when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第26节
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God would only leave him alone。 Secretly； he pledged himself anew to the
Powers of Darkness； if they would let him make westing。 He pledged
himself so easily because he did not believe in the Powers of Darkness。
He really believed only in God； though he did not know it。 And in his
inverted theology God was really the Prince of Darkness。 Captain Cullen
was a devil…worshipper； but he called the devil by another name； that was
all。
At midday； after calling eight bells； Captain Cullen ordered the royals
on。 The men went aloft faster than they had gone in weeks。 Not alone
were they nimble because of the westing； but a benignant sun was shining
down and limbering their stiff bodies。 George Dorety stood aft； near
Captain Cullen； less bundled in clothes than usual； soaking in the grateful
warmth as he watched the scene。 Swiftly and abruptly the incident
occurred。 There was a cry from the foreroyal…yard of 〃Man overboard！〃
Somebody threw a life…buoy over the side； and at the same instant the
second mate's voice came aft； ringing and peremptory
〃Hard down your helm！〃
The man at the wheel never moved a spoke。 He knew better； for
Captain Dan Cullen was standing alongside of him。 He wanted to move
a spoke； to move all the spokes； to grind the wheel down； hard down； for
his comrade drowning in the sea。 He glanced at Captain Dan Cullen； and
Captain Dan Cullen gave no sign。
〃Down！ Hard down！〃 the second mate roared； as he sprang aft。
But he ceased springing and commanding； and stood still； when he
saw Dan Cullen by the wheel。 And big Dan Cullen puffed at his cigar
and said nothing。 Astern； and going astern fast； could be seen the sailor。
He had caught the life…buoy and was clinging to it。 Nobody spoke。
Nobody moved。 The men aloft clung to the royal yards and watched with
terror…stricken faces。 And the Mary Rogers raced on； making her westing。
A long； silent minute passed。
〃Who was it？〃 Captain Cullen demanded。
〃Mops； sir；〃 eagerly answered the sailor at the wheel。
Mops topped a wave astern and disappeared temporarily in the trough。
It was a large wave； but it was no graybeard。 A small boat could live
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easily in such a sea； and in such a sea the Mary Rogers could easily come
to。 But she could not come to and make westing at the same time。
For the first time in all his years； George Dorety was seeing a real
drama of life and deatha sordid little drama in which the scales balanced
an unknown sailor named Mops against a few miles of longitude。 At first
he had watched the man astern； but now he watched big Dan Cullen； hairy
and black； vested with power of life and death； smoking a cigar。
Captain Dan Cullen smoked another long； silent minute。 Then he
removed the cigar from his mouth。 He glanced aloft at the spars of the
Mary Rogers； and overside at the sea。
〃Sheet home the royals！〃 he cried。
Fifteen minutes later they sat at table； in the cabin； with food served
before them。 On one side of George Dorety sat Dan Cullen； the tiger； on
the other side； Joshua Higgins； the hyena。 Nobody spoke。 On deck the
men were sheeting home the skysails。 George Dorety could hear their
cries； while a persistent vision haunted him of a man called Mops； alive
and well； clinging to a life…buoy miles astern in that lonely ocean。 He
glanced at Captain Cullen； and experienced a feeling of nausea； for the
man was eating his food with relish； almost bolting it。
〃Captain Cullen；〃 Dorety said； 〃you are in command of this ship； and
it is not proper for me to comment now upon what you do。 But I wish to
say one thing。 There is a hereafter； and yours will be a hot one。〃
Captain Cullen did not even scowl。 In his voice was regret as he
said
〃It was blowing a living gale。 It was impossible to save the man。〃
〃He fell from the royal…yard；〃 Dorety cried hotly。 〃You were setting
the royals at the time。 Fifteen minutes afterward you were setting the
skysails。〃
〃It was a living gale； wasn't it； Mr。 Higgin？〃 Captain Cullen said；
turning to the mate。
〃If you'd brought her to； it'd have taken the sticks out of her；〃 was the
mate's answer。 〃You did the proper thing； Captain Cullen。 The man
hadn't a ghost of a show。〃
George Dorety made no answer； and to the meal's end no one spoke。
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After that； Dorety had his meals served in his state…room。 Captain Cullen
scowled at him no longer； though no speech was exchanged between them；
while the Mary Rogers sped north toward warmer latitudes。 At the end
of the week； Dan Cullen cornered Dorety on deck。
〃What are you going to do when we get to 'Frisco？〃 he demanded
bluntly。
〃I am going to swear out a warrant for your arrest；〃 Dorety answered
quietly。 〃I am going to charge you with murder； and I am going to see
you hanged for it。〃
〃You're almighty sure of yourself；〃 Captain Cullen sneered； turning on
his heel。
A second week passed； and one morning found George Dorety
standing in the coach…house companionway at the for'ard end of the long
poop； taking his first gaze around the deck。 The Mary Rogers was
reaching full…and…by； in a stiff breeze。 Every sail was set and drawing；
including the staysails。 Captain Cullen strolled for'ard along the poop。
He strolled carelessly； glancing at the passenger out of the corner of his
eye。 Dorety was looking the other way； standing with head and shoulders
outside the companionway； and only the back of his head was to be seen。
Captain Cullen； with swift eye； embraced the mainstaysail…block and the
head and estimated the distance。 He glanced about him。 Nobody was
looking。 Aft； Joshua Higgins； pacing up and down； had just turned his
back and was going the other way。 Captain Cullen bent over suddenly and
cast the staysail…sheet off from its pin。 The heavy block hurtled through
the air； smashing Dorety's head like an egg…shell and hurtling on and back
and forth as the staysail whipped and slatted in the wind。 Joshua Higgins
turned around to see what had carried away； and met the full blast of the
vilest portion of Captain Cullen's profanity。
〃I made the sheet fast myself；〃 whimpered the mate in the first lull；
〃with an extra turn to make sure。 I remember it distinctly。〃
〃Made fast？〃 the Captain snarled back； for the benefit of the watch as
it struggled to capture the flying sail before it tore to ribbons。 〃You
couldn't make your grandmother fast； you useless hell's scullion。 If you
made that sheet fast with an extra turn； why in hell didn't it stay fast？
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That's what I want to know。 Why in hell didn't it stay fast？〃
The mate whined inarticulately。
〃Oh； shut up！〃 was the final word of Captain Cullen。
Half an hour later he was as surprised as any when the body of George
Dorety was found inside the companionway on the floor。 In the
afternoon； alone in his room； he doctored up the log。
〃Ordinary seaman； Karl Brun；〃 he wrote； 〃lost overboard from
foreroyal…yard in a gale of wind。 Was running at the time； and for the
safety of the ship did not dare come up to the wind。 Nor could a boat
have lived in the sea that was running。〃
On another page； he wrote
〃Had often warned Mr。 Dorety about the danger he ran because of his
carelessness on deck。 I told him； once； that some day he would get his
head knocked off by a block。 A carelessly fastened mainstaysail sheet
was the cau
