep the seamen in subjection; he wanted to prepare a warning of what road they should be made to take did they or any of them oppose him; and that; by means of the death of Don Alexandro; that warning would best be given; but; that what this last meant; the deponent did not at the time comprehend; nor could not; further than that the death of Don Alexandro was intended; and moreover; the Negro Babo proposed to the deponent to call the mate Raneds; who was sleeping in the cabin; before the thing was done; for fear; as the deponent understood it; that the mate; who was a good navigator; should be killed with Don Alexandro and the rest; that the deponent; who was the friend; from youth of Don Alexandro; prayed and conjured; but all was useless; for the Negro Babo answered him that the thing could not be prevented; and that all the Spaniards risked their death if they should attempt to frustrate his will in this matter; or any other; that; in this conflict; the deponent called the mate; Raneds; who was forced to go apart; and immediately the Negro Babo commanded the Ashantee Martinqui and the Ashantee Lecbe to go and commit the murder; that those two went down with hatchets to the berth of Don Alexandro; that; yet half alive and mangled; they dragged him on deck; that they were going to throw him overboard in that state; but the Negro Babo stopped them; bidding the murder be completed on the deck before him; which was done; when; by his orders; the body was carried below; forward; that nothing more was seen of it by the deponent for three days;。。。 that Don Alonzo Sidonia; an old man; long resident at Valparaiso; and lately appointed to a civil office in Peru; whither he had taken passage; was at the time sleeping in the berth opposite Don Alexandro's; that; awakening at his cries; surprised by them; and at the sight of the Negroes with their bloody hatchets in their hands; he threw himself into the sea through a window which was near him; and was drowned; without it being in the power of the deponent to assist or take him up;。。。 that; a short time after killing Aranda; they brought upon deck his german…cousin; of middle…age; Don Francisco Masa; of Mendoza; and the young Don Joaquin; Marques de Aramboalaza; then lately from Spain; with his Spanish servant Ponce; and the three young clerks of Aranda; Jose Mozairi; Lorenzo Bargas; and Hermenegildo Gandix; all of Cadiz; that Don Joaquin and Hermenegildo Gandix; the Negro Babo for purposes hereafter to appear; preserved alive; but Don Francisco Masa; Jose Mozairi; and Lorenzo Bargas; with Ponce; the servant; beside the boatswain; Juan Robles; the boatswain's mates; Manuel Viscaya and Roderigo Hurta; and; four of the sailors; the Negro Babo ordered to be thrown alive into the sea; although they made no resistance; nor begged for anything else but mercy; that the boatswain; Juan Robles; who knew how to swim; kept the longest above water; making acts of contrition; and; in the last words he uttered; charged this deponent to cause mass to be said for his soul to our Lady of Succour;。。。 that; during the three days which followed; the deponent; uncertain what fate had befallen the remains of Don Alexandro; frequently asked the Negro Babo where they were; and; if still on board; whether they were to be preserved for interment ashore; entreating him so to order it; that the Negro Babo answered nothing till the fourth day; when at sunrise; the deponent coming on deck; the Negro Babo showed him a skeleton; which had been substituted for the ship's proper figure…head; the image of Christopher Colon; the discoverer of the New World; that the Negro Babo asked him whose skeleton that was; and whether; from its whiteness; he should not think it a white's; that; upon his covering his face; the Negro Babo; coming close; said words to this effect: 〃Keep faith with the blacks from here to Senegal; or you shall in spirit; as now in body; follow your leader;〃 pointing to the prow;。。。 that the same morning the Negro Babo took by succession each Spaniard forward; and asked him whose skeleton that was; and whether; from its whiteness; he should not think it a white's; that each Spaniard covered his face; that then to each the Negro Babo repeated the words in the first place said to the deponent;。。。 that they (the Spaniards); being then assembled aft; the Negro Babo harangued them; saying that he had now done all; that the deponent (as navigator for the Negroes) might pursue his course; warning him and all of them that they should; soul and body; go the way of Don Alexandro if he saw them (the Spaniards) speak or plot anything against them (the Negroes)… a threat which was repeated every day; that; before the events last mentioned; they had tied the cook to throw him overboard; for it is not known what thing they heard him speak; but finally the Negro Babo spared his life; at the request of the deponent; that a few days after; the deponent; endeavouring not to omit any means to preserve the lives of the remaining whites; spoke to the Negroes peace and tranquillity; and agreed to draw up a paper; signed by the deponent and the sailors who could write; as also by the Negro Babo; for himself and all the blacks; in which the deponent obliged himself to carry them to Senegal; and they not to kill any more; and he formally to make over to them the ship; with the cargo; with which they were for that time satisfied and quieted。。。。 But the next day; the more surely to guard against the sailors' escape; the Negro Babo commanded all the boats to be destroyed but the long…boat; which was unseaworthy; and another; a cutter in good condition; which; knowing it would yet be wanted for lowering the water casks; he had it lowered down into the hold。

    'Various particulars of the prolonged and perplexed navigation ensuing here follow; with incidents of a calamitous calm; from which portion one passage is extracted; to wit:'

    …That on the fifth day of the calm; all on board suffering much from the heat; and want of water; and five having died in fits; and mad; the Negroes became irritable; and for a chance gesture; which they deemed suspicious… though it was harmless… made by the mate; Raneds; to the deponent; in the act of handing a quadrant; they killed him; but that for this they afterwards were sorry; the mate being the only remaining navigator on board; except the deponent。     …That omitting other events; which daily happened; and which can only serve uselessly to recall past misfortunes and conflicts; after seventy…three days' navigation; reckoned from the time they sailed from Nasca; during which they navigated under a scanty allowance of water; and were afflicted with the calms before mentioned; they at last arrived at the island of Santa Maria; on the seventeenth of the month of August; at about six o'clock in the afternoon; at which hour they cast anchor very near the American ship; Bachelor's Delight; which lay in the same bay; commanded by the generous Captain Amasa Delano; but at six o'clock in the morning; they had already descried the port; and the Negroes became uneasy; as soon as at distance they saw the ship; not having expected to see one there; that the Negro Babo pacified them; assuring them that no fear need be had; that straightway he ordered the figure on the bow to be covered with canvas; as for repairs; and had the decks a little set in order; that for a time the Negro Babo and the Negro Atufal conferred; that the Negro Atufal was for sailing away; but the Negro Babo would not; and; by himself; cast about what to do; that at last he came to the deponent; proposing to him to say and do all that the deponent declares to have said and done to the American captain;。。。 that the Negro Babo warned him that if he varied in the least; or uttered any word; or gave any look that should give the least intimation of the past events or present state; he would instantly kill him; with all his companions; showing a dagger; which he carried hid; saying something which; as he understood it; meant that that dagger would be alert as his eye; that the Negro Babo then announced the plan to all his companions; which pleased them; that he then; the better to disguise the truth; devised many expedients; in some of them uniting deceit and defence; that of this sort was the device of the six Ashantees before named; who were his bravos; that them he stationed on the break of the poop; as if to clean certain hatchets (in cases; which were part of the cargo); but in reality to use them; and distribute them at need; and at a given word he told them that; among other devices; was the device of presenting Atufal; his right…hand man; as chained; though in a moment the chains could be dropped; that in every particular he informed the deponent what part he was expected to enact in every device; and what story he was to tell on every occasion; always threatening him with instant death if he varied in the least; that; conscious that many of the Negroes would be turbulent; the Negro B

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