drift from two shores(漂流)-第44节
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DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
symbol。 And then the grace and glory of that exquisite spire became
slowly visible。 Fret by fret the sunlight stole slowly down； quivering and
dropping from each； until at last the whole church beamed in rosy radiance。
Up and down the long avenue the street lay in shadow； by some strange
trick of the atmosphere the sun seemed to have sought out only that
graceful structure for its blessing。 And then there was a dull rumble。 It
was the first omnibus；the first throb in the great artery of the reviving
city。 I looked up。 The church was again in shadow。
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WITH THE ENTREES
〃Once； when I was a pirate！〃
The speaker was an elderly gentleman in correct evening dress； the
room a tasteful one； the company of infinite respectability； the locality at
once fashionable and exclusive； the occasion an unexceptionable dinner。
To this should be added that the speaker was also the host。
With these conditions self…evident； all that good breeding could do was
to receive the statement with a vague smile that might pass for good…
humored incredulity or courteous acceptation of a simple fact。 Indeed； I
think we all rather tried to convey the impression that our host； when he
WAS a pirate；if he ever really was one；was all that a self…respecting
pirate should be； and never violated the canons of good society。 This
idea was； to some extent； crystallized by the youngest Miss Jones in the
exclamation； 〃Oh； how nice！〃
〃It was； of course； many years ago； when I was quite a lad。〃
We all murmured 〃Certainly；〃 as if piracy were a natural expression of
the exuberance of youth。
〃I ought； perhaps； explain the circumstances that led me into this way
of life。〃
Here Legrande； a courteous attache of the Patagonian legation；
interposed in French and an excess of politeness； 〃that it was not of a
necessity；〃 a statement to which his English neighbor hurriedly responded；
〃Oui； oui。〃
〃There ess a boke；〃 he continued； in a well…bred； rapid whisper； 〃from
Captain Canot；a Frenchman；most eenterestinghe wasoh； a fine man
of educationand what you call a 'slavair；'〃 but here he was quietly
nudged into respectful silence。
〃I ran away from home；〃 continued our host。 He paused； and then
added； appealingly； to the two distinguished foreigners present： 〃I do not
know if I can make you understand that this is a peculiarly American
predilection。 The exodus of the younger males of an American family
against the parents' wishes does not； with us； necessarily carry any
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DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
obloquy with it。 To the average American the prospect of fortune and a
better condition lies OUTSIDE of his home； with you the home means the
estate； the succession of honors or titles； the surety that the conditions of
life shall all be kept intact。 With us the children who do not expect； and
generally succeed in improving the fortunes of the house； are marked
exceptions。 Do I make myself clear？〃
The French…Patagonian attache thought it was 〃charming and
progressif。〃 The Baron Von Pretzel thought he had noticed a movement
of that kind in Germany； which was expressed in a single word of
seventeen syllables。 Viscount Piccadilly said to his neighbor： 〃That； you
know now； the younger sons； don't you see； go to Australia； you know in
some beastly tradestock…raising or sheepyou know； but； by Jove！ them
fellahs〃
〃My father always treated me well；〃 continued our host。 〃I shared
equally with my brothers the privileges and limitations of our New
England home。 Nevertheless； I ran away and went to sea〃
〃To seewhat？〃 asked Legrande。
〃Aller sur mer；〃 said his neighbor； hastily。
〃Go on with your piracy！〃 said Miss Jones。
The distinguished foreigners looked at each other and then at Miss
Jones。 Each made a mental note of the average cold…blooded ferocity of
the young American female。
〃I shipped on board of a Liverpool 'liner；'〃 continued our host。
〃What ess a 'liner'？〃 interrupted Legrande； sotto voce； to his next
neighbor； who pretended not to hear him。
〃I need not say that these were the days when we had not lost our
carrying trade； when American bottoms〃
〃Que est ce； 'bot toom'？〃 said Legrande； imploringly； to his other
friend。
〃When American bottoms still carried the bulk of freight； and the
supremacy of our flag〃
Here Legrande recognized a patriotic sentiment and responded to it
with wild republican enthusiasm； nodding his head violently。 Piccadilly
noticed it； too； and； seeing an opening for some general discussion on free
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trade； began half audibly to HIS neighbor： 〃Most extraordinary thing； you
know； your American statesmen〃
〃I deserted the ship at Liverpool〃
But here two perfunctory listeners suddenly turned toward the other
end of the table； where another guest； our Nevada Bonanza lion； was
evidently in the full flood of pioneer anecdote and narration。 Calmly
disregarding the defection； he went on：
〃I deserted the ship at Liverpool in consequence of my ill… treatment
by the second mate；a man selected for his position by reason of his
superior physical strength and recognized brutality。 I have been since told
that he graduated from the state prison。 On the second day out I saw him
strike a man senseless with a belaying pin for some trifling breach of
discipline。 I saw him repeatedly beat and kick sick men〃
〃Did you ever read Dana's 'Two Years before the Mast'？〃 asked
Lightbody； our heavy literary man； turning to HIS neighbor； in a distinctly
audible whisper。 〃Ah！ there's a book！ Got all this sort of thing in it。
Dev'lishly well written； too。〃
The Patagonian （alive for information）： 〃What ess this Dana； eh？〃
His left hand neighbor （shortly）： 〃Oh； that man！〃
His right hand neighbor （curtly）： 〃The fellah who wrote the
Encyclopaedia and edits 'The Sun'？ that was put up in Boston for the
English mission and didn't get it。〃
The Patagonian （making a mental diplomatic note of the fact that the
severe discipline of the editor of 〃The Sun；〃 one of America's profoundest
scholars； while acting from patriotic motives； as the second mate of an
American 〃bottom；〃 had unfitted him for diplomatic service abroad）： 〃Ah；
ciel！〃
〃I wandered on the quays for a day or two； until I was picked up by a
Portuguese sailor； who； interesting himself in my story； offered to procure
me a passage to Fayal and Lisbon； where； he assured me； I could find
more comfortable and profitable means of returning to my own land。 Let
me say here that this man； although I knew him afterward as one of the
most unscrupulous and heartless of pirates；in fact the typical buccaneer
of the books；was to me always kind； considerate； and； at times； even
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tender。 He was a capital seaman。 I give this evidence in favor of a
much ridiculed race； who have been able seamen for centuries。〃
〃Did you ever read that Portuguese Guide…book？〃 asked Lightbody of
his neighbor； 〃it's the most exquisitely ridiculous thing〃
〃Will the great American pirate kindly go on； or resume his original
functions；〃 said Miss Jones； over the table； with a significant look in the
direction of Lightbody。 Bu
