the mirror of the sea-第30节
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her bare deck low…lying like a raft and swept clean of boats；
spars； houses … of everything except the ringbolts and the heads of
the pumps。 I had one dismal glimpse of it as I braced myself up to
receive upon my breast the last man to leave her； the captain； who
literally let himself fall into my arms。
It had been a weirdly silent rescue … a rescue without a hail；
without a single uttered word； without a gesture or a sign； without
a conscious exchange of glances。 Up to the very last moment those
on board stuck to their pumps； which spouted two clear streams of
water upon their bare feet。 Their brown skin showed through the
rents of their shirts； and the two small bunches of half…naked；
tattered men went on bowing from the waist to each other in their
back…breaking labour； up and down； absorbed； with no time for a
glance over the shoulder at the help that was coming to them。 As
we dashed； unregarded； alongside a voice let out one； only one
hoarse howl of command； and then； just as they stood； without caps；
with the salt drying gray in the wrinkles and folds of their hairy；
haggard faces； blinking stupidly at us their red eyelids； they made
a bolt away from the handles； tottering and jostling against each
other； and positively flung themselves over upon our very heads。
The clatter they made tumbling into the boats had an
extraordinarily destructive effect upon the illusion of tragic
dignity our self…esteem had thrown over the contests of mankind
with the sea。 On that exquisite day of gently breathing peace and
veiled sunshine perished my romantic love to what men's imagination
had proclaimed the most august aspect of Nature。 The cynical
indifference of the sea to the merits of human suffering and
courage； laid bare in this ridiculous； panic…tainted performance
extorted from the dire extremity of nine good and honourable
seamen； revolted me。 I saw the duplicity of the sea's most tender
mood。 It was so because it could not help itself； but the awed
respect of the early days was gone。 I felt ready to smile bitterly
at its enchanting charm and glare viciously at its furies。 In a
moment； before we shoved off； I had looked coolly at the life of my
choice。 Its illusions were gone； but its fascination remained。 I
had become a seaman at last。
We pulled hard for a quarter of an hour； then laid on our oars
waiting for our ship。 She was coming down on us with swelling
sails； looking delicately tall and exquisitely noble through the
mist。 The captain of the brig； who sat in the stern sheets by my
side with his face in his hands； raised his head and began to speak
with a sort of sombre volubility。 They had lost their masts and
sprung a leak in a hurricane； drifted for weeks； always at the
pumps； met more bad weather； the ships they sighted failed to make
them out； the leak gained upon them slowly； and the seas had left
them nothing to make a raft of。 It was very hard to see ship after
ship pass by at a distance； 〃as if everybody had agreed that we
must be left to drown；〃 he added。 But they went on trying to keep
the brig afloat as long as possible； and working the pumps
constantly on insufficient food； mostly raw； till 〃yesterday
evening；〃 he continued monotonously； 〃just as the sun went down；
the men's hearts broke。〃
He made an almost imperceptible pause here； and went on again with
exactly the same intonation：
〃They told me the brig could not be saved； and they thought they
had done enough for themselves。 I said nothing to that。 It was
true。 It was no mutiny。 I had nothing to say to them。 They lay
about aft all night； as still as so many dead men。 I did not lie
down。 I kept a look…out。 When the first light came I saw your
ship at once。 I waited for more light； the breeze began to fail on
my face。 Then I shouted out as loud as I was able； 'Look at that
ship！' but only two men got up very slowly and came to me。 At
first only we three stood alone； for a long time； watching you
coming down to us； and feeling the breeze drop to a calm almost；
but afterwards others； too； rose； one after another； and by…and…by
I had all my crew behind me。 I turned round and said to them that
they could see the ship was coming our way； but in this small
breeze she might come too late after all； unless we turned to and
tried to keep the brig afloat long enough to give you time to save
us all。 I spoke like that to them； and then I gave the command to
man the pumps。〃
He gave the command； and gave the example； too； by going himself to
the handles； but it seems that these men did actually hang back for
a moment； looking at each other dubiously before they followed him。
〃He！ he！ he！〃 He broke out into a most unexpected； imbecile；
pathetic； nervous little giggle。 〃Their hearts were broken so！
They had been played with too long；〃 he explained apologetically；
lowering his eyes； and became silent。
Twenty…five years is a long time … a quarter of a century is a dim
and distant past； but to this day I remember the dark…brown feet；
hands； and faces of two of these men whose hearts had been broken
by the sea。 They were lying very still on their sides on the
bottom boards between the thwarts； curled up like dogs。 My boat's
crew； leaning over the looms of their oars； stared and listened as
if at the play。 The master of the brig looked up suddenly to ask
me what day it was。
They had lost the date。 When I told him it was Sunday； the 22nd；
he frowned； making some mental calculation； then nodded twice sadly
to himself； staring at nothing。
His aspect was miserably unkempt and wildly sorrowful。 Had it not
been for the unquenchable candour of his blue eyes； whose unhappy；
tired glance every moment sought his abandoned； sinking brig； as if
it could find rest nowhere else； he would have appeared mad。 But
he was too simple to go mad； too simple with that manly simplicity
which alone can bear men unscathed in mind and body through an
encounter with the deadly playfulness of the sea or with its less
abominable fury。
Neither angry； nor playful； nor smiling； it enveloped our distant
ship growing bigger as she neared us； our boats with the rescued
men and the dismantled hull of the brig we were leaving behind； in
the large and placid embrace of its quietness； half lost in the
fair haze； as if in a dream of infinite and tender clemency。 There
was no frown； no wrinkle on its face； not a ripple。 And the run of
the slight swell was so smooth that it resembled the graceful
undulation of a piece of shimmering gray silk shot with gleams of
green。 We pulled an easy stroke； but when the master of the brig；
after a glance over his shoulder； stood up with a low exclamation；
my men feathered their oars instinctively； without an order； and
the boat lost her way。
He was steadying himself on my shoulder with a strong grip； while
his other arm； flung up rigidly； pointed a denunciatory finger at
the immense tranquillity of the ocean。 After his first
exclamation； which stopped the swing of our oars； he made no sound；
but his whole attitude seemed to cry out an indignant 〃Behold！〃 。 。
。 I could not imagine what vision of evil had come to him。 I was
startled； and the amazing energy of his immobilized gesture made my
heart beat faster with the anticipation of something monstrous and
unsuspected。 The stillness around us became crushing。
For a moment the succession of silky undulations ran on innocently。
I saw each of them swell up the misty line of the horizon； far； far
away beyond the derelict brig； and the next moment； with a slight
friendly toss of our boat； it had passed under us and was gone。
The lulling cadence of the rise and fall； the invariable gentleness
of this irresistible force； the great charm of the deep waters；
warmed my breast deliciously； like the subtle poison of a love…
potion。 But all this lasted only a few soothing seconds before I
jumped up too； making the boat roll like the veriest landlubber。
Something startling； mysterious； hastily confused； was taking
place。 I watched it with incredulous and fascinated awe； as one
watches the confused； swift movements of some deed of violence done
in the dark。 As if at a given signal； the run of the smooth
undulations seemed checked suddenly around the brig。 By a strange
optical delusion the whole sea appeared to rise upon her in one
overwhelming heave of its silky surface； where in one spot a
smother of foam broke out ferociously。 And then the effort
subsided。 It was all over； and the smooth swell ran on as before
from the horizon in uninterrupted cadence of motion； passing unde
