The Captain had been more or less methodical in his ways all his life, but he had never carried routine so far as to keep a diary. Probably during the past twenty years, living the life he had upon his lonely island, there had not been enough of incident to have suggested even the idea of such a record. But on this particular night, the fisherman, closeted within his shack, had been toiling7 through three long hours in order to set down a detailed8 narrative9 of the strange happenings in which he had been concerned since the coming of the great storm. He had ransacked10 his belongings11 until he found pencil and paper. Then, with his characteristically painstaking12 and deliberate manner, he had indited14 an itemized account of the various events. Now he had completed his work, and rested well content with his accomplishment15. As he lounged in the doorway16, he was taking a glimpse over the beautiful expanse of water, the while he smoked a final pipe before turning in. He felt that after the arduous17 endeavors of the day he was entitled to a sound and refreshing18 sleep. His usual calm had returned to him.
At daylight that very morning when he awakened19 in the life-saving station at old Fort Macon, he had felt that he could never again occupy his old cabin home. Yet, here he was at night, resting well satisfied, without any qualm whatsoever20. The exciting happening of the day—perhaps especially the opportunity to tell his old rival just what he thought of the fellow—had proved a balm to his over-strained nerves. He had come back home with a firm resolve to continue on there in tranquillity21, and to enjoy to the full the days that were before him. It is true that he missed Shrimp22. But, after mature meditation23 on the matter of the fowl's going away, the fisherman had about come to the conclusion that in all probability he had gone of his own free will and accord. It occurred to the Captain as possible that the bird might have been peeved24 by his master's sailing away without him as he hurried to Beaufort Town in quest of Doctor Hudson. Ichabod believed that Shrimp had seen his opportunity to cross to the mainland with the strangers and had seized on it in the hope of being able at last to fight it out with his rooster rival, whose challenging salute25 had been tantalizing26 him for many a day. Ichabod chuckled27 as he expressed the wish that Shrimp's encounter with this rival might give him as much satisfaction as had his own with the beach-comber.
Now, under the flow of his meditations28, the old man grew loquacious29. He went into the shack, shut the door and lighted the lamp. Then he sprawled30 at ease in his favorite chair, and since there was no other auditor31 at hand, talked to himself.
"Wall! I reckon I have larned a heap this day. The most important fact is that Icky Jones has been a fool for over twenty year. Jest because a no-'count woman took a notion in her haid that she had rather marry a beach-combin' thief than an honest fisherman I have made myself hate all o' the rest o' the gender32, or least-wise to keep away fr'm 'em, an' lead a miserable33 lonely life. Why! do ye know, I believe that when I spunked up an' told old Sandy Mason what I thought o' him an' his callin', an' rubbed it in some on the poor kid, that it did me more good than a dost o' medicine. It sure put sand in my craw an' made me feel like fightin' every mean thing livin'. If I hadn't been a narrow-fool, an' awful sot in my way, instead o' takin' the loss of Roxana Lee to heart, I'd 'a' braced34 up an' gone right ahead an' looked fer one o' the right sort. I've learned jest a short time back that I'd gone off on the wrong track. When I revived that fine-lookin' foreign woman an' she opened those eyes—such beautiful brown eyes!—an' looked at me so appealin'-like an' called me Doctor, I jest couldn't he'p but wish that she'd talk to me a leetle more, but fate was agin me, an' she was mum as an adder35."
Captain Ichabod fell silent as he undressed for the night, extinguished the light and stretched himself luxuriously36 on his bed. As he snuggled down into the blankets with a capacious yawn, he drowsily37 spoke38 aloud yet once again.
"Wall, hanged if I 'lowed this mornin' when I woke up at the station, that to-night I'd be a-layin' here so peaceable-like an' jest a-pinin' fer sleep. This shack an' this bunk39 has had a woman in 'em, but I don't reckin it has hurt 'em none after all. I can sleep, you bet. Uncle Icky may dream a leetle might, but it won't be about Roxana Lee."
It was not until the sun was more than an hour high that the old fisherman opened his eyes again to the realization40 that another day had come. When he felt the warm rays of the summer sun upon his cheek he knew that he had slept beyond his usual time of waking, which stirred him to a fleeting41 anger against himself. He got up quickly, and while he dressed, admonished42 himself harshly.
"Betwixt the rust43 o' time an' a thievin' yachtsman, ye're plumb44 out o' time, Ichabod. If ye aim to be a successful fisherman in the future as in the past, you must either find ye another rooster, or buy a clock, an' I reckin that a clock, what will run, but can't run away, is the thing fer you."
Breakfast over, Ichabod busied himself in getting his nets and other fishing paraphernalia45 straightened out, for in his hurry to put them out of harm's way as the big blow came on, he had got them pretty badly tangled46. It was mid-forenoon before he considered that things about the shack and door yard were about as they should be at the place of a first-class fisherman. Occasionally as he worked, he would glance toward the oyster47 rocks, where lay the remains48 of The Isabel, and he would wonder once again what could have been the occasion of the curious crime that had resulted in the death of the man chained to the engine. But all his musings brought only increased perplexity, until his wits were totally befuddled49. He dare be sure only that the yachtsman he had rescued was either a villain50 or a maniac51.
It was a custom in the Sound Country for the natives at frequent intervals52 to favor their preacher, their doctor and the editor of the gossipy local newspaper with a gift of something attractive, either grown in their vegetable gardens, or taken from the waters round about. In this respect, Ichabod was not different from his neighbors of the other islands and the mainland. Many a time and oft, after he had made a particularly good catch of the delicious stone crabs53 or scallops, he had set sail to carry an offering of the delicacies54 to friends in the town. To-day, after he had finally established order in his house and among his accoutrements, he shouldered his clam55 fork, and, carrying a large bucket to hold the catch, strode out on the point. The tide was extremely low, and Ichabod was aware that now was the time to reach the place where round clams56 grew in great abundance. The old man was an expert at locating these shell-fish. The keyhole sign made by them in the sand was so familiar to him that he could walk along at a smart pace, while peering alertly here and there in search of it. When his eyes caught the mark, he would strike quickly with his fork into the yielding sand, and so bring to the surface one of the luscious57 bivalves. On this occasion, Ichabod filled his bucket well within the hour, and then, content, returned to the shack for a midday meal.
When he was done eating, the fisherman washed the clams carefully and wrapped them in a neat bundle. He then took them on board the skiff, and made sail for Beaufort Town, to pay his promised visit to Doctor Hudson, and to present him with the morning's catch, which was of particularly good quality. In addition, he was prompted to the trip by anxiety to learn if anything had been heard in the town as to the identity of the yacht Isabel, or of those who voyaged in her.
On this occasion, the customary group of loungers was not present on the shore to welcome the little red skiff and her skipper. The quay58 was practically deserted59. The fishing fleet had put to sea again in order to take advantage of as many days as possible with favorable weather for their labor60. Ichabod made his boat fast, and then with his bundle of clams took his way at once to the physician's house. Doctor Hudson himself met the fisherman at the threshold with a warm handshake.
"Why, Ichabod!" he exclaimed, with a cheery smile. "Now, what in the world has come over you? In all my life I don't think I ever saw such a change for the better in a man's appearance within the few hours since I saw you last. I guess that wrecks61 and strange women and the finding of dead men in the sea agree with you."
Ichabod grinned assent62.
"Yes, Doctor, I 'low that I'm improved a sight," he replied enthusiastically. "I come down to bring ye a few clams, an' to tell ye that since I saw ye I found a housekeepin' job fer life. An' so, while I'm obleeged to ye fer a-keepin' your weather eye open fer me, why, ye needn't no more, fer I've beat ye to it."
Doctor Hudson looked a little disconcerted.
"Why, Ichabod, are you really goin' to leave the Island?"
The fisherman shook his head solemnly.
"No, sir, I ain't a-goin' to leave the Island except on business, an' to call on my friends. I've took the job right thar. I've done hired out to the new Ichabod Jones, an' I cal'late I'll be the most satisfactory help ole Icky ever had."
"What in the world do you mean?" the Doctor questioned, with much perplexity. "I'd suppose you were clean crazy, if it weren't for a mischievous63 twinkle in your eye. Come on now, and tell me what really has happened. I am interested all right, for it must have been something important to make this remarkable64 change in you, which I can't understand."
Ichabod nodded sagely65 before he replied.
"Right you are, Doctor. But it took a heap more than a sudden scare like what cured the feller with the hiccoughs. Yes, it took more'n that to cure me. You know, Doc, I think now, as how I was diseased."
The physician perceived that nothing was to be gained by any attempt at hurrying the old man.
"Come on into the house," he urged, "and make yourself comfortable while you tell me the whole story."
As the two came into the reception-room, the Captain fumbled66 in his inside coat pocket for a moment, and then carefully drew forth67 his narrative of the events in which he had been concerned during the last few days. He handed this to the physician as the two seated themselves by the open window.
"Doctor," Ichabod declared with gravity, "I never did think as how I was a partic'lar good story-teller, an' knowin' as how you an' one or two other friends o' mine would have to know the story, I made up my mind last night that I'd put it into writ68 fer you-all, so then thar couldn't be no dispute as to the exact words of Ichabod. The story starts right from the beginning o' the blow. A part of it, the first part, you already know, so jest skip along until ye come to whar Sandy Mason shows up."
Doctor Hudson perused69 the document with great interest. The unconscious drollery70 of the old man's literary style gave piquancy71 to the account. At times, the fisherman's bits of humor were amusing enough; again, there was often pathos72 of a very genuine sort, in the paragraphs. But as the physician neared the end of the roughly written record, the Captain interrupted him.
"Say, Doc," he asked, "would ye mind a-readin' o' that last stanzy right out loud? I think it has got stuff in it that'll make my blood warm up a heap to hear it read."
The doctor nodded assent, for he at this moment reached the paragraph by which the old man set such store.
"I, Ichabod Jones," the words ran, "age unknown, bein' as how the family Bible was burnt up, announces to my friends, all an' sundry73, that fer the past twenty year I've been a coward an' a fool, but was not a-knowin' of the same until to-day. I ain't been called to preach nor nothin' like that. I has jest woke up! From this day on to the end o' me in this world, I aim to git all o' the honest enjoyment74 I kin13 out o' this life. An' I want my friends to know that the rule for twenty year as made and provided has been busted75. From this day forward women, ole and young, will find a welcome on the shore an' in the shack at Ichabod's Island."
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1
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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8
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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indited
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作，赋诗，创作( indite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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17
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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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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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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21
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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shrimp
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| n.虾，小虾；矮小的人 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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24
peeved
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| adj.恼怒的，不高兴的v.（使）气恼，（使）焦躁，（使）愤怒( peeve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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26
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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27
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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gender
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| n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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38
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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39
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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42
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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43
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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45
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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46
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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47
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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48
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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49
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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50
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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51
maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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52
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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53
crabs
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| n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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clam
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| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
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clams
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| n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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59
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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61
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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62
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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63
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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66
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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69
perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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70
drollery
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| n.开玩笑，说笑话；滑稽可笑的图画（或故事、小戏等） | |
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71
piquancy
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| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
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72
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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73
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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74
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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75
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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