benito cereno-第18节
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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
