“Whether this story is true or false, it certainly has no bearing on the validity of the policy. If this happened, it was after the policy attached and before the wreck1 of the Titan.”
“But der concealment2 — der concealment,” shouted Mr. Meyer, excitedly.
“Has no bearing, either. If he concealed3 anything it was done after the wreck, and after your liability was confirmed. It was not even barratry. You must pay this insurance.”
“I will not bay it. I will not. I will fight you in der courts.” Mr. Meyer stamped up and down the floor in his excitement, then stopped with a triumphant4 smile, and shook his finger into the face of the attorney.
“And even if der concealment will not vitiate der policy, der fact that he had a drunken man on lookout5 when der Titan struck der iceberg6 will be enough. Go ahead and sue. I will not pay. He was part owner.”
“You have no witnesses to that admission,” said the attorney. Mr. Meyer looked around the group and the smile left his face.
“Captain Bryce was mistaken,” said Mr. Austen. This man was drunk at New York, like others of the crew. But he was sober and competent when on lookout. I discussed theories of navigation with him during his trick on the bridge that night and be spoke7 intelligently.”
“But you yourself said, not ten minutes ago, that this man was in a state of delirium8 tremens up to der collision,” said Mr. Meyer.
“What I said and what I will admit under oath are two different things,” said the officer, desperately9. “I may have said anything under the excitement of the moment — when we were accused of such an infamous10 crime. I say now, that John Rowland, whatever may have been his condition on the preceding night, was a sober and competent lookout at the time of the wreck of the Titan.”
“Thank you,” said Rowland, dryly, to the first officer; then, looking into the appealing face of Mr. Meyer, he said:
“I do not think it will be necessary to brand me before the world as an inebriate11 in order to punish the company and these men. Barratry, as I understand it, is the unlawful act of a captain or crew at sea, causing damage or loss; and it only applies when the parties are purely12 employees. Did I understand rightly — that Captain Bryce was part owner of the Titan?”
“Yes,” said Mr. Meyer, “he owns stock; and we insure against barratry; but this man, as part owner, could not fall back on it.”
“And an unlawful act,” went on Rowland, “perpetrated by a captain who is part owner, which might cause shipwreck13, and, during the perpetration of which shipwreck really occurs, will be sufficient to void the policy.”
“Certainly,” said Mr. Meyer, eagerly. “You were drunk on der lookout — you were raving14 drunk, as he said himself. You will swear to this, will you not, my friend? It is bad faith with der underwriters. It annuls15 der insurance. You admit this, Mr. Thompson, do you not?”
“That is law,” said the attorney, coldly.
“Was Mr. Austen a part owner, also?” asked Rowland, ignoring Mr. Meyer’s view of the case.
“One share, is it not, Mr. Austen?” asked Mr. Meyer, while he rubbed his hands and smiled. Mr. Austen made no sign of denial and Rowland continued:
“Then, for drugging a sailor into a stupor16, and having him on lookout out of his turn while in that condition, and at the moment when the Titan struck the iceberg, Captain Bryce and Mr. Austen have, as part owners, committed an act which nullifies the insurance on that ship.”
“You infernal, lying scoundrel! “roared Captain Bryce. He strode toward Rowland with threatening face. Half-way, he was stopped by the impact of a huge brown fist which sent him reeling and staggering across the room toward Mr. Selfridge and the child, over whom he floundered to the floor — a disheveled heap, — while the big Captain Barry examined teeth-marks on his knuckles17, and every one else sprang to their feet.
“I told you to look out,” said Captain Barry. Treat my friend respectfully.” He glared steadily18 at the first officer, as though inviting19 him to duplicate the offense20; but that gentleman backed away from him and assisted the dazed Captain Bryce to a chair,where be felt of his loosened teeth, spat21 blood upon Mr. Meyer’s floor, and gradually awakened22 to a realization23 of the fact that he had been knocked down — and by an American.
Little Myra, unhurt but badly frightened, began to cry and call for Rowland in her own way, to the wonder, and somewhat to the scandal of the gentle old man who was endeavoring to soothe24 her.
“Dammy,” she cried, as she struggled to go to him; “Iwant Dammy — Dammy — Da-a-may.”
“Oh, what a sad little girl,” said the jocular Mr. Meyer, looking down on her. “Where did you learn such language?”
“It is my nickname,” said Rowland, smiling in spite of himself. “She has coined the word,” he explained to the agitated25 Mr. Selfridge, who had not yet comprehended what had happened; “and I have not yet been able to persuade her to drop it — and I could not be harsh with her. Let me take her, sir.” He seated himself, with the child, who nestled up to him contentedly26 and soon was tranquil27.
“Now, my friend,” said Mr. Meyer, “you must tell us about this drugging.” Then while Captain Bryce, under the memory of the blow he had received, nursed himself into an insane fury; and Mr. Austen, with his hand resting lightly on the captain’s shoulder ready to restrain him, listened to the story; and the attorney drew up a chair and took notes of the story; and Mr. Selfridge drew his chair close to Myra and paid no attention to the story at all, Rowland recited the events prior to and succeeding the shipwreck. Beginning with the finding of the whisky in his pocket, he told of his being called to the starboard bridge lookout in place of the rightful incumbent28; of the sudden and strange interest Mr. Austen displayed as to his knowledge of navigation; of the pain in his stomach, the frightful29 shapes he had seen on the deck beneath and the sensations of his dream — leaving out only the part which bore on the woman he loved; he told of the sleep-walking child which awakened him, of the crash of ice and instant wreck, and the fixed30 condition of his eyes which prevented their focusing only at a certain distance, finishing his story — to explain his empty sleeve — with a graphic31 account of the fight with the bear.
“And I have studied it all out,” be said, in conclusion. “I was drugged — I believe, with hasheesh, which makes a man see strange things — and brought up on the bridge lookout where I could be watched and my ravings listened to and recorded, for the sole purpose of discrediting32 my threatened testimony33 in regard to the collision of the night before. But I was only half-drugged, as I spilled part of my tea at supper. In that tea, I am positive, was the hasheesh.”
“You know all about it, don’t you,” snarled34 Captain Bryce, from his chair, “’twas not hasheesh; ’twas an infusion35 of Indian hemp36; you don’t know —” Mr. Austen’s hand closed over his mouth and he subsided37.
“Self-convicted,” said Rowland, with a quiet laugh. “Hasheesh is made from Indian hemp.”
“You hear this, gentlemen,” exclaimed Mr. Meyer, springing to his feet and facing everybody in turn. He pounced38 on Captain Barry. “You hear this confession39, captain; you hear him say Indian hemp? I have a witness now, Mr. Thompson. Go right on with your suit. You hear him, Captain Barry. You are disinterested40. You are a witness. You hear?”
“Yes, I heard it — the murdering scoundrel,” said the captain.
Mr. Meyer danced up and down in his joy, while the attorney, pocketing his notes, remarked to the discomfited41 Captain Bryce: “You are the poorest fool I know,” and left the office.
Then Mr. Meyer calmed himself, and facing the two steamship42 officers, said, slowly and impressively, while be poked43 his forefinger44 almost into their faces:
“England is a fine country, my friends — a fine country to leave behind sometimes. Dere is Canada, and der United States, and Australia, and South Africa — all fine countries, too — fine countries to go to with new names. My friends, you will be bulletened and listed at Lloyds in less than half an hour, and you will never again sail under der English flag as officers. And, my friends, let me say, that in half an hour after you are bulletened, all Scotland Yard will be looking for you. But my door is not locked.”
Silently they arose, pale, shamefaced, and crushed, and went out the door, through the outer office, and into the street.
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1
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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inebriate
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| v.使醉 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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annuls
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| v.宣告无效( annul的第三人称单数 )；取消；使消失；抹去 | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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discrediting
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| 使不相信( discredit的现在分词 )； 使怀疑； 败坏…的名声； 拒绝相信 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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38
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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41
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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42
steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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43
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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44
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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