three men on the bummel(三个闲逛的人)-第3节
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side； would lean over the gunwale and watch the white cliffs of the
Fatherland sink imperceptibly into the horizon。 Ethelbertha and I carried
out our part of the programme； and waited； with the deck to ourselves。
〃They seem to be taking their time；〃 said Ethelbertha。
〃If； in the course of fourteen days；〃 I said； 〃they eat half of what is on
this yacht； they will want a fairly long time for every meal。 We had
better not hurry them； or they won't get through a quarter of it。〃
〃They must have gone to sleep；〃 said Ethelbertha； later on。 〃It will
be tea…time soon。〃
They were certainly very quiet。 I went for'ard； and hailed Captain
Goyles down the ladder。 I hailed him three times； then he came up
slowly。 He appeared to be a heavier and older man than when I had seen
him last。 He had a cold cigar in his mouth。
〃When you are ready； Captain Goyles；〃 I said； 〃we'll start。〃
Captain Goyles removed the cigar from his mouth。
〃Not to…day we won't； sir；〃 he replied； 〃WITH your permission。〃
〃Why； what's the matter with to…day？〃 I said。 I know sailors are a
superstitious folk； I thought maybe a Monday might be considered
unlucky。
〃The day's all right；〃 answered Captain Goyles； 〃it's the wind I'm a…
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THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
thinking of。 It don't look much like changing。〃
〃But do we want it to change？〃 I asked。 〃It seems to me to be just
where it should be； dead behind us。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Captain Goyles； 〃dead's the right word to use； for
dead we'd all be； bar Providence； if we was to put out in this。 You see； sir；〃
he explained； in answer to my look of surprise； 〃this is what we call a 'land
wind；' that is； it's a…blowing； as one might say； direct off the land。〃
When I came to think of it the man was right； the wind was blowing
off the land。
〃It may change in the night；〃 said Captain Goyles； more hopefully
〃anyhow； it's not violent； and she rides well。〃
Captain Goyles resumed his cigar； and I returned aft； and explained to
Ethelbertha the reason for the delay。 Ethelbertha； who appeared to be
less high spirited than when we first boarded； wanted to know WHY we
couldn't sail when the wind was off the land。
〃If it was not blowing off the land；〃 said Ethelbertha； 〃it would be
blowing off the sea； and that would send us back into the shore again。 It
seems to me this is just the very wind we want。〃
I said： 〃That is your inexperience； love； it SEEMS to be the very
wind we want； but it is not。 It's what we call a land wind； and a land
wind is always very dangerous。〃
Ethelbertha wanted to know WHY a land wind was very dangerous。
Her argumentativeness annoyed me somewhat； maybe I was feeling a
bit cross； the monotonous rolling heave of a small yacht at anchor
depresses an ardent spirit。
〃I can't explain it to you；〃 I replied； which was true； 〃but to set sail in
this wind would be the height of foolhardiness； and I care for you too
much； dear； to expose you to unnecessary risks。〃
I thought this rather a neat conclusion； but Ethelbertha merely replied
that she wished； under the circumstances； we hadn't come on board till
Tuesday； and went below。
In the morning the wind veered round to the north； I was up early； and
observed this to Captain Goyles。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 he remarked； 〃it's unfortunate； but it can't be helped。〃
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〃You don't think it possible for us to start to…day？〃 I hazarded。
He did not get angry with me； he only laughed。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃if you was a…wanting to go to Ipswich； I should
say as it couldn't be better for us； but our destination being； as you see； the
Dutch coastwhy there you are！〃
I broke the news to Ethelbertha； and we agreed to spend the day on
shore。 Harwich is not a merry town； towards evening you might call it
dull。 We had some tea and watercress at Dovercourt； and then returned
to the quay to look for Captain Goyles and the boat。 We waited an hour
for him。 When he came he was more cheerful than we were； if he had
not told me himself that he never drank anything but one glass of hot grog
before turning in for the night； I should have said he was drunk。
The next morning the wind was in the south； which made Captain
Goyles rather anxious； it appearing that it was equally unsafe to move or
to stop where we were； our only hope was it would change before
anything happened。 By this time； Ethelbertha had taken a dislike to the
yacht； she said that； personally； she would rather be spending a week in a
bathing machine； seeing that a bathing machine was at least steady。
We passed another day in Harwich； and that night and the next； the
wind still continuing in the south； we slept at the 〃King's Head。〃 On
Friday the wind was blowing direct from the east。 I met Captain Goyles
on the quay； and suggested that； under these circumstances； we might start。
He appeared irritated at my persistence。
〃If you knew a bit more； sir；〃 he said； 〃you'd see for yourself that it's
impossible。 The wind's a…blowing direct off the sea。〃
I said： 〃Captain Goyles； tell me what is this thing I have hired？ Is it a
yacht or a house…boat？〃
He seemed surprised at my question。
He said： 〃It's a yawl。〃
〃What I mean is；〃 I said； 〃can it be moved at all； or is it a fixture here？
If it is a fixture；〃 I continued； 〃tell me so frankly； then we will get some
ivy in boxes and train over the port…holes； stick some flowers and an
awning on deck； and make the thing look pretty。 If； on the other hand； it
can be moved〃
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〃Moved！〃 interrupted Captain Goyles。 〃You get the right wind
behind the Rogue〃
I said： 〃What is the right wind？〃
Captain Goyles looked puzzled。
〃In the course of this week；〃 I went on； 〃we have had wind from the
north； from the south； from the east； from the westwith variations。 If
you can think of any other point of the compass from which it can blow；
tell me； and I will wait for it。 If not； and if that anchor has not grown into
the bottom of the ocean； we will have it up to…day and see what happens。〃
He grasped the fact that I was determined。
〃Very well； sir；〃 he said； 〃you're master and I'm man。 I've only got
one child as is still dependent on me； thank God； and no doubt your
executors will feel it their duty to do the right thing by the old woman。〃
His solemnity impressed me。
〃Mr。 Goyles；〃 I said； 〃be honest with me。 Is there any hope； in any
weather； of getting away from this damned hole？〃
Captain Goyles's kindly geniality returned to him。
〃You see； sir；〃 he said； 〃this is a very peculiar coast。 We'd be all right
if we were once out； but getting away from it in a cockle…shell like that
well； to be frank； sir； it wants doing。〃
I left Captain Goyles with the assurance that he would watch the
weather as a mother would her sleeping babe； it was his own simile； and it
struck me as rather touching。 I saw him again at twelve o'clock； he was
watching it from the window of the 〃Chain and Anchor。〃
At five o'clock that evening a stroke of luck occurred； in the middle of
the High Street I met a couple of yachting friends； who had had to put in
by reason of a strained rudder。 I told them my story； and they appeared
less surprised than amused。 Captain Goyles and the two men were still
watching the weather。 I ran into the 〃King's Head；〃 and prepared
Ethelbertha。 The four of us crept quietly down to the quay； where we
found our boat。 Only the boy was on board； my two friends took charge
of the yacht； and by six o'clock we were scudding merr
