three men on the bummel(三个闲逛的人)-第2节
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ordinary sea air can hope to head against it。 So far as sense of smell is
concerned； one might be spending a week in Limehouse Hole。 There is
no place to get out of the rain； the saloon is ten feet by four； and half of
that is taken up by a stove； which falls to pieces when you go to light it。
You have to take your bath on deck； and the towel blows overboard just as
you step out of the tub。 Harris and the boy do all the interesting work
the lugging and the reefing； the letting her go and the heeling her over； and
all that sort of thing；leaving George and myself to do the peeling of the
potatoes and the washing up。
〃Very well； then；〃 said Harris； 〃let's take a proper yacht； with a skipper；
and do the thing in style。〃
That also I objected to。 I know that skipper； his notion of yachting is
to lie in what he calls the 〃offing；〃 where he can be well in touch with his
wife and family； to say nothing of his favourite public…house。
Years ago； when I was young and inexperienced； I hired a yacht
myself。 Three things had combined to lead me into this foolishness： I
had had a stroke of unexpected luck； Ethelbertha had expressed a yearning
for sea air； and the very next morning； in taking up casually at the club a
copy of the Sportsman； I had come across the following advertisement：…
TO YACHTSMEN。Unique Opportunity。〃Rogue；〃 28…ton Yawl。
Owner； called away suddenly on business； is willing to let this superbly…
fitted 〃greyhound of the sea〃 for any period short or long。 Two cabins
and saloon； pianette； by Woffenkoff； new copper。 Terms； 10 guineas a
week。Apply Pertwee and Co。； 3A Bucklersbury。
It had seemed to me like the answer to a prayer。 〃The new copper〃
did not interest me； what little washing we might want could wait； I
thought。 But the 〃pianette by Woffenkoff〃 sounded alluring。 I pictured
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Ethelbertha playing in the eveningsomething with a chorus； in which；
perhaps； the crew； with a little training； might joinwhile our moving
home bounded； 〃greyhound…like；〃 over the silvery billows。
I took a cab and drove direct to 3A Bucklersbury。 Mr。 Pertwee was
an unpretentious…looking gentleman； who had an unostentatious office on
the third floor。 He showed me a picture in water…colours of the Rogue
flying before the wind。 The deck was at an angle of 95 to the ocean。 In
the picture no human beings were represented on the deck； I suppose they
had slipped off。 Indeed； I do not see how anyone could have kept on；
unless nailed。 I pointed out this disadvantage to the agent； who； however；
explained to me that the picture represented the Rogue doubling
something or other on the well…known occasion of her winning the
Medway Challenge Shield。 Mr。 Pertwee assumed that I knew all about the
event； so that I did not like to ask any questions。 Two specks near the
frame of the picture； which at first I had taken for moths； represented； it
appeared； the second and third winners in this celebrated race。 A
photograph of the yacht at anchor off Gravesend was less impressive； but
suggested more stability。 All answers to my inquiries being satisfactory；
I took the thing for a fortnight。 Mr。 Pertwee said it was fortunate I wanted
it only for a fortnight… …later on I came to agree with him；the time fitting
in exactly with another hiring。 Had I required it for three weeks he
would have been compelled to refuse me。
The letting being thus arranged； Mr。 Pertwee asked me if I had a
skipper in my eye。 That I had not was also fortunatethings seemed to
be turning out luckily for me all round；because Mr。 Pertwee felt sure I
could not do better than keep on Mr。 Goyles； at present in chargean
excellent skipper； so Mr。 Pertwee assured me； a man who knew the sea as
a man knows his own wife； and who had never lost a life。
It was still early in the day； and the yacht was lying off Harwich。 I
caught the ten forty…five from Liverpool Street； and by one o'clock was
talking to Mr。 Goyles on deck。 He was a stout man； and had a fatherly
way with him。 I told him my idea； which was to take the outlying Dutch
islands and then creep up to Norway。 He said； 〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 and
appeared quite enthusiastic about the trip； said he should enjoy it himself。
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We came to the question of victualling； and he grew more enthusiastic。
The amount of food suggested by Mr。 Goyles； I confess； surprised me。
Had we been living in the days of Drake and the Spanish Main； I should
have feared he was arranging for something illegal。 However； he
laughed in his fatherly way； and assured me we were not overdoing it。
Anything left the crew would divide and take home with themit seemed
this was the custom。 It appeared to me that I was providing for this crew
for the winter； but I did not like to appear stingy； and said no more。 The
amount of drink required also surprised me。 I arranged for what I thought
we should need for ourselves； and then Mr。 Goyles spoke up for the crew。
I must say that for him； he did think of his men。
〃We don't want anything in the nature of an orgie； Mr。 Goyles；〃 I
suggested。
〃Orgie！〃 replied Mr。 Goyles； 〃why they'll take that little drop in their
tea。〃
He explained to me that his motto was； Get good men and treat them
well。
〃They work better for you；〃 said Mr。 Goyles； 〃and they come again。〃
Personally； I didn't feel I wanted them to come again。 I was
beginning to take a dislike to them before I had seen them； I regarded
them as a greedy and guzzling crew。 But Mr。 Goyles was so cheerfully
emphatic； and I was so inexperienced； that again I let him have his way。
He also promised that even in this department he would see to it
personally that nothing was wasted。
I also left him to engage the crew。 He said he could do the thing； and
would； for me； with the help two men and a boy。 If he was alluding to
the clearing up of the victuals and drink； I think he was making an under…
estimate； but possibly he may have been speaking of the sailing of the
yacht。
I called at my tailors on the way home and ordered a yachting suit；
with a white hat； which they promised to bustle up and have ready in time；
and then I went home and told Ethelbertha all I had done。 Her delight was
clouded by only one reflectionwould the dressmaker be able to finish a
yachting costume for her in time？ That is so like a woman。
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Our honeymoon； which had taken place not very long before； had been
somewhat curtailed； so we decided we would invite nobody； but have the
yacht to ourselves。 And thankful I am to Heaven that we did so decide。
On Monday we put on all our clothes and started。 I forget what
Ethelbertha wore； but； whatever it may have been； it looked very fetching。
My own costume was a dark blue trimmed with a narrow white braid；
which； I think； was rather effective。
Mr。 Goyles met us on deck； and told us that lunch was ready。 I must
admit Goyles had secured the services of a very fair cook。 The capabilities
of the other members of the crew I had no opportunity of judging。
Speaking of them in a state of rest； however； I can say of them they
appeared to be a cheerful crew。
My idea had been that so soon as the men had finished their dinner we
would weigh anchor； while I； smoking a cigar； with Ethelbertha by my
side； would lean over the gunwale and watch the white cliffs of the
Fatherland sink imperceptibly into the horizon。
