benito cereno-第9节
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e and bolt； they seemed even more fit for the ship's present business than the one for which probably she had been built。 Presently he thought something moved nigh the chains。 He rubbed his eyes； and looked hard。 Groves of rigging were about the chains； and there； peering from behind a great stay； like an Indian from behind a hemlock； a Spanish sailor； a marlingspike in his hand； was seen； who made what seemed an imperfect gesture toward the balcony… but immediately； as if alarmed by some advancing step along the deck within； vanished into the recesses of the hempen forest； like a poacher。 What meant this？ Something the man had sought to communicate； unbeknown to any one； even to his captain？ Did the secret involve aught unfavourable to his captain？ Were those previous misgivings of Captain Delano's about to be verified？ Or； in his haunted mood at the moment； had some random； unintentional motion of the man； while busy with the stay； as if repairing it； been mistaken for a significant beckoning？ Not unbewildered； again he gazed off for his boat。 But it was temporarily hidden by a rocky spur of the isle。 As with some eagerness he bent forward； watching for the first shooting view of its beak； the balustrade gave way before him like charcoal。 Had he not clutched an outreaching rope he would have fallen into the sea。 The crash； though feeble； and the fall； though hollow； of the rotten fragments； must have been overheard。 He glanced up。 With sober curiosity peering down upon him was one of the old oakum…pickers； slipped from his perch to an outside boom； while below the old Negro… and； invisible to him； reconnoitring from a port…hole like a fox from the mouth of its den… crouched the Spanish sailor again。 From something suddenly suggested by the man's air； the mad idea now darted into Captain Delano's mind： that Don Benito's plea of indisposition； in withdrawing below； was but a pretence： that he was engaged there maturing some plot； of which the sailor； by some means gaining an inkling； had a mind to warn the stranger against； incited； it may be； by gratitude for a kind word on first boarding the ship。 Was it from foreseeing some possible interference like this； that Don Benito had； beforehand； given such a bad character of his sailors； while praising the Negroes； though； indeed； the former seemed as docile as the latter the contrary？ The whites； too； by nature； were the shrewder race。 A man with some evil design； would not he be likely to speak well of that stupidity which was blind to his depravity； and malign that intelligence from which it might not be hidden？ Not unlikely； perhaps。 But if the whites had dark secrets concerning Don Benito； could then Don Benito be any way in complicity with the blacks？ But they were too stupid。 Besides； who ever heard of a white so far a renegade as to apostatize from his very species almost； by leaguing in against it with Negroes？ These difficulties recalled former ones。 Lost in their mazes； Captain Delano； who had now regained the deck； was uneasily advancing along it； when he observed a new face： an aged sailor seated cross…legged near the main hatchway。 His skin was shrunk up with wrinkles like a pelican's empty pouch； his hair frosted； his countenance grave and composed。 His hands were full of ropes； which he was working into a large knot。 Some blacks were about him obligingly dipping the strands for him； here and there； as the exigencies of the operation demanded。 Captain Delano crossed over to him； and stood in silence surveying the knot； his mind； by a not uncongenial transition； passing from its own entanglements to those of the hemp。 For intricacy such a knot he had never seen in an American ship； or indeed any other。 The old man looked like an Egyptian priest； making Gordian knots for the temple of Ammon。 The knot seemed a combination of double…bowline…knot； treble…crown…knot； back…handed…well…knot； knot…in…and…out…knot； and jamming…knot。 At last； puzzled to comprehend the meaning of such a knot； Captain Delano； addressed the knotter：… 〃What are you knotting there； my man？〃 〃The knot；〃 was the brief reply； without looking up。 〃So it seems； but what is it for？〃 〃For some one else to undo；〃 muttered back the old man； plying his fingers harder than ever； the knot being now nearly completed。 While Captain Delano stood watching him； suddenly the old man threw the knot toward him； and said in broken English；… the first heard in the ship；… something to this effect… 〃Undo it； cut it； quick。〃 It was said lowly； but with such condensation of rapidity； that the long； slow words in Spanish； which had preceded and followed； almost operated as covers to the brief English between。 For a moment； knot in hand； and knot in head； Captain Delano stood mute； while； without further heeding him； the old man was now intent upon other ropes。 Presently there was a slight stir behind Captain Delano。 Turning； he saw the chained Negro； Atufal； standing quietly there。 The next moment the old sailor rose； muttering； and； followed by his subordinate Negroes； removed to the forward part of the ship； where in the crowd he disappeared。 An elderly Negro； in a clout like an infant's； and with a pepper and salt head； and a kind of attorney air； now approached Captain Delano。 In tolerable Spanish； and with a good…natured； knowing wink； he informed him that the old knotter was simple…witted； but harmless； often playing his old tricks。 The Negro concluded by begging the knot； for of course the stranger would not care to be troubled with it。 Unconsciously； it was handed to him。 With a sort of conge； the Negro received it； and turning his back ferreted into it like a detective Custom House officer after smuggled laces。 Soon； with some African word； equivalent to pshaw； he tossed the knot overboard。 All this is very queer now； thought Captain Delano； with a qualmish sort of emotion； but as one feeling incipient seasickness； he strove； by ignoring the symptoms； to get rid of the malady。 Once more he looked off for his boat。 To his delight； it was now again in view； leaving the rocky spur astern。 The sensation here experienced； after at first relieving his uneasiness； with unforeseen efficiency； soon began to remove it。 The less distant sight of that well…known boat… showing it； not as before； half blended with the haze； but with outline defined； so that its individuality； like a man's； was manifest； that boat； Rover by name； which； though now in strange seas； had often pressed the beach of Captain Delano's home； and； brought to its threshold for repairs； had familiarly lain there； as a Newfoundland dog； the sight of that household boat evoked a thousand trustful associations； which； contrasted with previous suspicions； filled Him not only with lightsome confidence； but somehow with half humorous self…reproaches at his former lack of it。 〃What； I； Amasa Delano… Jack of the Beach； as they called me when a lad… I； Amasa； the same that； duck…satchel in hand； used to paddle along the waterside to the schoolhouse made from the old hulk；… I； little Jack of the Beach； that used to go berrying with cousin Nat and the rest； I to be murdered here at the ends of the earth； on board a haunted pirate…ship by a horrible Spaniard？… Too nonsensical to think of！ Who would murder Amasa Delano？ His conscience is clean。 There is some one above。 Fie； fie； Jack of the Beach！ you are a child indeed； a child of the second childhood； old boy； you are beginning to dote and drool； I'm afraid。〃 Light of heart and foot； he stepped aft； and there was met by Don Benito's servant； who； with a pleasing expression； responsive to his own present feelings； informed him that his master had recovered from the effects of his coughing fit； and had just ordered him to go present his compliments to his good guest； Don Amasa； and say that he （Don Benito） would soon have the happiness to rejoin him。 There now； do you mark that？ again thought Captain Delano； walking the poop。 What a donkey I was。 This kind gentleman who here sends me his kind compliments； he； but ten minutes ago； dark…lantern in hand； was dodging round some old grind…stone in the hold； sharpening a hatchet for me； I thought。 Well； well； these long calms have a morbid effect on the mind； I've often heard； though I never believed it before。 Ha！ glancing toward the boat； there's Rover； a good dog； a white bone in her mouth。 A pretty big bone though； seems to me。… What？ Yes； she has fallen afoul of the bubbling tide…rip there。 It sets her the other way； too； for the time。 Patience。 It was now about noon； though； from the greyness of everything； it seemed to be getting toward dusk。 The calm was confirmed。 In the far distance； away from the influence of land； the leaden ocean seemed laid out and leaded up； its course finished； soul gone； defunct。 But the current from landward； where the ship was； increased； silently sweeping her further and further toward the tranced waters beyond。 Still； from his knowledge of those latitudes； cherishing hopes of a breeze； and a fair and fresh one； at any moment； Captain Delano； despite present prospects； buoyantly counted upon bringing the San Dominick safely to anchor ere night。 The distance swept over was n
