benito cereno-第8节
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thoughts； standing with eye directed forward toward that handful of sailors… suddenly he thought that some of them returned the glance and with a sort of meaning。 He rubbed his eyes； and looked again； but again seemed to see the same thing。 Under a new form； but more obscure than any previous one； the old suspicions recurred； but； in the absence of Don Benito； with less of panic than before。 Despite the bad account given of the sailors； Captain Delano resolved forthwith to accost one of them。 Descending the poop； he made his way through the blacks； his movement drawing a queer cry from the oakum…pickers； prompted by whom the Negroes； twitching each other aside； divided before him； but； as if curious to see what was the object of this deliberate visit to their Ghetto； closing in behind； in tolerable order； followed the white stranger up。 His progress thus proclaimed as by mounted kings…at…arms； and escorted as by a Caffre guard of honour； Captain Delano； assuming a good…humoured； off…hand air； continued to advance； now and then saying a blithe word to the Negroes； and his eye curiously surveying the white faces； here and there sparsely mixed in with the blacks； like stray white pawns venturously involved in the ranks of the chessmen opposed。 While thinking which of them to select for his purpose； he chanced to observe a sailor seated on the deck engaged in tarring the strap of a large block； with a circle of blacks squatted round him inquisitively eyeing the process。 The mean employment of the man was in contrast with something superior in his figure。 His hand； black with continually thrusting it into the tar…pot held for him by a Negro； seemed not naturally allied to his face； a face which would have been a very fine one but for its haggardness。 Whether this haggardness had aught to do with criminality could not be determined； since； as intense heat and cold； though unlike； produce like sensations； so innocence and guilt； when； through casual association with mental pain； stamping any visible impress； use one seal… a hacked one。 Not again that this reflection occurred to Captain Delano at the time； charitable man as he was。 Rather another idea。 Because observing so singular a haggardness to be combined with a dark eye； averted as in trouble and shame； and then； however illogically； uniting in his mind his own private suspicions of the crew with the confessed ill…opinion on the part of their captain； he was insensibly operated upon by certain general notions； which； while disconnecting pain and abashment from virtue； as invariably link them with vice。 If； indeed； there be any wickedness on board this ship； thought Captain Delano； be sure that man there has fouled his hand in it； even as now he fouls it in the pitch。 I don't like to accost him。 I will speak to this other； this old Jack here on the windlass。 He advanced to an old Barcelona tar； in ragged red breeches and dirty night…cap； cheeks trenched and bronzed； whiskers dense as thorn hedges。 Seated between two sleepy…looking Africans； this mariner； like his younger shipmate； was employed upon some rigging… splicing a cable… the sleepy…looking blacks performing the inferior function of holding the outer parts of the ropes for him。 Upon Captain Delano's approach； the man at once hung his head below its previous level； the one necessary for business。 It appeared as if he desired to be thought absorbed； with more than common fidelity； in his task。 Being addressed； he glanced up； but with what seemed a furtive； diffident air； which sat strangely enough on his weather…beaten visage； much as if a grizzly bear； instead of growling and biting； should simper and cast sheep's eyes。 He was asked several questions concerning the voyage… questions purposely referring to several particulars in Don Benito's narrative… not previously corroborated by those impulsive cries greeting the visitor on first coming on board。 The questions were briefly answered； confirming all that remained to be confirmed of the story。 The Negroes about the windlass joined in with the old sailor； but； as they became talkative； he by degrees became mute； and at length quite glum； seemed morosely unwilling to answer more questions； and yet； all the while； this ursine air was somehow mixed with his sheepish one。 Despairing of getting into unembarrassed talk with such a centaur； Captain Delano； after glancing round for a more promising countenance； but seeing none； spoke pleasantly to the blacks to make way for him； and so； amid various grins and grimaces； returned to the poop； feeling a little strange at first； he could hardly tell why； but upon the whole with regained confidence in Benito Cereno。 How plainly； thought he； did that old whiskerando yonder betray a consciousness of ill…desert。 No doubt； when he saw me coming； he dreaded lest I； apprised by his captain of the crew's general misbehaviour； came with sharp words for him； and so down with his head。 And yet… and yet； now that I think of it； that very old fellow； if I err not； was one of those who seemed so earnestly eyeing me here awhile since。 Ah； these currents spin one's head round almost as much as they do the ship。 Ha； there now's a pleasant sort of sunny sight； quite sociable； too。 His attention had been drawn to a slumbering Negress； partly disclosed through the lace…work of some rigging； lying； with youthful limbs carelessly disposed； under the lee of the bulwarks； like a doe in the shade of a woodland rock。 Sprawling at her lapped breasts was her wide…awake fawn； stark naked； its black little body half lifted from the deck； crosswise with its dam's； its hands； like two paws； clambering upon her； its mouth and nose ineffectually rooting to get at the mark； and meantime giving a vexatious half…grunt； blending with the composed snore of the Negress。 The uncommon vigour of the child at length roused the mother。 She started up； at distance facing Captain Delano。 But； as if not at all concerned at the attitude in which she had been caught； delightedly she caught the child up； with maternal transports； covering it with kisses。 There's naked nature； now； pure tenderness and love； thought Captain Delano； well pleased。 This incident prompted him to remark the other Negresses more particularly than before。 He was gratified with their manners； like most uncivilized women； they seemed at once tender of heart and tough of constitution； equally ready to die for their infants or fight for them。 Unsophisticated as leopardesses； loving as doves。 Ah！ thought Captain Delano； these perhaps are some of the very women whom Mungo Park saw in Africa； and gave such a noble account of。 These natural sights somehow insensibly deepened his confidence and ease。 At last he looked to see how his boat was getting on； but it was still pretty remote。 He turned to see if Don Benito had returned； but he had not。 To change the scene； as well as to please himself with a leisurely observation of the coming boat； stepping over into the mizzen…chains he clambered his way into the starboard quarter…galley； one of those abandoned Venetian…looking water…balconies previously mentioned； retreats cut off from the deck。 As his foot pressed the half…damp； half…dry sea…mosses matting the place； and a chance phantom cat's…paw… an islet of breeze； unheralded； unfollowed… as this ghostly cat's…paw came fanning his cheek； his glance fell upon the row of small； round dead…lights； all closed like coppered eyes of the coffined； and the state…cabin door； once connecting with the gallery； even as the dead…lights had once looked out upon it； but now caulked fast like a sarcophagus lid； to a purple…black； tarred…over panel； threshold； and post； and he bethought him of the time； when that state…cabin and this state…balcony had heard the voices of the Spanish king's officers； and the forms of the Lima viceroy's daughters had perhaps leaned where he stood… as these and other images flitted through his mind； as the cat's…paw through the calm； gradually he felt rising a dreamy inquietude； like that of one who alone on the prairie feels unrest from the repose of the noon。 He leaned against the carved balustrade； again looking off toward his boat； but found his eye falling upon the ribboned grass； trailing along the ship's water…line； straight as a border of green box； and parterres of sea…weed； broad ovals and crescents； floating nigh and far； with what seemed long formal alleys between； crossing the terraces of swells； and sweeping round as if leading to the grottoes below。 And overhanging all was the balustrade by his arm； which； partly stained with pitch and partly embossed with moss； seemed the charred ruin of some summer…house in a grand garden long running to waste。 Trying to break one charm； he was but becharmed anew。 Though upon the wide sea； he seemed in some far inland country； prisoner in some deserted chateau； left to stare at empty grounds； and peer out at vague roads； where never wagon or wayfarer passed。 But these enchantments were a little disenchanted as his eye fell on the corroded main…chains。 Of an ancient style； massy and rusty in link； shackle and bolt； they seemed even more fit for the ship's present business than the one for which probabl
